Warfare in heaven. The images that pop in my head involve superhero movies, with massive explosions, bizarre creatures zipping through the galaxy, and worlds melting—a fun bit of entertainment.

In Revelation we read of the real thing. Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. The battle turned against the rebellious ones. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.

Satan’s enters the story of humanity at the beginning and remains to the end. In the book of Job, we see Satan manipulating circumstances to entice a good man to curse God and die. In our day, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, look for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Satan left the heavens to wage war against those who keep God’s commands and hold fast to their testimony about Jesus.

Satan comes after believers. Hard to imagine such evil exists until, of course, you take a close look around the world. I find it hard to believe in demons, but if I believe in angels, then belief in devils must follow. The Bible clearly speaks of both.

To our salvation, Satan melts before the living God. Jesus showed his power over demons again and again. As believers we are told we should resist the devil, by standing firm in the faith (1 Peter 5:9). Martin Luther claimed to have fended off the devil by throwing a handful of his feces at him. I cannot recommend this practice, but resist in whatever way works for you.

A career that began in the heavens eventually ends in a pit. But in the meantime Satan, the patron saint of psychopaths, walks our world enraged and effective. Let us resist him, stand firm in our faith, and hold fast to our testimony about Jesus.

Revelation 12 in week fifty in reading the Bible cover to cover.

Photo by Austrian National Library of World War One destruction to the altar in the church of Segusino