12:12
Therefore rejoice, you heavens
and you who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea,
because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury,
because he knows that his time is short.”
The reason to rejoice is that the devil and his followers are removed FOREVER from heaven.
There always is joy in heaven; in the past it was over a repented sinner (Luke 15:8-10). But this is different,. It is over the removal of the devil and his followers from heaven. Angels don't have to do the spiritual warfare in high places anymore. There is a new freedom in heaven which is cause for REJOICING.
But woe to the earth and the sea,What a study in contrasts: WOE versus REJOICING. Any doubt that the devil is mean, terrible, and wicked is removed by the use of the word "WOE". However, he still is a great deceiver and master of disguise (verse 9 and 2 Corinthians 11:7-15).
The use of the phrase "and the sea" is interesting in that it implies that even evil spirits will experience the wrath of Satan. Recall that water or the sea sometimes refers to the "container of spirit beings". See Revelation 9:14 for a discussion.
He, the Devil, is filled with fury becasue he knows the short time he has. Verses 6 and 14 clearly explain how much time this is. There are three things that are in the devil's future: