24. Satan's Roles During The End Times
Chapter 24 Satan’s Roles During The End Times After The Times Of The Gentiles, God Will Work Powerfully Among The Israelites Again
Long ago, God promised King David that he would establish his kingdom within David’s family (2 Samuel 7:16; 1 Chronicles 17:11-14). David was a good king. He loved God and tried to lead Israel to follow God so that God was their king too. But after David died, Israel rebelled against God and didn’t want God to rule over them. So God punished Israel and allowed the Gentile kings to rule over them instead, for a long time. Then after many years God sent Jesus who was in David’s family just like God had promised. Jesus came to save the Israelites, but instead, they rejected him and nailed him to a cross. God knew that would happen, so in his plan, he set Israel aside for a while and gave the Gentiles a chance to believe in Jesus as king. So now we are in what we call the church age. But what about Israel?
Romans 11:11 says: “Did (Israel) stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.”
God did not totally reject Israel (Romans 11:1). He would never lie or break his promises to them. All the promises that he gave to Israel will still be fulfilled. But God will complete the “Times of the Gentiles” first, and then, after the rapture when the church has been taken away, it will be God’s time to focus on Israel again (Romans 11:25-31). Because of their rebellion, Israelites have been scattered all over the world, but God wants to return them back to their land and establish a kingdom there with their new King. But they have to repent first. So God will be working hard to convince them to turn back to him during the tribulation period so they will repent. God will use Satan to punish them, so that in their troubles they will recognize their guilt and believe in Christ as their true King. Then he will rescue and save them as he promised.
“How awful that day will be! No other will be like it. It will be atimeof trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it.” (Jeremiah 30:7) God Will Give Satan More Freedom And Authority During Tribulation
After the church is raptured and the tribulation begins, Satan and the antichrist will deceive many people and they will perish (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12). Some Israelites and some Gentiles will believe in Christ during this time, but not the majority, because it will be a very difficult time for them. Many of them will be killed. God will give Satan much power and freedom to do what he wants during that time.
Look at some of the things God will allow Satan and antichrist to do:
Revelation 13:5 says: “The beastwas given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemiesand to exercise its authority….”
Revelation 13:7 says: “(The Beast)was given power to wage waragainst God’s holy people and to conquer them…” (remember…this is not the church, but a new group of believers during the tribulation.)
Revelation 13:14 says: “Because of thesigns it was given power to performon behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth...”
Each verse here shows that God will allow Satan to exercise a lot of authority through the antichrist! God will give him the freedom to perform signs and miracles in order to deceive people, and in this way, God will use Satan to punish the unbelievers as we read earlier (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12). The antichrist will also be allowed to blaspheme God with his proud mouth and even wage war against some believers.
God Will Also Use Satan To Help Israel Repent
Many Jews today don’t believe the New Testament. They only believe the Old Testament because they don’t want to believe that Jesus is God. But during the tribulation they will begin to see many of the prophecies of the New Testament being fulfilled. Also, God will use Satan to persecute the Jews, so they’ll remember what the prophets have said and then repent and believe in Jesus. Some Gentiles will also believe during that time, but the antichrist will kill many of them (Revelation 6:9-11). The Day Of The Lord The Day of the Lord isn’t just one single day. It’s a time period that God mentions often in the Old and New Testament. Back then—in Bible times—it was similar to saying Last Days or End Times. God has chosen that time—the Day of the Lord—to show the world that he is Lord of all. Jesus will show his power and authority and majesty. He will judge the earth and fix the many problems of the earth and then will rule over the earth as King. The Day of the Lord includes two specific time periods:
A time of judgment and punishment against a rebellious world (7 years of tribulation)
A time when Christ will rule as King on the earth (1000 years - Millennium).
The 7 years of tribulation and the 1000-year reign of Christ will glorify Christ as Lord of all. After the millennium there will be one more final judgment. And then finally, the present earth and heaven will be burned up and God will create a whole new world (Rev. Ch. 20 & 21; 2 Peter 3:10-13).
Seven Year Tribulation
Let’s look at the first part of the Day of the Lord. Why do we believe the tribulation will be seven years long? When the books of Daniel and Revelation are combined and compared, we see that they support and complement each other perfectly and explain many things about the last days. The prophecies can sometimes be mysterious and a little tricky to understand so we need to study them carefully. Daniel gives us the foundational ideas about the tribulation first, and then Revelation explains it more in detail.
