Satans Obituary His Eternal D
This information is copyrighted. You may use it, or reproduce it entirely. You may not alter the information out of its context. Attribution is required on all published copies.
John L. Lipscomb, P.O. Box 11884, Memphis, TN 38111
FOUNDATIONAL SURVEY OF THEOLOGY
Section Eight: ANGELOLOGY
SATAN’S OBITUARY, HIS ETERNAL DOOM
“And I saw an angel come down from heaven having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years. 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 out of his prison, and shall go out and decieve the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, God and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 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.” Rev. 20.1-3, 7-10
I. The PROPHECY of Satan’s Judgment
- Decreed
Before the beginning of the human race (Isa. 14.15-20; Ezek. 28.16-19). 1. Consider Satan’s sin – Rebellion revealed 2. Contrast the Saviour’s statement – Doom declared B. Declared At the fall of the human race (Gen. 3.15). C. Demonstrated During the ministry of the Holy Spirit (John 16.7-11). D. Deferred Awaiting the consummation of judgment 1. The place of final judgment “the lake of fire” (Matt. 25.41) 2. The prospect of eternal judgment “under the foot to those in Christ” (Rom. 16.20)
II. The PANORAMA of Satan’s Judgment
- His FIRST Fall
Revealed in his moral rebellion against God. (Isa. 14.12-14). Shouting “I will” against the will of God, his Creator, Satan thus falls from the place and purpose of God’s good direction for the creature, the acknowledgment and worship of the Creator. This rebellion insures the finality of God’s judgment at the appointed time of His choosing. The demon spirits know this final imprisonment as “the time” (Matt. 8.29). Satan knows the length of his time (Rev 12.12) and the Apostle Paul indicated it would be a time of judgment (1 Cor. 4.5) B. His FORMAL Fall Satan’s formal and final execution is yet future. It begins when he will be cast out of Heaven. Even though Satan is the “god of this world system” (2 Cor. 4.4) he still has limited access to God (Job 1-2) as the “accuser of the brethren” (Rev. 12.10). This access will terminate when he is “cast out unto the earth” (Rev. 12.7-13) “as lightning falling from heaven” (Luke 10.18). This fall will occur during the mid-point of the great tribulation. At that time, Satan will have three and a half years to complete his program of rebellion prior to his confinement in the bottomless pit. C. His FINAL Fall Eternal confinement, tormented, in the lake of fire is the eterenal lot of him, who was “a liar from the beginning.” Following the second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ, to begin His Millennium reign, Satan is bound in the bottomless pit, shut up, and sealed. The Kingdom reign of Christ, the Millennium, will be free from Satanic influence and rebellion (Rev. 20.1-10). The world system will be perfectly controlled by the Lord Jesus and man’s only adversary will be his Adamic nature. At the end of the Kingdom reign Satan will be loosed for a season to gather and deceive the nations. His rebellion will fail and he will be cast alive into the lake of fire and brimstone, tormented day and night forever…
III. The PURPOSE of Satan’s Judgment
God is holy. Sin cannot abide in His presence. Satan is not holy. By choice, he the creature chose rebellion against God and His holiness, for self-will, self-glorification.
God is Just. His justice dictates that He put down all rebellion against Himself and His purpose. Satan is not Just. He only seeks to satisfy himself, and to dethrone His Creator.
God is merciful. He provides every opportunity for all of creation to submit to His rule. Satan does not evidence a care for mercy.
Man is the spectator-participant in this eternal struggle. Made in the image of God, choosing the rebellion of Satan, man has become the center stage in this epic.
It is recorded that the Son of God, took up humanity, “a body you have prepared for Me…” (Heb. 10.5-14, cf. Heb. 1.5-14, 2.9- 18). He died for man, paying the penalty for rebellion and rejection. He did not die for angels. “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself, likewise shared the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through the fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, the He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things (pertaining) to God, to make propitation for the sins of the people.” Heb. 2.14-17 His purpose of the creation, angels and man, – glory for
Himself. “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For you created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” Rev. 4.11 His requirement of mankind, trust Him to accomplish what He
has purposed.