Even a defeated evil remains dangerous

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.

— Revelation 20:10, King James Version

President Trump stunned the world by announcing that the Islamic State, or ISIS, a determined enemy operating in Syria and across the Middle East, was defeated. 

So great was our victory that the president called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria. Others, including some intelligence officials, insisted that ISIS remains a threat.

The debate caused me to stop and consider how are we doing against our longtime enemy, the devil. In Revelation 20, we read that, in the final outcome, God prevails. Until Jesus returns, however, the war against Satan, for us, is not over. We can expect continuing assaults by the devil in an unrelenting effort to make victims of those who are not prepared to recognize his schemes and defend against his attacks. 

In order for us to avoid being casualties of war, we assemble on each first day of the week to remember and give thanks that, by his death and through the power of his resurrection, Jesus has given us the tools and weapons we need to win our personal battles with Satan. What’s more, we may claim the ultimate victory of eternal life that has been promised for those who love the Lord and resist the devil. 

As the prophet Isaiah has said, “No weapon formed against us shall prosper.”

MICHAEL E. FLOWERS is a deacon of the Genessee Avenue Church of Christ in Columbus, Ohio. 

Filed under: defeating the devil evil In the Word Opinion war against Satan