Satan's Final Challenge
Bill Somers
 
 
 
 

Challenge 1
In the Book of Job we read of a case where Satan came before God and issued a challenge, and we see how God took that challenge and used everything Satan meant for evil and used it for good.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. Job 1:6-12 Satan's challenge is this: If you allow me to take Job's property, he will curse you. When the Lord allows Satan what he asks for it shows once again that Satan is a liar because things do not work out as he says the will.

Look at Job's reaction! Instead of cursing God he worships God and says " …the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."

So The Lord accepted Satan's challenge and proved him wrong.

Challenge 2
Then Satan comes forth with another challenge. This challenge followed the exact pattern of the first one.

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. Job 2: 1-6 This time Satan's challenge is 'if you let me afflict Job with sickness, he will curse you. He even plants the suggestion to 'curse God' in Job's mind through his wife. Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. Job 2:9-10 Once again Job's reaction makes a liar out of Satan.

We know how the story ends as we read through the 44 chapters of Job. Job goes through great turmoil and strife in his debates with his three friends, etc. Finally God Reveals Himself to Job! And Job realizes his sin, repents and is restored. So in the end God has made him an even more perfect servant and restored to him all things that the enemy had taken.

Challenge 3?
In the story of Job, our man Job is entirely unaware of Satan's challenges or what's at stake in them. All he knows is how to hold on to the confession of faith he has in the Lord.

Suppose Satan had come again a third time with another challenge that increased level of Job's trial. The scene might have gone something like this

And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

And thou hast stricken him with all manner of boils.
And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Boils come and boils go. Job still retaineth his life.
But put forth thine hand now, and touch him with a sickness unto death, and he will curse thee to thy face.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; even to take his life.

 This time, supposing Satan had escalated the challenge a third time, what would happen? I believe that Job would continue to hold fast to his confession of faith and make a liar out of Satan once again. Later on in the book Job says: Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him …. Job 13:15 And so Job would have glorified God by his death, still unaware of what was going on in the heavenly realms. When he came before the Lord for his judgment, God would have said, "Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into the Joy of the Lord."

End Time Application
There is a lesson here that we could apply directly to the End Time Church. She is about to be afflicted by the Hordes of Hell as the Gates of Hell are opened and the enemy comes in like a flood. She will realize her sin, repent and be restored in a Glorious Revival. All things will be restored to her equipping her to bring in the great harvest of souls that God desires.

But then what?

Then we suppose there might be another meeting in heaven, and another conversation that would go something like this.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my End Time Apostolic Church that there is none like her in the earth, nor has there ever been any like her in all history, being conformed to the very image of my own son Jesus.
That she is a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that she is become holy and without blemish.
A perfect and an upright Church, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
One that has obeyed my every command
That has gone forth and preached my gospel, making disciples of all nations

Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth this so called church of yours fear God for nought?
Hast not thou redeemed her from all her sin, purifying her in the fire of your judgment
And made an hedge about her, and about her house, and about all that she hath on every side?
thou hast blessed the work of her hands,
and baptized her with the Holy Ghost and Fire,
Anointed her with rivers of oil, signs, wonders and miracles
and poured out your Spirit upon her without measure so that the harvest is increased in the land.
Hast thou not raised up the standard of holiness to frustrate my entire army
But I still have a stronghold left in your so called perfection of beauty!

And the Lord answered "Say on"

You know that I have "the power of death" and trough fear of death I hold all your precious saints in bondage. [See Hebrews 2:14-15]
But put forth thine hand now, and touch this church of yours with persecution unto death, and she will deny thee and curse thee to thy face.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, she is in thine hand to do whatsoever thou wish. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

 And the result of this we find in Revelation 13 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. Rev 13:7 But we have one advantage over Job. We have read the book to the end and we know that Satan's Final Challenge is doomed to fail just like all the rest. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11 And though Satan is given power to overcome us, we know that we will overcome him the same way Jesus did when He defeated him at the cross. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 1 John 3:16
 

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