Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! -"Be Glad, You Heavens - Conclusion

 Anointed Christians who are counted righteous "because of the blood of the Lamb," are continuing to bear witness to God and to Jesus Christ, despite persecutions. For more than a hundred years, this John class had been pointing to great issues involved with the ending of the Gentile times in 1914. (Luke 21:24, King James Version) And the great crowd are serving loyally by their side. None of these are "fearful of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul," as real-life experiences of Jehovah's Witnesses have demonstrated over and over again during the 20th century. By word of mouth and by proper Christian conduct, they have conquered Satan, consistently proving him to be a liar. (Matthew 10:28; Proverbs 27:11; Revelation 7:9) On being resurrected to heaven, how happy anointed Christians must be, since Satan is no longer up there to accuse their brothers! It is the time indeed, for all the angelic host to respond joyously to the call: "Be glad, you heavens and you who reside in them.

Next time: Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! - A Rival Woe!

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born1 - "Be Glad, You Heavens" - Continue

 The finish of the sacred secret of God calls for Jesus to take authority in Jehovah's Kingdom. The way is thus opened for God to carry out his great purpose to deliver faithful mankind. Jesus brings salvation not only to his God-fearing disciples now on earth but also to the countless millions of dead ones who are in God's memory. (Luke 21:27, 28) Satan's being called "the accuser of our brothers" shows that, even though his accusations against Job were proved false, he kept right on challenging the integrity of God's earthly servants. Evidently, he repeated on many occasions the charge that a man will give all he has in exchange for his soul. How dismally Satan has failed! - JOB 1:9-11; 2:4, 5. 

Next time: Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! - "Be Glad, You Heavens" - Conclusion

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born1 -"Be Glad, You Heavens"

 John reports a joyous heavenly reaction to this stupendous fall of Satan: "And I heard a loud voice in heaven say: 'Now has come to pass the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ, because the accuser of our brothers has been hurled down, who accuses them day and night before our God1 And they conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their witnessing, and they did not love their souls even in the face of death. On this account be glad, you heavens and you who reside in them. -REVELATION 12:10-12a. 

Whose loud voice is it that John hears? The Bible does not say. But a similar cry reported at Revelation 11:17 came from the resurrected 24 elders in their heavenly position, where they can now represent the 144,000 holy ones. (Revelation 11:18) And since the persecuted anointed servants of God still on earth are here spoken of as "our brothers, "this statement could well come from the same source. No doubt these faithful ones can join their voice, since their resurrection would follow soon after Satan and his demon hordes had been thrown out of heaven. 

Next time: Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born -"Be Glad, You Heavens" 

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! -War in Heaven - Conclusion

 These and other scriptures lead us to the inescapable conclusion that Michael is no one else but the Lord Jesus Christ in his heavenly position. Now, in the Lord's day, he no longer merely says to Satan: "May Jehovah rebuke you." Since this is a time for judging, Jesus, as Michael hurls Satan and his demon angels down from heaven. (Jude 9; Revelation 1:10) It is most fitting that He should be the One to do this, as He is the newly installed King, Jesus is also the Seed promised back in Eden, who will ultimately crust the head of that original serpent, thus putting him out of existence for all time. (Genesis 3:15) By ejecting Satan from heaven, Jesus has moved toward that final crushing

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! - War in Heaven! - Continue

 Who accomplished this great victory in Jehovah's name? The Bible says it is Michael and his angels. But who is Michael? The name "Michael" means "Who Is Like God?" So Michael must be interested in vindicating Jehovah's sovereignty by proving that no one is to be compared to Him. In Jude verse 9, he is called "Michael the archangel." Interestingly, the title "archangel" is used everywhere in the Bible with reference to only one person: Jesus Christ. Paul says of him: "The Lord himself will descend from heaven and a commanding call, with an archangel's voice and with God's trumpet." (1 Thessalonians 4:16) The title "archangel" means "chief of the angels."  So it is not surprising that Revelation speaks of "Michael and his angels." Other places where the Bible mentions angels subject to a righteous servant of God have reference to Jesus. Thus, Paul speaks of "the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven and with his powerful angels." - 2 THESSALONIANS 1:7; see also MATTHEW 24:30, 31; 25:31. 

Next time: Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! - War in Heaven! - Conclsion

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! -War in Heaven!

 John tells us: "And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angles battled but it did prevail, neither was a place found for them any longer in heaven. So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him." (Revelation 12:7, 9) So as a dramatic development in bringing the sacred secret of God to a finish, Satan is ejected, pitched out of heaven and his demons are cast down to the earth with him. The one who has misled the entire inhabited earth to the extent of becoming its god is finally restricted to the vicinity of this planet, where his rebellion first began. -2 CORINTHIANS 4:3, 4.

Next time: Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! - War in Heaven! - Continue

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! -A Son, A Male - Conclusion

 Never would Jehovah permit Satan to devour his wife or His newborn son! At birth, the male child is "caught away to God and his throne." He thus comes completely under the protection of Jehovah, who will take the fullest care his newborn Kingdom. HIs instrument for sanctifying His holy name. At the same time, the woman flees to a place that God has prepared for her in the wilderness. More details on that later! As for Satan the stage is now set for a momentous event that will make it utterly impossible for him to threaten the Kingdom in heaven. What is that event? 

Next time: Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! - War in Heaven! 

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! - A Son, A Male

 Now, does that expression sound familiar? Yes, Jehovah promised prophetically regarding Jesus: "You will break them with an iron scepter, as though a potter's vessel you will dash them to pieces." (Psalm 2:9) It was also prophesied regarding him: "The rod of your strength Jehovah will send out of Zion, saying: Go subduing in the midst of your enemies.' " (Psalm 110:2) Therefore, the birth seen by John closely involves Jesus Christ. No, it is not just Jesus' being born of a virgin back before the first century of our Common Era; nor could it refer to Jesus' being raised again to spirit life in 33 C.E. Furthermore, it is no transmigration. Rather, it is the birth of God's Kingdom in 1914 as a reality, with Jesus-already in heaven for close to 19 centuries-not enthroned as King. - REVELATION 12:10.

Next time: Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! - A Son, A Male - Conclusion

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! - A Son, A Male

 The appointed time for the nations to rule without interruption by God came to an end in 1914. (Luke 21:24) Then, right on time, the woman bears her child: "And she gave birth to a son, a male, who is to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod. And her child was caught away to God ad to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and sixty days." (Revelation 12:5,6) The child is "a son, a male." Why does John use this double expression. He does it to show the child's suitableness, his competence for ruling the nations with adequate power. It also emphasizes how momentous, how joyous an occasion this birth is! It plays a key role in bringing the sacred secret of God to a finish. Why, this male child will even "shepherd all the nations with an iron rod"! 

Next time: Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! -A Son, A Male - Continue

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! - A Fiery-Colored Dragon - Conclusion

 Thus, two opposing organizations have come clearly into view-Jehovah's heavenly organization as pictured by the woman and Satan's demonic organization that challenges God's sovereignty. The great issue of sovereignty must be settled. But how? Satan, still dragging the demons along with him, is like a vicious beast of prey eyeing a potential victim. He is waiting for the woman to give birth. He wants to devour this expected infant because he knows that it poses an ominous threat to his continued existence and that of the world over when he exercises rulership. - JOHN 14:30. 

Next time: Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! -A Son, A Male

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