Satan's Doom
Satan is our adversary, our enemy, and our accuser.The hour is coming when he will be forever defeatedand cast into the lake of fire.
By Ken Raggio 8/28/98
Revelation 20:10And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Do modern Americans actually believe there is a devil?
Researcher George Barna posed that question to a survey group and found that only 40% of Americans (2 out of 5) believe that Satan is a living being.
In his book, "What Americans Believe," he revealed that 69% of Catholics, and 65% of mainline Protestant church-goers believe the notion of Satan is only symbolic of evil. Those statistics will soon be ten years old. Can anyone argue that the general consensus continues to drift further and further from the Biblical truth of the matter?
There is little surprise in the statistics regarding America’s disbelief in the devil.
Only 27% of Americans believe that the God of the Bible is different from the gods of Islam or Buddhism. That fact reveals a sickening ignorance, not only of God and the Devil, but of the knowledge of the Word of God.
It is, however, evidence of the accuracy of Hosea 4:6, "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge."
If Satan is not an actual person, then we have little use at all for the Bible.
God’s Word pivots explicitly around an on-going conflict between the Jehovah God of Heaven and one particular individual creature known as Lucifer, the Devil, Satan, and a variety of other titles..
We will show in this lesson what the Bible declares about Satan.
We will find that he is every bit a living individual, with a mind and will of his own.
We will see that he was the original sinner, and God’s very first opponent.
We will see his actual statements and learn what he intended to do from the beginning, and more importantly, what God intends to do with him as well.
I. THE DECEIVER -- HIS RISE TO POWER
A. Self-exaltation -- "I Will…"
"In the beginning, God created…," (Genesis 1:1). John informs us that "…the devil sinneth from the beginning," (I John 3:8). Lucifer’s sin must have occurred sometime during the creation story. How do we know? According to Ezekiel 28, in an allegory about the King of Tyrus, Lucifer is type-cast as being "full of wisdom, perfect in beauty," "until iniquity was found in him."
Ezekiel 28:13 says of him, "Thou hast been in Eden the Garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created."
We have often figured that Lucifer came from heaven, and he probably did. But we know for sure from Ezekiel 28:13 and 15 that his principal address was in the Garden of Eden until iniquity was found in him. The chronology of events in the sixth day of Creation unfolds thus: 1) God created man. 2) God planted a Garden. 3) God placed man in the Garden. 4) God took Adam’s rib and formed Eve.
Notice that God planted the Garden after Adam was created.
Lucifer also dwelled in the Garden before he sinned according to Ezekiel 28:13-15.
Therefore, Lucifer actually SHARED the garden with Adam and Eve BEFORE his sin!
His sin would have to have been after Adam was created.
From the same verses we know that his "tabrets" (tambourines) and his "pipes" (flute-like instruments) were prepared for him the day he was created.
Satan was a tambourine and flute player, apparently while in the Garden of Eden, probably even a musician in the presence of Adam and Eve!
Isaiah 14:13 plainly documents Satan’s sin. "For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." These remarks tell us at least five facts about Lucifer:
1. He was not in heaven when he boasted. ("I will ascend into heaven.")
2. He had a throne, equal to or below other angels. ("I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.")
3. He must have been on earth, because he aspired to sit in a mount of the congregation in the sides of the north. We can only guess where: perhaps Mt. Zion or Mt. Moriah? ("I will sit on the mount of the congregation.")
4. He was below the clouds when he boasted. ("I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.")
5. He was not god-like, but wanted to be. ("I will be like the Most High.")
According to Ezekiel 28:14, Satan was "the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
He was an "anointed cherub that covereth," suggesting an angel with a God-ordained position of responsibility, with a throne of his own, below the Most High, not in heaven, under the clouds, apparently on earth - "until iniquity was found in thee…" (Ezekiel 28:15).
These are interesting observations: seeing Lucifer in an earth-based state, planning to ascend above the clouds, above other angels, role-playing as God. Later, his ambition to be god-like will cause him in the end to imitate the very Incarnation of God (Jesus Christ), in the form of antichrist!
Not surprisingly, those ambitions are EXACTLY what he is achieving to this day! The scriptures confirm that he attained to the position of "the prince of the power of the air," (Ephesians 2:2), and "the god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4).
In his final character role as antichrist, he "opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God," (II Thessalonians 2:4).
John reveals in Revelation 13:5, "there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations." Satan is a very real spirit person. His character and nature is the textbook definition for "diabolical."
For some reason, God has always permitted Lucifer to thrive in his evil doings (i.e., the temptations of Job, Jesus, Judas, saints and sinners of all ages). He will continue to flourish until Armageddon.
Have you ever wondered why God did not simply annihilate Satan and his fellows in their original sin? We may never know the answer to that question until we stand in His presence. But there is one thing to consider. God chose to allow Satan to do almost any and every conceivable crime and evil for six thousand years, knowing that in the end, absolutely nothing Satan ever did could overthrow the Kingdom of God, or supplant God from his majestic throne! Only God in His omniscient wisdom could allow men and devils to have their own free will, rife with sin and rebellion, and yet maintain 100% control of the outcome! What a Sovereign and Almighty God we serve!
