Tag: I John 5:19

I John 2 – Part 6

“I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one.” I John 2:13b

In our study of I John, the apostle John is preparing his readers for spiritual battle (2:12-14) against the world (2:15-17) and the devil (2:18-25) after having addressed their battle with sin (1:5-2:2). To prepare them for warfare, He is reviewing fundamental truth about their position in Christ. Like “little children,” they had experienced complete and permanent forgiveness from their heavenly Father the moment they believed in “the name of the Son of God” (2:12; cf. 5:13a). As “fathers” they now know the Eternal One intimately (2:13a; cf. John 17:3a).

Today John will address the third foundational truth based on their position in Christ. “I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one.” (I John 2:13b). Their experience as “little children” (forgiveness of sins) and as “fathers” (intimate knowledge of God) renders them as vigorous “young men” who are prepared to do battle with Satan. 1

Once again John uses the Greek perfect tense to describe their position in Christ. The perfect tense describes a completed action in the past that has continuing results to the present. Hence, as “little children” they have been “forgiven” (apheōntai) of all their sins when they believed in Christ for salvation and they remain forgiven at the time of John’s writing (2:12). As “fathers” they “have known”(egnōkeite) God as the Eternal One from the moment of their salvation and they continue know Him in this way (2:13a; cf. John 17:3).

And now John uses the Greek perfect tense when he writes that as “young men” they “have overcome” (nenikēkate) Satan or “the wicked one” (2:13b). The Greek perfect tense conveys a past victory over the evil one which continues to produce fruit in the present. 2 In what sense have all believers “overcome the wicked one”?

John writes, “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” (I John 5:1). Every time a person believes in Jesus as the Christ for new birth, a definite victory is made over the world: “4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (I John 5:4-5). John informs us that “the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” (I John 5:19b).

Satan is actively engaged in blinding people’s minds to prevent them from believing in the gospel of God’s Son (2 Cor. 4:3-6). He uses the world system to teach many false views which desensitize people to their need for a Savior including such things as:

  • Humanity is basically good so people do not need to be saved from sin.
  • Since God is love, all people will go to heaven.
  • Jesus was just a good moral teacher or prophet who provided a good example to follow.
  • God and the Bible cannot be trusted.
  • Sin has no consequences.
  • God does not exist.

But when God breaks through these (and other) lies and a lost sinner “believes that Jesus is the Son of God” to be “born of God” (I John 5:4-5), then Satan is directly defeated (2 Cor. 4:3-6). And since the effects of new birth can never be reversed by Satan, this defeat is decisive and permanent (Luke 8:12). At the very least, John’s readers are viewed as “young men” who had experienced victory over the wicked one when they put their faith in Christ for eternal life, and the results of this victory are still there. They still have a perfect standing before God in heaven (cf. Rom. 8:33-34; Heb. 10:10, 14). This positional truth is intended by John to encourage his readers to move out into battle against this world and its ruler, knowing that their victory in Christ is secure. 3

The author of the gospel of John is the same author of I John. John uses the Greek perfect tense for the same word translated “have overcome” (nenikēka) when he records Christ’s encouraging words to His disciples the night before His crucifixion: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). There are three contrasts in the first half of this verse which have incredible significance:

1. “in Me” versus “in the world”: Jesus depicts the disciples as living in two spheres. The first is spiritual and eternal (“in Me”) and the second is physical and temporal (“in the world”).The phrase “in Me” points back to the intimacy Christ spoke of in the vine and branches imagery (John 15:1-8). Disciples of Jesus can “have peace” in Christ who never changes, not “in the world” which is ever-changing. We are not going to find peace in the world. Only Christ can give us the peace we yearn for. If our focus is on Christ, then peace can be our experience. If our focus is on the world, then we can expect “tribulation.” This word (thlipsin) refers to “trouble that inflicts … distress brought about by outward circumstances.” 4

