In this issue:
Michael and his angels battle a dragon
Bible Accent
Saint for Today: St. Francis of Assisi
Puzzle
Michael and his angels battle a dragon
Reading of Sept. 29, 2017: Rv 12:7-12ab
John had been exiled to the Greek island of Patmos because he was a Christian.
He was worshipping one Sunday when he heard a loud voice behind him. He turned and saw Jesus, whose face shone as bright as the sun.
Jesus gave John messages to give to the seven Christian churches in Asia.
When Jesus finished, John saw an open door to heaven.
“Come up here and I will show you what must happen afterwards,” Jesus said.
John was taken up to heaven. There was thunder and lightning, as well as four living creatures, 24 elders and many angels surrounding the throne of God. Everyone in heaven worshipped God continually.
John was given many visions. One of them was of a pregnant woman. She was clothed with the sun, had 12 stars in a crown on her head and had the moon under her feet.
John also saw something very evil. It was a red dragon — Satan — that wanted to destroy the woman’s child.
The woman gave birth to a son who was to rule the world. He was caught up into heaven to the throne of God. The woman fled to the desert, where she was protected from the dragon.
Then a great war broke out in heaven.
Michael the archangel and all of his angels started to battle against the dragon. The dragon had angels of his own, and they all fought back against Michael and his friends.
But Michael and his angels were much stronger than the dragon and his angels. At the end of the battle, the dragon and his angels were defeated. They were thrown out of heaven and down to earth.
The victory against the dragon caused much rejoicing in heaven.
But a loud voice also gave a warning.
“But woe to you, earth and sea, for the Devil has come down to you in great fury, for he knows he has but a short time,” the voice said.
When the dragon realized he had been kicked out of heaven, he tried to hurt the woman who had given birth to the child, but she was protected from harm.
So instead, the angry dragon turned his wrath toward those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus.
READ MORE ABOUT IT:
Revelation 12
Q&A
1. What did Jesus ask John to do?
2. Who won the battle in heaven?
Trivia: What does Michael the archangel’s name mean?
Answer: Who is like God?
Bible Accent
There are many places in the Bible where angels are mentioned.
For example, in Luke 2:9, shepherds who were keeping watch over their flocks were visited by an angel, who came to tell them about Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.
In Luke 15:10, after Jesus had finished telling some parables, he said there would be much rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repented.
And in Matthew 18:10, Jesus talked about guardian angels: “For I say to you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my heavenly Father.”
Only three holy angels talked about in the Bible are mentioned by name — the archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.
Michael is mentioned in the books of Daniel, Jude and Revelation. In Revelation 12, he is the warrior angel who defeated Satan.
Gabriel is the angel who appeared to Mary to tell her she would give birth to the Messiah, and Raphael is the angel who kept Tobit’s son, Tobiah, safe on a journey.
These archangels have their own feast day. They are honored together on Sept. 29.
Saint for Today: St. Francis of Assisi
Francis was born into a wealthy family in Assisi, Italy, in 1182. He had a very easy life and was more interested in having a good time than anything else.
When Assisi declared war on a nearby city, Francis joined the fight. He was captured and imprisoned for more than a year.
After he was released, he became seriously ill. When he recovered, he felt that Jesus was calling him to change his ways.
As a result, he founded the Order of Friars Minor, also known as the Franciscans. He also helped to found the Poor Clares and the Franciscan Third Order.
Francis is the patron saint of animals, environmentalists and Italy. He died in 1226, and we honor him on Oct. 4.
Puzzle
Using the hints provided, put a T next to the statements that are true and an F next to the ones that are false.
___ 1. John was told to eat a scroll. (Revelation 10:9)
___ 2. There were 200,000 people marked with a seal. (Revelation 7:4)
___ 3. John was told to measure the throne of God. (Revelation 11:1-2)
___ 4. John saw the new heaven and the new earth. (Revelation 21:1)
Answers: 1. T; 2. F; 3. F.; 4. T
