Judging from recent history, the new heavens and new earth have not yet arrived. We get fresh reminders every day of the feverish activity of the great enemy of creation, Satan himself, and his demonic compatriots, “the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). It seems obvious to me that the authorities and powers of this dark world are on the loose and are carrying out a deadly agenda.
Hardly a week goes by when we have not heard yet another harrowing report of mass murder in a house of worship, or a school, or a public space. Some commentators use terms like “the new normal” to describe the frequency of terrorist bombings, ethnic violence and civil unrest around the world. It is as if the news media, without realizing it, are telling us there is a sinister cosmic power orchestrating an evil strategy.
I am glad to report that Satan will bite the dust. I refer to Isaiah 65:25 where it says that “The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain.” This picture of “new heavens and a new earth” (Isaiah 65:17) is a promise to be fulfilled when in the end times God restores harmony and peace to all creation.
I find the prospect attractive, especially the part about the serpent eating dust. This is an allusion to Genesis 3:14-15 where we read that the offspring of the woman (Christ) will ultimately crush the head of the serpent (Satan). This good news was proclaimed right at the beginning of the Bible, and it is repeated in various ways throughout. The concluding book of the Bible reminds us of the overthrow of Satan, the great serpent (Revelation 20:2, 10).
This raises an obvious question many people ask, “Why doesn’t God destroy Satan now and put an end to his evil works?” It is hard for us to grasp with our limited understanding, but there are scriptural answers that speak to this.
First, Satan, subject himself to God’s sovereignty, has been permitted to test and discipline some of God’s faithful servants. Job, Paul, Peter, and others were explicit targets of Satan within the permissive will of God. Their godly submission to these trials of life were public proof that God’s people love and serve him in spite of the attacks of the enemy. Jesus’ response to his temptation in the wilderness was a resounding defeat for Satan.
Second, every time an individual trusts in Jesus Christ for eternal salvation, Satan is defeated. The world is under Satan’s control for now (Ephesians 2:2). He uses its resources to oppose Christ and his gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4). So when people come to faith in Christ for salvation, this testifies to the beauty and attraction of Christ, and an individual’s rejection of Satan and his works. This brings greater glory to Christ than snuffing out Satan with raw power. John Piper wrote, “God’s aim is to magnify the glory of Christ through the gospel.”
Another reason why God does not immediately destroy Satan is to accumulate an indictment against those who eagerly follow him to destruction. They love sin and they choose to embrace Satan’s lies and corrupting influences. Romans chapter one makes clear that they will be without excuse before a holy God. Revelation 20:7-10 has a chilling description of how, even after a millennium of world peace and perfect justice, Satan will gather a final world army to try to make war against God before the final judgment. God will use Satan to prove the sinfulness of humanity.
The new heavens and new earth are not here yet, but they are coming. Isaiah’s poetic description is beautiful and comforting. He promises, “Dust will be the serpent’s food.” This agrees with Paul who wrote, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20). God is the God of peace. His peace will finally come when he crushes Satan in the end. And peace with God is possible now for any person who trusts in the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross.
There will be some battles against Satan in the year ahead. You and I can resist him and he must flee (James 4:7). Every time you see a cross this year remind yourself that Satan has lost the war and he will someday bite the dust.
