Is Satan Defeated Today

While trying to dodge the pots and pans being thrown around on the end time threads I saw this question come up. As such I thought I would open up a thread on it. Hopefully this question will have relevance for our walk with Christ. The question...is Satan defeated today.

Here are some verses to open up the discussion. And please let us keep the pots and pans in the kitchen. :-)

Starting with a verses in Revelation 12:7-10

And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging War with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down. The serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

A question for discussion would be when did this happen? Did it happen or is it yet to hapoen? The following verses should be helpful for discussion.

Hebrews 4:15-16

Therefore since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

1 John 3:8

The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

Col. 2:15

When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them having triumphed over them through Him.

Romans 16:20

The God of Peace will soon Crush Satan under your feet.

I pray this thread will generate some good discussion and application for our walk with Christ. I ask the SI guidelines be observed. Let us keep the pots and pans in the kitchen. And also let's please keep the church fathers out of this discussion. As well as commentaries and our favorite authors. Let us look to the Holy Spirit and His Word for instruction.

I open up this thread not to provoke controversy or have needless theological discussion. For we are in a spiritual war with the evil one. To know whether or not he is defeated or is fallen, will certainly encourage us in a victorious walk with Christ.

Posted by Brother Blaine.

yes.

Bear,

that's good brother. And as I said in the other thread to Frank, I agree with what Doc said. His ultimate power was "broken" at Calvary, but the full manifestation isn't "played out" yet. That's done after he is loosed with great fury knowing his time is short, & then once & for all "crushed under our feet" & "thrown into the Lake of Fire." Otherwise, why are warned by the apostle Peter to be sober & alert because he is "a roaring lion roaming around seeking whom he may devour"? It's kinda like how we WERE saved by the lamb who WAS slain from before the foundations of the earth, we ARE BEING saved, & we ultimately WILL BE SAVED at the final resurrection, judgement & end of all things.

Romans 16:20

The God of Peace will soon Crush Satan under your feet.

God bLess,
Jeff

In the OT we do not read records of casting out devils. In the NT they could be cast out because they were defeated.
I believe Satan was defeated and the Kingdom of God came the same time: When Jesus came in the flesh.
Matthew 12:28
28But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

Zsuzsanna

So far, Neil has the most concise answer. Jeff, I am saved, I am not being saved. Do you think you have confused Sanctification with justification? Either a man is justified or he is not, you cant be kinda saved. Either we have power over Satan or we do not. Can you see how you have allowed your pre-conceived notions to influence your thinking on what should have been a fairly simple answer that Neil scored 10 out of ten on. This is exactly what almost all theology does, it complicates simple concepts. My prof in College wrote a 327 page paper on Matt 24. He offered it to his students. I declined. My thinking was, if God tells me great truths in one chapter and has given me the Holy Spirit to lead me into all truth, why would I read over 100 chapters from a man on the same subject. He was a premillennialist.

And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
(Luk 10:18-19)

Was Jesus lying to his Disciples Jeff or have you misunderstood what it means to be careful of our enemy? ......bro Frank

Bro David writes...........

"28But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you./ Absolutely!

Amen brother, the Kingdom of God has already came unto us. Now, that is something worth pondering on, no matter what side of any theological debate anyone stands on. But this reality does have ramifications for the theories of men. Lets hope no one tries to " spiritulize." away the reality of what you have just confirmed............bro Frank

Frank,
God Bless you friend. I don't disagree with you, but it feels like you're attempting to "pin me" down in my words. I understand salvation brother. I am simply drawing on Biblical concepts of justification, sanctification & glorification to show a parallel analogy how the Devil was defeated, is being defeated & will at the end be finally cast into the lake of fire forever (the final once and for all defeat). I don't like answering these type questions cause you want a one word answer & then I feel a "gotcha" coming. If I go on (the Bible is a big book brother where compare scripture with scripture for the full sum of God's Words to rightly divide the Word of truth), not just a short collection of one liners). I don't like it when people pull out their microscope to microanalyze ones words & "trap them" to make "their point". I'm not accusing you or saying that's your intent, just telling you that's how it felt. I don't know everything brother, but Indo know & study the scriptures & I'm drawing from them altogether, not just preconceived notions, one sided arguments, etc. Doesn't mean I can't be wrong by degrees in an area, but I understand salvation friend. If the enemy roars around like a lion, but is chained up in the abyss, there's a deeper truth than your trying to oversimplify it too. And Parts of Revelation are future concerning His final defeat. We can agree to disagree & that's fine.

Saved in Three Tenses
””Have been saved, are being saved, shall be saved

This lesson may seem to be a statement of the obvious. However what is obvious to some is not obvious to others.

””Three Times of Salvation

The Scriptures speak of being saved in three tenses and senses. In one place the scriptures say that we "have been saved" (past). In another place they say that we "are being saved" (present). In yet another place they say that we "shall be saved" (future). All these statements are true. An understanding of how we are saved in three senses and tenses, helps to avoid wrong ideas about salvation, whilst helping us gain a true assurance of salvation.

1 We Have Been Saved (2Timothy 1:9)

Our Past Salvation

There is a sense in which God has already saved each and every Christian. In this sense salvation is equated with the forgiveness of sins.

Ananias said to Paul, "Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins" (Acts 22:16). So Paul, as soon as he obeyed, had his sins washed away. He was saved.
Paul said to the Corinthians, "You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified..." (1Corinthians 6:11) They were saved.
Paul says of God our Saviour, "he saved us..." (Titus 3:4-5). That's past tense, isn't it?.
A little earlier there in Titus, Paul says, "The grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all men" (Titus 2:11)
2 We Are Being Saved (1Corinthians 1:18)

Our Present Salvation

There is a sense in which God is still saving each and every Christian. In this sense salvation is equated with the Christian's growth and perseverance.