Daniel 9 Talks About The 70 Heptads A long time ago, after King David died, the Israelites rebelled against God, so they were taken into captivity and held as slaves in Babylon where they suffered greatly. During that time, Daniel the prophet read the book of Jeremiah. In Jeremiah, God had said that after 70 years he would punish Babylon for what they had done to Israel, so Daniel thought that their time of captivity would be over after the 70 years (Daniel 9:2; Jeremiah 25:11-12). As he was reading this, the 70 years were almost complete, so Daniel prayed passionately and asked God to help release Israel from their suffering after that time was over. In Daniel 9:24-27 we read God’s answer. Even though God would punish Babylon, he said that the 70 years would not be the end of Israel’s troubles. Instead of 70 years it would take 70 heptads to bring Israel to repentance. In Greek and English, the word ‘heptad’ means ‘seven’ or a group of seven. For example, a group of seven days we call one week, so one week would be a heptad. But the Israelites used the heptad to count years also. So, 70 heptads is like saying “seventy sevens”(NIV) or “A period of seventy sets of seven” (NLT). 70 x 7 years=490 years. That was the time that God had set to complete Israel’s troubles and to bring in the Kingdom of Christ. In Daniel Ch. 9, God divided those 490 years like this:
7 heptads – 7 X 7 years = 49 years to rebuild the temple.
62 heptads – 62 X 7 years = 434 more years up until the time the “Anointed One” died.
(49 + 434 = 483 years)
1 heptad – 1 X 7 years = 7 final yrs. to complete tribulation of Israel during the end times—this opens the way for the Kingdom.
The 7 heptads and 62 heptads add up to 483 years. These years have already passed. Israel did rebuild the temple and the Anointed One, the Messiah (or Christ), did come, just as God had prophesied. But Israel turned their backs on Christ. So after 483 years the Anointed One was “cut off” or “put to death” (Daniel 9:26). And verse 26 says that after he is killed, he “...will have nothing.” In other words, he would not yet be accepted as King in Israel, but he would wait until later. So now 69 heptads (483 years) have passed and we’re waiting for the last heptad (7 years) to fulfill the complete number of 490 years to bring back the Anointed One to Israel. Many scholars believe those last 7 years will be in the end times—we call it “the tribulation” or “time of Jacob’s Trouble.” After that, Christ will finally become King in Israel and sit on the “throne of David” in Jerusalem as he promised, and he will rule over his Kingdom forever.
Since God knew that Israel would reject the Anointed One, he had another plan to help the rest of the world. After Israel rejected Jesus as their king, God set Israel aside and began to help the Gentiles. During this time called the church age, God is actively working at drawing Gentiles into his family too (Romans 11:25-32). Then later, at the rapture, God will take the church up to heaven and the church age will be finished. Then he will focus on Israel again during the tribulation. The tribulation period will complete the last 7 years of the 70 heptads (490 years). After that, Christ will come back to rescue Israel from the antichrist and set up his earthly Kingdom which will last for 1000 years. The Tribulation Is Seven Years Divided Into Two In the book of Daniel we’ve seen that the tribulation will last seven years. But those 7 years are also divided in the middle (Daniel 9:27) with each half being 3½ years each. In Revelation too we see the same thing. Sometimes it is called 3½ years (Revelation 12:14) and sometimes it says 42 months (Revelation 11:2) and sometimes it talks about 1260 days (Revelation 11:3). All of these equal 3½ years in the Jewish calendar. The first 3½ years is called the time of tribulation. The second 3½ years is called the “Great Tribulation.” It will be a terrible time for Israel and everyone else that remains (Matthew 24:21).
Mark 13:20 says that “If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.”
God Will Use Satan And Demons During The Tribulation To Punish Disobedient Mankind The tribulation will be a terrible time, but the second half—the Great Tribulation—will be especially bad. Satan will do many terrible things as God allows him. One example is found in Revelation Ch. 9, where it talks about one of the things Satan will do with his demons. Some of those demons are now in prison in the bottomless pit, which is called the Abyss in Greek.
