This past Sunday we looked at Jesus coming in a blaze of glory to defeat the beast and his armies. It is good for us to think about the end times because it puts the present in its proper perspective and context. It is so easy for us to ignore death, judgment, and what happens after this life is over. Reality extends further than this earthly existence. At the same time, the Gospel is not just a golden ticket. It has implications for the here and now. It is a both/and scenario.
As I began preparing our last lesson in Revelation for this Sunday, I took particular notice of a passage just before Chapter 21 (which is where we’ll be on Sunday). Revelation 20:7-10 proclaims the end of the line for Satan. That’s right…Satan will go down in defeat. It is hard to fathom. I believe many of us can honestly say we struggle to grasp the existence of Satan and demons. We know they exist. We know Scripture records instances of their work in the world. We know that they are continuing that work even today. He is the prince of lies. He is deceitful in every way possible and seeks to twist the words of God and the truth of the gospel at all times. We cannot see this more clearly than in the encounter between Jesus and Satan in Luke 4:1-13. Satan tries to use the word of God in a game of deceitful reasoning. He would do anything to keep Jesus from dying on the cross. Why? Because Satan knows that salvation comes through Christ’s death on the cross. Sin, death, and judgment are all satisfied in the death of Jesus. Satan is rendered powerless (although we already knew he had no inherent power from reading the Old Testament).
There will come a day when Satan will receive his just punishment and will be cast out from our existence. He will go down in defeat. When he does, we will be ushered into a new era…a new heaven and a new earth. What a glorious day that will be! We press on now because of what Jesus did then which will come to completion in a time to come.