Paul spoke to the Corinthians of "those who are being saved" (2Corinthians 2:15). Here we do not have past tense. We have the word "saved" used in a present and ongoing sense.
Paul tells the Philippians, "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you..." (Philippians 2:12-13). Here we see salvation presented as something being worked for by us in synergy with God. It is not all over and done with.
Note the implication of this question, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:1-3).
Another telling statement, "be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure..." (2Peter 1:10)
John says that "the blood of Christ cleanses us..." (1John 1:7). Past sins were forgiven when we became Christians, but further sins since then need to be forgiven too. Forgiveness and salvation continue as we walk in the light.
3 We Shall Be Saved (Romans 5:9-10)

Our Promised Salvation

There is a sense in which salvation is a future event. In this sense salvation is equated with the second coming of Christ.

Jesus said, "these (wicked) shall go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life" (Matthew 25:46). This is a future event.
As we saw at the introduction to this lesson, Paul twice says, "We shall be saved..." (Romans 5:9-10). This is neither past nor present, but future, isn't it?
Paul makes an interesting statement, "Our salvation is now nearer than when we first believed" (Romans 13:11).
The Holy Spirit is given "as a guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession..." (Ephesians 1:14). Here redemption and the eternal inheritance is something in view, something yet future.
Paul speaks of "the hope of salvation" (1Thessalonians 5:8). A hope of salvation implies a future salvation. If our salvation were altogether finished, then we would have no need any more to hold it as our hope.

David writes......

"But there's no problem here. I was just respondinjg to her statement appolus yet I understood what you meant."

I amened you brother...........bro Frank

Bro Jeff,

If it is possible to oversimplify things, is it not possible to overcomplicate things? When the Scriptures were written, were they written for theologians? Does one have to have a doctorate to understand or was it written for everyone? I have assurance of salvation and by the power of God Satan cannot harm me according to Jesus. If I follow the Lord and abide in Him then I will walk in freedom. Of course I can walk away from Him, that is a whole different matter.....bro Frank

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
(Joh 8:31-32)

my two dear brothers, this portion of Scripture is very dear to my heart, and how I TRY to"walk" in Jesus:

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

or as in black folk meetings, the congregation will exhort the preacher with cries of "make it plain! make it plain!!"

in Jesus' love, neil

Amen Neil, truly when you read the red letters in the NT, you see something very simple and straightforward.......bro Frank

Jeff quoted this verse related to the question: is Satan defeated today.
Romans 16:20
The God of Peace will soon Crush Satan under your feet.
He implied that "soon" will be in an escatological event.

But this verse referred to our fight against the powers that are defeated, and our victory is guaranteed, if we remain in Christ.
This was an encouragement to the disciples that since Satan is already defeated his attempts to corrupt the true gospel will be put out by God promptly if they are obedient to the truth. This was clearly not a reference to an escatological event, but showed how useless Satans efforts are, if he tries to deceive, because soon he will be exposed and crushed by God.
Here is the whole context: Romans 16:17-20
"17Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.19For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen."

Zsuzsanna

(Edited to correct spelling)

Of course it's possible, but that's not a carte Blanche blanket statement that covers everything either. The foundations in Hebrews & elsewhere are called "milk". We are implored by scripture to "move on to meat", to "study to show thyself approved, workmen who need not be ashamed, but rightly dividing the Word of Truth", etc. & understanding the basic simple Tennants of the Gospel is easy day 1 of regeneration (though it expands as our walk & knowledge do), but the "deep mysteries" of God, & the prophetic truths of scripture are "mined". Surely you're not implying eschatology is as "simple" & obvious day 1 as "justification by faith"? That's not logical, true, or Biblical. So we are all hopefully trying to attain to the knowledge of the truth in these things, & anything can always be oversimplified or over complicated yes. I'm just sharing what I see in my study of the scriptures & walking with God. I can do no other.

Romans 16 was written FAR after the ascension. So the soon either ultimately refers to at the end, or they weren't saved at the time is was written (to fit the previous contextual usage of the verse - which the original use of it wasn't mine, but Frank's if you will go back and read it), or you believe this happened in 70 AD (Preterism)? It must be one of those three or it makes no sense.

Thank you for this thread brother Blaine, I pray this will be very helpful to believers.

Yes, satan was defeated and disarmed at the cross, but many believers still believe that he has power over them. This is either because of a wrong understanding or because they have opened themselves up (through disobedience) to the enemies attack and in a sense, the Lord has "removed the hedge".

Also Paul is very clear in Ephesians that although satan was defeated on the cross he still has power to attack the saints. But in Christ those attacks come to nothing. Paul teaches us the way to withstand and overcome satans attacks...by putting on the full armor of God (putting on Christ) and through unceasing prayer.

In my case, because I lived a double life of sin for many years, I was very weak, prayerless, armorless and the enemy gained easy access into my life and family and was able to steal, kill and destroy us on many levels. Because I was not submitted to God I was unable to resist and overcome him. But thanks be unto God the Lord delivered me out of my sinful bondage, restored my soul and brought me back to Himself.

The result was that Christs victory in our family was manifested and satans power was overcome.

All praise and glory be unto God!!!

Jeff, Romans 16 is not about escatology.
Zsuzsanna

(Edited to correct spelling)