Christ will give to the dragon the ability to overcome for a brief season the testimony of the saints (Revelation 11:7; 13:7).

The dragon has "seven crowns on his heads." Crowns portray royal authority. God will give a fullness of authority to Satan for a controlled period of time so God's purposes may be executed fully in the earth.

It is not that God is in any sort of alliance with Satan. It is that God, being infinitely superior in wisdom and power, is accomplishing His purposes through the vicious and abominable works of Satan. It is necessary that stumbling blocks come in order that the Kingdom of God may be established in the hearts of men. But woe to those individuals through whom the necessary stumbling blocks come!

If we will resist the temptation to fret and irritate ourselves with the evil in this world, choosing instead to praise God through Christ for the Glory of God that fills the whole earth, God will cause the evil things to work together for our good. All that takes place will serve to conform us to the image of His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. (Revelation 12:4)

If the "stars of heaven" mentioned here are angels, then this is a terrible event indeed. For the angels appear to be very great in number. One-third of that number, including some of the highest-ranking angels, would be a truly awesome array of spiritual personalities.

These "stars" were dragged down from the heaven and hurled into the earth. What would Satan's motive be in casting his angels down to the earth when he is going to need all of them for the coming fight with Michael?

Perhaps Satan just lashed out in rage, but this would not be a suitable action on the part of someone possessing perfect wisdom.

Satan has no authority to drag down the elect angels who perform God's will, and it makes no sense for Satan to cast down to earth a third of his own army.

We know from the Scriptures that the saints on the earth have the authority in Christ to bind and to loose the things in the heavenlies. Whatever the saints loose or bind on earth is loosed or bound in the heavens.

Perhaps Satan, by hurling into the earth this vast number of angels, is hoping to overcome the saints on the earth while he himself struggles against the spiritual life of the saints that are already in Heaven at the right hand of God. He accuses them there, in the Presence of God, while the rebellious and wicked princes of darkness tempt the saints on the earth.

To be continued.