H. Nunnerley
Satan’s Overthrow
The aspect of the death of Christ which we shall consider in our closing paper is found in the earliest prophetic utterance of Scripture, and shows that God had determined the complete setting aside of Satan, through the cross, from the beginning.
The death in which God’s glory was secured, and man’s salvation assured, is that by which Satan’s power is annulled, and his everlasting defeat declared.
Who then is this mysterious being called the old serpent, the devil, and Satan? Is he an actual person or an allegorical or mythical figure by which lust or evil is personified? Matthew 4:11Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. (Matthew 4:1) tells us, “Jesus was led up of the Spirit to be tempted of the devil.” This scripture causes us to shrink with holy horror from the teaching that “Satan is only another name for lust,” for the blessed Son of God had no evil nature, no lust, and yet He was “tempted of the devil.” Such assertions are blasphemous when applied to our Lord, and are a covert attack on His pure and spotless humanity.
Satan is an actual being of great subtlety, who tempted our Savior at the beginning of His ministry, and again in the garden of Gethsemane, but found no vulnerable point in Him.
From Holy Scripture we learn that Satan is not now confined in hell, but walks up and down in the earth (Job 1:1717While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. (Job 1:17) Peter 5:8). The seat of his power is the heavenlies, but he has a synagogue, a throne, and a dwelling on earth (Rev. 2:9-139I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 10Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. 12And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 13I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. (Revelation 2:9‑13)).
He is the “god” of this world, and as such will pander to its religious tastes. He is the “Prince” of this world, and is actively engaged in keeping men in subjection to his dominion. He is working with unflagging purpose towards the culmination of all his opposition to God, which will be manifested when he brings forth the man of sin — the ripe fruit of Satan’s ascendancy over man, who will exalt himself above all that is called God, and to whom men will give homage (2 Thess. 2:44Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:4)).
He is neither omniscient, omnipotent nor omnipresent, but he is among the greatest of created beings, whose dignity Michael the archangel acknowledged when he would not bring a railing accusation but called upon the Lord to “rebuke” him (Jude 99Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. (Jude 9).).
Ezekiel graphically describes him under the figure of the King of Tyre (see chap. 28.), as a being full of wisdom, perfect in beauty, with every precious stone for his covering, as having been in Eden, the garden of God, and having walked up and down on the mountain of God, the anointed cherub.
How long he kept his first estate we know not, but we are told he was perfect in his ways until he became occupied with his beauty, then, lifted up with pride, he fell, his wisdom was corrupted, iniquity was found in him.
At Calvary human and infernal beings combined against Christ. It was man’s hour and the power of darkness. The horror of a far greater darkness than that which shrouded the mid-day sun, enveloped the Savior on the cross.
Satan marshaled men and demons. Pilate and Herod among royal circles, Pharisees and scribes among religious circles, and the rabble of the lowest social circles were summoned to his aid; and added to these were those unseen, subtle, spiritual forces, the principalities and powers of the invisible world.
Picture this dread array, and then think of a lowly Man shrouded in blackness and darkness, passing through inexpressible sorrow and suffering, forsaken by His disciples, deserted by His followers, crucified in weakness.
There He fought the fight alone. What a battle! It was a contest for supremacy over man on the part of Satan. Had Satan gained the victory he would have remained master of the field. “Jesus bowed His head and gave up the ghost... But one of the soldiers pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water” (John 19:30-3430When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. 31The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. 33But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: 34But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. (John 19:30‑34)). By that death Satan’s power was annulled forever, though in the eyes of men it seemed as though the Son of God had met with defeat.
The Sabbath dawned; He was still among the dead. That Sabbath was a high day, the psalms were duly chanted, the temple services went on; the prophetic utterance seemed true: that Jesus was “forgotten as a dead man out of mind.”
One more thing they must do. Jesus must not only be put in the grave, but kept there. Death must hold its prey, the grave retain Him: hence the great stone rolled over the mouth of His rock-hewn tomb; the Roman seal, which it was death to break; and a band of soldiers to keep Him in a tomb!
Even the friends of Jesus appeared to help on Satan’s plans, for they encased His body in linen wrappings, with a hundred pound weight of spices. How then could He leave the grave? Added to this there were unseen, but none the less real, powers and principalities, wholly intent on keeping Jesus there.
It is because of the varied elements combined to hold Christ in death, that Ephesians 1:19, 2019And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 1:19‑20) refers to it as the culminating act of God’s power, demonstrating how God is greater than man and Satan, principalities and powers. Creation had witnessed His eternal power, resurrection declared the exceeding greatness of that power.
Despite soldiers, seal, stone, and Satan, Jesus burst the bond of death, took His life again, and proceeded forthwith to demonstrate His victory, not only by His own resurrection, but by those other graves which gave up their dead, for “Many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of their graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many” (Matt. 27:52, 5352And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. (Matthew 27:52‑53)), plain, tangible proof that captivity was led captive, principalities and powers spoiled, the strong man bound and robbed of his goods.
Rejoice ye heavenly hosts, cast away your fears ye troubled saints, fear death no more, it is yours, its sting is removed.
The serpent’s head is bruised, the tyrant conquered, the grave spoiled, death annulled, yet, for some wise reason known to God alone, Satan is still allowed to roam at large; though defeated he is not bound, though doomed he is not imprisoned.
He will be bound in the pit during Christ’s millennial reign; he will eventually be consigned to the lake of fire (Rev. 20:3-103And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 4And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 7And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10And 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 20:3‑10)). Meanwhile, knowing his time is short, he is acting with great energy. Witness how many seats of theological learning are corrupted by evil doctrine; how many infidel writers and gifted novelists scatter broadcast blinding and delusive teachings concerning Christ and the Scriptures, hell and its torments, man and his world.
We Christians are not to be ignorant of his devices. We are not to give him a place, we are to resist him and he will flee from us, we are to keep ourselves, we are to beware of the world, for the whole world lies in the arms of the wicked one. We are to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might, to take to ourselves the whole armor of God.
We are to know our deliverance from Satan, the power of darkness, and to read in Christ’s death our complete emancipation from the bondage of the fear of death. Satan was put under Christ’s feet at the cross; he will shortly be bruised under the feet of the redeemed (Rom. 16:2020And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. (Romans 16:20)).
Christian Communion
Christians need one another; are dependent on one another — not as fountains, but as channels of blessing.
The communion of the members of Christ with each other is of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling fellowship with the Father and the Son is known. The oneness of mind between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is the spring and pattern of the one new mind that should be found in, and mark out, the members of Christ.
Unless we have a spiritual understanding of this divine unity, we cannot rightly grieve for the divisions of God’s people. By looking into this glass, we discover the nature and the guilt of schism and divisions.