The war between God and Satan is not a war of authority or power but of truth. Satan's authority was destroyed on the cross of Calvary. God always retains all power. Satan has no power except what is given to him by the Lord. Satan must work in terms of deception. He must persuade people to believe a lie. Otherwise he can accomplish nothing.

Before Satan can be cast down from his place in the heaven there must be saints who conquer him. How do the saints wage war against the great deceiver? The saints overcome the deceiver, the great red dragon, in three ways:

By the blood of the Lamb.

By the word of their testimony.

By loving not their life unto the death.

Satan attempts constantly to keep the believers under condemnation. We overcome his accusations by trusting in the perfect work of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus. There is no condemnation resting on those who are abiding in Jesus because of His blood, the blood of the Lamb, that made an eternal atonement for our sins.

We overcome Satan's accusation by the word of our testimony. Satan always is raising questions concerning the Word of God. As the saints hold firmly to the Word, no matter what the physical circumstances suggest, they overcome the accuser. We are to proclaim what God proclaims in every situation. No matter how hopeless the outlook may be we are to stand fast on the statements found in the Scriptures. Every part of the Word of God is totally true and always will be fulfilled.

We cannot overcome Satan with our traditions. We must overcome Satan by declaring the absolute truth of all God has said.

It also is necessary we love not our life to the death. In order for us to conquer the accuser we must endure to the end. We must place our treasures in Heaven and our hopes beyond the grave. We must give God everything. If we attempt to save our life in any area, in any matter, we cannot overcome Satan. He will keep returning to the one relationship, the one circumstance, the one thing we refuse to give to God. We then will lose our crown because no idolater can rule with Christ.

God has His saints who will overcome Satan in each of these three areas. As soon as they do, Michael will receive the power to hurl Satan and his followers from the heavens into the earth.

The victory brought about by the conquering saints will cleanse the heavens. Reconciliation to God will begin in the heavens.

Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. (Revelation 12:12)

Satan's anger had been directed at those who dwell in the heavens.

And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. (Revelation 13:6)

To be continued.