OUR ULTIMATE VICTORY OVER SATAN
(This is blog 25 in the series “Names of Satan.”)
One day a young man was out for a walk. As he went along the street, he saw a sign that invited him to sign up to see the world for free. Food, lodging, everything would be provided. In fact, he would be paid a salary, too. It sounded fine, too fine to pass up. So, he went in and signed his name. To his surprise he was handed a rifle and military equipment. He soon found out there was a whole army of soldiers who now were his enemy and whose sworn purpose was to destroy him. It wasn’t what he expected.
There are many Christians today who, when they accepted Jesus as Savior, were surprised to find they, too had an enemy. Perhaps they expected life to be perfect and fine, all settled with no more problems. Salvation, though, doesn’t end the battle. In many ways it is just the start of it!
You see, when you accept Jesus as your Savior you also accept Satan as your enemy! You deserted Satan’s army to join his enemy’s army, God’s army. He opposes God, but can only get at God by attacking His people — you and me!
Victory comes by knowing the enemy and his plans and tricks. The Bible tells us a lot about Satan. Much of the information comes from his names. “Satan” means “Adversary” (Job 1:6-7), similar to “Enemy” (Matthew 13:39; 1 Peter 5:8). The “Devil” has nearly the same meaning and is often used interchangeably with Satan (Mark 1:13; Matthew 4:1). Literally “Devil” means “Slanderer” because he slanders us to God, God to us, and even us to ourselves.
“Lucifer” is his original name from before his fall (Isaiah 14:12). It means “Bright, Shining One” and refers to Satan as an “Angel of Light” (2 Corinthians 11;13-14). In his original creation he was ultimate “beauty,” “perfection,” and “wisdom” (Ezekiel 28:12). He appears to be good, like God, in order to deceive. He is the ultimate “Deceiver” (Revelation 12:9). He is a “Liar” and the “Father of Lies” (John 8:44).
His control over the present world system is seen in his names “The god of this Age/World” (2 Corinthians 4:4), “The Ruler of This World System” (John 12:31), “The Prince of the Power of the Air” (Ephesians 2:1-2) and “The Power of Darkness” (Colossians 1:13-14). He sets the tone for this age: the values and priorities, motives and goals and all that comprises the present world view of principles and standards. He deceives those who aren’t believers into thinking his way is right and best, when it just leads to destruction.
It’s no wonder, then, that he is even called “Destroyer,” Abaddon and Apollyon in Hebrew and Greek (Revelation 9:11). Similarly, he is the “Great Dragon” (Revelation 12:9) and the “Roaring Lion” (1 Peter 5:8). He is a “Murderer” from the beginning (John 8:44), and a thief” who comes to kill and destroy (John 10:10). “Demon,” those who do his work, means “Destroyer.”
As if we don’t have enough information to tell what kind of an evil person he is, he also is called the “Evil One” (John 17:5), “Wicked One” (Ephesians 6:16), “Lawless One” (2 Thessalonians 2:8-10) and “Man of Sin” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). Even “Beelzebub” reinforces his rottenness for it refers him as lord over all that is repulsive and utterly detestable.
Satan’s goal is to bring each person into the same evil that personifies him. He is the “Old Serpent” (Revelation 12:9) and the “Tempter” (Matthew 4:3). In short, he is everything God is not. Everything God is, he is the opposite. He is in a death struggle with God for mankind and the Kingdom of the world. He will stop at nothing. No one can resist Him. Only those who live and fight in God’s power have any chance of victory. That is, you and me. Read the following verses about this wonderful victory that is ours in Jesus. Keep them nearby so you can refer to them whenever discouraged.
Hebrews 2:14-15 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death — that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
Luke 9:1-2 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
Luke 10:17-20 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Rev 12:7-11 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down — that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. 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 and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
Revelation 20:7-15 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth — Gog and Magog — to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Matthew 25:41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
Copyright © 2021