Holy War

And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.  So the great dragon was cast ouut, that serpent of old, called the devil and satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Revelation 12: 7-9 NKJV

When I first read Revelation 12:7 it astounded me.  How could heaven, our Lords home, be any place for war?  Yet, there it is in sripture for us to see.  Reading further along, we learn that this is when our enemy satan was expelled from his home in heaven.  It seems that Lucifer (meaning "light-bearer") desired for himself.

How you are fallen from heaven, O, Lucifer, son of the morning!  How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!  For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt mmy throne above the stars of God; I will  also sit on thhe mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of thhe north; I will ascend about the heights of the clouds, I will be liike the most high.'
Isaiah 14: 12-14 NKJV

What outright Arrogance!  Here was Lucifer, he who stood in Gods presence, brought down and cast out due to his own pride.  Satan had it all, but in the end he wanted more.  So, he fought God for what he desired, and lost.
It is important that we remember just who our true enemy is.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
1 Peter 5:8 NKJV

So, not only did satan war against God and was cast out of Gods presence in heaven, he now wars against us, Gods children.  It is also important to remember that WE are Gods children, and satan no claim to us.  Satans fingerprints are not on creation, that's Gods handiwork all the way.  In fact, satan himself was created by God, talk about biting the hand that feeds you!  Despite being created by our loving God and being given such a prestegious place in the heavens, satan decided that he wanted more.  His focus was on nobody but himself.  Contrast this with Gods actions of love, grace and mercy.  If God had satans mindset, we'd all be in a different place.  Guilt, shame and punishment would be the order of the day.  Think satan would have allowed for Christs redemption?  Satan would never allow anything, or anybody to rise above him!  Which is what ultimately led to his downfall.  Where Gods desire is love, satans is self importance and strife.  Our enemy, created by God but, in the end, destroyed by his own arrogance and lust for power.

~Scott~