"Then there was war in heaven; Michael and the angels under his command fought the Dragon and his hosts of fallen angels."
Revelation 12:7 (MSG)
The book of Revelation and its symbols, stories, and themes are the subject of many modern books, movies, and art. In the United States and worldwide, people have a general sense that we are living out the scenes written in the pages of Revelation. One survey reports that 41% of all U.S. adults, 54% of Protestants, and 77% of Evangelicals believe the world is now in the biblical end times.1
It makes sense, then, that interest in the Book of Revelation is high. People want to understand the book and how to apply its prophecies to current events. In April last year, over 1,000 inquiring minds attended the opening weekend of the Voice of Prophecy’s Revelation Speaks Peace prophecy series.
Revelation 12 reveals the war in heaven and re-introduces a mysterious figure: Michael, God’s warrior and leader of the holy angels. We see Michael engaged in a conflict with the dragon. Much about Michael is an enigma. The name itself is a difficult question. Michael means, “Who is like God?”2 The scene in Revelation 12 inspires another question: what is Michael’s war about?
Michael is mentioned a total of five times in the Biblical canon. In this article, we will examine the first instance. My hope is that you will better understand the nature of Michael’s war in heaven by the end of this article.
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
"But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia."
Daniel 10:13 (DARBY)
God’s prophet Isaiah prophesied that Cyrus would be God’s anointed. The prophecy mentions Cyrus by name and reveals that God will establish his kingdom (Isaiah 45:1–6). Cyrus, king of Persia and ruler of the Median empire, captured the great city of Babylon in October 539 BC. Through diplomacy and military conquest, Cyrus established the most extensive empire known until his time.3 God had promised His people that after seventy years in Babylon, he would work out their return to Jerusalem (Jeremiah 29:10). Some 150 years before this appointed time,4 God’s prophet Isaiah predicted that Cyrus would be God’s shepherd and accomplish His purpose. God wanted Jerusalem, and the temple rebuilt (Isaiah 44:28). As ruler of Babylon, Cyrus could do God’s will and fulfill Bible prophecy.
This opportunity to fulfill Bible prophecy was the point of cosmic conflict. The angel Gabriel had been dispatched from heaven to equip Cyrus and his royal court to perform God’s will—to release the Israelites to return to Jerusalem. The prince of Persia, who sabotaged Gabriel’s efforts to help Cyrus and his royal court, resisted the mighty angel Gabriel. The term prince of Persia refers to Satan.5 It specifically focuses on his spiritual influence and control over the rulers of the Persian kingdom.
Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help Gabriel overcome the prince of Persia. Michael was successful: the prince of Persia was cast out, and Gabriel remained there with the kings of Persia. During the first year of King Cyrus’s reign, he issued a decree empowering God’s people to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple (Ezra 1:1-4).
In this reference to Michael, we find that there was a war in heaven between Michael, the dragon (referred to here as the prince of Persia), and their angels over the kings of Persia. The power that both sides contended for was the controlling influence over what decision the kings of Persia would make. The victory was won when the decision was made.
Have you considered that a similar battle is taking place today over your life? Both Christ and Satan contend for the controlling influence over what decisions you will make. Christ’s victory is won when your decision is made to follow Him.
Call to Action
Make a complete decision for Christ today. Firmly decide that His sacrifice for you is more valuable than any suffering, inconvenience, or loss you might experience through choosing to live for Him.
Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from The Message, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.
- Barna Group, Summer 2013 Omnipollsm
- Strong’s Greek Lexicon G3143 - michaēl
- Britannica Online, Cyrus the Great
- ESV.org Global Study Bible Facts, Isaiah 26
- Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1890), 571.