2. “you may have” versus “you will have”: In the spiritual realm the disciples “may have” peace. The verb translated “may have” (echēte) is in the subjunctive mood which means it is possible or desirable 5 they may have peace, but Christ did not guarantee their peace in this life. If they abide in Christ (“in Me”), then they can have peace. But it is not certain they will abide in Him. But Jesus does guarantee they “will have” tribulation in the world. The verb translated “will have” (echete) is in the indicative mood which conveys certainty 6 that the disciples will experience tribulation in the world. The disciples will not be able to escape the tribulation that is in the world. Perhaps the disciples still did not believe persecution was imminent  (cf. John 15:18-16:4). They expected to rule with Jesus soon in His coming Kingdom (cf. Matt. 16:21-28; Luke 22:24-30). Their expectations kept them from receiving more truth from Christ that they found to be contrary to what they wanted – this is something all of us must guard against. 7

3. “peace” vs. “tribulation”: If the disciples (and we) abide in Christ and stay focused on Him, they can experience internal “peace” (eirēnēn) or a deep-seeded calmness that is given to obedient believers (cf. John 14:21, 23, 27a) even though they will definitely have “tribulation” in the world. This peace of Christ arises from a life of faith in God. It refers to a calmness “that would come to their hearts from trusting God and from knowing that He was in control of all events that touched their lives.” 8

The world cannot give this kind of peace to believers. The world gives Christians “tribulation” because the world opposes Christ and His followers (15:18-16:4). The word “tribulation” “is used in a general sense to speak of the ‘pressing affliction’ that the disciples must endure as they identify with Christ in an unbelieving world (cf. 15:18-25). This is the pressure believers experience when they take a stand for Christ or speak out on a sensitive moral issue. Yet although believers face intense pressure from the world, they can enjoy internal peace in Christ.” 9

Some teach that if you are doing God’s will everything will go smoothly. This is contrary to what Jesus promises. Even if you are living for Christ “you will have tribulation” because the world hates Jesus and those who follow Him (15:18-21). If the world does not hate a believer, it may be because that believer is being conformed to the world instead of being transformed by the Word.

After the disciples forsook the Lord at the time of His arrest (cf. Matt. 26:56; Mark 14:50), they may have felt ashamed and uneasy whenever they thought of Jesus. But Jesus predicted their desertion in the very saying where He also assured them of the peace He would give them (John 16:32-33). Christ loved them despite their shortcomings. In the future when they looked back on their desertion, they would reflect that Jesus predicted it. And even though He knew full well they would abandon Him, He had promised them peace. That is grace. Christ would give them peace even though they did not deserve it.

The world would definitely bring the disciples distress, but they could “be of good cheer.” The word translated “be of good cheer” (tharsaeite) means “to be firm or resolute in the face of danger or adverse circumstances, be enheartened, be courageous.” 10

Why could the disciples face these upcoming challenges with courage? Christ explains, “I have overcome the world.” As mentioned previously, this is the same Greek perfect tense verb John used in I John 2:13b. The word “overcome” (nikaō) means “to win in the face of obstacles, be victor, conquer, overcome, prevail.” 11 So, Jesus speaks of His victory over the world as though it is an accomplished fact with continuing results to the present!

It was no accident that Jesus spoke these triumphant words, “I have overcome the world” even as the Roman soldiers were buckling on the weapons for His arrest. That is confidence, isn’t it!?! But this is a confidence that would be lacking in the disciples that night. At first, when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter, the ring leader of the disciples, pulled out a sword in Jesus’ defense (Luke 22:50-51; John 18:10). But by the next day, all Eleven disciples had lost faith. Those triumphant words from the previous night must have haunted the disciples as they watched from a distance as Jesus agonized on the cross. It appeared to them that the world had overcome Jesus. But on Sunday morning, their faith would be reignited and strengthened by the resurrection of their Lord.

To an unbeliever, the cross of Christ seems like total defeat for Him. But Jesus sees it as a complete victory over all that the world is and can do to Him. Christ goes to the cross, not in fear or in gloom, but as a Conqueror! Because Jesus won the victory over the hostile world and Satan through His death and resurrection (cf. John 12:31-32; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; Colossians 2:13-15; 1 John 2:13-14; 4:4; 5:4-5), we can also win against this hostile world and its ruler as we face difficulties with His courage! Because Jesus has already won the battle, we can claim the victory as we face trials triumphantly.

