World at War  /  Conflicts  /  Wars of Scripture
Wars of Scripture

War in Heaven

4004 BC The Heavens Status: ended Casualties: One third of the host of heaven cast down

Before the foundation of the world, the archangel Michael and his hosts cast down the rebellious Lucifer and his angels. Recorded retrospectively in Revelation 12:7–9 and alluded to in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28. The opening conflict of the cosmos.

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Belligerents

  • Michael & the angels
  • The Dragon (Lucifer) & his angels

Casualties

One third of the host of heaven cast down

Key events

  • Lucifer says in his heart, 'I will ascend above the heights'
  • Michael contends; the dragon prevails not
  • The dragon is cast out into the earth

Aftermath

Set the cosmos in opposition. The serpent in Eden, the accuser in Job, the tempter in the wilderness, and the dragon at the end of days are all read as the same fall. The whole arc of scripture is the closing of this rebellion.

Weapons & matériel

  • Sword of the spirit
  • The voice that shakes the heavens
  • Stars of the morning

Technology

The earliest conflict, before the earth was framed

Sources

  • Revelation 12:7–9
  • Isaiah 14:12–15
  • Ezekiel 28:13–17
  • Luke 10:18
  • Jude 1:6
From World at War, an interactive atlas by Jairus Pereira. Figures are approximate, drawn from Wikipedia, UCDP, ACLED and academic sources — a design artefact, not an authoritative register. Contact.