The Great Battle in Heaven
A Paradigm Out of Order

         The concept that biblical prophecy confirms Satan will battle Jesus in the sky at his return is almost as widely accepted as the return itself. It is the foundation of most theories that some, if not all, UFOs are satanic in origin. The logic follows that Satan will fake the second coming of the Christ, by flying in with his craft and have everybody convinced that he is the Savior, until Michael defeats him in the sky. And, Michael will do that in the battle described in Revelation.
It is actually there, in the book of "end-times prophecies" given directly to John, by Jesus himself:
         "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." (Revelation 12:7-9).
         The Revelation speaks about this battle happening when Satan is defeated and imprisoned, at the return of Jesus, and it is the final event in Satan's career. The only thing true in that last statement is that it is described in the book called the Revelation and it does speak of a battle in the sky.
The verses immediately before, and following, the description of this sky battle clearly contradict the accepted chronology of this event, in many ways. They show that this battle does not happen in the future, and that this battle was only the beginning of Satan's direct assault on the world, not the very end.

The Reason for the Battle
         The entire 12th chapter of the Revelation is dedicated to this one event and the results it wrought. It begins describing an obviously very important woman, wearing a crown with 12 stars: "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:" (Rev. 12:1)
         She is about to give birth: "And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered." (Rev. 12:2)
         With the woman there is a dragon with many heads, horns, and crowns: "And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads."" (Rev. 12:3)
         This dragon, later identified as Satan, in verse 9, is there to kill the child the woman is about to bring into the world: "And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born." (Rev. 12:4)

The Child is Identified
         The child Satan is trying to kill is described as destined to "rule all nations with a rod of iron": "And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne." (Rev. 12:5)
         Here, the truth is revealed; this child is Jesus and the woman is Mary. The description of the one who fits this role appears again in the Revelation 19: "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." (Revelation 19:11-15)
         The time period of this event is at the birth of Jesus, and Satan is trying to kill him.

The Woman Escapes
         The woman is taken to safety: "And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days." (Rev. 12:6)
         Joseph is instructed to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus immediately after the child's birth, where they stay in safety for 3 1/2 years: "And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt" (Matthew 2:13-14)
         After the danger is past, Joseph is told to bring Mary and Jesus back: "But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life." (Matthew 2:19-20)

Satan and His Forces Attacked
         As soon as Mary and the child are safe, Michael retaliates against Satan for his failed murder plot: "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels," (Rev. 12:7)
         Satan is defeated, and along with his angels, is exiled to the Earth and permanently grounded: “And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." (Rev. 12:8-9)

The Birth of Jesus and Defeat of Satan is Announced
         "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." (Rev. 12:10-11)

The Earth is Warned of Satan's Threatening Presence
         While God's forces are rejoicing his exile, the planet is warned that Satan is now on Earth, and dangerously angry with the human race and all other life on the planet: "Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." (Rev. 12:12)

Satan Hits the Ground Running
         As soon as he is banished to Earth, he goes after the woman and child on the ground, but she escapes, again: "And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth." (Rev. 12:13-16)
         The "time, and times, and half a time" is a year and two years, plus a half-year, 1260 days, or 3 1/2 years, as described in verse 6, above. This kept Jesus safe as Herod committed infanticide by slaughtering every child under 2 years old in the kingdom: "Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men." (Matthew 2:16)

Satan Then Begins the Persecution of the Followers of Jesus; the Church
         The final verse describes the persecution of the followers of Jesus, as history clearly records: "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Rev. 12:17)

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