They = Us
Revelation 12:11 states, “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”
The question is, who is “they.”
At first blush, it would be easy to interpret the they as the angels. This verse comes from a loud voice in heaven directly after Michael and his angels defeat the dragon and his angels and cast satan out of heaven to earth.
But, I’m going to offer an alternative for consideration. The sentence immediately prior to 11 states, “For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.” What if, instead of the angels, the “they” in verse 11 instead refers to the brothers and sisters?
If this is the interpretation, then we, as believers defeated satan even as the angels taking up arms and waging battle against him. He was defeated not by our power or goodness or strength, but by the blood of the lamb and by the word (God’s word) brought to the world through our testimony (that is changed lives).
Our triumph, through the saving grace of the blood of Christ, over the accuser would be the root of his demise. If we were simply un-redeemed sinners, then his accusations before God would be the truth and that truth would have a place in heaven. But, because of the blood of the lamb, we are redeemed and the price of our sins has been paid-in-full. The dragon then is spewing forth false accusations and false testimony against those who now stand as witnesses, through their testimony, to the power of the sacrifice and resurrection of the Son of God.
As humans, we will die, but as saved souls we do not shrink from death. We don’t look forward to dying and we mourn for those who have died, but we recognize it is not the end, but simply a portal to cross to an eternal life. And, unlike the dragon and his angels, our eternal life will be spent in heaven rejoicing with the angels.
My Answers:
9.
He was thrown out of heaven (out of God’s presence) – God has forgiven them and wiped the slate clean – no one is there rehashing old wounds and bringing the up again and again
10.
a. As co-heirs with Christ, they shared in the glory and victory, through obedience and submission under christ to reject Satan
b. We are reconciled through the blood (saved) – he died while we were unbelievers, now are in unity to all heaven under Christ
c. Eternal life is only through Jesus, Blessedd. God is first – whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever gives his life over to Jesus, lives forever, christ died for us
11.
a.
It has emphasized the disparity between God and Satan. We sometimes elevate satan to an undue level. He is just an angel – not God, not a son of God, not the Holy Spirit.
b.
Lo! he comes, with clouds descending, once for our salvation slain; thousand thousand saints attending swell the triumph of his train: Alleluia! alleluia! alleluia!
The Notes are Good 