B. Led schism among angels, caused overthrow
Revelation 12:4 says, "And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth." The fact that he DREW THEM and CAST THEM demonstrates acts of coercion and force against the other angels. This behavior is identical to the devil of 2 Timothy 2:26, who, by his own will sets "snares" for unsuspecting victims and "takes men captive." All the evidence depicts Satan as a malicious, determined aggressor. He does not wait on others to make their own mistakes. He actively seeks to steal, kill and destroy, when and where he chooses!
Jesus called the devil "the thief," and taught that he "cometh not, but for to steal, kill and destroy" (John 10:10). Jude explained that the angels "kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation." One-third of the holy angels apparently abandoned the God’s heaven while under the influence of Satan. He would have destroyed the entire kingdom of God if he could have. He instigated the downfall of multitudes of angels, then proceeded to destroy the souls of humankind. Isaiah 14:12 says, "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!" Perhaps the first nations Satan weakened were angelic nations.
Then he proceeded to weaken human nations -- "(He) made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners," Isaiah 14:17. Cities that once existed are now extinct because of the works of Satan. Before Satan is through, literally billions of people will have been destroyed by this aggressive, murderous, lying thief.
II. THE DECEIVER -- CUT DOWN TO THE GROUND
There are several references to Satan’s fall, depicting different time frames.
1) Isaiah’s comment, "How thou art cut down to the earth," (Isaiah 14:12).
2) Jesus’ remark, "I beheld Satan fall as lightning," (Luke 10:18).
3) Jesus’ upcoming crucifixion, "now shall the prince of this world be cast down," (John 12).
4) John’s revelation of the dragon, the devil cast down into the earth to torment mankind for a short time (Revelation 12:12)
5) John’s revelation of Satan cast into the lake of fire with the beast and the false prophet for 1000 years. (Revelation 20:2; Ezekiel 28:16-18)
6) John’s revelation of Satan cast into the bottomless pit forever at the end of the 1000 year reign of Christ (Revelation 20:7)
Let’s try to put all these in perspective.
From the story of Job, we learn that Satan had access both to heaven and earth. This was long after Adam and Eve fell. Some believe Job was a grandson of Jacob, and son of Issachar (Genesis 46:13). If so, Satan had access to the throne of God in the days contemporary with Joseph in Egypt.
The reason it is significant to see Satan’s activity in this particular time-frame is to show that he still had access to heaven, at least to the throne of God after he sinned. Satan obviously STILL has access to the throne for him to have permission to tempt us today!
It reveals an interesting aspect of Satan’s plight. The fall of Satan, or his being "cut down to the ground" in Isaiah 14:12 is NOT the same event as his being "CAST OUT and CAST DOWN" in Revelation 12.
Revelation 12:7, "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
The difference in his being "cut down" in Isaiah, and "cast down" in Revelation can be reckoned with as follows.
Throughout the history of man unto this day, Satan has been able to tempt mankind on earth and also stand before God’s throne for permission. Satan has seemingly always had freedom to go back and forth to the throne of God. Since his original sin, we have no evidence that he has been seen elsewhere in heaven. Remember that Lucifer’s sin started with his evil intention to "ascend into heaven," (Isaiah 14:13). Though he could plead his temptations before the throne, he did not have free access to heaven.
Paul spoke of the third heaven in 2 Corinthians 12:2, "…caught up to the third heaven." First heaven being the air that we breathe, second heaven the place where angels and devils dwell, and third heaven being God’s heaven.
Perhaps Lucifer was cut down from the third heaven, free to operate only in the second heaven -- earth’s heaven, but not in the third -- God’s heaven.
Isaiah saw Lucifer "cut down" long before Jesus said, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven," Luke 10:18. Are these two references to the same event? Probably not.
We do not know exactly when Jesus saw Satan fall. If he saw it after being born as the Son of Man, that would have been long after Isaiah’s note. If He saw it before the incarnation, it might have happened at any time.
John 12 may give us some insight. Beginning with verse 27, Jesus spoke of his death by crucifixion, saying, "Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out."
Jesus said earlier that he had seen Satan fall as lightning. Now, He is pointing to a subsequent "casting out." Let’s consider the two different events.
These verses show that Jesus’ death on the cross is the cause of Satan’s being cast out as prince of the world. Yet that particular fall will not be complete until the Battle of Armageddon. He is still working under the earlier fall
Observe the fact that there are no cases of demon-possession mentioned in the Old Testament. Yet in the New Testament, demon possession is rampant.
Satan may not have fallen as lightning until Jesus was born, because from that time forward, men were rabidly demon-possessed.
