“The Dreaded Generation”
In Revelation chapter twelve the spiritual
battle of the ages is seen involving Satan the eternal enemy of God and God’s chosen
people Israel. At the very end of the chapter “The Dreaded Generation”
is introduced: “And the dragon was
wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God
and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Revelation 12:17)
These faithful Jews called “The remnant of her seed” are scattered
throughout the planet and are the generation that will be greatly dreaded by
the devil himself because the Lord will give His people increased spiritual
power in abundance according to Revelation 12:10:
“And I heard a loud
voice saying in heaven: Now is come salvation, and strength, and the Kingdom of
our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast
down, which accused them before our God day and night.”
At this point in time, the midpoint of the
70th Week, these Jews called the remnant or rest of her seed are
found within the church, the body of Jesus Christ. The 144 Thousand who are
later sealed before the Rapture and the Day of the Lord are part of this group
of faithful Jews but the majority of these believers will not be in the land of
Israel which is alluded to in Revelation chapter seven:
“And after these
things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel
ascending from the east, having the seal
of the living God; and he cried with a loud
voice to the four angels, to who it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not
the earth, neither the sea, nor
the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” (Revelation 7:1-3)
There are a total of sixteen different
characters or people groups mentioned in Scripture who play a part in the
second half of the 70th Week of Daniel which is when Revelation 11,
12, 13, 14 and Daniel 7, 8, 11, 12 take place:
1.
The Woman (Revelation 12:1ff)
2.
The Dragon and his Angels (Revelation 12:3)
3.
The Man Child [Messiah/Son of God] (Revelation 12:5)
4.
Michael and his Angels (Revelation 12:7)
5.
The Overcomers (Revelation 12:11)
6.
The Inhabitants of the Earth (Revelation 12:12)
7.
The Overcome (Revelation 13:7; Daniel 7:21, 25)
8.
The Remnant [Rest] of Her Seed (Revelation 12:17)
9.
The Fallen Away/Jews who forsake the holy covenant (Daniel 11:30; II Thessalonians 2:3)
10.
The Many Jews who are instructed (Daniel 11:33)
11.
The Jews that do know their God and understand/are wise (Daniel 11:32-35; 12:3)
12.
The Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:3-12)
13.
The Antichrist (Revelation 13:1-10; Daniel 7, 8, 11)
14.
The False Prophet (Revelation 13:11-18)
15.
The 144 Thousand (Revelation 7:1-8, 9:4, 12:17, 14:1-5, 17:14)
16.
The Lamb/The Peace/Our Peace (Revelation 14:1; Micah 5:5; Ephesians 2:14)
However, the 144 Thousand, the mightily
prepared young men will be greatly dreaded by the dragon and his angels because
of their great spiritual prowess due to this increased access to the Throne of
God which will be given to all believers during that time. This increased access
comes about after the devil and his angel’s access to the Throne of God is
eliminated when they are cast out of heaven into the earth by Michael the
archangel and his angels: “And there was war
in heaven, Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and the dragon
fought and his angels, and prevailed not, neither was their place found any
more in heaven.” (Revelation 12:7)
The devil turns up his affliction of the
saints in that day which is called “great
tribulation such as was not from beginning of the world to this time, no nor
ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21). But, notice what the Lord does to counter
the devil’s “great wrath” (Revelation
12:12):
“And I heard a loud
voice saying in heaven, Now is
come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom
of our God, and the power of His Christ for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they
overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony: and they
loved not their lives unto the death” (Revelation 12:10, 11)
The word “Now” indicates there
will be a change in the warfare blessings listed in these verses for in that
day the Lord will allow His servants increased access to His Throne where all
authority and power reside. This change created at the throne of God by Michael
the archangel’s victory is the reason this increased warfare blessing will take
place for all heaven rejoices at this great turn of events: “Therefore rejoice,
ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhibiters of the earth and
of the sea, for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he
knows that he has but a short time.” (Revelation 12:12)
Now, the Lord’s “Salvation” or deliverance, as this word emphasizes in this passage,
will be as the days of old when He gave David the supernatural physical ability
to win battles time and again as witnessed in the book of Psalms. In like
manner, in that day, He will deliver those warriors of the Cross who serve Him
during this time of maximum persecution from the great enemy of their soul when
affliction, tribulation, persecution and martyrdom is at its zenith.
But, the devil will no longer be able to
accuse them before the Throne of God and the Lord will deliver and preserve His
servants that they might fight and win the battle bringing forth their complete
ministry as priests unto God as they get the victory by mediating on behalf of
those “Souls for Jesus” whom God will call in that day! “Souls for Jesus” must
be our continuing battle cry today as the Coming of the Lord draws near!
This deliverance is only the beginning of
the Lord’s increased spiritual blessings for His warriors as He will also give
the “Strength” of His Holy Spirit in
great measure. This word “Strength”
is the Greek word ‘dunamis’ which is usually translated “Power”. The source of all true ministry must come from the power
of the Lord’s Spirit for “Without Him we
can do nothing” (John 15:5). “Not by might nor by power but by My Spirit says
the Lord of Hosts!”(Zechariah 4:6).
In
addition there will be increased access and awareness of the Kingdom of God for
His eternal Kingdom is operating at the present hour but in order to be aware of
His working believers must be aware of His moving in their midst. In that day
the Lord will give His servants increased ability through His Holy Spirit to
“See” the Kingdom of God operating in their midst!
The last of these spiritual blessings “The power of His Christ” is the most necessary blessing of all for as
mentioned above without the Lord Jesus Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5)!
God will shed forth the power of His Anointed One in great abundance in that
day which will supply His servants exactly what they need to get the victory
during the most intense period of persecution God’s people will experience.
Notice in Revelation 12:11 exactly how
these warriors of the Cross get the victory. Yes, it is by utilizing the
precious Blood of our Savior, the Lamb of God, our Lord Jesus Christ: “And they overcame him [The devil] by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the
word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
All
three of these spiritual weapons must be employed in order for the Christian to
get the victory over the devil:
1. The Blood of the Lamb [Giving complete access to the Throne of God]
2. The Word of their Testimony [Blamelessness/personal holiness]
3. The Fully Surrendered Life [The loved not their lives unto death]
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