The Accuser of the Brethren

Rev 12:10-12  “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Messiah have now come, because the accuser of our brothers has been thrown out: the one who accuses them before our God day and night.  (11)  They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not love their lives in the face of death.  (12)  Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the earth and the sea, for the Devil has come down to you with great fury, because he knows he has a short time."

One of the most debilitating phenomena that today’s saint faces is the accusations of the accuser of the brethren (brothers and sisters.) Yes, Satan is the consummate accuser. He uses the past to accuse us of shame and guilt. He uses the future to accuse us with fear.  Isn’t that something? We are ashamed of the past and we fear the future. That is why we should participate only in contemplating our now (present.) It is in the present that we can overcome the accuser by the blood of the lamb. It is something that can only be done in the now… now faith… now is the day of salvation. Salvation, redemption and sanctification always exist in the now.

The key to overcoming Satan, the accuser is applying the blood of the Lamb in the now. It is blood for every now. It is blood that was ordained before the foundation of the world. Think on that for a minute… before the foundation of the world. There are but a few passages of scripture that mention before the foundation of the world. These describe a time before anything was created. We ALWAYS find that these references are linked to redemption. In Ephesians 1:4 it mentions redemption, and in 1 Peter 1:18-20 it speaks of the blood of the Lamb that was purposed before the foundation of the world. That can only mean one thing. Redemption through the blood of the Lamb was God’s purpose in creation. He tells us of NOTHING else before the foundation of the world. How should that change our thinking? How should that make us view God’s love? How much peace should that engender?

Notice what it says in verse 12 of the above quoted passage from Revelation.   “Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the earth and the sea, for the Devil has come down to you with great fury, because he knows he has a short time.” Heaven Dwellers… that is not just those in heaven; I believe that it also includes those seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Where is our minds focused? Are we focused on the earth and the past and are we dreaming of the future? That focus is perfect for the accuser. He works with that focus. However, if we shift our minds to the reality that we are NOW seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, our focus makes it difficult for the accuser to mess with us.

Part one: More to come on this topic…