SATAN, MANKIND'S MORTAL ENEMY

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Everything that was, is and ever will be was created by God and is subject to God. This includes Satan.
Genesis 1:1, Jeremiah 10:12, Colossians 1:16-17, Revelation 4:11.

God populated Heaven
God created multiple classes of eternal heavenly beings. The relationship between God and his heavenly population appears to be that of Sovereign and subjects -- they worship God and do his bidding. Some examples are elders, beasts, angels, archangel, cherubims and seraphims. Such beings are capable of circulating between heaven and earth and also of appearing in physical form when necessary to interact with earth's physical inhabitants.
Psalm 103:19-22, Revelation 4:1-11, Revelation 5:11-14, Jude 1:9, Genesis 3:24, Isaiah 6:1-3. Luke 24:4.

Satan, one of the heavenly beings who had first hand knowledge of God's infinite supremacy, appears to have concluded that he is a worthy competitor of the Almighty. Not only that, but a contingent of angels joined with Satan, becoming co-conspiritors in his rebellion against God. Satan originally had access to both heaven and earth but at some time God has/will expell Satan and his angels from heaven. Earth is not their final domain. God has prepared an eternal lake of fire into which Satan and his followers will eventually be cast forever. Until then Satan spends his time attempting to disrupt God's activities on earth.
Job 1:6-12, Job 2:1-7, 1 Chronicles 21:1, Zechariah 3:1, 1 Thessalonians 2:18, Matthew 4:7-10, Matthew 13:36-40, Revelation 12:7-9. Jude 1:6, 2 Peter 2:4, Matthew 25:41.

God populated earth.
God filled the earth with multiple classes of physical life forms; plant, fish, bird, animal and even insects. Then, in a separate step, created Adam and Eve, the first humans.
Genesis 1:11-12, Genesis 1:20-22, Genesis 1:24-25, Genesis 1:26-27.

The relationship between God and humans was very warm. God came to the garden in the evening to fellowship with Adam and Eve.
Genesis 3:8-10.

Satan's strategy.
As one would expect, the evil nature of Satan led him to attack that which is beloved to God. Since Satan is doomed to eternity in the lake of fire, what could be more hurtful to God than to take a large number of humans with him?
Revelation 12:12, 1 Peter 5:8.

Satan succeeded in tempting Eve and Adam to disobey a specific instruction from God, thereby joining him in rebellion against God.
Genesis 2:15-17, Genesis 3:1-6.

Whatever excuses we may make for Adam, he had received the instruction directly from God and, by willfull disobedience, became guilty of sin. As God had warned, the spiritual component of Adam, the interface between God and man, died. And, since like begets like, Every descendent of Adam is born sinful and spiritually dead and is by default, LOST! Think of that! One hundred percent of earth's population is, in its natural state, allied with Satan and automatically destined to share in the punishment prepared for Satan and his followers. (We recognize that God permits a temporary period of exemption for babies and small children, but, since the reader obviously did not die in infancy, the previous statement applies.)
Genesis 2:17, Romans 5:12, 1 Corinthians 15:22, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, 1 John 3:8, 1 Corinthians 2:14.

God's remedy.
Before he created the world God had already prepared a plan to redeem individuals from the power of Satan. Justice demands death for sin but mercy makes it possible for a substitute to take upon himself the punishment for an individual and die in his place. The only catch is that the substitute must himself be sinless, otherwise he would be like anybody else, subject to death for his own sin. If a suitable substitute could be found then the penalty for the sins of a person could be paid by the substitute and the person could have his spiritual life restored.

Enter Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God. God himself, in the form of his Son, came to earth as a human, lived a sinless life, died upon the cross as a substitute for every person ever born or to be born upon earth and at the same time paid the penalty for every sin ever committed. Then he was resurrected and returned to his home in Heaven with the Father. As a result, any human who chooses to leave Satan and commit himself to Jesus Christ has the privilege of having his sins forgiven (covered over by the blood of Christ), his spiritual component restored to life (the new birth) and being adopted into the family of God.. Why does this not just happen automatically to every person? God requires the person to make the choice of whom he will serve. Satan chose to rebel against God. The fallen angels chose to desert God and follow Satan. The fallen human, for whom Christ died, must choose to leave the service of Satan and commit himself to Christ.
John 3:16-18, Romans 5:7-8, 1 Peter 1:18-23, John 1:1-12, John 3:1-7, John 1:29, Hebrews 9:12-14, Hebrews 9:28, Hebrews 4:15, Romans 10:13.

Current events.
The majority of the population of earth is already under Satan's control. Paul describes the condition of the unregenerate human heart. Romans 1:18-32. This is extreemly offensive to the unsaved to hear, especially for those who consider themselves religious, because they want to believe that they are basically good.

