Do not dismiss the adversary just because we know how it ends.
Giving the adversary too much credit?
There have been a few that believe I have or am giving the adversary/devil/satan/Lucifer whatever you wish to call him too much credit. Like I believe he can derail God’s plans. This is humorous for two reasons on is these people along with non-believers don't give him enough credit and if anyone has even read revelation knows how it ends so to think I believe that the adversary can change God's plan is laughable.
The adversary was in the Garden of Eden, he used to be the top angel. He was not ordered out of heaven, he was thrown out of heaven with his traitorous conspirators. Luke 10:18 Jesus said “ I saw Satan falling out of heaven as lightning” and he will be here until he is thrown into the Lake of Fire forever and ever Revelation 20:10, minus the 1000 years he is in the abyss Revelation 20:2. the adversary does not just fool a hand full of people or a couple of thousand but Revelation 10:8 “ and he will Go to mislead the nations in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to assemble them in war, whose number is as the sand of the sea.” this is AFTER the millennial reign and everything that happened during the tribulation period and Jesus is on the planet and in His beloved city and the adversary is able to get an army this big.
There are +/-7.888 billion people on this planet only +/- 1.9 billion claim to be Christian that is already a large number of people on the adversaries side either voluntary or nonvoluntary then I think it would be safe to say we can cut that 1.9 by ½ to ¾. That is a huge advantage in numbers in favor of the adversary. There are only two sides in this battle for the soul of man, that is God's side and the adversary's side. There is no neutrality, no running, or hiding, you will have to make a choice. you will either do God's will or the adversary's. Supporting sin will never be God's will.
The adversary's main goal has not changed since he convinced Eve to take a bite of the forbidden fruit and that goal is to keep as many people from Heaven as possible. He knows how great it is and he knows his time is coming when he will be thrown into the Lake of Fire, so he wants as many humans as he can get to join him in his misery. he is the deceiver, he will use twisted scripture, false doctrine, fake religions, sinful pleasures, he will even pretend to be an angel of light to deceive you( 2nd Corinthians 11:14), whatever it takes to keep people from Heaven.
People are believing it. they defend sin and make excuses as to why we should support, encourage, promote, and accept sin instead of following God's word. The fact they have been deceived by a master theologian that has twisted scripture and doctrine to a point that there are people that believe Hell is temporary and everyone eventually gets into heaven and they back this belief with scripture taken out of context and ignore scripture that proves this wrong.
This was not done overnight, the patience that this takes is beyond human (and is) so am I giving the adversary too much credit NO not really, too many people are not giving him enough credit. They are underestimating the adversary just because we know how it ends does not mean we can dismiss him or his power. he is the ruler of this world, that is how he was able to offer Jesus the world in Matthew 4:8-8.
Truly believing in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and Following Gods' word in scripture is the only way we can defend ourselves from the adversary. Just as the angels in Heaven rejoice over one soul being saved( Luke 15:10), the demons in Hell dance when one is coming their way.
Glory to God in all things.
Peace be with you ;
Lewis