Revelation 12:7-12

            {Prayer}

            As you drive down a road, down the interstate, or even as you approach an intersection, you may see a small roadside shrine. Now what do I mean by that. Well, these roadside shrines are markers symbolizing loss. These markers are telling us when and where a person’s life journey has come to an abrupt end.

            These roadside shrines, these markers … they are all pretty similar to each other. There is usually a three-foot-tall white wood or metal cross with a person’s name and the date they passed away painted on it. Around the cross or attached to it by strings or duct tape are faded silk flowers, maybe a bright Mylar balloons, or some kind of ornament representing that person. All of these are swaying in the wind of vehicles passing by.

            These roadside shrines that we drive by … they provide us with a brief glimpse of violence. A brief glimpse of violence that changed the way some live in this world. At some point in time, a person was there at that spot … a perfectly innocent and peaceful spot … and then a moment of violence occurred. A moment that turned that innocent and peaceful spot into a small roadside shrine. That small roadside shrine is now a brief glimpse of violence for all who pass by, and yet … there is something about these markers that speaks to us beyond death.

            As roadside shrines mark a moment of tragedy, they can also remind us of the greater spiritual battles happening all around us. In our second reading from Revelation 12, we catch a glimpse of the ultimate battle, a war in the heavenly realms.

            If you look at our short little text within the context of the whole chapter, we see a much larger picture of what is going on. We would see how our text is very brief, but firmly grounded in our world today. John tells us the not-so-nice story of Christmas, the version that you won’t hear children telling at the Christmas program or that is the center of the Candlelight Christmas Eve service.

            No, this version is about a woman who is pregnant and who is crying out in pain as she is about to give birth. As she is in the midst of delivering this child, this enormous red dragon swoops in stand in front of the woman waiting. Waiting, waiting to devour her child the moment he is born. John says that she gives birth a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter” (Rev. 12:5).

            However, as soon as the child is born, before the dragon can devour him, this child was “snatched up by God to his throne” (Rev. 12:5b). Here, the dragon is Satan, the woman is Mary and the newborn baby boy is Jesus. The whole story of Jesus, the story of his birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven is summarized by four English words. “snatched up by God.” It is after Jesus’ ascension into heaven when this battle between the archangel Michael and the dragon takes place.

            And this battle, this war … it’s not a physical war involving bloodshed … it’s a spiritual war. Paul says in Ephesians 6, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (6:12). In this battle between Michael and the dragon … as one Bible scholar puts it, “Satan is attempting to displace the Christ Child, to displace Jesus, the victorious Lamb who was slain, in order to establish himself again in the presence of God as the prince of the angels and as the one who has dominion over humanity on earth, and specifically as the one who has the authority to stand before God and accuse people for their sins” (Brighton, CPH, page 333). Satan has been allowed to stand in the presence of God in the heavenly realms. But after Jesus’ victorious defeat over sin and death, there is no longer any room for him before the throne. Jesus has redeemed and saved all of God’s people by His blood. So Satan is hurled down from heaven and there is much rejoicing in the heavenly realms.

            But then the loud voice in heaven says, “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” (Rev. 12:12)

            This spiritual, cosmic battle isn’t just something that shows up in the book of Revelation. Whether people want to realize it or not, this spiritual warfare is going on every single day, especially in the lives of God’s people. The dragon, Satan, he is hard at work trying to deceive and destroy us.

            People speed past the roadside shrines without giving them much thought. How often do we rush through life unware of the spiritual dangers that are all around us? Despite what some people think, Satan is real. Peter even says “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 3:8). The tragedy of sin and death is real … but how often do we ignore the markers and live as if tomorrow is a guarantee?

            The vision of a battle might seem a bit daunting. And if we were to stop here, we might feel crushed by the weight of Satan’s attacks. But the good news is that the passage doesn’t end with the battle, it doesn’t even end with Satan being thrown down to earth. This passage points us to something greater. It points us to a victory that has already been won for you and me by the blood of the Lamb who was sacrificed on the altar of the cross. The only way in which the angel Michael and the other angels were able to throw Satan out is by the blood of Christ.

            Satan is thrown out of heaven and because of that, he is no longer able to stand before God and accuse us. Satan is no longer able to stand there and tell God how much we deserve to suffer for our sins. Through His death on the cross and His victorious resurrection, Jesus has silenced all those accusations. In baptism, by our faith in Jesus, we are clothed with Christ and made a part of this victory.

            A roadside shrine, it not only marks death … it also marks a memory, a hope. Though there is suffering and death … that roadside shrine can also remind us that there is still life in Christ. There is life in Christ because Jesus has defeated sin and death for us. We get to participate in His eternal victory over Satan.

            We get to celebrate the victory of Christ and we can look forward to truly celebrating with Christ in the new creation to come, but … but right now, even as we rejoice … we’re reminded that the fight isn’t over yet. The war has been won, Satan has been defeated and thrown out of the heavenly realms … but there are still skirmishes in our daily lives. Just a roadside shrine marks both an end and a continuation of life for those who are left behind … you and I, we too live in this “in-between” time. We are here between Christ’s victory on the cross, the ongoing daily struggles, and His return. So how do we persevere in this time of trial, how do we hold onto the victory that has already been won?

            We do what the angels did. We cling to Christ! We cling to His Word! We celebrate with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, praising our Savior and the amazing things He has and continues to do for us in this awesome meal! As we navigate this time between Christ’s triumph, our daily struggles, and His return we remember that the victory is already ours through His blood, and we are sustained by His Word and Sacraments.

            You know, just as families return to maintain and remember the roadside shrine … we as Christians must continually return to the cross of Christ. We return, remembering His victory and seeking His strength.

            Though we live in a world where the battle continues, Christ’s victory is already ours. His blood has silenced the accuser, and though Satan still rages on, his defeat is certain. Like those roadside shrines that remind us of both loss and life … we live in hope. We live confident that Christ and His angels walk with us, leading us to the ultimate victory that awaits. So as we pass through the struggles of this life, may we return to the cross as our place of strength, remembering that Christ’s victory is already ours, and He walks with us daily through His Word and Sacraments, until we are united with Him in eternal glory. Amen.

            The peace of God, that surpasses all human understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, now and forever. Amen.