Firstly, the Bible records more of a "battle" rather than a "war" between angelic armies in the Book of Daniel. This "battle" had the following players:
- Daniel, who was a faithful servant of God to His people Israel;
- God, to whom Daniel prayed and requested an answer to his question;
- The Archangel Gabriel - who was despatched from Heaven with the answer to Daniel;
- Gabriel's warring angels. These are estimated to be one third of Heaven's entire angel population.
- The Archangel Michael - who was despatched from Heaven to assist Gabriel;
- Michael's warring angels. These are estimated to be one third of Heaven's entire angel population.
- Satan's angels in "the heavenlies" (the area surrounding the upper atmosphere of Earth.
- Satan's angels (referred to as "stars" - Revelation 12:4) are estimated to be one third of Heaven's entire angel population.
Therefore, after Daniel prayed his prayer to God (Dan 9:3-19), the Bible records what Gabriel (Daniel 9::20-21) told Daniel the answer he was seeking (Dan 9:25-27) after arriving on the Earth.
In Daniel 10, the Archangel Gabriel says this about what caused his delayed arrival on the Earth:
"Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I [Gabriel] am come for thy words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia [Satan's chief angel over Persia] withstood me ONE AND TWENTY DAYS: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes [of God], came to help me [in this battel]; and I remained there [warring] with the kings of Persia." (Dan 10:12-13).
These Bible references prove that conflict occurs between Satan's angels and God's angels - and the Bible states that a major "war" will occur in Heaven sometime during the forthcoming Tribulation period, as stated below:
"And the woman [Israel] fled into the wilderness [most likely Petra in Jordan], where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days [or 3 1/2 years]. 7 AND THERE WAS WAR IN HEAVEN: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon [Satan]; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven." (Revelation 12:6-8)
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out [of the heavenlies] into the earth, and his angels were cast out [to the Earth] with him." (Revelation 12:9)
These are the two instances of where "war in Heaven" has occurred in the past and will occur in the future. For anyone who lives during the time of the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21; Revelation 2:22), these will not only have to contend with Satan and his demons (or devils) on the surface of the Earth as we do now, but also Satan's fallen angels as well.
Hi Alan
I thought that this quote was a bit odd :
"Heaven has armies (Daniel 4:35)"
Any comment please....
Thanks - Richard
Hi Richard - thanks for a good question!
Firstly, the Bible records more of a "battle" rather than a "war" between angelic armies in the Book of Daniel. This "battle" had the following players:
- Daniel, who was a faithful servant of God to His people Israel;
- God, to whom Daniel prayed and requested an answer to his question;
- The Archangel Gabriel - who was despatched from Heaven with the answer to Daniel;
- Gabriel's warring angels. These are estimated to be one third of Heaven's entire angel population.
- The Archangel Michael - who was despatched from Heaven to assist Gabriel;
- Michael's warring angels. These are estimated to be one third of Heaven's entire angel population.
- Satan's angels in "the heavenlies" (the area surrounding the upper atmosphere of Earth.
- Satan's angels (referred to as "stars" - Revelation 12:4) are estimated to be one third of Heaven's entire angel population.
Therefore, after Daniel prayed his prayer to God (Dan 9:3-19), the Bible records what Gabriel (Daniel 9::20-21) told Daniel the answer he was seeking (Dan 9:25-27) after arriving on the Earth.
In Daniel 10, the Archangel Gabriel says this about what caused his delayed arrival on the Earth:
"Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I [Gabriel] am come for thy words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia [Satan's chief angel over Persia] withstood me ONE AND TWENTY DAYS: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes [of God], came to help me [in this battel]; and I remained there [warring] with the kings of Persia." (Dan 10:12-13).
These Bible references prove that conflict occurs between Satan's angels and God's angels - and the Bible states that a major "war" will occur in Heaven sometime during the forthcoming Tribulation period, as stated below:
"And the woman [Israel] fled into the wilderness [most likely Petra in Jordan], where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days [or 3 1/2 years]. 7 AND THERE WAS WAR IN HEAVEN: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon [Satan]; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven." (Revelation 12:6-8)
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out [of the heavenlies] into the earth, and his angels were cast out [to the Earth] with him." (Revelation 12:9)
These are the two instances of where "war in Heaven" has occurred in the past and will occur in the future. For anyone who lives during the time of the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21; Revelation 2:22), these will not only have to contend with Satan and his demons (or devils) on the surface of the Earth as we do now, but also Satan's fallen angels as well.
I hope this answers your question, Richard.