THE POWER OF EVIL IN THE BOOK
OF REVELATION
The Book of Revelation is in a sense the "last word" about the struggle between good and evil. The divine drama which the Bible records is still going on, and will continue until Jesus Comes.
If we focus on the power of evil, we seem to think and dwell upon the disunity and ineffectiveness of the Lord’s church. "By names and creeds distressed." We see the failures and the crimes done in the name of being faithful to the Lord. Human pride and inertia, stupidity. [But, are we seeing the whole picture?]
But this - we - are the material, inside and outside the church, which the Spirit of God has to work with. And He will only work by love and not by compelling.
We can think of today as a new Dark Ages, with materialism and sin and evil everywhere to be seen. Has Christianity failed??? God forbid!
In the years since Pentecost, Acts 2, these short years of infancy, saintliness, courage, care, concern, have made their mark. Lives have been changed, fear has given way to hope, new light - the light of Christ - has shone in dark places. The church has no need to apologize for its total record of service, its defense of the weak and helpless and unfortunate. Though often it has left its consecrated ones to fight the battle alone.
Jesus the Son of God, came in human form as flesh & blood, was tempted in every way that fallen man is tempted. Hebrews 4:14-16. The gulf between God and man has been bridged by God Himself in the person of the second Adam, a new kind of man, Jesus of Nazareth. He is God expressed in terms of human life (Romans 8:1-4; 1 Corinthians 15:20-25).
The Chardon OH shooting reminds us that
Satan still tempts people. Satan is
bound by Christ and His Sacrifice, but still permitted to use his evil
influence. “Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.” “Resist the
devil and he will flee.”
1. Satan is powerful, but restricted.
“Then I heard a loud voice shouting across
the heavens, “It has come at last—salvation and power and the Kingdom of our
God, and the authority of his Christ.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to
earth—the one who accuses them
before our God day and night. And they
have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that
they were afraid to die. Therefore,
rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in
the heavens, rejoice! But terror will
come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great
anger, knowing that he has little time.”
Rev 12:10-12 (NLT)
Michael and his angels do the
attacking. Satan is booted out of
heaven. Christ’s Atonement frustrates
the devil.
1) Now God’s salvation has
come.
2) Our brothers won the victory.
3) For the devil has come down in great
anger.
There will be Christians alive
and waiting when Jesus Comes! The church/kingdom
does not come to an end but continues on into Eternity.
The battle between God’s Kingdom and the
Devil is not determined on earth. It has
already been settled in heaven. In Rev.
12 John saw Satan defeated. Yet Satan,
thrown to earth, uses every weapon he can find to war against the Creator. As John wrote, the Roman
Empire was the Beast which Satan used to harass and destroy the
people of God. But the wrath of God, the
Word of His Power, continues to prepare the punishment of evil.
2. God’s Plan is being worked out.
“Then the Lord God said, "Behold, the
man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil....” Gen 3:22
“True free will cannot exist without the
possibility of evil, that humans cannot understand God, that suffering is necessary
for spiritual growth, or evil is the consequence of a fallen world.” Wikipedia
“And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon!
Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith
should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your
brethren." Luke 22:31-32
The devil sifts each of us looking for our
weakness. The Enemy uses the lust of the
eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life to tempt us to sin. [But temptation itself is not sin.] He uses fear of persecution to frighten us,
as he did Peter. Sometimes well-meaning
Christians are tricked into opposing us.
Paul warns: “Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a
brother. 2 Thess 3:15
3. Both Good And Evil.
In the Parable of the Wheat and Tares, both
good and evil exist together in our world.
To weed out the tares would disrupt the wheat. But at the time of harvest, the sorting will
take place. [Matt. 13:24-30.]
“God’s promise held true; Spring would come.
He built into nature a cycle of life and death to show us that death was temporary,
even when it seemed to be permanent, final, the end of all dreams.” (Patrick Mead)
“For since the creation of the world His
invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are
made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse . .
.” Romans 1:20
Christians are to know that during this
Gospel Age which stretches from Pentecost until the Second Coming, both good and
bad will come to God’s people. Satan
will send persecution and lies against each Christian. But God’s special help prevents the Devil
from attacking the church directly and destroying it. Satan is to be allowed one last all-out
effort to destroy the church (Rev. 20:7-101, and this may parallel the
persecution of the first century. But we already know the outcome. Satan has
already lost! And the Second Coming will put a stop to his final effort. Some think a period of explosive growth will
take place in Christ’s church at the exact same time that Satan is permitted to
make his last effort. History shows that
“the blood of martyrs is the seed of the church.”
“Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse
them; pray that God will bless them. Be
happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too
proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it
all! Never pay back evil with more
evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all
that you can to live in peace with everyone.
Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of
God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says
the Lord.” Romans 12:14-19 (NLT)
“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in
his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand
firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against
flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen
world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in
the heavenly places.” Eph 6:10-12 (NLT)
We Can Resist The Devil
Jesus taught an obedient love for God that
we are to show in the actions of ordinary life.
Doctrine is important, yet what we really are shows up in visible ways. How we treat each other is proof of our faith
in our God. [Matt. 25:31-46]
"To convert the pagan world, we must be
the sign and wonder: We must be holy."
[Tom Forrest]
1. God’s discipline is always good for us.
a) God gives us the authority to resist
evil.
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil
and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
(NKJV)
“If you think you are standing strong, be
careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what
others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be
more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so
that you can endure.” 1 Cor 10:12-13
(NLT)
b) As we learn we are able to help others.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in
all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any
trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Cor 1:3-4 (NKJV)
2. We conquer evil by doing good.
“Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer
evil by doing good.” Romans 12:21 (NLT)
“Let your light so shine before men, that
they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matt 5:16 (NKJV)
“Men do not praise the street lamps which
protect them from robbery and assault, but they praise the municipal
administration which furnishes the lamps.”
McGarvey - Four-Fold Gospel
3. Paul speaks of holy living. Romans 12:14-21 (NKJV)
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do
not curse.”
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep
with those who weep.”
“Be of the same mind toward one another. Do
not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise
in your own opinion.”
“Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for
good things in the sight of all men.”
“If it is possible, as much as depends on
you, live peaceably with all men.”
“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but
rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will
repay," says the Lord.” [Deuteronomy
32:35]
“Therefore "If your enemy is hungry,
feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap
coals of fire on his head."
[Proverbs 25:21-22]
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