Satan has a relatively easy task of leading these unfortunates to the destruction he has planned for them. All he needs to do is distract them so they do not hear or accept the Gospel of Christ. Some modern tools of Satan are a television set in every living room spewing forth wickedness as normal behavior, pulpits and media filled with unsaved "scholars" ridiculing Christ and the Word of God and short term "Me generation" thinking in which people are swallowed up in the cares and pleasures of this world without regard to the big, eternal picture. While Satan is not omnipresent, he has plenty of demons to follow his lead in oppressing the inhabitants of earth. Satan and his demons plant lies in people's minds, often resulting in wicked, self destructive actions. Sometimes they also affect people physically, either directly or as a result of unwise activities.
Mark 4:3-8, Mark 4:13-20, John 13:2, Acts 5:3, Matthew 12:22, Luke 13:16.

The Holy Spirit of God directs the effort to save individuals from the doomed stream of humanity. Notice that this effort is to save individuals. Even born again Christian leaders, in their desire to do something important, often succumb to the temptation to become the "Conscience of the nation" or spend their energy on politics or social issues. The most important message the unsaved world needs to hear is the Gospel. The lowly Christian who witnesses one by one to his neighbors is fulfilling God's command.
Acts 1:8, Matt 28:19-20, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:18.

All Christians need to study the Bible thoroughly for in it are the rules for serving Christ in an evil world. Satan attempts to blunt the power of the Gospel by distracting Christians from their primary purpose. Knowledge of the Word is essential.
2 Timothy 2:15, Ephesians 6:10-13. 2 Peter 2:1-2, Romans 16:17-18, Galatians 1:6-9.

Future events.

Satan has misled most people in the world into a false sense of security -- that everything will continue as it is now. The fact is, a new chapter in the history of the world is about to begin. JUDGEMENT! Even our scientists are alarmed as they see the approaching signs. Major events in sequence are:

Rapture. The followers of Christ will be abruptly removed from earth to heaven. At that point, every person remaining on earth will be an unbeliever. Satan will have no restraint.
Rev 3:10, John 14:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17, 2 Thessalonians 2:7.

Tribulation. Satan will seize the opportunity to take control of earth. Wickedness will abound bringing about its own terrible consequences. At the same time God will unleash a series of judgements upon the unrepentant population of earth. Satan will set up a counterfit trinity to rule earth: (1) The dragon; himself as false God, (2) A beast: antichrist as false Christ and (3) A second beast; the false prophet as false Holy Spirit. Antichrist will attempt to pass himself off as the fulfilment of God's promise of a king (Messiah) to sit upon the restored throne of David. Many people will recognize their mistake in rejecting Christ and become believers in him. They will be beheaded and received into heaven. The remainder will become hardened in their unbelief and will gather a huge army to fight against God.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, Revelation chapter 13, Revelation 16:13-16.

Kingdom. Jesus Christ, the rejected Son of God, returns to take control of earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He defeats the army of the antichrist. The antichrist and the false prophet are cast into the lake of fire -- its first residents. Satan is bound and imprisoned in the bottomless pit for a thousand years during which time Christ rules earth with a rod of iron, thus fufilling God's promise of a restored kingdom for the nation Israel. The rod of iron is significant because, while earth is temporarily free from the influence of Satan, most of the population of earth are unregenerated unbelievers, still driven by their fallen natures.
Revelation 19:11-21, Revelation 20:1-3, Revelation 20:4.
At the end of the thousand years Satan is loosed for a little while and has no trouble gathering a new army to fight against Christ and Jerusalem. This time God makes short work of the rebellion, sending fire from heaven to kill them. Revelation 20:7-9.

Final judgement. Following this final rebellion Satan is cast into the lake of fire, joining the beast and false prophet. Contrary to popular expression, Satan will not be hosting a party for his followers, he will be just beginning an eternity of torment. Finally, all of the spiritually dead from all history, those who by choice or by default rejected Christ in favor of Satan, will stand one by one before God to hear their judgement. The verdict, join Satan in the lake of fire. Revelation 20:10-15.

EPILOG
Picture this if you can. A certain gentleman lived an exemplary life and was highly respected in the community. He was a member of a local church, even served on several committees. Unfortunately he sat under a pastor who taught that the Bible was not necessarily authoritative and that Jesus was a good person but perhaps a little confused when it came to this Son of God business. Our friend never seriously contemplated his relationship with God.
In time he passed away and slept through the rapture and tribulation and was resurrected at the final judgement. When he heard that he was about to be judged according to his works he was greatly relieved. "I have lived as good a life as my peers, probably better than most." He listened proudly as his many accomplishments were recited, then was dumbfounded to hear his judgement, "CONDEMNED!"
"Surely there must be some mistake!" The angel in charge of the books was instructed to double check the book of life. " I am sorry. Your name does not appear here. You did many wonderful deeds during your lifetime, but neglected the most important one of all, receiving Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as your savior. Whether or not intentionally, you have been a disciple of Satan your entire life."

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6. If you have any uncertainty at all about your relationship with God we urge you to pray right now and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that you wish to commit yourself to him and receive the salvation which he purchased for you on the cross. See John 3:16-18.
For further study see Five things God wants EVERYBODY to know and I am a pretty good person. What makes you think I need to be saved?

This page updated 11/22/2009