The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 1301-B, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 4."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE.  ©1976. All Rights Reserved.

Question

If only a few make it to heaven and many to hell, does not Satan triumph over God?

Answer

Turn in your Bible to Matthew 7:13. This is the scripture that brings that question to bear. “Enter in at the narrow gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be who go in that way because narrow is the gate and hard is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” And so the question arises, “If a few people go to heaven and many people go to hell, doesn’t Satan triumph over God?”

Well, I think we have to keep several things in mind. Number one, Satan is not the king of hell. Satan is not the one who rules in hell. Satan is a victim in hell along with everybody else that is there. There is no triumph for Satan; there is only total defeat. In Revelation 20:10, it says, “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

Hell is a torment for Satan just as it is for anyone else. Satan is not the king of hell. You say, “Who is?” Matthew 10:28. As long as you’re in Matthew, you might turn over to 10:28… “And fear not them who kill the body.” "Fear not them who kill the body." The Lord is sending the apostles out to preach. He knows there’s going to be some persecution and Satan is going to oppose, and He says, “Don’t fear them who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul, but rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” The “him” there is not Satan but it is God. God is the one who destroys soul and body in hell, who brings about torment, who brings about punishment. God is the one who prepared hell and God is the one who is the sovereign over it.

So, there is no victory for Satan, period, for anything in anyone’s life. It is God, according to Matthew 25:41 who has prepared hell (or “everlasting fire”) for the devil and his angels. So, there is no such thing as a triumph in Satan’s area. God triumphs! He triumphs over sin by punishing those who refuse him, He triumphs over sin by redeeming and taking to heaven those who receive him. But it is always and only God who is the victor. You see, for people who deny Christ, who reject God, who refuse salvation—for them to spend an eternity without God, for them to receive his punishment is, in fact, God’s power and God’s sovereignty in action. Not Satan’s victory. Satan will be a victim just like all others who join his rebellion.

Frankly, Satan is not attempting simply to gain a kingdom. He is not attempting, as it were, to gain followers. He already has that. What he is attempting to do is overthrow God and he dupes people into assisting him in that foolish endeavor. God even has given to him the power of death, which power has been broken by our Lord Jesus Christ’s death on the cross.

So, God never loses the battle to Satan. There is no victory for Satan whatsoever. Men who go to hell go there not because Satan has won them—they were born in sin—they go there because they refuse God…not because Satan triumphs. And their refusal is a matter, according to the scripture, of this: they love darkness rather than light because what? Their deeds are evil. Men love sin, and consequently, will spend eternity without God if they continue in their sin.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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