We know that Jesus encountered Satan in person in the wilderness, so Satan was certainly in the earth at that time. Jesus claimed to have power to "destroy the works of the devil" and also gave his disciples power to "cast out devils."
At the coming of Jesus Christ, Lucifer was apparently sentenced to ground warfare with Jesus Christ and His Church. As Jesus and His Church conflict with Satan and his devils daily, the prince of the world is being cast out. Every time a soul is saved, or a devil cast out, the church is taking back souls one at a time.
Peter and Jude told how God handed the angels that sinned.
In 2 Peter 2:4, He "cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;" and in Jude 1:6 "he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."
Apparently, some of the fallen angels were immediately sent to hell, while others (Satan and his cohorts) were left to persecute the human society.
Only the Church of Jesus Christ has the power to bind them and cast them out. If we do nothing, Satan wins. If we resist, we win.
A. Tempts men and causes them to fall
Make no mistake about it, Satan has been an evil force in every generation. From Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah’s day, Babel, Sodom, sin has raged.
As the adversary of Job, Satan tried to move God to destroy him, (Job 1:6-9, Job 2:1-6, Job 2:7). In Zechariah 3, he resisted the ministry (Joshua the High Priest). He resisted the nation and king of Israel, (I Chronicles 21) provoking David to number Israel, displeasing God, and causing 70,000 deaths. Satan was behind Babylon and the King of Babylon’s oppression of Israel.
Satan tried to devour the man child, Jesus, when he was born (Revelation 12:4). Herod’s orders to kill the male children of Palestine were Satanic, causing countless infants to die. Satan will also persecute the woman (Israel) who brought forth the Messiah, when he is cast unto the earth (Revelation 12:13).
B. Hinders the righteous
Satan tempted Jesus, (Matthew 4:1), sifted Peter (Luke 22:31), and filled Ananias with lies (Acts 5:3). A messenger of Satan buffeted Paul (2 Corinthians 12:7), and hindered Paul from making a missionary journey (1Thessalonians 2:18).
Today, Satan beguiles believers as the serpent beguiled Eve (2 Corinthians 11:3), and sows tares among wheat (he plants sinners among saints to cause them distress). Jesus said, "The enemy that sowed them is the devil," Matthew 13:39.
Satan will persecute Christians in the last days. "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ," Revelation 12:17.
C. Afflicts and oppresses mankind
Satan bound the infirm woman for eighteen years, (Luke 13:16). He threw down children and tare them in Matthew 15:22, and Luke 9:42
D. Is a dreaded influence on sinners
In 1 Timothy 1:20, Paul delivered Hymenaeus and Alexander "unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme." In other words, "Let the devil batter them and they won’t be so apt to blaspheme the next time!"
Paul delivered a Corinthian backslider "unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord," I Corinthians 5:5.
E. Adversary of all believers
"Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour," I Peter 5:8.
The name Satan actually means "adversary." He works against us in many ways.
1. Accuses the brethren. The term "devil" means "slanderer or false accuser." He works through men. The deaths of Jesus and Paul and others the result of false accusations. Satan used their brethren Jews, Chief Priests and officers of the Temple.
2. Condemns. Paul warned novice preachers against falling into "the condemnation of the devil," I Timothy 3:6.
3. Devours. 1 Peter 5:8, "your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."
4. Imprisons and torments. Revelation 2:10 "The devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation"
5. Steals the Word away. Mark 4:15, "when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts."
6. Captures, ensnares, takes hostage, 2 Timothy 2:26, "that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
7. Takes advantage of us. (2 Corinthians 2:11)
F. Enters into, possesses or fathers evil spirits in men
Those Satan possessed were variously deaf, dumb, blind, lunatic, epileptic, or afflicted with other maladies.
Jesus caught Satan speaking through Peter in Matthew 16:23, "But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me."
Judas also succumbed: "And after the sop Satan entered into him," John 13:27. He arranged Jesus’ murder!
Jesus told the Pharisees they were "of your father the devil," John 8:44.
The girl in Acts 13:10 was called a "child of the devil."
Jesus said "the tares are the children of the wicked one." I John 3:10 labels all men as either the children of God or the children of the devil.
G. Has false synagogues, churches, Messiah, anointing
Satan has a synagogue, (Revelation 2:9). Satan sometimes has a seat in and works in the church, (Revelation 2:13). Satan has power, signs, and wonders, (II Thessalonians 2:9). He deceives the whole world, (Revelation 12:9, 18:3). He uses sinners to prophesy, cast out devils, do wonderful works, (Matthew 7:22-23). He works miracles, (Revelation 16:14). He has his own doctrines, (1 Timothy 4:1). He uses false prophets, false Christs, evil men and seducers, (Matthew 24:11, 2 Timothy 3:13, II John 1:7). He disguises as an angel of light, (2 Corinthians 11:14).
III. THE DECEIVER -- CAST DOWN TO HELL
A. His own house is divided and cannot stand.
Mark 3:26 says, "If Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end."