In John 16:33, John wants us to see that victory begins when, through the resurrection power of Jesus Christ, we find peace in living life for Him. In I John 2:13b, the apostle wants us to realize that the moment we believe in Christ for our new birth (5:1), it was our faith that permanently defeated Satan’s and the world’s opposition towards saving faith (5:4-5). Knowing this can give us much courage as we face intimidating challenges.

When we were serving the Lord in the Philippines, I sometimes liked to watch NBA basketball. One of my favorite teams at that time was the Dallas Mavericks. Since we were fourteen hours ahead of CST in Dallas, Texas, I was not available to watch their games in the mornings in the Philippines when they were televised live. So, I watched the replay of their games in the evenings. Before I would do that, I liked to check the final score on ESPN, so I would know if the Mavericks had won before I sat down to watch them. Knowing my team had already won the game, gave me confidence even though I may watch my team make several mistakes and fall behind in the score. I did not give up on them though because I already knew they would win the game.

The same is true in our Christian lives. We already know the outcome of this battle between Jesus and the world and the ruler of the world. Knowing Christ has already won the victory over the world and the devil can enable us to have courage when we face intimidating challenges (John 16:33). Knowing that our faith in Christ at the time of our conversion permanently overcame the world and Satan, gives us confidence going into spiritual battle (I John 2:13b). At times it may seem that the world and Satan are winning the battle when we fail, or other believers fail, but the truth is Christ has already won the war through His death and resurrection! The truth is we can move out into battle against this hate-filled world based on our complete victory in our position through Christ. We can fight “from” the victory Jesus and our faith have already won, not “for” the victory as though it was completely dependent upon us alone.

Prayer: Gracious heavenly Father, thank You so much for preparing us for spiritual battle by reminding us of our position in Christ. As Your little children, we have permanent forgiveness of all our sins so the enemy cannot successfully accuse us or condemn us. As fathers, we know You as the Eternal One and it is this intimate knowledge of You that delivers us from the enemy’s lies. As young men, we have permanently defeated the world and its ruler with our faith when we believed in the Son of God for our new birth. This permanent victory over their hostility toward saving faith encourages us to move out into battle knowing the war has already been won. Thank You for this confidence You have given to us, Lord, based on our position in Christ. In the matchless name of our Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

ENDNOTES:

1. Zane C. Hodges; Robert Wilkin; J. Bond; Gary Derickson; Brad Doskocil; Dwight Hunt; Shawn Leach; The Grace New Testament Commentary: Revised Edition (Grace Evangelical Society, Kindle Edition, 2019), pg. 592.

2. Ibid.

3. David R. Anderson, Maximum Joy: I John – Relationship or Fellowship? (Grace Theology Press, 2013 Kindle Edition), pg. 102.

4. Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature: Third Edition (BDAG) revised and edited by Frederick William Danker (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000 Kindle Edition), pg. 457.

5. https://www.blueletterbible.org/help/greekverbs.cfm.

6. https://www.blueletterbible.org/help/greekverbs.cfm.

7. Robert Wilkin; J. Bond; Gary Derickson; Brad Doskocil; Zane C. Hodges; Dwight Hunt; Shawn Leach; The Grace New Testament Commentary: Revised Edition (Grace Evangelical Society, Kindle Edition, 2019), pg. 224.

8. J. Dwight Pentecost, The Words and Works of Christ (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981), pg. 440.

9. J. Carl Laney, Moody Gospel John Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1992), pg. 297.

10. Bauer, pg. 444.

11. Ibid., pg. 673.

Revelation 20 – Part 1

“He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:2

When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-19), sin and death entered the world (Romans 5:12). Since that time, we have experienced the devastating consequences of sin. Sin leads to shame, physical and emotional illness, provokes addictions, and destroys marriages and families. Every area of society or culture has been plagued by its sinister influence. Sin corrupts the legal system, destroys governments, encourages corporate greed, erodes economics, encourages wars, and fosters false religion. Sin not only ruins an individual’s life, but it also demolishes communities, countries, and eventually the entire planet. 1

No matter where you look in the world, something is terribly wrong. People of honesty and integrity are taunted as “Boy Scouts.” The economy seems to move along well until we realize it is driven by greed and corruption. The quiet voices of harmonious churches are drowned out by the eruptions of church divisions. The thought of a happy marriage sounds like a myth. The legal system oppresses victims while protecting the rights of perpetrators. 2

Why is the world plagued by sin and its consequences right now? One primary reason is because Satan is currently permitted to rule the earth (cf. John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; Ephesians 2:2). Originally, God gave His dominion covenant to humankind to rule on His behalf on earth as a reflection of His dominion over all (Genesis 1:26-28). But when Adam and Eve sinned against God (Genesis 3:1-6), the earth was temporarily placed under the dominion of Satan. Only Jesus Christ will be able to defeat the Devil and restore God’s kingdom rule over all 3 (Genesis 3:15; cf. Psalm 2:6-9; Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:15-16; Revelation 19:11-20:6).

