This matter of entitlement and ingratitude we now understand is an element of pride. Pride led to a full rebellion and outright war in heaven. This war moved from heaven and is now being played out here on earth. How then can we be vaccinated against this contagious disease called pride that causes us to rebel against the Most High, the very one who created us?

This is a new series. In it, we address an age-old concern that we all have: the concern for sin, evil, death and what happens after we die. Is there hope after death? When God created us humans, he intended for us to live forever in a loving relationship with him. But this relationship has been broken by sin.

Here, we address the origin of sin, and we look more closely at death and dying. But, instead of looking at death in a negative way, we look at it in the context of hope, the promised hope based on what Jesus did for us when he died and came back to life again. 

From the Sabbath School Adult Bible Study Guide 2022 Quarter 4: Sabbath.School

See also Hope Sabbath School and 3ABN Sabbath School

Visit SabbathSchoolDaily.com for more videos like this one.

Inviting the Holy Spirit’s Presence

God Most High, vaccinate us against the sin of pride, cast from us the spirit of rebellion and disbelief. In Jesus Name Amen. 

The Spirit of pride led to rebellion and outright war in heaven according to Revelation 12. This war led to Satan and his angel being cast out of heaven.

If cast out of heaven, where is Satan and his angels today? Take some time and carefully read about this incident and mediate on what implication this war in heaven has for us today.

God did not throw Lucifer out of heaven simply because he disagreed with Him. God threw him out of heaven because Lucifer started war. Revelation 12 tells us a major war broke out in heaven. The Great Red Dragon, Satan and his angels fought against Michael, Jesus, and His angels.

In Revelation 12:3, Lucifer is called the “great dragon”.

Referring to Lucifer, It says:

3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. (Revelation 12:3)

He is also called “the great dragon,” the “serpent of old,” “the Devil and Satan,” and “the accuser of our brethren in Revelation 12:9 and 10.

9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

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. (Revelation 12:9-10)

Then in Revelation 12:7, Jesus is

Referred to as Michael, which means “who is like God?”

Some people live with the idea that “Michael” is an angel, because Jude refers to Michael as archangel, the leading angel according to Jude 1:9 which says:

9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 1:9 NASB)

To clarify who Michael is we look further. The book of Daniel also talks about Michael.

Each end-time dream in Daniel ends with Jesus Christ and His everlasting kingdom.

Daniel describes Jesus’ everlasting kingdom by different symbols:

Daniel 2:34 and 45 Jesus everlasting kingdom is symbolized as the stone cut out without hands

Daniel 2:34

34 You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. (Daniel 2:34)

And Daniel 2:45

45 Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.” (Daniel 2:45)

In Daniel 7:13 Jesus is referred to as the “Son of Man”

13 “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. (Daniel 7:13)

In Daniel 8:11 and 25 He is referred to as the Prince of the host and the Prince of princes.

And Jesus is referred to as Michael the Great Prince in Daniel 12:1

1 “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. (Daniel 12:1)

Furthermore, Exodus 3:1–6; Acts 7:30–33 lets us know that the Angel of the Lord is the Lord Himself.

Thus, we can conclude that Michael in Revelation 12 refers to Jesus Christ, Himself.

Revelation 12 shows us three things about the war between the Great Red Dragon (Satan) and Michael (Jesus).

(1) It began in heaven with the rebellion of Lucifer and one-third of the heavenly angels,

(2) Jesus won this galactic battle at the cross.

(3) But Satan refuses to give up, he continues his fight by waring against God’s end-time people.

Here is what the Book, the Great Controversy says about this war fought in heaven:

“God in His great mercy bore long with Lucifer. He was not immediately degraded from his exalted station when he first indulged the spirit of discontent, nor even when he began to present his false claims before the loyal angels. Long was he retained in heaven. Again and again he was offered pardon on condition of repentance and submission.”—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, pp. 495, 496.

The Bible does not tell us how long this war in heaven lasted nor does it indicate the intensity of the war. Regardless of how bad it was or how long it was, the key is this, according to Revelation 12:8: Satan and his angels “were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.” (Revelation 12:8 NLT).

But wait!  In Luke 10:18 we see that the problem in Heaven is now on earth.

Satan and his angels came to earth.

So, the war that Lucifer started in heaven continues here on earth.

As we look around us today it is evident that there is an intense war between good and evil. How can we win?

Though the battle still rages, the Good New is Jesus has already won! We just need to hook up with him!

Here is what it says in the Book Desire of Ages:

When we surrender to Christ, a new power takes possession of our new heart. A change takes place that no man can ever accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into human nature. The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world, and He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan. But unless we do yield ourselves to the control of Christ, we shall be dominated by the wicked one. 

We must inevitably be under the control of the one or the other of the two great powers that are contending for the supremacy of the world. It is not necessary for us deliberately to choose the service of the kingdom of darkness in order to come under its dominion. We have only to neglect to ally ourselves with the kingdom of light. If we do not co-operate with the heavenly agencies, Satan will take possession of the heart, and will make it his abiding place. The only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness. Unless we become vitally connected with God, we can never resist the unhallowed effects of self-love, self-indulgence, and temptation to sin. We may leave off many bad habits, for the time we may part company with Satan; but without a vital connection with God, through the surrender of ourselves to Him moment by moment, we shall be overcome.—The Desire of Ages, p. 324.

How then can you win? The Answer: Accept, Christ. Jesus has already won!