If we can prove that Satan casts out Satan, then we can prove that his kingdom will fall.
In Mark 3:23, "he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?" The answer is in Matthew 7:22-23, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Jesus explicitly calls the casting out of devils by these non-Christians a work of iniquity. Therefore, it is a work of Satan’s kingdom.
If Satan can afflict a person with a sickness, why can’t he call back that sickness and appear to be the Healer? The true church can take heart against the deceptive works in false religion today, knowing that these modern deceivers will certainly bring their own house down upon themselves.
Satan’s house must fall.
B. Jesus came to destroy him, his works and his kingdom.
I John 3:8, "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." Jesus will perform the grand finale at Armageddon.
Meanwhile, Jesus has become the "adversary of the adversary."
These things we know about Satan’s plight:
1. His head will be bruised by Messiah and Church’s heel, (Genesis 3:15, Romans 16:20).
2. He knows who Jesus is and trembles, (Luke 4:41, James 2:19).
3. He dreads to be tormented before the time, (Matthew 8:29).
4. Has great wrath, knowing he has a short time, (Revelation 12:12).
5. God restrains him, (Job 1:12, Job 12:16)
Jesus Christ is the power and authority that will finally bring Satan down for good.
1.Because of Jesus’ death at Calvary, the world is sentenced to be judged, and Satan to be cast out. (John 12:31).
2. Jesus revoked demon possessions where ever He went. (Matthew 4:24)
3. Jesus healed and delivered all who were oppressed of the devil. (Mark 1:32, 34,39; Matthew 8:16)
4. Satan will be destroyed by Jesus Christ. Hebrews 2:14, "…that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil"
C. The Church wars against Satan.
1. Jesus gave them power and authority. (Mark 16:17, "In my name shall they cast out devils" Luke 9:1, "and gave them power and authority over all devils." Luke 10:19. "I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."
2. The disciples cast out devils. Mark 6:13, "And they cast out many devils"
3. The church resists Satan. Ephesians 4:27, "Neither give place to the devil." Ephesians 6:11, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." James 4:7, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
4. The Church quenches the fiery darts of the devil by faith, (Ephesians 6:16), and are delivered from the snare of devil, (2 Timothy 2:26).
5. They overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and word of their testimony, Revelation 12:11.
6. They are not ignorant of his devices, 2 Corinthians 2:11, and
7. Their weapons are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4.
D. The Holy Angels war against Satan, and assist the Church.
The angels of God have always ministered to the saints. They came to Jesus when Lucifer tried Him. Mark 1:13. They came to saints who were imprisoned and tried. They will intervene completely in the end of the age.
1. Michael and his angels will make war against the Dragon, (Revelation 12: 7,8) and Satan will not prevail.
2. Satan will be cast from heaven (Revelation 12:9) "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night."
3. He will be bound in the bottomless pit for 1000 years. Revelation 20:2, "And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season."
4. Satan’s beast and false prophet will be judged and condemned. Revelation 19:20, "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone."
Jesus said that Hell (Hades: lake of fire) was actually created for Satan and his angels, (Matthew 25:41). The tormented souls of the dead will curiously gather to witness Satan’s entry into hell. Isaiah 14:9 declares that "Hell (Gahena: the grave) from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. 10 All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? 11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave."
But one more event must take place. Revelation 20:7, "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison," and will go out again to deceive the earth. This time, however, he will meet his final doom.
E. Satan’s Doom
God has always planned Satan’s defeat. Ezekiel 28:16 says, "I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. 18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. 19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more."
Satan will be mocked and scorned in his fall. God will have every person who ever knew the devil to have the pleasure of watching him be destroyed!
Isaiah 14:15 says, "Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. 16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms?"
We actually will see Satan destroyed!
Revelation 12:10, "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night."
John saw it prophetically, in Revelation 20:10. "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
Forever and ever! That means that Satan is under an ETERNAL sentence without the possibility of parole. Satan will NEVER be seen or heard from again!
SUMMARY
This entire subject, of Satan, his rise, his fall, his doom, is a parenthetical thing in the eternal Kingdom of God. Because we are so time-based, it is difficult for us to perceive the Kingdom of God without the presence of the devil. The devil as we know him, however, is an aberration, a deviation, from God’s holy and perfect realm. He was never meant to be.
The devil is telling society today that it is impossible to have a world without evil, but that is not true. There will be no sin in Heaven.
It is only when this entire drama of sin and evil has come to a grinding halt that we can begin to enter into the glories of the Lord.
Jesus said in Matthew 12:28, "If I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you." In other words, "If I put the devil in Hell, then the Kingdom of God is back!"
As soon as Satan has been permanently disposed of in the Hell that was prepared for him and all his cohorts, Jesus Christ and his Bride will have only begun to enjoy the splendors of Heaven. In Heaven, God will wipe away all tears from our eyes, and there will be no pain, no sorrow, no suffering as there was back in Satan’s days.
