The Book of Revelation states that Satan is cast down to the earth and knows his time is short (Rev 12:12), so what does this mean? When was Satan cast down to the earth?
Satan’s Cast Down
The Son casts the rebels out of Heaven. 1866 Illustration by Gustave Doré for John Milton’s Paradise Lost.
The Book of Revelation states that Satan is cast down to the earth and knows his time is short, so what does this mean? When was Satan cast down to the earth? The verse this question comes from is from Revelation12:12 which states, “Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” First of all, a voice from heaven tells the Apostle John why we rejoice but Satan mourns as does the whole earth (except for believers).
A Voice From Heaven
Revelation chapter 12 speaks about the voice from heaven that John heard and called on all of creation to rejoice. The Devil’s defeat and banishment from heaven was an occasion of great joy, but at the same time, the voice pronounced a woe to the earth and sea because the Devil was confined to the earth. And that is bad news for those on earth. Even further, the Devil knew his time was short and that soon he would be confined to the bottomless pit and then to the lake of fire. Since he apparently knows the end times better than theologians, and knows that he has only a short time before God’s judgment comes, so what will he do? Since this is Satan, we know he’ll do as much damage as he can with the short amount of time that he has left. Of course, Satan will go after Christians…the nearest thing to God he can hurt since, eventually, “…the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Rev 20:10).
Satan’s Future is Sealed
At about this point in time, Satan knows he only has 1,260 days, which may be the second half of the tribulation, so he’s going to vent his fury like never before. Even though Satan is not omniscient or all-knowing as God is, he knows the Scriptures well enough to know his time is about up. He will use these last days in a futile attempt to have believers deny God by their silence. He knows the Scripture foretells his appointed doom, with an impending eternal judgment. The question because, how will he vent his fury in the second half of the tribulation? Revelation 12:13–17 and Revelation 13:1–18 give the answer and its terrible news for the occupants of earth. For those who have trusted in Christ, no harm shall befall them.
Ramped Up Persecution
Persecution comes from those who hate the Gospel and will do anything in their power to stop it’s spread, even if it means death to those who share Christ. This is Satan’s main agenda today; to make war with the saints and to try and destroy the nation of Israel. Even in our day, several Canadian pastors (and others around the world) have been imprisoned for reading the Bible to their church but then the authorities will call it “hate speech.” Society at large is increasing allergic to anything to do with Jesus, God or the Bible, and those who quote Scripture showing the sexually immoral will not be in the Kingdom (1 Cor 6:9-10; Gal 5:21; Eph 5:5; Rev 21:8, 22:15) are censored or banned on social medias. To be arrested for saying in public what the Bible says – for things that we believe in – is a growing menace in this nation. Satan hates the truth and has been a liar from the very beginning (John 8:44).
Muzzling Preachers
Where freedom of speech and religion used to flourish around the world, it now barely exists. Untold numbers of people have been forced to quit or stop preaching about Christ in public or leave the area (or be arrested). In other nations people die every day for their faith or by even owning a Bible. One city police officer called evangelizing, “disturbing the peace.” Some pastors have even been arrested at their pulpit even while they were preaching!! And the persecution is only going to grow worse as Christ’s second coming approaches. Perhaps this is evidence that Satan knows his time is short and he is ramping up his efforts it silence Christians and ban the Bible (Rev 12:12).
Satan Disarmed
Revelation 12:10 says, “And 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 brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.” Satan and his demons were disarmed at the cross (Col 2:15) and he can no longer, after Jesus’ death on the cross, accuse believers again (Rom 8:35-39). It is because “they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death” (12:11). This is why they are told to “Rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short” (Rev 12:12). Anyone who has not trusted in Christ has every reason to fear this “woe.”
No More Accusations
Remember that Satan is accusing believers before the throne all the time, and he’s right. This may be the only time Satan tells the truth. He is right…we still sin and deserve God’s judgment, but when Christ came and suffered on the cross as the sacrificial substitute, and then the wrath of God for sinners was poured out upon Him. God’s justice was satisfied in Christ, therefore Satan had no more arguments he could make against believers. Satan can no longer bring any legitimate accusation against those for whom Christ died because there isn’t any basis for his accusations against the saints. This is only because the penalty that they deserved was exacted on Christ during the Passion and the cross, so the Apostle Paul’s rhetorical question of, “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect” is answered in the second part of that verse where he says, “It is God who justifies” (Rom 8:33). Since God justifies us through Christ, all charges have been dropped…even those accusations by Satan himself.
Conclusion
I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.
Here is some related reading for you: Revelation Summary and Commentary; Key Verses
Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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