Some people think the Abyss is hell, but it’s not actually hell (the lake of fire), but it may be similar. The English word hell is usually translated from the Greek word Gehenna which is a permanent place of punishment—the lake of fire, also known as the second death. But the Abyss is not a permanent place like hell. Instead, it’s a temporary prison for spirits that are awaiting the time of judgment when God will later send them to hell. (2 Peter 2:4 uses the Greek word tartaros which is probably the same as Abyss).
God has imprisoned some of Satan’s demons in the Abyss until the time of the tribulation. Then God will allow Satan to release them for a short time and allow them to come out and cause a lot of pain and terror for some people. So we can see here again how God can even use his enemy to do his work for him. He will use Satan and the demons to punish the rebellious people of the earth.
These demons will be fearsome-looking (like locusts with stingers and like horses going to battle.) They will torture and inflict much pain on rebellious people—so much pain that they will want to die. Later on, God will also release four more demons that are bound at the Euphrates River. He will use them to gather a huge army which will kill 1/3 of all the people on the earth. The army will be about 200 million strong (Revelation 9:14-18). Some scholars think this will be China’s army because they have such a large army. But some scholars believe this is an army of demons that will look like men and horses.
We don’t know all the details of what will happen, but we can definitely see God’s authority here. He has authority over Satan’s armies and mankind’s armies too. God can use even his enemies! The Antichrist Will Kill God’s Two Witnesses
Some scholars believe that this huge army will form after the antichrist kills God’s two special witnesses (Revelation 11). For 3½ years these two witnesses will prophecy in Israel and do miracles in God’s power and they will encourage the Israelites to repent. But then after the 3½ years, God will allow the antichrist to kill them. And it looks like that might be the time when the antichrist goes into the temple and claims to be God and begins to really fight against Israel. In The Middle Of The Tribulation, The Antichrist Will Begin To Persecute Israel And Claim That He Is God
Jesus talked about the “great tribulation” or distress that Daniel spoke of (Daniel 9:27). This tribulation will get very bad for Israel in the middle of the 7-year tribulation.
Matthew 24:15-21 says: “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains…How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will begreat distress (tribulation), unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.”
2 Thessalonians 2:4 says: “He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” When the antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel and goes into the temple in the middle of the seven years and says that he is God, then Israel will know that he is a liar (Matthew 24:15). But it will be too late for most of them. At that time he will begin to fight against them and persecute them.
Satan Will Use The Antichrist To Fight Against Israel. It Will Be A Terrible Time
Revelation 12 contains a prophecy about this by using a word picture. It talks about a large red dragon, (ancient serpent, which represents Satan), and a pregnant woman, (which represents Israel). The woman is clothed with the sun and moon and stars (these symbols can also be found in Genesis 37:9-10, representing Israel). When the pregnant woman bears a son, then the dragon tries to devour the child, but God takes him to heaven. So the dragon (Satan) becomes very angry and wants to kill the woman instead. This prophetic picture shows us several things. First, we know that the baby that was born is Jesus who was born into the family of Israel (the woman). The Bible says he “will rule all nations.” We also know that the dragon (Satan) tried to kill him when he was still a baby (Matthew 2:16) and tried to destroy him as King by crucifying him (John 13:2; John 13:27). But then God took him to heaven where he is seated on his throne at the right hand of God (Acts 2:33; Acts 5:31). Since he can’t destroy Jesus, the dragon (Satan) will be very angry with the woman (Jesus’ family, Israel) and try to destroy them completely. The prophets also wrote about this time that is to come. We read this verse earlier:
Jeremiah 30:7 says: “How awful that day will be! No other will be like it. It will be atime of trouble for Jacob(Israel), but he will be saved out of it.” The Angels Fight To Throw Satan Out Of Heaven To Earth In Revelation 12 we have seen that the red dragon represents Satan. Verse 4 says that he swept 1/3 of the stars of heaven down with his tail. These stars represent Satan’s demons or fallen angels (vs. 9) who also rebelled and sinned against God along with Satan long ago. So, in Revelation 12 we see Satan and this army again and they are fighting a huge battle in heaven. It is a spiritual battle with Satan and his demons against Michael the archangel and the other good angels, who will throw Satan and his army out of heaven. The battle probably has something to do with Satan asking God if he can destroy Israel completely, because that is the context of this chapter, and because Michael is the angel named here. In Daniel, Michael is called the “the great prince” (a powerful angel) who protects Israel.
