The Great Controversy
---Heaven's War Comes to EarthIt is recorded that there was a war in heaven - a very unlikely place for such event, but what is the Great Controversy?
Earth's first encounter with the sin problem was back in the Garden of Eden. But did it start there? What, or who, was that talking serpent?
In Revelation 12 verses 1 and 2, we read:
And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
Note the four references to the same being in verse 2 - dragon, serpent, devil, and satan.
So Eve was not just talking to a pretty snake, she was being deceived by the devil. It's that same cunning mastermind that is behind earth's problems today.
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The biggest mistake you could ever make during a war is to
think that the enemy doesn't exist.Some people are so 'tricked' by this arch-deceiver, that they even say there is no devil. The biggest mistake you could ever make during a war is to say that your enemy doesn't exist. Do not discount the existence nor the working of the devil on earth today. Why?
Well, just think of the advantage you'd have in a fight if your opponent is convinced that you were dead when you are very much alive and well.
Jesus said, He saw Satan fell from heaven like lightning (see Luke 10:18). Where did Satan fall to? Let's go back to Revelation chapter 12.
Here is verse 9:
The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
And again, verse 13:
When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.
There are a number of important points to note in these verses.
(1) It wasn't just any old extra-terrestrial that came to earth. It is "that old devil," otherwise called Satan. This guy was called Lucifer in heaven. He was the chief angel. (See Isaiah 12:14)
In today's vernacular, we could say he became covetous, and wanted a promotion that God knew he couldn't handle. He wanted to be worshiped, just as Jesus was by the angels in heaven - more on that later.
(2) The devil is trying to lead the whole world astray. Can you imagine this - while some people are saying there is no devil? How dangerously careless can you get!
(3) The devil has all the help that he needs. Note the last part of verse 9, which says Satan was cast out with all his angels.
So as in any civil war; there are at least two sides: the winner - Jesus and His angels, and Satan and his angels. That old devil has a lot of help. We call them falling angels.
What's also noteworthy is the fact that these are not ordinary beings. They are angels. They are invisible spirits. You cannot see then unless they choose to reveal themselves.
Most people only talk about the good angels, and forget there are bad (fallen) angels around. You don't need to be afraid of them - not if you have the good angels on your side. But do not pretend they don't exist.
(4) The last point from the passage in Revelation 12:9, 13 is that the dragon pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.
This is prophetic (apocalyptic) language, and it means that Satan would persecute the church of God - those who would want to obey God.
It's only natural for him; he's a loser, he opposes God and all who align themselves with God, and it's his nature to deceive and to cause suffering. He's the devil!
The Great Controversy Continues
We see that there is a devil legions of 'helpers'. And he's not a nice guy. He's out to get you and me. The Bible calls him the adversary or enemy, who is busy to deceive.
"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." - 1 Peter 5:8
Sometimes our suffering is direct result of his doing. He causes diseases, natural disasters, stirs up strife and wars between nations and tribes. Yet we find that most natural disasters are called, ironically, "acts of God".
What a warped picture of a loving God! And the controversy continues.
Although some suffering is the direct result of our neglect of (a) health laws, (b) civil laws, and (c) spiritual laws, together with natural disasters, all the effects of sin due to the curse on the earth can be attributed to that old devil, called Satan.
The Bible warns us to be careful of the deceitful, prowling lion called the devil; who is still angry that he was thrown out of heaven. So he continues his quest in sinister and in overt ways to fight against God and the people of earth.
How the war plays out
If you study the record of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness after He had fasted for forty days, you can see that the devil (Satan) still craves the worship that the Godhead deserves.
Matthew 4:9 - "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
He could not get that which belongs solely to God while he was in heaven. Now, claiming to be the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4), the devil tries to get even Jesus Christ to give him a little worship.
Satan is the instigator of war and strife, pain and suffering
The Great Controversy - the battle between good and evil - has indeed come to earth. It has touched the lives of every single person who has ever lived on this planet. This includes Jesus Christ - it cost Him His life!
Many people fail to see the conflict between Israel and Palestine or that between Iraq and the United States and allies in light of the bigger cosmic conflict. But these are just little battles in the bigger war.
While we applaud and support all efforts of fostering and sponsoring peace between warring factions, let us not lose sight of the fact that the enemy is relentless in his quest to inflict as much casualty as he can before his final demise. Remember, John sees it coming in Revelation 12:
1And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
He will be finally put away - in God's own time. In His wisdom, God has permitted this drama - this war between good and evil - to linger for some time. But His word is sure. Every word shall come to pass. The devil and his angels will be finally destroyed.
"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." - Matthew 25:41
How will the controversy end?
It is comforting to let the Bible answer this question clearly. Consider these verses of scripture:
1 John 3:8 - He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.
Malachi 4:1 - "Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire," says the LORD Almighty. "Not a root or a branch will be left to them.
Revelation 20:10 - And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
2 Peter 3:13 - But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
So both in the Old Testament and New Testament sections of the Bible, we see fire building for the devil and his angels.
In 2 Peter 3:13, we also see that a new earth is in the works of the next world kingdom. There is good news here. You and I are to be glad. Why?
We know who the winner in the great controversy is, and we are encouraged to be on the winning side. Very soon there won't be any more Satan - no devil to make life miserable!
Can you imagine that? I won't blame you if you can't, but only you are to blame is you do not embrace heaven's hope - the good news of God's plan for your eternal life.