Revelation 12:9:
“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.”
The book of Revelation gives us a glimpse of future events and a deeper understanding of the spiritual battles that have been raging since the beginning of time.
Chapter 12 paints a demonic picture of war in heaven. Satan, referred to as the “great dragon” and “that old serpent,” is cast out along with his fallen angels. This passage not only shows us Satan’s fall but also reveals his tactics—his devices.
This is about exposing the Devil’s devices so we can be on guard against them. Revelation 12:9-12 gives us three main strategies Satan uses against humanity. Let’s look at each one.
1. Deception – The Devil’s Main Tool (vs. 9)
Satan’s first and most effective device is deception. Revelation 12:9 says, “he deceiveth the whole world.” From the very beginning, deception has been his specialty. In the Garden of Eden, he deceived Eve by twisting God’s Word (Genesis 3:1-6). Jesus called him the “father of lies” in John 8:44. The Devil cannot win without lies—this is the foundation of his entire scheme.
The sad truth is, many fall for his lies. He promises the stars and the moon, but you end up poor, desolate, and broken. He whispers that sin is harmless, that it will bring happiness, but it only brings sorrow and regret. He tells you God doesn’t care, that His Word isn’t true, or that there’s another way to heaven.
But Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). The only antidote to Satan’s deception is the truth of Jesus Christ.
2. Denouncing – The Devil’s Accusations (vs. 10)
If Satan can’t deceive you, he will try to denounce you. Verse 10 describes him as “the accuser of our brethren… which accused them before our God day and night.” Satan constantly reminds us—and God—of our failures. He points out our sins and shortcomings, aiming to tear us down.
Here’s the thing: he’s not wrong. We do fall short of God’s standard. We are sinners. But for those who are saved, Satan’s accusations only remind us of one truth: Jesus came to save sinners.
Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” When Satan accuses us, we can point to the cross. Jesus didn’t come for the righteous; He came for sinners. Just as a doctor helps the sick, not the healthy, Jesus came to heal and save the lost. Satan’s accusations are meant to destroy us, but for the Christian, they only remind us of Christ’s finished work on the cross.
3. Duration – The Devil’s Short Time (vs. 12)
The Devil knows his time is limited. Verse 12 says, “he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Because of this, he works overtime to distract and destroy. He wants you to think you have all the time in the world.
Satan tries to convince us to waste our days chasing things that don’t matter. He whispers, “There’s no rush. You have plenty of time to get serious about God.” But all the while, he’s working behind the scenes to make sure our time is spent on ourselves, on temporary pleasures, or on things that won’t count for eternity.
As we grow older, we often look back and see how much time we wasted on foolish pursuits. We see how Satan tricked us into valuing the wrong things. It’s a sobering thought.
Remember when you were young? Think of all the time you spent on things that didn’t matter. Satan’s goal is to keep us in that mindset—wasting time instead of redeeming it for Christ (Ephesians 5:16).
The Answer to the Devil’s Devices (vs. 11)
So how do we overcome the Devil’s devices? Revelation 12:11 gives us the answer:
“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.”
Victory over Satan is only possible through the blood of Jesus Christ. His sacrifice on the cross defeated sin, death, and the Devil. When we are saved, we are covered by His blood, and Satan has no power over us.
We also overcome by the word of our testimony. When we boldly share what Christ has done for us, we push back against the darkness. And finally, we overcome by surrendering our lives to God. When we stop living for ourselves and live fully for Christ, the Devil loses his grip on us.
The Devil’s devices are real, but they are no match for the power of God. Stay rooted in Christ, cling to His truth, and redeem the time you’ve been given. That’s how you overcome the enemy.
