The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan

In Revelation 12:10, 11 the great controversy's fundamental issue is addressed and its outcome is announced. By Christ's victory at the cross, "the kingship of our God" is secured, and "the authority of His Christ" is forever established. We are reminded of the words of the Lord's Prayer, "For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory." Lucifer's struggle for supremacy is defeated.

Satan's challenge to the exousia (authority) of Christ permeates the central chapters of Revelation. When the mark of the beast is enforced (chapters 13 and 14), the soul-searching test that will confront us is the question of whose authority we will acknowledge. The two witnesses of chapter 11 prophesied under the authority of Christ, while the beasts in chapter 13 bear the authority of the dragon. In that conflict between scriptural and human authority, the real contestants are Christ and Satan.

It's all about which one of the two contending powers will receive our allegiance. Some have mistakenly viewed the great controversy as primarily a question of God's character. But we need to be careful not to miss the ultimate issue. The reason the devil misrepresents God is for the larger objective of establishing his own rival kingdom.

In the earliest-written book of the Bible God challenged Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job?" Job 1:8.

Satan denied that anyone, deep down in, really served God. He claimed that Job was only after the blessings God gave him. Take away the blessings, and see where Job's allegiance really is. But Job passed the test.

In the book of Exodus God demanded Pharaoh, "Let my people go." But Pharaoh refused to acknowledge that Israel belonged to God. The miraculous events that followed settled the issue. God's first words to his delivered people at Mount Sinai were, "I am the Lord thy God." Exodus 20:2. The precepts He then outlined in the ten commandments delineate the terms of being His people.

The great controversy theme runs throughout the Bible. And it comes down to each of us in the question of whom we will daily choose to serve.