Chronology of Spiritual Warfare

The world's assaults on God's Truth and Authority

     God and Satan are not two equal powers in a dualistic battle between good and evil. Our Lord reigns as the supreme Creator and King of the universe. His sovereign will is being accomplished in the world whether or not His creatures accept Him as Lord. [See The Nature and Tactics of Satan]

1. First, know the relationship between God and His creation:

God People Satan

ETERNAL: "He is before all things..." Colossians 1:17

   

  Our CREATOR: "For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers." Colossians 1:16

   "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works..." Psalm 139:14-15

Created by God, as an angel, to serve God and minister to His creation. But he rebelled and established his own empire. "...the whole world is under the sway of the evil one." 1 John 5:19

  Our PROVIDER: "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 

   "God said, 'See, I have given you every herb...." Genesis 1:29 

    "I have led you forty years.... Your clothes have not worn out.." Deut 29:5

Was assigned limited power - yet is ultimately accountable to God: "And the Lord said to Satan, 'Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." Job 1:12

 

  Our JUDGE: "For the Lord will judge His people, and He will have compassion on His servants." Psalm 135:14

Faced spiritual death and bondage as a consequence for sin. Genesis 2:17, Romans 5:12.

"The wages of sin is death...." Romans 6:23

"How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down ... you who weakened the nations! For you have said ...‘I will ascend into heaven.... Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol." Isaiah 14:12-15

  Our SAVIOR: "He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

   "...as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God." John 1:11-12   "...that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:15

Warning to faithful believers: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith." 1 Peter 5:8-9

   

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust." Psalm 18:2

Old Testament Period

Genesis 3: Satan's deception and human corruption  (the seed of death, disease, murder and immorality)


Those who yield to his temptations


Stay true to God's Word


God's victory

"Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence." Psalm 91:3


The final battles


The teachings, suffering and victory of Jesus


Spiritual battles of the Apostles


Spiritual Assaults by Satan

 

Deceives people through lies, threats, deception, twisted truths and counterfeit promises:

   "For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light." 2 Corinthians  11:14

   "...the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will." 2 Timothy 2:26

Charged with rebellion. "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven.... Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol." Isaiah 14:12-15

Has limited access to faithful believers: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith." 1 Pet 5:8-9

 

In God's plan, even the worst evil become steps to His good:

"...the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot... to betray Him...." John 13:2

"Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin." 1 John 3:1-5

"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will dwell in them and walk among them.
       I will be their God, and they shall be My people.'
      Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate,' says the Lord.
      'Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.'
      'I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,'" 
2 Corinthians 6:14-18

"... in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good.... lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
       "...all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned..."
2 Timothy 3:1-14

"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. ...And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.... See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:6-17

"I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." 2 Corinthians 11:3

"Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons..." 1 Timothy 4:1

"The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12


God's Ultimate Victory

“...whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" 1 John 5:3-5

“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory.
     "'O  Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?'
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 15:51

“I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 'Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." Revelation 12:10-11

"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death,  nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
      "Then  He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.' And He said to me, “Write, for  these words are true and faithful. And He said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son."
Revelation 21:4


Home  - Preparing for Victory - The Nature and Tactics of Satan