Satan is our adversary, our enemy, and our accuser.The hour is coming when he will be forever defeatedand cast into the lake of fire.
By Ken Raggio 8/28/98
Revelation 20:10And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Do modern Americans actually believe there is a devil?
Researcher George Barna posed that question to a survey group and found that only 40% of Americans (2 out of 5) believe that Satan is a living being.
In his book, "What Americans Believe," he revealed that 69% of Catholics, and 65% of mainline Protestant church-goers believe the notion of Satan is only symbolic of evil. Those statistics will soon be ten years old. Can anyone argue that the general consensus continues to drift further and further from the Biblical truth of the matter?
There is little surprise in the statistics regarding America’s disbelief in the devil.
Only 27% of Americans believe that the God of the Bible is different from the gods of Islam or Buddhism. That fact reveals a sickening ignorance, not only of God and the Devil, but of the knowledge of the Word of God.
It is, however, evidence of the accuracy of Hosea 4:6, "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge."
If Satan is not an actual person, then we have little use at all for the Bible.
God’s Word pivots explicitly around an on-going conflict between the Jehovah God of Heaven and one particular individual creature known as Lucifer, the Devil, Satan, and a variety of other titles..
We will show in this lesson what the Bible declares about Satan.
We will find that he is every bit a living individual, with a mind and will of his own.
We will see that he was the original sinner, and God’s very first opponent.
We will see his actual statements and learn what he intended to do from the beginning, and more importantly, what God intends to do with him as well.
I. THE DECEIVER -- HIS RISE TO POWER
A. Self-exaltation -- "I Will…"
"In the beginning, God created…," (Genesis 1:1). John informs us that "…the devil sinneth from the beginning," (I John 3:8). Lucifer’s sin must have occurred sometime during the creation story. How do we know? According to Ezekiel 28, in an allegory about the King of Tyrus, Lucifer is type-cast as being "full of wisdom, perfect in beauty," "until iniquity was found in him."
Ezekiel 28:13 says of him, "Thou hast been in Eden the Garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created."
We have often figured that Lucifer came from heaven, and he probably did. But we know for sure from Ezekiel 28:13 and 15 that his principal address was in the Garden of Eden until iniquity was found in him. The chronology of events in the sixth day of Creation unfolds thus: 1) God created man. 2) God planted a Garden. 3) God placed man in the Garden. 4) God took Adam’s rib and formed Eve.
Notice that God planted the Garden after Adam was created.
Lucifer also dwelled in the Garden before he sinned according to Ezekiel 28:13-15.
Therefore, Lucifer actually SHARED the garden with Adam and Eve BEFORE his sin!
His sin would have to have been after Adam was created.
From the same verses we know that his "tabrets" (tambourines) and his "pipes" (flute-like instruments) were prepared for him the day he was created.
Satan was a tambourine and flute player, apparently while in the Garden of Eden, probably even a musician in the presence of Adam and Eve!
Isaiah 14:13 plainly documents Satan’s sin. "For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." These remarks tell us at least five facts about Lucifer:
1. He was not in heaven when he boasted. ("I will ascend into heaven.")
2. He had a throne, equal to or below other angels. ("I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.")
3. He must have been on earth, because he aspired to sit in a mount of the congregation in the sides of the north. We can only guess where: perhaps Mt. Zion or Mt. Moriah? ("I will sit on the mount of the congregation.")
4. He was below the clouds when he boasted. ("I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.")
5. He was not god-like, but wanted to be. ("I will be like the Most High.")
According to Ezekiel 28:14, Satan was "the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
He was an "anointed cherub that covereth," suggesting an angel with a God-ordained position of responsibility, with a throne of his own, below the Most High, not in heaven, under the clouds, apparently on earth - "until iniquity was found in thee…" (Ezekiel 28:15).
These are interesting observations: seeing Lucifer in an earth-based state, planning to ascend above the clouds, above other angels, role-playing as God. Later, his ambition to be god-like will cause him in the end to imitate the very Incarnation of God (Jesus Christ), in the form of antichrist!
Not surprisingly, those ambitions are EXACTLY what he is achieving to this day! The scriptures confirm that he attained to the position of "the prince of the power of the air," (Ephesians 2:2), and "the god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4).
In his final character role as antichrist, he "opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God," (II Thessalonians 2:4).
John reveals in Revelation 13:5, "there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations." Satan is a very real spirit person. His character and nature is the textbook definition for "diabolical."
For some reason, God has always permitted Lucifer to thrive in his evil doings (i.e., the temptations of Job, Jesus, Judas, saints and sinners of all ages). He will continue to flourish until Armageddon.
Have you ever wondered why God did not simply annihilate Satan and his fellows in their original sin? We may never know the answer to that question until we stand in His presence. But there is one thing to consider. God chose to allow Satan to do almost any and every conceivable crime and evil for six thousand years, knowing that in the end, absolutely nothing Satan ever did could overthrow the Kingdom of God, or supplant God from his majestic throne! Only God in His omniscient wisdom could allow men and devils to have their own free will, rife with sin and rebellion, and yet maintain 100% control of the outcome! What a Sovereign and Almighty God we serve!