We must understand that Satan is not some mythical creature created by human imagination. He is a very real and powerful spirit being who holds sway over many aspects of the world. “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” (I John 5:19). Satan uses the world system’s cultures, societies, economics, educational institutions, politics, and false religions to desensitize people to God and His Word (I John 2:15-17; 5:19; Ephesians 2:2). For the reign of God to be reestablished on the earth, Satan must be removed from his throne. 4

It is true that sin ruins everything – but the day is coming when Jesus Christ will redeem everything. When Christ returns to earth to reign at the end of the Tribulation period, there will be peace on earth, justice for all, strong marriages and families, peaceful relationships, safe communities, moral purity, equal opportunities, and ethical integrity for everyone (cf. Psalm 2:6-9; 72:10-11; Isaiah 2:3-4; 65:20-23; et al.). This will not be the result of educational funding, political campaigning, social programming, cultural awakening, or even religious revivals. True and lasting transformation of the world will only take place when Satan and his followers are dethroned and Jesus Christ and His glorified followers reign over all the earth. 5

Following King Jesus’ defeat of all His enemies and the casting of the beast and false prophet into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:11-21), the apostle John writes, “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.” (Revelation 20:1). While the King of kings and His heavenly armies are suspended in the air, John saw “an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit.” The fact that this angel comes “down from heaven” indicates that the binding of Satan is under God’s command. 6

This is not the first time “the key to the bottomless pit” is mentioned in the book of Revelation. In 9:1 a fallen angel is given a key to the bottomless pit to release a demonic army which reaped havoc across the earth for five months (9:2-11). But in contrast to that fallen angel, we see God’s angel in 20:1 doing the exact opposite of what that angel did. “The key” is a symbol of authority in the Bible. 7 Just as a key grants us access to a home, office, or car, this key grants this angelic being access to “the bottomless pit” or abyss. 8 The “chain” signifies that once Satan is locked in the bottomless pit with “the key,” he will be incapacitated for the duration of his time there. 9

“He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:2). Four titles are given for the one to be bound. “The dragon” occurs most often in Revelation (12:3-4, 7, 13, 16-17; 13:2, 4, 11; 16:13) because Satan is violent, cruel, and monstrous in nature. 10 As “that serpent of old” he is crafty and subtle in character (cf. Genesis 3:1-5; 2 Corinthians 11:3). The name “Devil” (diabolos) refers to him as a “slanderer” 11 or “accuser.” 12 This title for “the evil one would have made a specially strong impact in the first century, for there was a well-known and well-hated figure called the delator, the paid informer. He makes his living by accusing people before the authorities.” 13 The title “Satan” (Satanas) depicts him as an “adversary” 14 who is opposed to God and His people.

The word “bound” (edēsen) means “to confine with various kinds of restraints,” 15 in this context the lock (“key”) to the bottomless pit and “chain” (20:1). Satan will be completely incapacitated for “a thousand years” (20:2). Six times the phrase “a thousand years” occurs in this section (20:2-7) which underscores a key biblical truth in this part of the book of Revelation. The word “millennium” is derived from the Latin words for “a thousand years” (mille = thousand, annus = year). Theologians use this term to reference various interpretations of the “thousand years” in Revelation 20. 16

The most literal interpretation is called Premillennialism, which is the position this author holds, and it “teaches that Christ will return before His thousand-year reign on earth and Satan’s thousand-year binding. Postmillennialism teaches that there will be a thousand-year period of peace and righteousness on earth preceding Christ’s return. Amillennialism teaches that the ‘thousand years’ is not a future era of earth’s history, but a figurative designation for either Christ’s present reign in the church or His eternal reign in the new heaven and new earth.” 17 (emphasis added).

