"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." (Revelation 12:11 KJV)
There are times when it appears that evil is winning.
The headlines tell us wickedness is increasing. Governments grow more hostile to biblical truth. The church is mocked. Christians around the world are persecuted. False religion prospers while truth is rejected. If we are not careful, we can begin to think the enemy is winning the battle.
But the Bible tells a different story.
The story of Satan is not one of victory. It is a story of continual defeat.
Cast Out of Heaven
The first great defeat of Satan occurred when he rebelled against God.
Jesus said:
"I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." (Luke 10:18 KJV)
Pride lifted him up, but God cast him down.
Yet even after his fall, Satan still appeared as the accuser of God's people.
In the Book of Job, he appeared before God to accuse Job.
In Zechariah chapter 3, he stood to accuse Joshua the high priest.
His work was to accuse, condemn, and oppose the people of God.
But something changed at Calvary.
When Jesus died, rose again, and ascended to the Father, Satan suffered another defeat.
John saw it in Revelation 12:
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world." (Revelation 12:9 KJV)
The Cross did more than save sinners. It stripped Satan of his standing as the accuser.
The blood of Jesus answered every accusation.
When Satan points his finger at the child of God, heaven points to the blood of the Lamb.
What a glorious truth!
Bound for a Season
The next picture we find is in Revelation 20.
"And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years." (Revelation 20:2 KJV)
Many believe this binding began with Christ's victory and the spread of the Gospel throughout the nations.
Before Christ came, much of the world sat in darkness. But after Pentecost, the Gospel began to spread across the earth.
The devil could not stop it.
He tried to silence the apostles.
He tried to destroy the church.
He tried to extinguish the Gospel.
Yet everywhere the church was scattered, the Gospel spread.
The blood of martyrs became the seed of the church.
The gates of hell could not prevail.
Released for a Little Season
Yet Revelation tells us Satan would not remain restrained forever.
"And after that he must be loosed a little season." (Revelation 20:3 KJV)
When released, his old work resumes.
"And shall go out to deceive the nations." (Revelation 20:8 KJV)
Notice the emphasis.
Deception.
That has always been his weapon.
In Eden he deceived Eve.
In the wilderness he tempted Christ.
In every generation he has sought to deceive the nations.
Today we see deception everywhere.
Truth is called error.
Error is called truth.
Good is called evil.
Evil is called good.
Many churches no longer preach repentance.
Many Christians know more about politics than Scripture.
Many can discern the faults of others but cannot discern the signs of the times.
The enemy is working overtime.
War Against the Saints
Revelation 13 gives a sobering warning.
"And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them." (Revelation 13:7 KJV)
At first glance, this seems troubling.
How can the saints be overcome?
Did not Jesus say:
"Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18 KJV)
The answer is found in understanding the difference between defeating believers physically and defeating the Church spiritually.
The beast may imprison believers.
He may confiscate their property.
He may silence their voices.
He may even kill them.
But he cannot destroy the Church.
Rome tried.
The emperors failed.
The inquisitors tried.
They failed.
Communist governments tried.
They failed.
Every generation has produced enemies of Christ, yet the church continues.
The saints may lose earthly battles, but Christ never loses the war.
The Great Tribulation
Zechariah saw a time of great testing.
"And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined." (Zechariah 13:9 KJV)
John saw the same truth.
"These are they which came out of great tribulation." (Revelation 7:14 KJV)
Notice what God does not promise.
He does not promise escape from every trial.
He does not promise freedom from persecution.
He does not promise comfort and ease.
He promises refinement.
Gold is purified in the fire.
Silver is purified in the fire.
And God's people are often purified in the fire.
The fire does not destroy them.
The fire reveals what God has already placed within them.
We Only Appear Defeated
When Stephen was stoned, it appeared Satan won.
When James was beheaded, it appeared Satan won.
When Paul entered Nero's prison, it appeared Satan won.
When believers today suffer imprisonment and persecution around the world, it appears Satan is winning.
But appearances can be deceiving.
On Friday afternoon, when Jesus hung upon the Cross, it appeared Satan had won.
The disciples scattered.
Hope seemed lost.
Darkness covered the land.
Yet Sunday morning changed everything.
The greatest apparent defeat in history became the greatest victory in history.
The resurrection proved that God was still on the throne.
And the same is true for His people.
The world may see defeat.
Heaven sees victory.
The world may see a martyr.
Heaven sees a conqueror.
The world may see a grave.
Heaven sees a resurrection.
We Are More Than Conquerors
Paul wrote:
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Romans 8:37 KJV)
Notice he did not say we conquer after tribulation.
He said we conquer in tribulation.
Not after persecution.
In persecution.
Not after suffering.
In suffering.
The victory is not found in avoiding the battle.
The victory is found in remaining faithful to Christ through the battle.
The beast may rage.
The dragon may accuse.
The nations may rebel.
The church may suffer.
But Jesus still reigns.
The devil has been cast down.
His time is short.
His doom is certain.
And when the final chapter is written, it will not be the saints who stand defeated.
It will be Satan.
Until that day, let us keep our eyes upon Jesus, remain faithful to His Word, and remember the promise:
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony." (Revelation 12:11 KJV)
Child of God, do not judge the battle by today's headlines.
Judge it by the empty tomb.
The devil may win a skirmish.
But Christ has already won the war.
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