The Conflict of all Ages

     There are pairs of terms that are directly opposites.  Examples include light and darkness, life and death, good and evil, and truth and lies.  Light, life, good, and truth are Biblical synonyms as are darkness, death, evil, and lies.

     The Bible introduces the earth as originally being in darkness.

     “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was without form…and darkness was on the face of the deep…Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light...and God divided the light from the darkness.”  Genesis 1:1-5

     And then at the end of the Bible, the Apostle John reveals that the earth that began in darkness will end in light.

     “And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it…There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light…”  Revelation 22:3-5

      Between the initial darkness and the future everlasting light are life and death, good and evil, and truth and lies.  They describe the lengthy conflict between God and Satan.  The ongoing conflict began with pride and rebellion when Lucifer, the created son of the morning, thought he should be superior to his Creator.  As a result Lucifer, or Satan, has suffered, is suffering, and will continue to suffer the just penalty for his pride and disobedience to the One who created him.

     “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! ...For you said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God...I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.”  Isaiah 14:12-14

     Notice the repeated use of the personal pronoun ‘I’.  Such is the epitome of pride.

     The prophet Ezekiel shed more light on Satan.

     “You were in Eden, the garden of God…You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.  Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty…”  Ezekiel 28:13-17

     Because of his rebellion, Satan lost his position of authority in the presence of his creator, although he retained access to the throne, for a time.

     Ezekiel confirmed Satan was indeed in Eden and he was created perfect until he chose to rebel.  He began his deception with Adam and Eve, i.e. those created in God’s own image.  Satan attempted to turn the light in Eden back to darkness.  His goal was to keep mankind from fulfilling the purpose for which they were created.

     Recall Adam and Eve had access to every tree in the Garden of Eden with the exception of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  They were basking in God’s light; they had no need to know evil or stumble in darkness.

     “And the LORD God said to the woman, ‘What have you done?’  The woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate.’”  Genesis 3:13

     We read of Satan’s attempts to deceive all mankind through the ages.  Soon he will lose even his access to the throne and will be confined to the earth until his permanent demise.

     “So the great dragon… called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth…therefore… Woe to the inhabitants of the earth…For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”  Revelation 12:9, 12

     The Bible then tells of the devil’s everlasting destiny.  After spending the millennium in the bottomless pit and after his final attempt to deceive those remaining on the earth, he is defeated and cast in the place designed specifically for him and his followers.

     “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast (Anti-Christ) and the false prophet are…into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and is angels” Revelation 20:10, Matthew 25:41

     However, during this present age Satan is extremely busy deceiving and enticing all to choose darkness over light.  He does this by enabling the spirit of anti-Christ which is very active in the world today.

     See next week for specific examples.