Torch, Summer 1990

--L------------------------------~ Satan will not dethrone God. God's love surpasses Satan's futile attempt to overthrow His rule. God's plan of redemption has frustrated Satan's rebellion. "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work" (I John 3:8). God either has judged or will judge Satan in a progression of regal declara– tions. He was judged in Heaven at the inception of his rebellious pride, "I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God" (Ezekiel 28: 16); in Eden immediately after the Fall, "I will put enmity... between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head..." (Genesis 3:15); at the cross when Christ died to pay the penalty for sin, "[Christ] shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil. .. " (Hebrews 2:14). He will be judged during the Tribulation, "The great dragon was hurled down-that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan...to the earth..." (Revelation 12:9); at Christ's Second Coming, "[The angel] seized...Satan, and bound him for a thousand years" (Revelation 20:2); and for eternity, "And the devil, who de– ceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur...tormented day and night forever and ever" (Revelation 20: I0). No doom is more certain than Satan's, no plan more destined to failure. Satan will destroy many people. Though his ultimate goal of supplant– ing God will fail, Satan's rebellion grows continually. Along with the angels who followed his initial insurrection, mankind has joined and will continue to join his cult of evil for "Satan comes and takes away the Word (the Gospel) that was sown..." (Mark 4: 15). Through decep– tion "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ..." (2 Corinthians 4:4). Satan will succeed in his plan for unbelievers. They advance his rebellion as he "leads the whole world astray" (Revelation 12:9), but they will share his judgment. In Matthew 25 :41, Christ says to them, "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." Those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ as God's provision for their sin are willing victims of Satan ' s awful deception. Satan sometimes will deceive us. Though believers will not suffer the eternal consequences of following Satan's rebellion, they are sometimes enticed into acting as if they were his own subjects. Satan incited David into sinning against God's command (I Chronicles 21: I), deceived Peter into denying the necessity of Christ's sacrifice (Matthew 16:21-23), filled the hearts of Ananias and Sapphira to lie (Acts 5:3), and takes captive those who will do his will (2 Timothy 2:26). Yet Satan's plan for the believer ultimately will be frustrated. "For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb.. ." (Revelation 12: I 0, 11 ). Even on a daily basis the believer can overcome the temptation of the devil, for "the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (I John 4:4). We must defend ourselves. As believers, we must join in the battle against Satan. The Bible offers several strategies for surmounting his attacks. First, we must know our adversary. "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (I Peter 5:8). Second, we must withhold assistance. The Apostle Paul warns us, "Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry , and do not give the devil a foothold" (Ephesians 4:26). Third, we must wear God's armor (see Gary Gromacki's article). Wearing this "spiritual armor" in an attitude of dependent prayer enables us to stand against satanic attacks (Ephesians 6:11 -18). Finally, we must follow the strategy for victory. James tells us what it is: "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you...Humble yourselves before the Lord" (James 4:7,8,10). Satan fails in his opposition to God's person and plan. He succeeds in beguiling unbelievers into his rebellion and ruin. Whether or not he succeeds with us depends upon our knowledge and choice. Whenever we prefer any one other than God or any will other than His, we join, however briefly, the rebellion that is doomed. During the battle for North Africa, General George S. Patton's tanks and troops engaged in a successful counter– attack of German forces under Field Marshall Erwin Rommel. It is reported that in the heat of the battle Patton shouted, " I have read your book, Rommel. I have read your book." And he had. In Rommel 's Infantry Attacks, the "Desert Fox" had detailed his military strategy. With this knowledge of Rommel's plan, Patton defeated his enemy. Knowing Satan 's plan as revealed in God's Book, we can be aware of our enemy 's strategy and avoid being drafted into his rebellion. Quotations are from the New Interna– tional Version. Dr. Timothy Warren is associate professor of pastoral ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary. He earned a B.A. from . Cedarville College, an M.A. from Bowlmg Green State University, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University.