The revolt in heaven

[nancy e harrison]

Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.

if there was this "war" in heaven once, is it possible that it could happen again? and why was there this revolt if heaven is perfect peace? i am not playing the devil's advocate. i just wonder about these things. any thoughts on this?

thanks

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear Ms Harrison,

This is a very interesting question -- and one on which many of the fathers of the Church have reflected. It is clear that there was a rebellion; this is indicated in scripture, and discussed more thoroughly in several other texts and by many of the patristic sources. The question of 'what next?' is, however, something not indicated with the same kind of clarity, at least in part because, as many of the fathers would remind, one deals here with 'knowledge' of a realm that is not that of the material, and especially human, cosmos. How much man, who is 'a little lower than the angels', can properly know of the angelic order, is a kind of primary question that must qualify the way we ask others. For this reason, most of the fathers suggest not attempting too detailed a knowledge in this regard, as it is unattainable (perhaps explaining why there is so little on the pre-human reality of the angels mentioned in the scriptural texts -- there is something educational in undersanding why the canon was formed the way it was).

INXC, Matthew

[Father David Moser]

In addition to the Church Fathers, there are many others who have contemplated the theme of war in heaven. Among those are various of the "Inklings" the literary group of CS Lewis and JRR Tolkein. Tolkein's Silmarilion contains a story of the creation of Middle Earth in which he draws on the idea of war in heaven. Another member of the group, Charles Williams wrote a number of books about the "interface" of the supernatural with the ordinary world which explore the theme of war in heaven - one of which is actually entitled "War In Heaven".

I don't recommend these as reading on a par with patristic or truly spiritual writings of the Church - but they are interesting concepts of the nature and implication of war in heaven. The images used in the books help give shape to our own thoughts on the subject (and they are enjoyable reads as well.)

Fr David Moser

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear Fr David - thank you for those remarks. One of the best 'studies' of revolt and evil is Lewis' Screwtape letters, which as a work of fiction manages to convey the sense of authentic rebellion in perhaps the most terrifyingly real way I have ever encountered. INXC, Matthew

[nancy e harrison]

thank you for your thoughtful response fr. moser. i guess i have to accept the fact that:


"as many of the fathers would remind, one deals here with 'knowledge' of a realm that is not that of the material, and especially human, cosmos."

what is it in human beings that drives us to try to understand the ineffable divine mysteries, all those things that are totally beyond our understanding? it gets quite maddening sometimes!

[nancy e harrison]

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

that kinda says it all. i think this has to do with humility and resignation.