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“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:11-16).​“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4-6).

​“Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great. And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh” (Revelation 19:19-21).

​“Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:7-10).

​As I continue to ready, study and meditate upon these particular chapters within the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ I can’t help but be caught up in the tremendous significance and truth that is contained within them. When reading the twelfth and twentieth chapters respectably, I can’t help but notice that with each successive casting forth and casting out of the dragon—both out of heaven and from the earth—his activity was sorely and severely impacted. When the great dragon along with his angels were cast forth out of heaven not only was his ability to wage war in heaven completely shattered and cut off, but also his ability to accuse the saints and brethren before the throne of God. When Satan was once and for all cast forth out of heaven and cast into the earth he not only lost his place within that realm, but his activity was directly impacted and affected. There is something truly wonderful and remarkable about the dragon’s being cast forth out of heaven and into the earth, for with it his activity was directly impacted and completely disrupted. WHEN THE DRAGON AND HIS ANGELS ARE CAST FORTH THEIR ACTIVITY IS DIRECTLY IMPACTED AND DISRUPTED. I can’t help but find a tremendous amount of hope and encouragement in the twelfth chapter of the book of the Revelation, for within this chapter we not only see the dragon and his angels cast forth, but we also see that their activity can be disrupted and dismantled in specific realms and arenas. The dragon and his angels were cast forth out of heaven both because they could not prevail, and because their place was no longer found within it. It is absolutely imperative that we recognize and understand that when the dragon and his angels can no longer prevail in any specific area within our lives, and when their place is no longer found within that particular area, the only option that is left is to be cast forth and cast down. I am utterly and completely overwhelmed with the reality that when the dragon and his angels were cast forth out of heaven it was completely purged and thoroughly cleansed from his influence and activity. WHEN HEAVEN IS ONCE AND FOR ALL CLEANSED AND PURGED FROM THE ACTIVITY AND PRESENCE OF THE DRAGON.

​This is quite an astounding and remarkable concept and thought when you take the time to consider and meditate upon it. The dragon’s being cast forth out of heaven—along with his angels who were with him—for the twelfth chapter brings us face to face with the reality that it is possible for the dragon and his forces to be cast forth out of specific areas and realms. When the dragon and his angels were cast forth out of heaven their ability to make war against Michael and his angels was completely and totally cut off—unable to ever take place and manifest again. When the adversary was no longer able to make war in heaven—because their place was no longer found within it—his ability to accuse the saints of God before the throne of God was also cut off. I can’t help but wonder and get the strong sense that the war of the dragon in heaven was directly connected to his position to accuse the brethren night and day before the Lord of hosts. Is it possible that the war which the dragon wages in heaven against Michael and his angels is a war to secure his place before the Lord of hosts to accuse His saints? In other words, when you as a saint experience the accusation of the adversary within your life—when you experience the condemnation of the accuser—is it possible that there is a greater conflict and war that is taking place? When the dragon along with his angels were cast forth out of heaven their place and position was impacted, their ability to wage and make war was impacted, and their ability to accuse the brethren was impacted. This particular chapter is utterly and completely remarkable for the not only was the position of the adversary and his forces impacted, but also his activity was impacted. When speaking of spiritual warfare and conflict within the hearts and minds of men it is imperative that we understand that both the activity and the position of the adversary must be impacted and disrupted. It is not enough for the position of the adversary to be affected while leaving the activity of the adversary unaffected. Conversely it is not enough for the activity of the adversary to be affected while leaving his position completely untouched and unaltered. The war which broke out in heaven was undoubtedly fought to not only secure his position in heaven, but also to maintain his activity there as well. In essence, the dragon and his angels will wage war within the hearts and minds of men to secure both their position, as well as their activity. The dragon—along with his angels—is unwilling to lose both their activity and position without putting up a fight and waging war to seek to secure it.

