The Bible makes it quite plain that God will vanquish Satan. John witnesses “the devil… was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10) in a vision of the end of the world.
It is therefore evident that God has the ability and the plan to destroy Satan, and He gives us the assurance that, at the end of time, Satan will be destroyed and tortured eternally in hell.
Why does God not destroy Satan right now?
This begs the question of why God has not yet destroyed Satan. It is crucial to emphasize that even if God has not yet destroyed Satan, He has already vanquished him before I respond to it. “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him,” according to Colossians 2:15. The accomplishments of Jesus on the cross are discussed in this verse. The “rulers and authorities” that are being discussed here are demonic spiritual forces. Here, we come across a fact about Satan and his demons that we should never lose sight of: they are defeated, ashamed, and [Jesus won] over them.
However, it is also true that Satan is still very much in charge of this planet. Acts 5:3 reads that Peter claims Satan filled Ananias’s heart. People are considered to be under Satan’s influence (Acts 26:18). Paul’s objectives are thwarted by Satan (1 Thessalonians 2:18). So the question still stands: why would God give an adversary He has already vanquished so much leeway?
God’s plan for this world
God’s plan for this planet and his church is made clear in the Bible. It is evident that Satan is involved in that. In God’s grand scheme, Satan is but a pawn! God desires for Satan to play this role:
- To make the [might of the Gospel] even more spectacular in its victory over Satan, some freedom is given to Satan. According to Paul, the purpose of his missionary work is to lead people “from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God” (Acts 26:18).
- In order to teach believers how to use their power over Satan, Satan is given considerable latitude. The devils submitted to the apostles that Jesus sent forth. “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven,” declared Jesus. Look, I’ve given you the power to walk over scorpions and snakes and over all the strength of the adversary without getting wounded (Lukas 10:18-19).
- Satan is given certain latitude so that God can judge people by casting them into Satan’s care, which may cause them to turn from their sins and turn back to God. In 1 Corinthians 5:5, Paul writes, “You are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.”
- Satan is given considerable leeway so that those who truly believe can be identified by resisting his temptations. “After being taken prisoner by the devil to carry out his will, God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil” (2 Timothy 2:25-26).
- In order for believers to oppose Satan and thereby [develop in their faith], Satan is given some leeway. Ephesians 6:11 states, “Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”
- In order to make God even more spectacular on the day of judgment when Satan is destroyed, Satan is given considerable latitude (see Revelation 20).
