Revelation 12:7-12: Teamwork.

7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient snake called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

10 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 Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
    who accuses them before our God day and night,
    has been hurled down.
11 They triumphed over 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.’ NIV

 

Tom Wright tells a story about a football match in which the ball was crossed into the penalty box, and two players went for it. It seems they both got a touch, and the ball ended up in the back of the net. Later, in the dressing room, there was playful banter between the two men as to who had really scored. The coach came up to them and said, ‘Well, arguably I was responsible for the victory, because I prepared you – and the rest of the team – for this game!’

Revelation 12 describes a triumph over Satan won in heaven. Yet it is also won on earth by believers:

  • Who overcome ‘’the accuser’’ by trusting in Christ’s blood. (No charge against them can stick because of the atoning work of Jesus);
  • Who testify to Jesus, and
  • Who are willing to pay the ultimate price for their witness.

This victory is ultimately God’s, but Christians get to play a very real part. In a sense we can see that teamwork is involved.