A WAR IN HEAVEN

The preceding chapter  in this book explained that Jesus Christ became King in heaven in the year 1914.  (Daniel 7:13, 14) Soon after he received the Kingdom power, Jesus took action.  "War broke out in heaven," says the Bible.  "Michael [another name for Jesus] and his angels battled with  the dragon [Satan the Devil], and the dragon and its angels battled."  Satan and his wicked angels, the demons, lost that war and were  cast out of heaven to the earth.  God's faithful spirit sons rejoiced that Satan and his demons were gone.  Humans, however, would experience no such joy.  Instead, the Bible foretold:  "Woe for the earth . . .because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time." -Revelation 12:7, 9, 12.

Please notice what would result from the war in heaven. In his fury, Satan would bring woe, or trouble, upon those on earth.  As you will see, we are now living in that time of woe.  But it will be relatively brief-only "a short period of time." (but that is in God's version of time, which is different from ours) Even Satan realizes that.  The Bible  refers to this period as "the last days." (2 Timothy 3:1)  How glad we can be that God will soon do away with the Devil's influence over the earth!  Let us consider some of the things foretold in the Bible that are happening right now.  These prove  that we are living in the last days and that God's Kingdom will soon bring everlasting blessings to those who love Jehovah.  First, let us examine  four features of the sign that Jesus said would mark the time in which we live. 

Next time: MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS OF THE LAST DAYS

From the Book: What Does the Bible Really Teach? 2005 and 2006