by Ray Thompson

That infamous day, the day the world will remember as 911, will never be forgotten. It began what President Bush has called the New War of the 21st Century. Those who have an understanding of the “Conflict of the Ages” recognize these notorious acts of terrorism as another battle in the war between Satan and God.

THE WARFARE CONTINUES

The Battle is not over . . .

The Biblical account is recorded in Revelation 12:7-12, “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not… And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down…Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.”

I. THE CONFUSION OF SATAN

II Corinthians 4:3-4, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ…should shine unto them.”

Scripture presents Satan as the Prince of Darkness, the one who has deceived the whole world. He is the clever, cunning and subtle enemy of the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Since Satan is God’s enemy, he is the enemy of everything that is good and Godly. He is the enemy of every Christ-centered ministry that believes the Bible and is in the battle to keep people out of hell.

It began in Heaven when an angel named Lucifer tried to take over the throne of God. He deceived a great host of angels by claiming to be like God. There was war in Heaven. God had Michael and his angels cast Satan and the host of angels he deceived out of Heaven to the earth.

In Genesis 3 we read that Satan deceived Eve, and Adam fell for the lie Satan told her. The first man and woman, the father and mother of mankind, were deceived!

In Genesis 16 Satan deceived Sarai, and she persuaded Abram to take her maid, Hagar, to be his wife that she might have a child. She did not trust God to fulfill the promise He made to Abram. Hagar bore a son named Ishmael, and verse 12 states, “He will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man …and dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”

The New War of the 21st Century is the action of Ishmael’s “wild” brethren. What happened in New York on September 11 is a continuation of the Battle of the Ages. The war continues to the present hour, but praise God, we know that Satan is a defeated foe. Peace will come when the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ, returns to rule and reign over the entire world.

II. THE CONQUEST OF THE SON

Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

Satan knows that he has but a short time. Romans 16:20 says, “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly….”

Satan is a defeated foe! The God who saved us will give us power over the Devil and sin by the working of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling.

III. THE COMMAND OF THE SAVIOR

Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Your church has been given a “Divine Decree.” Jesus said, “Preach the gospel to every creature.” This should be the “banner” of every church. We must be reminded of our God-given command to reach every soul with the Gospel of Christ during this generation.

The “Battle of the Ages” is a spiritual battle, and we must have the power of the Holy Spirit to conquer the forces of evil.

God expects total involvement. Every member of the church must be engaged in this aggressive war against Satan and the forces of evil.

IV. THE CONVERSION OF THE SINNER

Romans 1:16, “The gospel of Christ . . . is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…”

May God revive America and enable us to share the “Good News” to the whole world. There is only one God and His Name is Jesus! Let us tell all of the world that God loves them and that Christ died to save them from the bonds of sin and Satan. Tell them that through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross they can have eternal life and a home in Heaven. They will never know if we do not tell them.

CONCLUSION:

Are you in the battle? Are you serving in God’s army? This may truly be the terminal generation. Do you know, as Satan knows, that you have but a short time?