B. Led schism among angels, caused overthrow
Revelation 12:4 says, "And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth." The fact that he DREW THEM and CAST THEM demonstrates acts of coercion and force against the other angels. This behavior is identical to the devil of 2 Timothy 2:26, who, by his own will sets "snares" for unsuspecting victims and "takes men captive." All the evidence depicts Satan as a malicious, determined aggressor. He does not wait on others to make their own mistakes. He actively seeks to steal, kill and destroy, when and where he chooses!
Jesus called the devil "the thief," and taught that he "cometh not, but for to steal, kill and destroy" (John 10:10). Jude explained that the angels "kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation." One-third of the holy angels apparently abandoned the God’s heaven while under the influence of Satan. He would have destroyed the entire kingdom of God if he could have. He instigated the downfall of multitudes of angels, then proceeded to destroy the souls of humankind. Isaiah 14:12 says, "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!" Perhaps the first nations Satan weakened were angelic nations.
Then he proceeded to weaken human nations -- "(He) made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners," Isaiah 14:17. Cities that once existed are now extinct because of the works of Satan. Before Satan is through, literally billions of people will have been destroyed by this aggressive, murderous, lying thief.
II. THE DECEIVER -- CUT DOWN TO THE GROUND
There are several references to Satan’s fall, depicting different time frames.
1) Isaiah’s comment, "How thou art cut down to the earth," (Isaiah 14:12).
2) Jesus’ remark, "I beheld Satan fall as lightning," (Luke 10:18).
3) Jesus’ upcoming crucifixion, "now shall the prince of this world be cast down," (John 12).
4) John’s revelation of the dragon, the devil cast down into the earth to torment mankind for a short time (Revelation 12:12)
5) John’s revelation of Satan cast into the lake of fire with the beast and the false prophet for 1000 years. (Revelation 20:2; Ezekiel 28:16-18)
6) John’s revelation of Satan cast into the bottomless pit forever at the end of the 1000 year reign of Christ (Revelation 20:7)
Let’s try to put all these in perspective.
From the story of Job, we learn that Satan had access both to heaven and earth. This was long after Adam and Eve fell. Some believe Job was a grandson of Jacob, and son of Issachar (Genesis 46:13). If so, Satan had access to the throne of God in the days contemporary with Joseph in Egypt.
The reason it is significant to see Satan’s activity in this particular time-frame is to show that he still had access to heaven, at least to the throne of God after he sinned. Satan obviously STILL has access to the throne for him to have permission to tempt us today!
It reveals an interesting aspect of Satan’s plight. The fall of Satan, or his being "cut down to the ground" in Isaiah 14:12 is NOT the same event as his being "CAST OUT and CAST DOWN" in Revelation 12.
Revelation 12:7, "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
The difference in his being "cut down" in Isaiah, and "cast down" in Revelation can be reckoned with as follows.
Throughout the history of man unto this day, Satan has been able to tempt mankind on earth and also stand before God’s throne for permission. Satan has seemingly always had freedom to go back and forth to the throne of God. Since his original sin, we have no evidence that he has been seen elsewhere in heaven. Remember that Lucifer’s sin started with his evil intention to "ascend into heaven," (Isaiah 14:13). Though he could plead his temptations before the throne, he did not have free access to heaven.
Paul spoke of the third heaven in 2 Corinthians 12:2, "…caught up to the third heaven." First heaven being the air that we breathe, second heaven the place where angels and devils dwell, and third heaven being God’s heaven.
Perhaps Lucifer was cut down from the third heaven, free to operate only in the second heaven -- earth’s heaven, but not in the third -- God’s heaven.
Isaiah saw Lucifer "cut down" long before Jesus said, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven," Luke 10:18. Are these two references to the same event? Probably not.
We do not know exactly when Jesus saw Satan fall. If he saw it after being born as the Son of Man, that would have been long after Isaiah’s note. If He saw it before the incarnation, it might have happened at any time.
John 12 may give us some insight. Beginning with verse 27, Jesus spoke of his death by crucifixion, saying, "Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out."
Jesus said earlier that he had seen Satan fall as lightning. Now, He is pointing to a subsequent "casting out." Let’s consider the two different events.
These verses show that Jesus’ death on the cross is the cause of Satan’s being cast out as prince of the world. Yet that particular fall will not be complete until the Battle of Armageddon. He is still working under the earlier fall
Observe the fact that there are no cases of demon-possession mentioned in the Old Testament. Yet in the New Testament, demon possession is rampant.
Satan may not have fallen as lightning until Jesus was born, because from that time forward, men were rabidly demon-possessed.
