13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross.

15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him

— Colossians 2:13-15

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

— Ephesians 6:12

3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven royal crowns on his heads.

4a His tail swept a third of the stars from the sky, hurling them to the earth….

7 Then a war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.

9 And the great dragon was hurled down… He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

— Revelation 12:3-4a, 7, 9

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, salvation and joy from Jesus Christ to you.

John’s vision helps us understand the battle between good and evil that we observe on earth. His vision also foretells future events that promise the unleashed fury of evil and God’s victor. Satan desperately seeks to oppose God, destroy His Son, thwart His purposes, and harm His followers. As God’s avowed enemy, Satan’s fury began in heaven when he opposed God and his heavenly forces and was cast to earth. Unsuccessful in the heavenly battle, Satan aimed his wrath at God’s people and the Messiah. Despite the enemy’s murderous ploys, Christ defeated Satan when He died on the cross and returned to heaven. The terrible reality of Satan’s warpath of evil makes the dramatic intervention of the sinless Lamb utterly inevitable.

Satan, a furious and already defeated foe, realizes his time to oppose God is limited. He prowls furiously on earth and spews his wrath against believers—those who trust in Christ. Though Satan and his forces can bring pain and suffering into the lives of God’s children, those who believe in Christ cannot be eternally thwarted by Satan’s malice. Suffering believers of Christ defeat Satan when they persevere, often at great cost, in Christ’s power. Jesus the Messiah will one day rule the world with an iron scepter. He will vanquish all evil, including Satan himself, and vindicate His righteousness. Jesus Christ’s promised victory is not yet fully evident, but, praise the Lord, it is certain!