Written by Nab B.
May 6, 2022
Updated Oct 5, 2026
"And there was war in heaven . . .
And the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; Neither was their place found any more in heaven."
Revelation 12:7-8
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First, let me define "war" and "heaven" in Revelation 12:7. Then you will see their true meaning, which, frankly, is the opposite of what most churches teach.
If this roused your curiosity, please read on; you won't be disappointed, I promise!
First, logic tells us that the "war in heaven" could not be a literal war. IT IS A SPIRITUAL WAR of cosmic importance fought here on earth. I kindly ask you to ditch the silly idea that Satan or anyone else could wage a literal war against Almighty God, or Christ, or their heavenly angels.
The war in heaven was simply Satan's desperate attempt against God to stop the Messiah Jesus here on earth from overcoming sin and death and rescuing mankind from their dominion.
"Heaven" in Revelation 12 does not refer to a literal place somewhere above our skies. It is God's realm, dominion, or kingdom; the abode of God with His Son, His heavenly angels, and hear this carefully: even His true believers on earth. And just in case you think I'm making this up, let me prove it. When Jesus walked the earth, he referred to himself as "from above," or "from heaven, "He said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world." (John 8:23
Similarly, true believers, while on earth, live in this spiritual realm of God called heaven: "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Eph 2:6)
Many Christians insist that we are going to be taken to a location in heaven. I have no problems with this claim. But the fact is that no one knows. What we know is that true believers are ALREADY in God's spiritual heaven when they are "born from above," or "born again," even though they are still on earth.
In Eden, the same devil in Revelation 12 had previously waged a war against Adam and Eve. It was a spiritual war in which he had won for a season. Ever since, humans on earth have been ruled by sin and death, separated from God. "Day and night", Satan exploited sin, accusing the people of God continually, until the "second Adam," the Christ, arrived.
A second and fiercer war ensued against Jesus, lest sin and death, which satan kindled, be removed from the world. This spiritual war was "the enmity" predestined in Genesis 3:15. Upon Jesus' birth, the war was in full steam, culminating and ending on the cross.
"And the LORD God said unto the serpent...I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
Revelation 12 reveals how Christ and his messengers (his earthly followers) won this "war in heaven":
"They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death." (Rev 12:11)
Satan and his earthly cohorts were defeated when they killed and spilt the innocent blood of Christ. They didn't see that coming! His death was the deadly weapon, the "crushing" defeat that disarmed the enemy, unaware!
In human wars, death means defeat. In celestial wars, faithful death means victory! Christ death fulfilled perfectly God's justice and showed His mercy. Satan's strongholds, sin and death, were finally crushed under Christ feet on the cross. (See Genesis 3:15)
"That through death he (Christ) might destroy him (the adversary) that had the power of death, that is, the devil (slanderer)." (Heb 2:14)
With sin crushed and death gone, those who put faith in Christ are counted victors. Yet, victory is realized only when one is born of the Spirit to be admitted into the realm of God, the Kingdom of heaven, where sin and death no longer exist.
What about the figurative lower realm of earth and sea? Sin still lurks in these realms where deceived believers (earth) and unbelievers (sea) choose to stay! Into these two realms, the Devil and his earthly cohorts (messengers) are cast down to deceive those who do not love truth, as attested by these verses:
"Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea [lower realm of the flesh]! For the devil is come down unto you." (Rev 12:12)
"And the great dragon (the deceiver) was cast out, that old serpent called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world, he was cast out into the earth (soulish, carnal realm), and his angels (messengers of deception) cast out with him." (Rev 12:9)
"The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thess 2:11-12) ESV
Since Christ's death and resurrection, the gathering of believers has been progressing, transferring them, one by one, generation after generation, from the realm of the earth and sea to the realm of heaven; from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, from the salvery of sin to the freedom of God's sons.
"And I, if I be lifted up (Christ's death and resurrection) from the earth (lower realm), will draw all men unto me (to the higher realm of the spirit)." (John 12:32)
Equipped for what it takes to conquer the war on sin and death, we are lifted to heaven by "the blood of the Lamb," where the deceivers have no power over us.
"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4)