If Satan Has Been Defeated,

Why Is There Still Evil In The World?

Before we can address this directly we have to step back and look at the Big Picture again. We've made a lot of assumptions that sabotage our understanding of this subject and they need to be examined.

The assumption at the root of our misunderstanding is that unless Satan is alive and well, mankind would not sin. There is no scripture that teaches that. In fact, James says, "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." (James 1:14-15)

There's no question that Satan had a role in deceiving our first parents but the reality is they were quite capable of making a mess of things on their own. So are we. Nevertheless, the promise following the fall was that Satan would be crushed by the Seed of woman.

Though many evil influences continue to exist in our world, that in no way necessitates the presence of Satanic or demonic forces.

In Luke 10, the seventy have returned to Christ and report that even the demons obeyed them. Christ responds with "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning." (vs. 18) There can be no doubt that the demise of Satan was at hand once Christ appeared in the flesh.

In the fullness of time Christ came to fulfill the promise. In the closing of his letter to the Romans, Paul says, "For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good, and innocent in what is evil. And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you." (Romans 16:19-20) There's the word "soon" again. The Greek is en tachei meaning speedily. The crushing of old slewfoot was not thousands of years in the future to them. It was coming soon - and it did.

John writes, "I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one." (1 John 2:13-14) Though not yet crushed, herein is evidence that Satan's power is unable to overwhelm believers any longer. They could live victoriously even while he went about as a "roaring lion".

Nevertheless, they expected the soon arrival of a new day when he would be taken out of the picture. That day came when the "synagogue of Satan" (Revelation 2:9; 3:9) was crushed in A.D. 70. He was cast into the lake of fire and no longer deceives the nations.

Some may find it appealing to blame the devil for their failings, but that ignores the core issue of their own lust.

One of the glorious aspects of fulfilled eschatology is the knowledge that Satan is defeated and no longer torments our world. Those who practice evil give ample evidence that his influence lingers still, but no one can legitimately seek to excuse their behavior by blaming it on the old serpent. He is totally defeated. Live victoriously in Christ!

© Copyright 2003 ~ Jim Wade