Many have wondered why great forms of evil have been displayed against the Church. The saints of God have been martyred in horrible displays of rage across time with demonstrations of terror and unrestrained forms of evil. What we have seen is the rage of Satan displayed against the Church because he knows his time is short.

John wrote, “Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, It has come at last – salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth – the one who accuses them before our God, day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die” (Revelation 12: 10-11).

The fearlessness of God’s people while Satan displays his evil intentions is levied against those who display the power and authority of Christ and His Kingdom. Only the blood of Jesus and our testimony about Him can overcome such evil.

John wrote about what motivates Satan’s terror, “He is filled with fury because he knows that his time is short” (vs. 12). His time is short, and his ability to inflict terror on God’s people will come to an end. Satan is enraged by that shortness.

That shortness of time has made Satan desperate. “Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus” (vs. 15-17).

Our faithfulness to God is displayed by our obedience to Him and holding fast to our testimony about Jesus. This display happens even as the rage of Satan comes against us. It’s also where the fear of death has lost its power to overcome our faith and cause us to deny the Lord. That’s why Satan has been so enraged. He knows his time is short, and his reign of terror against God’s people will come to an end.