Genesis 3:15 (ESV)
¹⁵ I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

The origin of the devil has always been disputed. The majority of biblical scholars believe that he was a fallen angel and base their conclusion on Isaiah 14:12-15. While this passage is referring specifically to the king of Babylon, scholars are quick to say that it has a double fulfillment, as passages often do (see 2 Samuel 7:12-14 which refers both to Solomon and Christ).

While we may pause to come to a conclusion about the origin of Satan, we have no such reservation when it comes to his destiny. He ultimately will be cast into a lake of eternal fire (Matthew 25:41).

In Genesis 3:15, we see the first prophecy of the downfall of the devil. That the serpent, to whom God is speaking in this passage, is Satan, there can be no doubt. Jesus referred to him as a murderer from the beginning and the father of lies (John 8:44), clearly referring to his actions regarding Adam and Eve in Genesis 3. Furthermore, Paul, in a passage referring to Satan, made reference to the serpent’s deception of Eve (2 Corinthians 11:3, 14).

What would become of Satan? We have already pointed out that hell would be his final destination; however, while that is still in the future, the devil has already been defeated. The woman’s offspring, primarily a reference to Christ, bruised his head on Calvary’s cross and destroyed his power.

Hebrews 2:14 (ESV)
¹⁴ Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

By dying on the cross, after having lived a perfect, sinless life, Jesus destroyed sin in the flesh (Romans 8:3). What does this mean for us? It means that we can overcome sin and defeat the devil ourselves, securing victory in Christ. No longer do we have to be afraid of death or worrying about dying because through Christ we are victorious.

1 Corinthians 15:55-57 (ESV)
⁵⁵ “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The devil is real, and while his power has been greatly curtailed, like a dog on a chain, he can still do some damage if we venture into his area. He can still tempt us to do evil and sin against our God; thus, we must kept our guard up and the armor of God on and live faithfully in Christ. If we do that, we are outside the devil’s reach, and there is nothing he can do about it.

Let us do our part in maintaining our victory through Christ. Satan already knows his destiny. It has been written and, no doubt, he has read it. But, he also knows that as long as there is time, hecan continue to collect casualties of war. Make sure you are not one of them.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.