Why didn’t God destroy Lucifer immediately?
(Isaiah 14:12-14; Daniel 7:25; Revelation 12:1-17) Blog Mar. 26 – Apr. 1, 2023
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
INTRODUCTION: God’s last call to humanity is given in the last half of the book of Revelation. This quarter we will look especially at the three angel’s messages as recorded in chapter 14. They tell us how to prepare for the events just before us.
1. What first disturbed the peace of the universe? Heaven’s brightest angel let pride control his heart. That led him to covet God’s throne. Next, he led a full rebellion against God (Isa. 14:12-14).
2. How did God respond to Lucifer’s rebellion? By observing God’s dealing with Cain, we know that God spoke to Lucifer about his defection, that he warned him of where it would lead, & that he told him the remedy (Gen. 4:5-7; Deut. 32:4; Psa. 145:17).
3. When other methods failed to dissuade Lucifer, what course was God forced to take? When Lucifer decided to control heaven by force, God, in the Person of his Son was forced to fight against Lucifer and the angels that sided with him (Eze. 28:16; Rev. 12:7-9).
4. What was the result of the great battle that took place in heaven? Lucifer & his angels lost the battle & were cast out of heaven to this earth (Rev. 12:4, 8, 9).
5. Why didn’t God destroy Lucifer immediately without letting him continue his rebellion on this earth? For the universe to understand the nature & results of Lucifer’s rebellion it was necessary for God to allow it to fully demonstrate its principles so that rebellion would never arise again (Nah. 1:9; Matt. 7:17-20; Rom. 2:4).
6. How did Lucifer’s rebellion enter this earth? When Adam, the federal head of humanity, ate the forbidden fruit, rebellion became a part of the human existence (Gen. 3:6; Rom. 5:12-14).
Its Progress
7. Was Lucifer satisfied with his victory over Adam and Eve, or did he seek to develop further conflict on earth? Lucifer was not satisfied, but rather inspired hatred among the first family resulting in the death of Abel & continued hatred & conflict in future generations (Gen. 4:8, 23-24; 6:5).
8. What became the old serpent’s special object of attack after hearing God’s curse on him in Eden? Lucifer’s special object of attack became “the seed of the woman” from Abel’s day until Christ’s day (Gen. 3:15; 2 Kings 11:1-3; Matt. 2:13-16).
9. How does Revelation 12 describe Herod’s attempt to kill the Christ child? John in vision wrote: “the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.” (Matt. 2:13-16; Rev. 12:4).
10. In John’s vision, who does the woman clothed with the sun represent? The woman in Revelation 12 represents God’s church, for she is clothed in the righteousness of Christ & stands on the foundation of the twelve tribes of Israel, with the twelve apostles for a diadem (Gen. 37:9-10; Rev. 12:1).
11. What picture of the woman in history does John describe in Revelation twelve? John describes the repeated attacks of Satan against God’s church after Christ ascended to heaven, including the 1260 years of Papal supremacy when the church fled into the wilderness & was preserved by God (Num. 14:34; Dan. 7:25; Rev. 12:6, 13-16).
12. How does John describe Satan’s end game after God opened the Western Hemisphere for the persecuted woman to escape Papal persecution? John says: 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.” (Rev. 12:17).
13. What two things characterize God’s true church? God’s true church is characterized by keeping the Ten Commandments & trusting in the gospel of Jesus (Rev. 12:17; 14:12).
14. With all Satan’s attacks against the members of God’s church, what hope do we have of overcoming? John tells us that other members of God’s church overcame Satan by the blood of the Lamb & the word of their testimony, so we know that the devil is not invincible & that the blood of Jesus can cleanse us from all sin (1 John 1:7; Rev. 12:11)
15. When was Satan cast out of heaven? Satan was cast out of heaven into this formless world before God created life on this planet (Gen. 1:2; Rev. 12:9).
16. To what event does Revelation 12:10 refer? The day of salvation came when Christ was crucified. In anticipation of his death Jesus said: “I saw Satan as lightning fall from heaven (Luke 10:18; Rev. 12:10).
17. If Jesus already won the victory over Lucifer in heaven, what value does his death on the cross have? When Jesus came to earth, he came not as God alone. Rather his victory over Satan at the cross was accomplished as a human being. He took Adam’s place as federal head of humanity. His victory on earth is our victory if we believe in him (John 1:12; Rom. 5:15-18; 1 Cor. 15:21-22; Heb. 2:9-16).
18. How did Jesus express the power that his followers will have over Satan? He said, “I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19).
19. How far will Satan go to destroy God’s people? Revelation 13 describes how the Papacy would war against the saints & “overcome them” & how American Pentecostalism would legislate embargoes against God’s people & even issue a death decree if they would not worship the Papacy or receive its mark (Rev. 13:7-8, 14-17).