​The dragon and his angels made war in heaven against Michael and his angels in an attempt to secure their place within heaven. They were willing to fight so fiercely and vehemently against Michael and his angels to secure their place in heaven for they knew that to lose their place and position in heaven would severely disrupt their activity. ACTIVITY IS DIRECTLY IMPACTED AND AFFECTED BY POSITION! This reality is true of the dragon and his angels as referenced within this twelfth chapter, and it is also true of us as the saints and servants of the Most High God. Our activity in the earth is directly impacted and affected by our position—our position in Christ, and our position as sons and daughters of the Most High. If the dragon and his angels are willing to put up a fight and wage war to secure their position in heaven to maintain their activity then why are we unwilling to do likewise? The dragon and his angels will put up a fight to maintain their position within the hearts and minds of men and women—a reality that is demonstrated and manifested within the life and ministry of Jesus the Christ. The demonic and evil spirits which took possession of and occupied the lives of various men, women and children weren’t willing to vacate the premises so quickly. When seeking to understand Jesus’ driving forth and casting out unclean and evil spirits from within the lives of those He encountered it is imperative that we understand their willingness to make perhaps one last ditch effort to maintain their ability to occupy the tent—the house and dwelling—which they had been permitted to occupy for so long. The war which the dragon and his angels fought in heaven was a furious and fierce attempt to maintain their position within heaven for they were very much aware that to lose their position in heaven would directly impact and disrupt their activity. Dear brother, dear sister—please take this to heart and mark this well within your spirit, for activity is, has been, and will continue to be directly impacted and affected by position. The dragon and his angels knew what their position and place in heaven had meant—particularly in the realm of accusation of the saints—and they weren’t willing to let it go without a great conflict and struggle.

Perhaps another way to look at and understand this is Pharaoh’s pursuit when he had agreed to release the children of Israel from the land of Egypt after more than four-hundred years of slavery, bondage and oppression. In fact, the ten plagues which struck the land of Egypt were directly connected to Pharaoh’s unwillingness to release the children of Israel with each successive encounter with Moses. It took ten plagues with the final plague being the death of every firstborn of Egypt to break through all the stubbornness, pride, and hard-heartedness of Pharaoh before he was willing to allow the children of Israel to be released from their oppression and bondage. Despite his releasing the children of Israel from their bondage and oppression he engaged and incited his army to pursue them in the wilderness to overtake them at the Red Sea and bring them back into bondage and oppression. Pharaoh pursued the children of Israel in the wilderness and came upon them as they were camped with the Red Sea at their backs and the wilderness before them. Pharaoh’s pursuit of the children of Israel was a final attempt to recapture and take them back into the land of Egypt, and ultimately to enslave and oppress them once more. Of course this reality wasn’t merely manifested through Pharaoh’s enslavement and pursuit of the children of Israel, but also in the various conflicts and wars which the children of Israel had to fight within the land of Canaan after they crossed the Jordan River. Those nations and peoples within the land engaged the children of Israel in furious conflict and battle in an attempt to preserve their place and position within the land. In fact, during the days of Jephthah the children of Israel were opposed by the king of Ammon who sought the peaceable return of land which he felt they improperly seized while journeying through the wilderness and coming into the land east of the Jordan River. Even until the days and time of David who reigned as king there were adversaries which remained in the land unwilling to give up their place and position within the land—the most noted being the Jebusites which occupied what would eventually and ultimately become the city of Jerusalem and the city of David. Please don’t miss the significance and importance of this, for the adversary and his forces will not only fiercely and furiously resist their being displaced to hold on to their position, but they will do so to prevent the establishment of that which the Lord has ordained. The adversary sought to retain their place and position within the land of Canaan—particularly in the area of Jebus—for that was the location where Abraham prepared to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice unto the Lord. It was also in that place where the throne of David would be established, as well as the Temple of the Lord where both the Ark of the Covenant and the holy of holies would be present. To truly and properly understand spiritual warfare and conflict it is imperative that we understand this war in heaven, as well as the various Old Testament conflicts and struggles within the land of Canaan, for the adversary has always sought to preserve and secure both his place and his position within the land.

“…but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the lowland, because they had chariots of iron…But the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem; so the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day…However, Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages; FOR THE CANAANITES WERE DETERMINED TO DWELL IN THAT LAND. And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites under tribute, but did not completely drive them out. Nor did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron or the inhabitants of Nahalol; so the Canaanites dwelt among them, and were put under tribute. Nor did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Acco or the inhabitants of Sidon, or Rehob. So the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out. Nor did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh or the inhabitants of Beth Anath; but they dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath were put under tribute to them. AND THE AMORITES FORCED THE CHILDREN OF DAN INTO THE MOUNTAINS, FOR THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO COME DOWN TO THE VALLEY; AND THE AMORITES WERE DETERMINED TO DWELL IN MOUNT HERES, IN AIJALON, AND IN Shaalbim; yet when the strength of the house of Joseph became greater, they were put under tribute” (Judges 1: 19, 21, 27-35).

