12:7 Michael the archangel (Jude 9) is the leader of God's angelic army. He is Israel's special patron (Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1). He evidently holds high rank among unfallen angels as Satan does among the fallen. John saw him engaged in battle with Satan and his angels, the demons. Michael battled with Satan in the past (Jude 9), but the conflict in view here evidently takes place just before the last half of the Tribulation.
12:8 In John's vision Satan's forces proved weaker, and God threw them out of heaven. Consequently Satan no longer had access to heaven (cf. 20:11; Dan. 2:35; Zech. 10:10). God will no longer hear Satan's accusations against believers.403
12:9 Here God identified the dragon as Satan. He called him the "great dragon"because he is fierce and cruel in nature. The title "serpent of old"stresses his crafty and subtile character (cf. 20:2; Gen. 3:1-5; 2 Cor. 11:3). The name "Devil"means accuser or slanderer.
"This name for the evil one would have made a specially strong impact in the first century, for there was a well-known and well-hated figure called the delator, the paid informer. He made his living by accusing people before the authorities."404
"Satan"means adversary. He is the one who deceives the whole world because he is consummately deceptive.405God cast Satan's angels out of His presence with him. The threefold repetition of "thrown down"in this verse stresses the ignominious fate of Satan and these angels.
Satan is in the heavens now; he has access to God (Job 1:6; Rev. 12:10). His being thrown down to the earth with his angels will evidently take place at the middle of the Tribulation. This conclusion harmonizes with the evidence of unusual Satanic activity on earth including heart hardening described in the revelation of the Great Tribulation (chs. 6-11 and 13-18).
12:10 John then heard another outburst of praise in heaven. This one seems to have come from the Tribulation martyrs (6:10; cf. v. 10). Their rejoicing is proleptic anticipating the imminent expulsion of Satan. God's salvation (victory), the manifestation of His power, and His kingdom (both millennial and eternal phases) will have come even closer when this happens. Likewise the manifestation of the authority of His Anointed One will be nearer (cf. 11:15; Ps. 2:8). The way will then be more open than it was previously for the establishment of God's kingdom on the earth.
Satan's malevolent work of accusing believers before God will cease (cf. Job 1:6). However, he will continue to persecute the living brethren of the martyrs still on earth even though he can no longer accuse them in heaven. Satan accused believers day and night, just as steadily as the four living beings praise God (4:8).
12:11 This verse contains the second stanza of the song of praise begun in verse 10. "They"refers to believers whom Satan formerly accused before God. Jesus Christ's death is the basis for believers' ultimate victory over Satan even though he has accused us. Because of the proleptic nature of this song, the singers were probably referring to believers who would yet suffer martyrdom during the last half of the Tribulation. The word of God to which they bear testimony is another key to their success along with the Lamb's blood (cf. 1:2, 9; 6:9; 20:4). They would consent to die rather than proving unfaithful to Christ.
"The blood of the martyrs, rather than signaling the triumph of Satan, shows instead that they have gained the victory over the dragon by their acceptance of Jesus' Cross and their obedient suffering with him. This is one of John's chief themes (1:9; 6:9; 14:12; 20:4).406
12:12 Here we have the third and final stanza in the martyrs' praise. Heaven-dwellers can rejoice in view of Satan's punishment (cf. Ps. 96:11; Isa. 49:13). He is no longer among them. However everyone living on the earth, especially believers, must beware because he now moves among them more antagonistically than ever. Furthermore he knows that his time is short. He will have only 1,260 days before Jesus Christ returns to the earth and binds him (20:1-2).
