There was a war in heaven between Michael and the Dragon

Premortal Apostasy, Creation, and War

Apostasy and Creation

The grand council in heaven ended with the rebellion of Lucifer and his followers.

The premortal apostasy then began as the noble and great spirits of the premortal church of God fled from Kolob to the wilderness of God's celestial residence where they remained for 1260 Kolob Years. (Revelation 12:6)

While on God's celestial residence, Jehovah (Jesus Christ) and members of the premortal church proceeded with the physical creation. Joseph Smith described their actions:

"The head God called together the Gods and sat in grand council to bring forth the world. The grand counsellors sat at the head in yonder heavens, and contemplated the creation of the worlds which were created at that time."

— Joseph Smith, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, 5

The 1260 Kolob years equate to 453.6 million earth years‒where one day on Kolob is as 1000 years on earth.

During this time, Christ and the other "Gods" created countless uninhabited planets of the telestial and terrestrial order in ascending order of intelligence. (Moses 1:32-33)

When these many uninhabited worlds die and are resurrected, they will be glorified to become the many mansions in the telestial and terrestrial kingdoms for people that don't qualify for celestial glory on the celestial earth they inhabit during their second mortal estate.

While Jehovah created this immense number of telestial and terrestrial planets for 1260 Kolob years, the premortal apostasy took place on Kolob.

During this apostasy in heaven, Lucifer's rebellious followers tormented the uncommitted spirits from the grand council in an environment of spiritual darkness that has its likeness in the 1260-year Great Apostasy on earth, including the dark ages.

 

Creation and War

The premortal apostasy in heaven ended after 1260 Kolob years when the premortal church of God was restored to Kolob, just as the Great Apostasy on earth ended after 1260 years when the church of Jesus Christ was restored in 1830.

When the premortal church was restored on Kolob, the war in heaven began in Revelation 12:7.

The war in heaven coincides with the return of the premortal church (the woman) to Kolob from the wilderness because "it takes two to tango."

With the two opposing sides present on Kolob, the battle to save the undecided spirits began as Elder M. Russell Ballard taught:

"The battle to bring souls unto Christ began in the premortal world with the war in heaven."

— Elder M. Russell Ballard, Conference Report, "Duties, Rewards, and Risks," October 1989, 43

When the war in heaven began, Jehovah began to create physical celestial earths in their ascending order of intelligence to become the habitations for mortal humans during their second estate.

These habitable worlds became a needful addition to the universe as undecided spirits exercised faith in Jesus Christ, repented of their sins, and entered into gospel covenants during the war in heaven.

President Lorenzo Snow said:

"We made covenants in pre-earth life…. We have learned that we existed with God in eternity before we came into this life, and that we kept our estate. Had we not kept what is called our first estate and observed the laws that governed there, you and I would not be here today."

— Lorenzo Snow, The Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, 91-92

As premortal spirits overcame Lucifer and made gospel covenants on Kolob they kept their first estate and were ready for their appointment to one of the many celestial earths created by Christ.

 

Learn More

For a deeper dive on the two stages of physical creation during the premortal apostasy and during the war in heaven (Revelation 12:6–7), see the podcasts below.

🎧 November 9, 2025 – Listen here: → https://youtu.be/UoTV94dch9k

🎧 November 11, 2025 – Listen here: → https://youtu.be/iqKkYnKFFS4

(Also available wherever you get your podcasts)

Also, please check out our new and improved website at https://UnveilingJesusChrist.com and ask Aida—our Artificial Intelligence Doctrinal Assistant—all about the premortal apostasy, physical creation, and war in heaven.

John Cassinat
Unveiling Jesus Christ