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Answer
Revelation 12:10 refers to Satan as the “accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night.” The verse’s context portrays a cosmic conflict between a great red dragon, identified as Satan in Revelation 12:7, and the angelic hosts of heaven. The dragon is cast down to the earth «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 12:9). The authority of the Messiah is established (verse 10), and the believers emerge victorious:
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death” «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. », (Revelation 12:11, NKJV).
During the tribulation of the end times, Satan’s wrath against God’s people, especially Israel (the “woman” of Revelation 12), will escalate. However, believers are assured of victory. Dr. Charles Ryrie reflects on Revelation 12:11: “The believer’s defense against Satan is (1) to rely on the merits of Christ’s death, (2) to actively witness, and (3) to be willing to make any sacrifice, even unto death” (The Ryrie Study Bible, Moody Press, 1978, p. 1,801).
Throughout the centuries, the “great dragon” Satan has detested the mercy, love, grace, and forgiveness that God bestows upon believers in Jesus Christ. With relentless, malevolent intent, the devil pursues us, aiming to disrupt our relationship with God and lead us back into spiritual bondage. However, day by day, we can stand firm in our faith, knowing that victory is ultimately ours.
Day by day, night after night, believers consistently overcome him “by the blood of the Lamb” «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. », (Revelation 12:11).
Satan’s relentless goal in the life of every Christian is to hinder, disturb, and sever his or her relationship with God. He “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” «Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: », (1 Peter 5:8). However, the devil’s sole real power over believers is to throw our sins and transgressions in our faces. He is the accuser. Fortunately, the sacrifice of Christ has effectively addressed the issue. It is the blood of Jesus Christ—the blood of the Lamb—that redeems people, liberating them from slavery to sin and Satan’s dominion.
Scripture provides us with vivid depictions of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross. Peter explains that “God paid a ransom” to rescue us from our former empty way of life. “And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God” (1 Peter 1:18-19;NLT). The tribulation saints will have “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” «And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. », (Revelation 7:14). When Jesus Christ died, His precious blood “purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation” «And
They sang a new song, saying, “Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;” (Revelation 5:9). Jesus’ blood was poured out “for the forgiveness of sins” “for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:28), and it “purifies us from all sin” “but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7).
Satan tries to condemn us, but we overcome by the blood of the Lamb. “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2). Jesus freed us from the spiritual chains of sin (John 8:35-36;Romans 6:17-22).
The next time Satan tries to hurl past failures in your face, remember that “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned” (John 3:17-18).
All believers—past, present, and future—overcome the accuser by the blood of the Lamb. Jesus Christ’s death is the definitive basis for our victory over the enemy of our souls. The apostle Paul asks, “Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with Him.”
He himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us” (Romans 8:33-34;NLT). Despite everything in the devil’s arsenal that he can throw at us, “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” «Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. », (Romans 8:37).
Paul tells the Colossians, “For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. So don’t let anyone condemn you” (Colossians 2:12-16;NLT).
We must not allow the devil to deceive us with lies and accusations. Every charge he can bring against us is canceled, nailed to the cross, and overcome by the blood of the Lamb. It may seem strange that, in Revelation 12, a raging dragon is overcome by a slain lamb. Lambs are not usually seen as dragon-slayers. But such is the power and efficacy of the death of Christ. Because of Christ’s shed blood on the cross, sin has lost its grip on us. Whenever Satan accuses us, we can sing, “My chains are gone; I’ve been set free.”
