Arlene,thank you for this post. It is very timely now and while reading this section below a thought occurred to me...While the battle is over the fate of mankind in general, it is also focused on the redeemed in particular because they will be the overcomers by the blood of the Lamb. >> Something that is often overlooked when talking about our mansions in heaven is brought out here. I remember Chuck Missler saying how that God made the universe in just six days yet He's had 2,000 years to build us mansions so we can expect something pretty grand indeed... etc... Well, it occurred to me once that Jesus didn't say He was going to build the mansions but that they were already there: "In my father's house ARE many mansions etc." But that they needed some remodeling in order to be right for us. He said I go to prepare a place for you... Could it be that these mansions were once inhabited by Satan or Lucifer and his angels? The above verses seem to be suggesting that maybe Satan has still maintained some kind of forced presence in those very mansions just like the giants did in the promised land right up until Israel was told by God to go in and possess it! . The question I have is when does this war in heaven break out in relation to us? Where will we be while it is happening? Do we end up inhabiting the very realms that were once Satan's quarters? Is that one reason Satan hates us so much? Am I way off?<<Revelation 12:6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. 7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 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. [NKJV]
Wondering what you think, Barry Amundsen