Season 3 Podcast 173 Milton’s Paradise Lost Bk VI, Pt XII, The War in Heaven Pt 2 Michael and Lucifer

Milton’s Paradise Lost Bk VI, Pt XII, The War in Heaven Pt 2 Michael and LuciferThe first day of battle favored Michael. With his usual arrogant confidence Satan led his rebels.From skirt to skirt a fiery region, stretchedIn battailous aspect, and nearer viewBristled with upright beams innumerableOf rigid spears, and helmets thronged, and shieldsVarious, with boastful argument portrayed,The banded Powers of Satan hasting onWith furious expedition; for they weenedThat self-same day, by fight or by surprise,To win the mount of God, and on his throneTo set the Envier of his state, the proudAspirer;The allusion is from Isaiah,13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the moist High. (Isaiah 14:13-14)Satan is a formidable foe, standing in unrighteous majesty at the head of his eager army. He tries to imitate God with a chariot as bright as the sun, with flaming Cherubim’s, and sitting on a golden throne.High in the midst, exalted as a God,The Apostate in his sun-bright chariot sat,Idol of majesty divine, enclosedWith flaming Cherubim, and golden shields;Then lighted from his gorgeous throne, for now’Twixt host and host but narrow space was left,A dreadful interval, and front to frontPresented stood in terrible arrayOf hideous length: Before the cloudy van,On the rough edge of battle ere it joined,Satan, with vast and haughty strides advanced,Came towering, armed in adamant and gold;But Michael looks to God and not himself for strength.Whereat Michael bid soundThe Arch-Angel trumpet; through the vast of HeavenIt sounded, and the faithful armies rungHosanna to the Highest:Michael is equal to but not superior to Satan. Both are still in heaven and Satan’s powers have not been as severely modified as they will be on earth. In fact, the powers of both the armies are limited by God or the destruction would be even more horrible.All HeavenResounded; and had Earth been then, all EarthHad to her center shook. What wonder? whenMillions of fierce encountering Angels foughtOn either side, the least of whom could wieldThese elements, and arm him with the forceOf all their regions: How much more of powerArmy against army numberless to raiseDreadful combustion warring, and disturb,Though not destroy, their happy native seat;Had not the Eternal King Omnipotent,From his strong hold of Heaven, high over-ruledAnd limited their might;This is a precursor of what happens on earth. On earth Satan is more powerful than man, but not more powerful that God; therefore, God severely limits Satan’s authority.  In Genesis we read14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:14-15)Paul echoes that same curse.20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. (Romans 16:20)We are told that Satan cannot tempt us more than we are able to resist, thus preserving our agency.