Satan

EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT

/ David R Maas / Leave a comment

After his baptism, the Spirit “drove Jesus into the wilderness for forty days and nights.” Like Israel, he was “tested” by Satan, but unlike that nation, he overcame every test and emerged victorious and “full of the Holy Spirit,” and thereby, well-equipped to proclaim the kingdom.

This contest with the Devil determined just what kind of Messiah he was – A mighty conquering hero or the humble Servant of Yahweh. Moreover, his temptation was a vital step in preparing him to become the herald of the kingdom.

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END OF SATAN

/ David R Maas / 1 Comment

Satan is released for a “short season” to launch his attack on the saints, but he is the one destroyed – Revelation 20:7-10.

The time has come for Satan’s final demise. The book’s second literary division introduced the enemies of the “Lamb” – The “Dragon,” Beast,” “False Prophet,” and “Babylon.” In the third division, their destruction occurs in reverse order – “Babylon,” “Beast” and “False Prophet” together, and finally, the “Dragon.”

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IMPRISONMENT OF SATAN

/ David R Maas / 2 Comments

The Devil is imprisoned in the “Abyss” until the appointed time when he will be released and launch his final assault against the saints – Revelation 20:1-3.

Next, Revelation presents Satan bound in the “Abyss” for the “thousand years” until his release at the end of the period. During his imprisonment, he is prevented from “deceiving the nations,” and only after his release will be free to do so. The passage includes verbal links to the expulsion of Satan from heaven in chapter 12.

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THE ABYSS

/ David R Maas / 9 Comments

The Abyss is the source of satanic attacks against the people of God, though it remains under the authority of the Lamb – Revelation 11:7.

When first introduced, “smoke” and the horde of locust-like creatures were seen ascending from the “Abyss” to torment the “inhabitants of the earth.” In Revelation, it is a deep pit from which satanic agencies ascend to wreak havoc and wage war against the “saints.” It is also the “prison” where demonic forces are held until their appointed time to execute their evil deeds.

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WAR IN HEAVEN

/ David R Maas / 1 Comment

Defeated by the messianic “son,” the Dragon was expelled from heaven, while victory was declared for the saints – Revelation 12:7-12.

With the exaltation of the “Son,” the “Dragon” was expelled from heaven, having lost the battle with Michael and “his angels.” The narrative now makes the identity of the “son” explicit – He is none other than Jesus – and when his victory and enthronement took place – “NOW is come salvation and the kingdom…by the blood of the Lamb.”

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