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NASB | Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ¶ "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom (dominion, reign) of our God, and the authority of His Christ have come; for the accuser of our [believing] brothers and sisters has been thrown down [at last], he who accuses them and keeps bringing charges [of sinful behavior] against them before our God day and night. [Job 1:6-11] |
Bible Question: Is Satan thrown out of heaven before or after the church is caught up to be with the Lord? |
Bible Answer: Excellent question, Mommapbs! Of course the pre-trib folks will say that this (and virtually all other prophecies) will be fullfilled after the rapture. I don't wish to start another pre/post/pre-wrath debate, but I would like to take a shot at your question. Taking the passage at face value, I'd say that the answer lies within the context of the chapter in question, Revelation 12. The sequence appears to go something like this: 1) Satan cast down. 2) Satan attacks the Jews (which I read as the mother [of Jesus] in the passage) 3) God protects the Jews. 4) Satan attacks the church. My understanding is that these attacks will be through satan's surrogate, the antichrist. It may be that this passage is congruent with Matthew 24:15-21 and Daniel 9:27. That is to say that satan is cast out of heaven during the middle of the tribulation, inhabits the antichrist who sets himself up as god (2 Thess 2:3-4) at the midpoint of the tribulation, at which time he first tries to annihilate the Jews, then the saints. He is allowed to pursue this end for 3.5 years. Rev 12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. 14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. That the antichrist will persecute the saints for 3.5 years is clear from the following passages: Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. Rev 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months... 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them:... 9 If any man have an ear, let him hear. 10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. Jesus said that this time will be worse than any other in history (Matt 24:21). Imagine being a Jew during the holocaust - this will be worse. Without question. Romans 8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time 2 Peter 2:12 ... as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. |