Revelation 12:7-12 (NRSV)
Read Revelation 12:7-12 on biblegateway.com
Verse 7And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, Verse 8but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. Verse 9The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world-he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Verse 10Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, proclaiming, "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 comrades has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. Verse 11But they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not cling to life even in the face of death.
Verse 12Rejoice then, you heavens and those who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you with great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!"
Devotion
This is a remembrance day for “St. Michael and All Angels.” The Hebrew tradition had seven archangels, two of whom – Michael and Gabriel – are listed in our Bible. Michael means “who is like God.” Gabriel means “God has shown himself mighty.” The archangels were mighty warriors, not little pixies, as one might suppose from some Christmas pageants.
The celestial war described here is a message of good news. The archangels threw the “dragon and his angels” down to earth, breaking their power.
Evil surrounds us. It comes in many forms, like forces of nature or human treachery. The Christians to whom the book of Revelation was written were exhorted, “Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). This helped the people suffering under Roman persecution understand their struggles. They would have to endure a little while, but by “the blood of the Lamb,” the forces of evil were conquered.
Prayer
Help us, O God, to rejoice with the saints in heaven, that your victory has been won, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.