End Result for the Enemy – Part 7
What is the end result of the enemy? Today we finish this mini-series on hell with a look at the enemy’s ( devil, Satan) final destination – the lake of burning sulfur.
Revelation 20:10, “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
Let’s pick up from last time.
I would like to continue our discussion from the last time we were together.
If you recall, we looked at the origin of Satan. This time, let’s take a look at what one commentator says is the history of the rest of his existence in an abbreviated form.
Based on Ezekiel 28
“Satan’s initial judgment was his expulsion from the position of God’s anointed cherub before his throne. God later expelled him from the mountain of God (heaven).
Satan was cast from God’s presence in heaven but was still allowed to access God.
Let’s take a closer look at the three passages referenced from Job, Zechariah, and Revelation above.
Job 1:9-12, “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
Zechariah 3:1-2, “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.”
Revelation 12:10, “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night has been hurled down.”
What we see in these passages is Satan standing before God casting doubt, asserting accusations, and questioning man’s allegiance to God.
In the tribulation, Satan will be cast from heaven and restricted to earth. (Revelation 12:7-13).
In the millennium, he will be in the bottomless pit, and after his brief release at the end of the millennium, he will be cast into the lake of fire forever. Thus, all Satan’s judgments are in view here, in a compressed form.”
Comforting right?
Satan stands before God and accuses you and me day and night.
Can you imagine such a sight?
I had a thought – does he only accuse those who believe in God? I mean, why would he waste time accusing non-believers before God?
Then this thought came to mind – He spends a lot of time trying to distance believers from God. In retrospect, that would certainly make his job easier – one less person to accuse before Almighty God.
The more people Satan can get to turn away from God, the less he has to do, and the more confident he will become.
But as we started this last blog, all the power in the world, both in the physical and spiritual world leads to one outcome for the enemy – the lake of burning sulfur as outlined in Revelation 20:10. According to the Bible, that will be Satan’s fateful end forever.
The end result will not change for the enemy.
Here’s what I think and you can agree or not, the end result will not change for the enemy no matter how ugly this world gets. Here’s something else to think about – love.
When I think of love, I do not think of someone trying to destroy me and turn me away from God purposely. I don’t see the love in someone standing before God accusing me day and night.
When I think of love, I picture Jesus Christ sacrificing all for me on the cross. He willingly went to the cross and paid the price for my sin and your sin.
The enemy is doing everything he can to separate us from the love of God.
If the enemy loved us as much as he claims, he wouldn’t be purposely trying to hurt, deceive, trick, lie, accuse, and condemn the human race. His purpose is to separate us from God.
Here’s where the rub comes in – many people today don’t believe in God or the devil, so to them, all of this is nonsense.
When I accepted Christ years ago, my eyes were opened to the fact that this has eternal consequences many people are willing to gamble away.
What will it take to bring people to Christ?
Matthew 9:12, “On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.”
What formula, cultural attraction, amount of money, celebrity, or whatever will finally bring people to Christ?
I don’t know, but I do know this much – I must do my part to help bring as many people to Christ as possible before my time on earth ends.
Matthew 9:37, “Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Matthew 28:18-20, “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
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