These references within the Old Testament book of help to further confirm the reality that the adversary and his forces will engage with all their fury, might and rage to retain and hold on to their position within the land. The nations and peoples within the land of Canaan are a powerful Old Testament example of the tremendous war which broke out in heaven as recorded by the apostle John in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. There is not a doubt in my mind that the dragon and his angels fought furiously and fiercely against Michael and his angels to somehow hold on to and retain their position in heaven. The dragon and his angels sought furiously to wage a bitter war in heaven against Michael and his angels for the dragon knew that if they were displaced the kingdom, the dominion, the authority, the power and the strength of the Lord would be established. “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down” (Revelation 12:10). The voice which spoke from heaven also called the heavens to rejoice because the accuser of our brethren had been cast down, thus losing his place and position within heaven. Undoubtedly they sought to prevent the salvation, the strength, the kingdom of God, and the power of Christ to come and to be established. This reality perhaps best explains the tremendous conflict that began breaking out upon the earth when Israel became a nation among nations once more, for ever since the day of their rebirth the adversary has been mounting furious attacks to not only retain their place and position within the earth, but also to utterly and completely remove Israel from upon it. The war in heaven against Michael and his angels was an attempt to preserve their place and position within heaven, but also to prevent the establishment and coming of the strength, the salvation, the kingdom of God, and the power of Christ. The dragon and his angels fought furiously against the coming of the kingdom of God and against the power of His Christ in heaven, yet how absolutely wonderful and marvelous it is to know that they could not prevail. Despite their furious war and conflict in heaven against Michael and his angels, the dragon and his angels could not prevent the coming of the kingdom of God or the coming of the power of His Christ. Mark this and mark it well beloved—the adversary and his forces will engage in a fierce conflict and battle to secure their position and place within our hearts and lives, and to prevent the coming of the kingdom of God and the power of His Christ.

POSITION DETERMINES ACTIVITY! POSITION DETERMINES AUTHORITY! When the adversary and his forces lost their position and place in heaven, their activity within heaven was once and for all completely and totally destroyed. What’s more, is that when they were dispelled and displaced from heaven their authority within heaven was also destroyed. It’s important and imperative that we recognize and understand this fact, for the same is equally true of us within our own lives. Our place and position [in Christ] not only directly determines our activity in the earth, but also determines our authority in the earth as well. As fiercely and furiously as the adversary and his forces will wage war to secure their place and position within our hearts and minds, we must equally combat their assaults and attacks, as well as to secure our position and place in Christ. The nation and people of Israel not only have to contend with adversaries who want to secure their place and position in the earth, but also against those who would seek to remove them from their place and position in the earth. The nation and people have had to fight many battles, engage in a number of wars and conflicts to preserve their place and position in the earth. Each and every conflict the nation and people of Israel has faced in the almost seventy years they have been in existence has been against adversaries and foes who would seek to sure up their own position and place in the earth and drive out the Jewish people. What a powerful picture this is of the conflict we as the saints and servants of God face within our lives—one which we must continually recognize and acknowledge. The dragon and his angels waged a great war and conflict in heaven to secure their place and position, for by doing so they hoped to preserve their activity and authority in the midst of it. The war which was waged in heaven against Michael and his angels was to preserve their position and place in heaven, and by so doing would also secure their activity. When they could not prevail and were cast out of heaven and into the earth, the dragon sought to persecute the woman, make war with her offspring, and even make war with the saints to destroy the authority they were given upon the earth. By waging war upon the earth against Israel and against the Church the dragon would target those who were given authority and dominion within the earth in order to establish and secure his own. This is evident through the reference of the dragon giving the beast his power, his throne, and his great authority, and through the reference of the beast making war with the saints of God within the earth. The war in heaven against Michael and his angels was directly linked and connected to his activity and authority in heaven while his war in the earth against the saints and Israel was linked to his activity and authority in the earth.

