The War in Heaven on Resurrection Sunday
Many Christians do not realize God cast Lucifer and his angels out of heaven twice! They were cast out before Earth was created and on Resurrection Sunday. The Bible does not mention any war when Lucifer and his followers were cast out the first time; the Father simply cast them out by the power of His word.(Luke 10:18) Their exit happened so fast they had no time to respond. “Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.” (Ezekiel 28:17)
After Adam and Eve sinned, Lucifer became the prince of this world. As such, he and some of his angels were permitted to attend administrative meetings in heaven concerning Earth. At one meeting, Jesus and the devil had a discussion about Job. “One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, ‘Where have you come from?’ Satan answered the Lord, From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.’ Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.’ ‘Does Job fear God for nothing?’ Satan replied. ‘Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.’ ”(Job 1:6-11)
When the loyal angels saw Lucifer’s attempt to kill baby Jesus at birth, they knew Jesus was on a dangerous mission. Later, when the devil offered the world to Jesus if He would bow down and worship him,(Luke 4:7) the heavenly angels realized Lucifer coveted the worship that belonged to Jesus. They immediately recognized his lies and the arguments he had used to conceal his true motive. After the holy angels witnessed the cruelty Lucifer inflicted on Jesus before going to the cross, outrageous indignation filled heaven! If there had been an ounce of sympathy remaining among heaven’s angels for Lucifer and their fallen friends, it vanished at the cross.
Dethroning the Prince of This World
Have you ever wondered why Jesus ascended to heaven early on resurrection morning only to return to Earth that afternoon? (Luke24:13-31) Or, what the devil and his angels were doing in heaven that morning? After He was resurrected, Jesus was immediately summoned to heaven to publicly and legitimately dethrone Lucifer as “the prince of this world.” (John 12:31) Lucifer and his powerful demons had done everything possible to keep this from happening, but Jesus had decisively defeated them, “fair and square.”
Imagine the following proceedings with me. Jesus’ triumph was cause for a victory parade heaven had not ever witnessed! Billions of holy angels lined both sides of the golden boulevard that entered the Holy City and led to the Father’s throne. The angelic host on one side of the street sang out and the other group responded with adoration and praise:
“Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty – He is the King of glory.” (Psalm 24:7-10)
When the procession accompanying Jesus reached the Father’s throne there was a pause and, for the fourth time since Jesus was born of Mary, the Father spoke. He bestowed His approval of Jesus saying, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:17) The rejoicing that followed this declaration was greater than anything that had ever happened in heaven. Spontaneously, the joyous angels erupted, singing the processional over and over. Jubilation and applause followed. Jesus’ victory could not be celebrated enough.
(Continued)
Many Christians do not realize God cast Lucifer and his angels out of heaven twice! They were cast out before Earth was created and on Resurrection Sunday. The Bible does not mention any war when Lucifer and his followers were cast out the first time; the Father simply cast them out by the power of His word.(Luke 10:18) Their exit happened so fast they had no time to respond. “Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.” (Ezekiel 28:17)
After Adam and Eve sinned, Lucifer became the prince of this world. As such, he and some of his angels were permitted to attend administrative meetings in heaven concerning Earth. At one meeting, Jesus and the devil had a discussion about Job. “One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, ‘Where have you come from?’ Satan answered the Lord, From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.’ Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.’ ‘Does Job fear God for nothing?’ Satan replied. ‘Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.’ ”(Job 1:6-11)
When the loyal angels saw Lucifer’s attempt to kill baby Jesus at birth, they knew Jesus was on a dangerous mission. Later, when the devil offered the world to Jesus if He would bow down and worship him,(Luke 4:7) the heavenly angels realized Lucifer coveted the worship that belonged to Jesus. They immediately recognized his lies and the arguments he had used to conceal his true motive. After the holy angels witnessed the cruelty Lucifer inflicted on Jesus before going to the cross, outrageous indignation filled heaven! If there had been an ounce of sympathy remaining among heaven’s angels for Lucifer and their fallen friends, it vanished at the cross.
Dethroning the Prince of This World
Have you ever wondered why Jesus ascended to heaven early on resurrection morning only to return to Earth that afternoon? (Luke24:13-31) Or, what the devil and his angels were doing in heaven that morning? After He was resurrected, Jesus was immediately summoned to heaven to publicly and legitimately dethrone Lucifer as “the prince of this world.” (John 12:31) Lucifer and his powerful demons had done everything possible to keep this from happening, but Jesus had decisively defeated them, “fair and square.”
Imagine the following proceedings with me. Jesus’ triumph was cause for a victory parade heaven had not ever witnessed! Billions of holy angels lined both sides of the golden boulevard that entered the Holy City and led to the Father’s throne. The angelic host on one side of the street sang out and the other group responded with adoration and praise:
“Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty – He is the King of glory.” (Psalm 24:7-10)
When the procession accompanying Jesus reached the Father’s throne there was a pause and, for the fourth time since Jesus was born of Mary, the Father spoke. He bestowed His approval of Jesus saying, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:17) The rejoicing that followed this declaration was greater than anything that had ever happened in heaven. Spontaneously, the joyous angels erupted, singing the processional over and over. Jubilation and applause followed. Jesus’ victory could not be celebrated enough.
(Continued)