Satan’s long war against God, Part 1

The title of this blog might sound strange.  It is about the end of Satan’s story after   his long war against God.  What we want to discuss is the goal of God versus the goal of the devil and what the final outcome will be. 

To refresh memories: It was decided by the Godhead before creation, that 

‘man will be redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, a Lamb without blemish or defect.’  1 Peter 1:18-19

The event that made it necessary for man to be saved by the Almighty God, took place in the Garden of Eden.  Man lost his relationship with God and became a stranger to Him.  So he needed to be restored to that blessed relationship with God.  Job 33:28 tells us, 

’He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I shall live to enjoy the light.’ 

We are all familiar with God’s promise to the devil in the Garden of Eden.  It is a promise that is central to God’s Kingdom plan, 

‘And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel.’  Genesis 3:15

Please note that we write the ‘He’ in capital letters, because we believe the ‘He’ refers to the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.  He bought (redeemed) man back from the devil, to live eternally with God in glory. 

Now Satan is an ambitious angel.  He said, as recorded, 

‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly; …I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’  Isaiah 14:13-14 

Make no mistake, he was not going to let God’s promise that Someone will crush his head, stand between him and the high position he aspired to.  In case people might think that Satan is just a minor issue, look at the following verse that describes his character,

‘The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.’  Revelation 12:9

Scripture tells us the history of Satan’s strategies against God’s promise of Genesis 3:15.  We will discuss the following, 

1. Satan did not know which woman would give birth to the one who would crush his head.  His first strategy was to pollute the pure blood of Adam and Eve.  So his angels (demons) married women and had children with them.  It failed. 
2. Then God narrowed the ‘woman’ down to one family, the family of Abraham. Satan thought he had an easy victory to kill all the male babies during the Israelites’ slavery in Egypt.  It failed.  
3. God then narrowed the family down to David’s offspring.  The devil used the queen mother, Athaliah.  She attempted to kill all the boys in the bloodline of David.  It failed.
4. During the Babylonian exile, Satan attempted to kill all the Jews through Haman.  It failed. 
5. Finally the Messiah, the promised Seed, was born.  The devil instigated Herod to kill the baby.  It failed. 
6. Before He began His ministry, Jesus fasted forty days in the wilderness.  The devil thought He was weakened and tried to bribe Jesus.  It failed. 
7. Then he decided to outright kill Jesus, but it was part of God’s plan.  So it failed. 
8. His strategy for the last 1,500 years is to destroy the Book that explains his failures and God’s victories.  This one will also fail. 
9. Revelation tells us that Jesus is the final Victor.  Satan’s kingdom will be completely destroyed.  He will finally depart into the lake of eternal suffering.   

To be continued….

How Jesus showed us the importance of eternal life.

Scripture consistently represents Jesus as the Glorious Son of God.  The fact that Jesus came down from a position of glory where he was worshipped by millions of angels, indicates how seriously important eternal life with God is.  Jesus came to earth and paid the full price to save man, 

‘…you [the saints] were redeemed [bought out of slavery under the devil] by the precious blood of Christ, a Lamb without blemish or defect.’  1 Peter 1:18-19

What did it cost Jesus to come to earth and be crucified on our behalf?  Scripture does not elaborate on it.  Jesus mentioned His former glory and that He will go back to it,

‘Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.’  John 17:24

It is only in the book of Revelation, when Jesus was already back in heaven, that we get a better vision of the glory He had with His Father before creation.  

Glimpses of Jesus’ glory  

1.  He was no ordinary man, as seen on the Mount of Transfiguration, 

‘There He was transfigured before them.  His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.’  Matthew 17:2

2.  A testimony of His glory, 

“Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing, ’To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever.’”  Revelation 5:13

3.  What John saw concerning Jesus, 

‘I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.  With justice He judges and makes war.  His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns.’  Revelation 19:11-12a

4.  Jesus, as the Truth, testifies, 

I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.’  Revelation 22:16

5.  After His victory over Satan on the Cross, God bestowed honour and glory on Jesus,

‘…Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.’ Philippians 2:6-11 

Summary

Jesus left His place of Pre-Creation glory to redeem man.  Then He went back to even greater glory.  What does He remind us of that He left His Father’s glory to become the Son of Man and save us?   Eternal life is very, very important.  We are not to forget the Holy Spirit’s advice, 

‘…seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness….’  Matthew 6:33a

Then we also will witness Jesus’ glory!

The Pre-Creation Conference, Part 4, Light will replace darkness.

Many theologians and other people regard the ‘fall’ of man in Genesis 3 as the most tragic event in history.  It is there that man moved from the light of God’s presence to the darkness of Satan’s kingdom.  

History revolves around Genesis 3

We believe that the whole of the Bible and the whole of human history revolves around Genesis 3.  Why? 

• The Godhead decided before creation that Jesus would be the Lamb of God.  Why would He be the Sacrificial Lamb if nothing happened?  They foresaw the event that would impact humanity greatly.  
• The fact that the Godhead made those decisions before creation is a demonstration of their omniscience.  They are never surprised by anything.  Nothing ever happens unexpectedly to them.  Even the events of our time are no surprise to them.  
• As mentioned, nowhere does the Bible give a hint that the creation of the physical universe was discussed  before creation.  God’s ‘problem’ was with man.  Everything the Godhead discussed had to do with man.  
• In the Garden of Eden, Satan deceived Adam to disobey God.  This had some effects, which the Godhead provided for in Scripture.  Man, bound to darkness, under the rulership of Satan, will be redeemed by the Son of God.  
• Therefore, God’s major promise in Genesis 3:15, 

‘…I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel.’ 

• It is a precious, amazing promise: somebody, born of a woman, will crush the head of

 ‘that ancient serpent, the devil or Satan.’  Revelation 12:9   

• Scripture unveils how the promise of Genesis 3:15 has been fulfilled and is being fulfilled as more people come to Christ.  Finally, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah will finish off the kingdom of darkness, and the Kingdom of Light will be established permanently on the new earth.  (Revealed in Revelation)  

Genesis 3:15 makes sense

• The ‘fall’ of man, as it is called, makes perfect sense.  No man, with a free will, can choose if there is only one choice available.  So God gave man the opportunity to choose between two candidates (not three choices, because that would just complicate matters).  It was only between the King of light and the ruler of darkness. 
• God knew man’s choice to obey the ‘serpent’ would plunge them into spiritual darkness and that would call for a Redeemer/Saviour.  It would be Jesus.  
• That makes sense in the light of the Kingdom.  All people are born in darkness in the devil’s kingdom.  Since the Light, Jesus, arrived, all people can decide whether they want to take hold of that ‘lifeline’ or not.  There is no force from God’s side.  The choice is voluntary.  
• What does God achieve with this ‘arrangement?’  He makes sure that nobody who is not interested in Him, is forced to be part of His Kingdom.  It has to be by free will.  Nothing else will suffice – no domination.  God will never force His will on people.  
• With this strategy God accomplished something very important.  Because salvation (to be saved out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light) by the blood of the Lamb would be by grace and mercy, nobody is excluded.  Nobody!  People can rant and rave against God about hell.  It is a waste of time, because all can come to God through Jesus.  Nobody is excluded.  People who refuse to enter the Kingdom are themselves responsible for their final eternal destination, hell.    

Conclusion

Although God did not pre-programme Adam to disobey, it happened.  The Godhead prepared for it.  Genesis 3:15 is the verse that ties the Bible message into one coherent practical unit.