There Was War in Heaven

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, JST)

 

And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice. (Moses 4:4)
 
Many Christians believe that the war in heaven is yet to be fought.  Latter-day Saints affirm that it was fought before the world was and that it continues to this day here upon the earth.  The chronology becomes confusing if we approach it from a worldly perspective of finite time with beginnings and middles and ends.  God's perspective is one of an eternal present.  That is difficult for me to wrap my mind around, but I know it to be true.  What John is describing in the story of Lucifer, Son of the Morning, who rebelled against God before the world was.  Willful and prideful, he wanted to be the god of this world and ascend to the throne of the Father and to take His glory and power.  In open rebellion against the Father and the Son, Lucifer was persuasive and charismatic so much so that one third of Father's children followed him. (See Revelation 12:4)  He was cast out of heaven and became Satan, the Accuser and Adversary of Christ and His people.  Those who had taken his side were cast out with him.
 
Isaiah also saw and reported on the fall of Lucifer: 

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning? how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
For thou has said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation . . .
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be the most High.
Yet thou shalt be be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (Isaiah 14: 12-15)

The war in heaven wasn't a war of swords as it is usually pictured, but a war of faith and of testimony.  Those of us who sided with Christ had the faith that He would keep His promise and perform the atonement which would allow us to be forgiven of our sins and would bring us home again to the Father.  Essentially, the war was fought over agency.  The Father's plan was that we would have the right to choose to follow Jesus Christ or Lucifer.  That agency was fully in effect in the heavenly preexistence is manifest by the fact that two thirds of the Father's children chose to follow Christ and to be born upon the earth and one third chose Lucifer and were cast out, never to have that privilege.

 

The war that began in heaven is still being fought today.  Satan and his followers were cast out of heaven into the earth, and here they still are.  They still fight against Christ and His Church. (See Revelation 12: 2-4)  He wants to make all men as miserable as he is:

 

And because he had fallen from heaven, and had become miserable forever, he sought also the misery of all mankind. . . .
Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself. (2 Nephi 2: 18, 27)

We are still free to choose.  We chose liberty and eternal life through Jesus Christ in heaven when the war began.  As the war continues on earth, it is expedient that we continue to make that choice by coming unto Christ with full purpose of heart.  Each day we should worship and praise Him, striving every day to live our lives in such a way that, were we to be called home, He would say: Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (Matthew 25: 23)

 

Text copyright Gebara Education February 2013

 

Picture of Michael and Satan from www.churchofthecosmos.wordpress.com

Picture of the council in heaven from www.fatherthywillbedone.com