Daniel 12:1 says: "At that time Michael, thegreat prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distresssuch as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then.”
It looks as if this battle will happen in heaven right in the middle of the tribulation because verse 6 talks about 1260 days, which is 3½ years, and that is right in the middle of the seven years. The last 3½ years is called the “great tribulation” because it will be the worst tribulation that Israel has ever had.
Matthew 24:21 says: “...there will be great distress (tribulation), unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again.”
Satan is called “accuser” of the brethren who accuses believers before God day and night (Revelation 12:10).
We have seen an example of that with the story of Job. So then in the last days, when Satan and the demons are thrown out of heaven, they will never be able to go back to heaven again to accuse the believers (Jews and Gentiles) before God (Revelation 12:7-12). From that time on, it looks like God will be restricting Satan and demons to stay only on the earth for the rest of his time. So Revelation 12:12 says that those in heaven can rejoice, but those on earth must be afraid because Satan will be very angry now!
Satan Will Only Have A Short Time Left And He Will Be Very Angry With Israel When God throws Satan out of heaven and restricts him to the earth, Satan will know he only has a short time left (Revelation 12:12) because God has set the time as 1260 days or 3½ years. So he will work very hard to inflict trouble and pain on Israel in every way he can, because he hates everyone whom God loves and he knows that God has chosen to help Israel and rescue them. Matthew 24:15-22 talks about this terrible time that will happen in the middle of the tribulation.
God will not allow Satan and the antichrist to completely destroy Israel. Instead, he will provide some ways of protection for them so they know that he cares for them. Jesus warned the Israelites that when the great tribulation came they should not stay in Jerusalem but escape immediately.
Matthew 24:16-18 says: “...let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak.”
Revelation 12:14 says: “The woman (Israel) was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for herin the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, (3½yrs) out of the serpent’s reach.”
It looks like God will hide and protect those Israelites who believe his word and flee into the wilderness. But those who remain in Jerusalem will probably perish. Satan and the antichrist will try to destroy them wherever they go. They will try to chase after the many Israelites who will still be living in other countries as they are today.
Revelation 12:17 says: “Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring--those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.”
(These verses are talking about the Israelites who will believe in Jesus during the great tribulation. It is not talking about the present-day believers in the church.) The Meanings Of The Symbols Here’s a summary of the meanings of the symbols from Revelation 12, 13 : The pregnant woman is Israel. (Revelation 12:1-2; Genesis 37:9-10) The red dragon is Satan. (Revelation 12:3) The child that is born is Jesus. (Revelation 12:5-6) The angel is Michael. (Revelation 12:7-12) The other children of the woman are the believing Israelites that are scattered around. (Revelation 12:17) The beast from the ocean is the antichrist. (Revelation 13:1) The second beast from the ground is the False Prophet. (Revelation 13:11) God Will Use The Antichrist To Punish Rebellious People
Revelation chapter 13 has much to say about the Beast, also known as the antichrist, or the man of lawlessness (lawless one). This chapter also talks about his government, which will rule over everyone on earth at that time. Satan will use this man as his king and will control his government to work against God and try to destroy everyone on earth. In this way God will use Satan to punish all the rebellious people on earth because they refuse to listen to God and follow him (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).
God Will Use The Demons To Influence Kings
Revelation 16:13-16 says: “Then I saw three unclean spirits that looked like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of the demons performing signs who go out to the kings of the earth to bring them together for the battle that will take place on the great day of God, the All-Powerful. … Now the spirits gathered the kings and their armies to the place that is called Armageddon in Hebrew.” (NET)
God will use the demons and allow them to perform all kinds of miracles which will entice kings to go and fight. God wants the kings to take their armies for the great battle, where they will be destroyed. So here God shows us again that he has all power and he will even use demons, his enemies, to punish rebellious people and accomplish his will.
Christ Will Return To Get The Israelite And Gentile Believers The seven years of tribulation will be a very terrible time. Almost everyone on the earth at that time will die (Mark 13:20). But at the end of those seven years, God will send Christ to save Israel and do away with his enemies and then he will establish his kingdom. We’ll talk about that in the next chapter.