09/11/2026
ANSWER TO THE QUESTION OF THE WEEK
If Satan is in the lake of fire, why is there evil in the world today?
More of the question: We are in a bible study and trying to get through the book of Revelation. I belong to a Christian church study and the minister does not have a real handle on this particular subject. The question was asked, if the devil is cast in the lake of fire and bound then why is his evil still being worked in the world today? Thank you for your help. Please send hints as to the study of Revelation.
ANSWER:
Revelation is one of my favorite books in the Bible, and I am glad that you are studying it. It is a beautiful book that, sadly, many neglect.
The book of Revelation was written primarily to address a first century audience with a first century problem. In particular, the church was undergoing a severe persecution from Rome, and it appeared that the church was hopelessly mismatched in that battle. The book of Revelation was written to give hope and comfort to those first century Christians, and to let them know that although the battle was mismatched, it was mismatched against Rome rather than against the church. In fact, Rome had already lost and been judged — and the same was true for Satan, the power behind Rome’s attacks on the church.
Satan’s total and complete defeat with regard to Rome is depicted in many ways in that book, with one of the most vivid being the casting of Satan and his minions into that lake of fire. Did that defeat mean that Satan would never try again to defeat the church? No. In fact, we know that he is trying to do that even today. But what it means is this – if Satan could not defeat the church when it was in its infancy and when Satan had at his disposal the most powerful empire the world had ever known, then what chance do you suppose he would ever have to defeat the church? None! He has no chance! The eternal kingdom prophesied by Daniel will sweep away all the temporary kingdoms of this world – including the kingdom of Rome, which it swept away long ago.
