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11. Conclusion

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As we conclude this study, we must remember that Satan is a real person—a fallen angel who probably was the most glorious being in God’s creation. He ministered in God’s presence and led others in the worship of God. However, at some point, he became prideful, as he wanted to be like God and led one-third of the angels in rebellion against God. Consequently, he was cast out of heaven, along with his demons. He is a real person—not simply a personification of evil. He imitates God and wants to twist and pervert all of God’s creative order, especially humans. He tempts, lies, attacks, and destroys. From the fall, God prophesied that Satan would harm the promised messiah, and that the messiah would ultimately crush the devil (Gen 3:15). This was fulfilled at the cross. Satan killed Jesus, but it ended up only being a flesh wound, as he rose from the dead. And in the cross and resurrection, Satan has ultimately been defeated (Col 2:15). But the full outworking of that defeat awaits Christ’s return and the coming eternal state. Then Satan, his angels, and evildoers will be cast into the lake of fire and tormented eternally (Rev 20:10).

In this period, between the cross and Christ’s return to rule, Satan is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet 5:8). His time is short. Believers must be vigilant, being empowered by God and standing in his authority against the devil’s attacks. They must, through resources given by God, resist the devil and his works against the church, society, nations, and the world (Jam 4:7). Soon, Christ will crush Satan under our feet (Rom 16:20).

As a matter of warning, God has not told us everything about Satan, demons, and their ways in the world. He has told us all we need to know to conquer them and have victory. With that said, we must be careful of an ungodly curiosity into the things of Satan and darkness, including things like the occult (cf. Rev 2:24, “the ‘deep secrets of Satan’) and his work among the governments of this world (cf. Matt 4:8-9, as he offered Christ the kingdoms of this world). In 1 Corinthians 14:20, Paul said, we should “be infants in evil” but “mature” in our thinking. In Romans 16:19, Paul likewise said that we should be “wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.” Let that be true of us. What God has revealed about Satan and his kingdom in Scripture is enough to properly evaluate the evil in the world around us and to win our battles. Thank you, God, for equipping us for our daily battles and winning the war! Thank you, God, that Jesus is coming soon to finish the job. Lord, come! Lord, come!

Related Topics: Satanology

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