A Conquered Foeಮಾದರಿ

Jesus’ Blood Has Prevailed

v11: And 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.

The chapter goes on to talk about a war between the angels Satan and Michael. Satan was defeated and he and his angels were cast down to the earth. The timeline of this war is a little confusing. Verse 11 says that they conquered him by the blood of the Lamb, which would make it appear that this was after Jesus' death. But we know from the Old Testament that Satan was active on earth even before this time. There is also a puzzling verse in Revelation 13:8 that reads (in some translations) that the Lamb was slain before the foundations of the earth. Timelines in heaven don't seem to match with timelines on earth. But while the sequence may seem unclear, the key truth remains: Jesus' death on the cross played, and continues to play, a decisive role in Satan's defeat.

Hebrews 2:14-15 says, "Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” This affirms that it was by his death that Jesus destroyed Satan and broke his hold over us. Again Hebrews 9:11-12 says, "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption." Our place in God's kingdom was secured by Jesus' death.

Now the death didn't look like victory at the time that it happened. It looked like the enemy had won. His disciples mourned, believing that all their hopes had been crushed (Luke 24:21). But then the resurrection happened and what looked like defeat turned out to be victory after all.

And the means of Jesus's victory brings us reassurance, not just because it was the means of our salvation, but also because it shows us that what looks like defeat in the eyes of the world can be turned into a victory by God. When Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, it looked like defeat. But God used that as a steppingstone to making Joseph the right-hand of Pharaoh. When the church in Jerusalem faced persecution and Christians had to flee their homes, it might have felt like defeat to them. But through this exodus of people from Jerusalem, the gospel quickly spread to all the surrounding regions. What looks like defeat in the eyes of the world can be turned for victory in the kingdom of God.

How do you respond when faced with difficult situations? Do you think that being victorious in Christ means never facing hardship or do you trust that God will use even these to accomplish his plans and purposes? Do you become bitter against those who harm you or do you recognize that nothing can happen to you unless God permits it so that we can say like Joseph, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good... (Genesis 50:20)"?