Each time the adversary is cast forth and cast out from particular areas within our hearts, our minds, and even our lives, his activity and authority is directly impacted and affected. Please do not miss the very important fact that the adversary can and will engage in a furious conflict and struggle to retain his place and position within our lives so as to preserve that activity and authority. I must at this moment and juncture say that when it comes to your life as a son of Adam or daughter of Eve—either the adversary will secure his place and position within your life, or you will secure your place and position in Christ. The less the adversary is able to secure his position and place within your life the more you will be free to secure your position and place in Christ. The more you are willing to drive out the adversary and his forces the more you are directly limiting and disrupting his activity and authority within it. I feel the incredibly urge to compel you to examine your life thoroughly and carefully and find those areas where the adversary has secured a place and position, for it’s in those areas where his activity and authority will be manifested. When the adversary was cast forth out of heaven and cast into the earth he lost his place and position to accuse the saints and servants of God. When the adversary was cast into the bottomless pit for a period of one thousand years he lost his place and position [for a season] to deceive the nations. When the adversary was cast from the earth into the lake of fire burning with sulfur and brimstone his activity and authority was altogether destroyed and annihilated. Tell me dear brother, tell me dear sister—are you willing to once and for all cast the adversary, his forces and his influence from those areas in your life he has been occupying in illegally? WHEN THE SERPENT BECOMES A SQUATTER! How appropriate this phrase actually as for any access the adversary and his forces has within our lives is technically illegal—illegal in the sense that they weren’t created to occupy areas within our lives, and we weren’t created to give them access. The serpent is nothing more than a squatter within the lives of men and women—occupying places and positions he was neither created nor intended to occupy. Beloved we must recognize and understand this for if and when we do it has the potential to radically transform not only our concept of spiritual warfare, but also the very outcome of spiritual warfare and conflict within our lives as well. Know this—it is illegal in the kingdom of God for you to allow the adversary and any of his forces access and entrance into any part of your life, and it is illegal for the adversary and any of his forces to occupy those parts.

​The twelfth and twentieth chapters of the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ must examined together, for these chapters bring us face to face with the powerful reality that the dragon will not only be cast forth out of and removed from heaven, but will eventually and ultimately be removed from the earth as well. Scripture makes it perfectly clear that there will come a point in time when the adversary will not only have no place or position in heaven, but will have no place or position on the earth. The adversary’s being bound and cast into the bottomless pit for one thousand years is but a picture—a foretaste if you will—of what the earth was originally created and intended to be. These thousand years provide us with a powerful picture of the ultimate design and purpose of the Lord of hosts—to live and reign with His people upon the earth in complete fellowship, intimacy and communion. It’s absolutely wonderful to read concerning the thousand years that the Word of God lived and reigned with the saints upon the earth for one thousand years. THE WORD OF GOD LIVING WITH THE SAINTS! THE WORD OF GOD LIVING AMONG THE SAINTS! THE WORD OF GOD REIGNING WITH THE SAINTS! THE WORD OF GOD REIGNING AMONG THE SAINTS! This period of one thousand years and everything it suggests and speaks of can be experienced and enjoyed even before that time. It is possible for us as saints and servants of the Most High God to experience a life where the adversary no longer has any place or position within our lives, and therefore his activity and authority is utterly broken and destroyed. It is possible for us as saints and servants of the Most High God to experience the divine and eternal Word of God living among and reigning among us in our midst. It is possible for us as the saints and servants of the Most High god to experience the divine and eternal Word of God living and reigning within us. Note that the adversary will not be defeated once for all until the saints of God are living and reigning with Christ upon the earth. When you begin to live [and move and have your being] in and with Christ, and when you begin to reign with Christ upon the earth [in your home, in your marriage, in your community, at your job] the course has been set for the adversary to once and for all be utterly and completely destroyed. We do not need to wait for the one thousand years of Christ upon the earth—the one thousand years when the saints and servants of God live and reign with the Word of God—to experience the fruit of such a reality. We bear a tremendous responsibility to allow the Word of God to live and reign within us and among us, as well as a tremendous responsibility to live and reign with the eternal Word of God in the here and now in this generation. Oh that we would rise up and engage the adversary in a conflict and struggle he himself seeks to be a part of in order that we cast him forth from his place and position within our hearts and lives, and by so doing we begin to secure our place and position in Christ, in heavenly places, and in the earth.

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