Next John writes, “And he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.” (Revelation 20:3). The angel from heaven (20:1) captured and “cast” Satan “into the bottomless pit.” This must have been one powerful angel to capture and cast Satan into the bottomless pit where he “shut him up, and set a seal on him,” which suggests “the angel closed (or locked) the Abyss and sealed it over him” 18 so the Devil “should deceive nations no more till the thousand years were finished.” These actions ensure that the Devil will not escape during this thousand-year reign of Christ.

Believers who survived the Tribulation will enter the Millennial Kingdom of Christ without glorified bodies (Matthew 25:31-46) and they will have offspring in mortal bodies during the Millennium who have the conscious choice to sin just like Adam and Eve did before they sinned (Isaiah 65:20; Zechariah 14:16-21; Matthew 5:22). Their sinning will be because of their sinful nature (James 1:13-14), not Satan’s influence. 19

“After” Satan’s thousand-year imprisonment he “must be released for a little while” 20:3b) to lead one final worldwide rebellion against King Jesus (20:7-9) before the Devil (20:10) and all nonbelievers will be cast into the lake of fire forever (20:11-15).

Can you imagine a world in which Satan can no longer deceive leaders, tempt sinners, take advantage of the helpless or weak, including the unborn and elderly, nor corrupt the strong 20 or accuse God’s people of wrongdoing!?! Without Satan exerting his strategies of deception, there will be millions of people coming to faith in King Jesus during His thousand-year reign on the earth! There will be an incredible harvest of souls unlike any other period in history!

May each of us prepare for this unprecedented time of blessing and joy by believing in Jesus Christ for His gift of salvation (Acts 16:31; John 3:5-6, 15-16) followed by praying and living for His coming Kingdom as we put Him first in our lives (Matthew 6:9-10, 33). To Jesus be all the glory!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for this glimpse into the future when the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, will be completely incapacitated for a thousand years while King Jesus and His faithful followers rule over the earth. What a glorious time of blessing and joy this will be when Satan can no longer deceive the nations. Please use us now, we pray, to share the good news of Jesus’ grace so many people can believe in Him for His gift of everlasting life and enjoy the incredible blessings of the Millennial Kingdom of Christ on earth. In the matchless name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

ENDNOTES:

1. Charles Swindoll, Insights on Revelation (Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary Book 15, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2014 Kindle Editin), pg. 352.

2. Ibid., pg. 353.

3. Tony Evans, CSB Bible by Holman, The Tony Evans Study Commentary (B & H Publishing Group, Kindle Edition 2019), pg. 106.

4. Swindoll, pp. 353-354.

5. Ibid.

6. Bob Vacendak; Robert Wilkin; J. Bond; Gary Derickson; Brad Doskocil; Zane Hodges; Dwight Hunt; Shawn Leach; The Grace New Testament Commentary: Revised Edition (Grace Evangelical Society, Kindle Edition, 2019), pg. 1578.

7. Ibid.

8. Evans, pg. 2388.

9. Vacendak, pg. 1578.

10. J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come (Zondervan Academic, 2010 Kindle Edition), pg. 287 cites Walter Scott, Exposition of the Revelation of Jesus Christ (London: Pickering and Inglis, [n.d.]), pp. 249-250; Tom Constable, Notes on Revelation, 2017 Edition, pg. 136.

11. Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature: Third Edition (BDAG) revised and edited by Frederick William Danker (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000 Kindle Edition), pg. 226.

12. Constable, pg. 136.

13. Ibid., cites Leon Morris, The Revelation of St. John, Tyndale New Testament Commentary series, Reprint ed. (Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press, and Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1984), pg. 161.

14. Bauer, pg. 916.

15. Ibid., pg. 221.

16. Evans, pg. 2417.

17. Ibid. See also the helpful discussion of these different views and their proponents in John F. Walvoord, The Bible Knowledge Commentary Epistles and Prophecy, Editors John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck (David C. Cook, 2018 Kindle Edition), locations 6314 to 6340.

18. Vacendak, pg. 1578.

19. Ibid; Evans, pg. 2417.

20. Swindoll, pg. 355.