THIS MEANS WAR! (19 OF 29)
by Keith Krell
Scripture: Revelation 12:1-8
This content is part of a series.
This Means War! (19 of 29)
Series: Live Like You're Leaving
Keith Krell
Revelation 12:1-17
In my first pastorate, the church that I served was involved in the community outreach, ''Heaven's Gates and Hell's Flames.'' At the conclusion of this powerful drama, I was walking out when a boy about eight-years old approached me and said, ''Are you Satan?'' (I had black hair and a narrowly cropped black goatee and was wearing a long, bright red jacket). I slowly turned to him and gave my best satanic scare, complete with a diabolical laugh. He was severely startled. Fortunately, I didn't scare him too badly because I was quickly able to inform him that I was a pastor who just happened to look like Satan.
Obviously, this young boy was badly mistaken in his idea of Satan. Apparently, he expected Satan to be an extremely good-looking man with a red cape-like jacket. He likely assumed that beneath my jacket I had horns and a pitchfork. This poor little guy bought into the stereotypical image of Satan. Yet, he's to be commended because he at least believed in a literal Devil. Conversely, 60% of Americans say that Satan isn't a living being but merely a symbol of evil. Worse yet, 40% of American born-again Christians concur. We are falling victim to Satan's greatest deception: to convince us that he doesn't exist.
Yet, the Bible insists that Satan is a powerful, literal, supernatural being who must be taken seriously. From cover to cover, the Bible warns us that we're in a war! But our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers of darkness (Eph 6:12). Hence, we must ''know our enemy.'' If we fail to know and understand Satan, we'll fall prey to his surprise attacks and lose many earthly battles. In order to avoid this prospect, Rev 12:1-17 imparts three critical facts.
1. God preserves His people (12:1-6). The original promise keeper will protect believers from Satan's schemes. In 12:1-2 John writes: ''A great sign appeared in heaven: a ...
Series: Live Like You're Leaving
Keith Krell
Revelation 12:1-17
In my first pastorate, the church that I served was involved in the community outreach, ''Heaven's Gates and Hell's Flames.'' At the conclusion of this powerful drama, I was walking out when a boy about eight-years old approached me and said, ''Are you Satan?'' (I had black hair and a narrowly cropped black goatee and was wearing a long, bright red jacket). I slowly turned to him and gave my best satanic scare, complete with a diabolical laugh. He was severely startled. Fortunately, I didn't scare him too badly because I was quickly able to inform him that I was a pastor who just happened to look like Satan.
Obviously, this young boy was badly mistaken in his idea of Satan. Apparently, he expected Satan to be an extremely good-looking man with a red cape-like jacket. He likely assumed that beneath my jacket I had horns and a pitchfork. This poor little guy bought into the stereotypical image of Satan. Yet, he's to be commended because he at least believed in a literal Devil. Conversely, 60% of Americans say that Satan isn't a living being but merely a symbol of evil. Worse yet, 40% of American born-again Christians concur. We are falling victim to Satan's greatest deception: to convince us that he doesn't exist.
Yet, the Bible insists that Satan is a powerful, literal, supernatural being who must be taken seriously. From cover to cover, the Bible warns us that we're in a war! But our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers of darkness (Eph 6:12). Hence, we must ''know our enemy.'' If we fail to know and understand Satan, we'll fall prey to his surprise attacks and lose many earthly battles. In order to avoid this prospect, Rev 12:1-17 imparts three critical facts.
1. God preserves His people (12:1-6). The original promise keeper will protect believers from Satan's schemes. In 12:1-2 John writes: ''A great sign appeared in heaven: a ...
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