SUMMARY
In this vision an angelic army fights a satanic one, led by Satan, the great dragon. Satan’s defeat explains his fury and confirms God’s power over him.
ANALYSIS
War breaks out in heaven, and Satan is thrown down by the archangel Michael and his allies. This great conflict occurs after the MessiahThe Messiah was the one who, it was believed, would come to free the people of Israel from bondage and exile. In Jewish thought the Messiah is the anticipated one who will come, as prophesied by Isaiah. In Christian thought Jesus of Nazareth is identified... More is taken up to God’s throne. It was understood that Satan once was able to make accusations against people before God (Job 1:6-12), but after Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension, Satan has been barred from the heavenly throne room. Moreover, the vision shows that Satan lashes out on the earth because he is angry at having lost out in heaven. Satan is like a caged animal who tries to do as much damage as possible in the space he has available. Evil is present and active on earth, but it is not all-powerful.According to some Christian traditions, Satan rebelled against God and was thrown out of heaven at the beginning of time. This is a way of explaining how evil came into the world that was created to be good. For some, it accounts for the presence of the serpentA serpent is described as the snake who tricked Eve into disobeying God in the Garden of Eden. Elsewhere a serpent appears in narratives relating to Moses, in the Psalms, and in Isaiah. Jesus invoked the image of serpents and snakes in his preaching; and... More who tempted EveThe name of the first woman, wife of Adam. More in the Garden of Eden. The story of Satan’s fallThe Fall refers specifically to the disobedience of Adam and Eve when they listened to Satan rather than adhering to God's command not to eat the fruit from the tree. When people act contrary to God's will, they are said to fall from from grace... More at the beginning of time is not actually found in the Bible, although it is based in part on IsaiahIsaiah, son of Amoz, who prophesied in Jerusalem, is included among the prophets of the eighth century BCE (along with Amos, Hosea, and Micah)--preachers who boldly proclaimed God's word of judgment against the economic, social, and religious disorders of their time. More 14:12-15, which compares an arrogant tyrant to a star falling from heaven.