We know that Jesus encountered Satan in person in the wilderness, so Satan was certainly in the earth at that time. Jesus claimed to have power to "destroy the works of the devil" and also gave his disciples power to "cast out devils."
At the coming of Jesus Christ, Lucifer was apparently sentenced to ground warfare with Jesus Christ and His Church. As Jesus and His Church conflict with Satan and his devils daily, the prince of the world is being cast out. Every time a soul is saved, or a devil cast out, the church is taking back souls one at a time.
Peter and Jude told how God handed the angels that sinned.
In 2 Peter 2:4, He "cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;" and in Jude 1:6 "he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."
Apparently, some of the fallen angels were immediately sent to hell, while others (Satan and his cohorts) were left to persecute the human society.
Only the Church of Jesus Christ has the power to bind them and cast them out. If we do nothing, Satan wins. If we resist, we win.
A. Tempts men and causes them to fall
Make no mistake about it, Satan has been an evil force in every generation. From Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah’s day, Babel, Sodom, sin has raged.
As the adversary of Job, Satan tried to move God to destroy him, (Job 1:6-9, Job 2:1-6, Job 2:7). In Zechariah 3, he resisted the ministry (Joshua the High Priest). He resisted the nation and king of Israel, (I Chronicles 21) provoking David to number Israel, displeasing God, and causing 70,000 deaths. Satan was behind Babylon and the King of Babylon’s oppression of Israel.
Satan tried to devour the man child, Jesus, when he was born (Revelation 12:4). Herod’s orders to kill the male children of Palestine were Satanic, causing countless infants to die. Satan will also persecute the woman (Israel) who brought forth the Messiah, when he is cast unto the earth (Revelation 12:13).
B. Hinders the righteous
Satan tempted Jesus, (Matthew 4:1), sifted Peter (Luke 22:31), and filled Ananias with lies (Acts 5:3). A messenger of Satan buffeted Paul (2 Corinthians 12:7), and hindered Paul from making a missionary journey (1Thessalonians 2:18).
Today, Satan beguiles believers as the serpent beguiled Eve (2 Corinthians 11:3), and sows tares among wheat (he plants sinners among saints to cause them distress). Jesus said, "The enemy that sowed them is the devil," Matthew 13:39.
Satan will persecute Christians in the last days. "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ," Revelation 12:17.
C. Afflicts and oppresses mankind
Satan bound the infirm woman for eighteen years, (Luke 13:16). He threw down children and tare them in Matthew 15:22, and Luke 9:42
D. Is a dreaded influence on sinners
In 1 Timothy 1:20, Paul delivered Hymenaeus and Alexander "unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme." In other words, "Let the devil batter them and they won’t be so apt to blaspheme the next time!"
Paul delivered a Corinthian backslider "unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord," I Corinthians 5:5.
E. Adversary of all believers
"Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour," I Peter 5:8.
The name Satan actually means "adversary." He works against us in many ways.
1. Accuses the brethren. The term "devil" means "slanderer or false accuser." He works through men. The deaths of Jesus and Paul and others the result of false accusations. Satan used their brethren Jews, Chief Priests and officers of the Temple.
2. Condemns. Paul warned novice preachers against falling into "the condemnation of the devil," I Timothy 3:6.
3. Devours. 1 Peter 5:8, "your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."
4. Imprisons and torments. Revelation 2:10 "The devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation"
5. Steals the Word away. Mark 4:15, "when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts."
6. Captures, ensnares, takes hostage, 2 Timothy 2:26, "that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
7. Takes advantage of us. (2 Corinthians 2:11)
F. Enters into, possesses or fathers evil spirits in men
Those Satan possessed were variously deaf, dumb, blind, lunatic, epileptic, or afflicted with other maladies.
Jesus caught Satan speaking through Peter in Matthew 16:23, "But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me."
Judas also succumbed: "And after the sop Satan entered into him," John 13:27. He arranged Jesus’ murder!
Jesus told the Pharisees they were "of your father the devil," John 8:44.
The girl in Acts 13:10 was called a "child of the devil."
Jesus said "the tares are the children of the wicked one." I John 3:10 labels all men as either the children of God or the children of the devil.
G. Has false synagogues, churches, Messiah, anointing
Satan has a synagogue, (Revelation 2:9). Satan sometimes has a seat in and works in the church, (Revelation 2:13). Satan has power, signs, and wonders, (II Thessalonians 2:9). He deceives the whole world, (Revelation 12:9, 18:3). He uses sinners to prophesy, cast out devils, do wonderful works, (Matthew 7:22-23). He works miracles, (Revelation 16:14). He has his own doctrines, (1 Timothy 4:1). He uses false prophets, false Christs, evil men and seducers, (Matthew 24:11, 2 Timothy 3:13, II John 1:7). He disguises as an angel of light, (2 Corinthians 11:14).
III. THE DECEIVER -- CAST DOWN TO HELL
A. His own house is divided and cannot stand.
Mark 3:26 says, "If Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end."
