​Victory to the Saints

Revelation 12:10-12 Then I heard a loud voice in Heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. 12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”
 
THIS is a three-stanza hymn. An angelic voice first loudly sings of God the Father’s and the Son’s kingdom and power. Satan has been sent out a defeated foe. There is no more threat in Heaven because God has delivered Heaven from the Evil One.
   The second stanza sings of the Christians’ victory over Satan. With faith in Jesus’ atoning blood, they are free from Satan’s deadly attacks. Jesus destroyed the devil’s power that horrible day on the cross. His blood poured out for many brings us peace from sin’s deadly poison. Colossians 1:20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in Heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
   The second stanza sings of the martyrs’ blood. Praise God for all who did not love their lives more than Jesus. They faced death on earth because they joyfully anticipated a life with Christ in Heaven. The Tempter is finished tempting these saints. The Lord God has prepared his home in Heaven for them (John 14:2).
   The third stanza warns of
Satan’s evil now on earth. God allows the devil’s authority still
as a means of judgment and sifting. The Lord permits tests to his church to check our faith. The saints on earth today will experience temptation, trial and tribulation. Ultimately, hardhearted unbelievers and soft-hearted “believers” who reject Jesus’ atoning blood will sadly suffer Satan’s fury forever.
   The hymn, then, is two verses of heavenly joy, one verse of worldly strife. It is the picture of the world until Heaven and earth become one perfect new creation under God. Victory for the saints – for Jesus’ church – is the central theme of Revelation. Are you saved in Jesus’ blood? Rejoice in your victory even as the war still rages on earth.
 
Prayer: Strengthen our hearts against evil, Lord God. We pray you quickly conquer Satan and fully establish your kingdom on earth. Amen.