The final victory of the Church, when Christ returns, is coming and always remains the ultimate source of the Christian’s final joy. It also is the real reason for our Christmas joy.
Did Satan quit and did he surrender when Christ was victorious in Bethlehem and on Golgotha? Does Evil ever surrender? Listen to what we read in Rev 12:12: “Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."
Joy in heaven: Jesus has come, the accuser is gone.
Woe on earth – the devil/serpent/dragon has come. Satan cannot attack Jesus anymore. After the death and resurrection of Jesus, he no longer has a job as accuser. As a result, he attacks the church on earth, instead.
In Rev 12 we learn about a woman who is a sign of the Church. And the message is that the woman, the church of the Lord, remains under attack until the King is coming again. She is under attack for 1,260 days. We see this number more often in Revelation. It is the 42 months and the "time, times and half a time” that the Revelation speaks about. That is the length of time that the woman, the Church, is under attack, but God protects her.
The church is under attack from the ascension until the return of Jesus, but God protects her always.
That is what this is all about. (cf verses 6, 14, 15,16). This is why we always look forward to the return of Christ: To finally end the attack. And our expectation of the final victory of Jesus remains our comfort, our inspiration and our dailybsource of joy – Christ Jesus remains victorious and is ultimately victorious. Our enemy is beaten. Whatever can try to steal our joy in Christ has been beaten in Bethlehem and on Golgotha.
Take courage. The reason for Satan’s fury is that he knows his time is short. And he knows he was defeated by the Child - both in Bethlehem and on Calvary and in heaven! "He is filled with fury because he knows that his time is short" and his judgement remains forever (Rev 12:12).
Yet we who acclaim the coming of the King during Advent and celebrate his glorious birth during Christmas, are filled with joy, because we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus!
We celebrate the birth of the Infant-King as people who were set free by the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. We celebrate as people who look forward to the magnificent wedding feast of the Messiah!
We celebrate as victors in Christ should do! We are and always remain under the protection of the Infant-King - who is the King of heaven and earth - now and forever!
This is why we celebrate his coming to us with heavenly joy!
This the reason why we rejoice in Christ’s victory every day.
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