If we can prove that Satan casts out Satan, then we can prove that his kingdom will fall.
In Mark 3:23, "he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?" The answer is in Matthew 7:22-23, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Jesus explicitly calls the casting out of devils by these non-Christians a work of iniquity. Therefore, it is a work of Satan’s kingdom.
If Satan can afflict a person with a sickness, why can’t he call back that sickness and appear to be the Healer? The true church can take heart against the deceptive works in false religion today, knowing that these modern deceivers will certainly bring their own house down upon themselves.
Satan’s house must fall.
B. Jesus came to destroy him, his works and his kingdom.
I John 3:8, "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." Jesus will perform the grand finale at Armageddon.
Meanwhile, Jesus has become the "adversary of the adversary."
These things we know about Satan’s plight:
1. His head will be bruised by Messiah and Church’s heel, (Genesis 3:15, Romans 16:20).
2. He knows who Jesus is and trembles, (Luke 4:41, James 2:19).
3. He dreads to be tormented before the time, (Matthew 8:29).
4. Has great wrath, knowing he has a short time, (Revelation 12:12).
5. God restrains him, (Job 1:12, Job 12:16)
Jesus Christ is the power and authority that will finally bring Satan down for good.
1.Because of Jesus’ death at Calvary, the world is sentenced to be judged, and Satan to be cast out. (John 12:31).
2. Jesus revoked demon possessions where ever He went. (Matthew 4:24)
3. Jesus healed and delivered all who were oppressed of the devil. (Mark 1:32, 34,39; Matthew 8:16)
4. Satan will be destroyed by Jesus Christ. Hebrews 2:14, "…that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil"
C. The Church wars against Satan.
1. Jesus gave them power and authority. (Mark 16:17, "In my name shall they cast out devils" Luke 9:1, "and gave them power and authority over all devils." Luke 10:19. "I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."
2. The disciples cast out devils. Mark 6:13, "And they cast out many devils"
3. The church resists Satan. Ephesians 4:27, "Neither give place to the devil." Ephesians 6:11, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." James 4:7, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
4. The Church quenches the fiery darts of the devil by faith, (Ephesians 6:16), and are delivered from the snare of devil, (2 Timothy 2:26).
5. They overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and word of their testimony, Revelation 12:11.
6. They are not ignorant of his devices, 2 Corinthians 2:11, and
7. Their weapons are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4.
D. The Holy Angels war against Satan, and assist the Church.
The angels of God have always ministered to the saints. They came to Jesus when Lucifer tried Him. Mark 1:13. They came to saints who were imprisoned and tried. They will intervene completely in the end of the age.
1. Michael and his angels will make war against the Dragon, (Revelation 12: 7,8) and Satan will not prevail.
2. Satan will be cast from heaven (Revelation 12:9) "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night."
3. He will be bound in the bottomless pit for 1000 years. Revelation 20:2, "And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season."
4. Satan’s beast and false prophet will be judged and condemned. Revelation 19:20, "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone."
Jesus said that Hell (Hades: lake of fire) was actually created for Satan and his angels, (Matthew 25:41). The tormented souls of the dead will curiously gather to witness Satan’s entry into hell. Isaiah 14:9 declares that "Hell (Gahena: the grave) from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. 10 All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? 11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave."
But one more event must take place. Revelation 20:7, "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison," and will go out again to deceive the earth. This time, however, he will meet his final doom.
E. Satan’s Doom
God has always planned Satan’s defeat. Ezekiel 28:16 says, "I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. 18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. 19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more."
Satan will be mocked and scorned in his fall. God will have every person who ever knew the devil to have the pleasure of watching him be destroyed!
Isaiah 14:15 says, "Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. 16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms?"
We actually will see Satan destroyed!
Revelation 12:10, "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night."
John saw it prophetically, in Revelation 20:10. "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
Forever and ever! That means that Satan is under an ETERNAL sentence without the possibility of parole. Satan will NEVER be seen or heard from again!
SUMMARY
This entire subject, of Satan, his rise, his fall, his doom, is a parenthetical thing in the eternal Kingdom of God. Because we are so time-based, it is difficult for us to perceive the Kingdom of God without the presence of the devil. The devil as we know him, however, is an aberration, a deviation, from God’s holy and perfect realm. He was never meant to be.
The devil is telling society today that it is impossible to have a world without evil, but that is not true. There will be no sin in Heaven.
It is only when this entire drama of sin and evil has come to a grinding halt that we can begin to enter into the glories of the Lord.
Jesus said in Matthew 12:28, "If I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you." In other words, "If I put the devil in Hell, then the Kingdom of God is back!"
As soon as Satan has been permanently disposed of in the Hell that was prepared for him and all his cohorts, Jesus Christ and his Bride will have only begun to enjoy the splendors of Heaven. In Heaven, God will wipe away all tears from our eyes, and there will be no pain, no sorrow, no suffering as there was back in Satan’s days.
