Bible Discussion Thread

"the GOD of Peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly"; v.20 =

There exists a perpetual spiritual warfare between GOD's People and Satan. If Satan cannot destroy Christians, he certainly desires to make them spiritually impotent, or worse, to cause turmoil within the church by destroying their peace.

Paul's expression, "under your feet shortly", may allude to Israel's victory over the five kings of principle cities, led by "Adonizedek, king of Jerusalem". Joshua humiliated them ( Jos. 10:24-25).

The verb "bruise" had a far more powerful and descriptive meaning in ancient times, for it literally means to irreparably and permanently break or crush to death.

Paul reminded the Roman saints, and the saints of all ages, of JEHOVAH GOD's pronounced condemnation on Satan for tempting Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden ( Gen. 3:15). There, GOD proclaimed HIS Ultimate SEED of the woman (Eve), namely LORD JESUS CHRIST "shall bruise {a DIVINE guarantee} thy (Satan's) head."

Here, the word "shortly" does not speak of the occurrence within the very near future, but rather, when GOD does bruise Satan, HE will do so in a very quick fashion.

The word "shortly" translates from the from the Greek adverb root (transliterated "tachu"; pronounced "takh-OO"), and derives English nouns such as "taxi" and "tachometer."

The adverb implies that when GOD does "bruise Satan", the event will occur instantaneously and nothing will hinder it, nor will Satan have time to react.

Of note, CHRIST used the same adverb to describe HIS Second Coming ( Rev. 22:7, 12, 20). The adverb could mean "suddenly", "without delay", "soon", and "speedily".

Dear Philip Christian, Thank you! It does seem as long as time on earth continues that Satan can run to and fro even partially bound by the Gospel which is the finished work of Jesus at Calvary. His time is short now and his end will be sudden without mercy. God's faithful Church will prevail and many souls that have died the first death which is to sin, will with Jesus have everlasting life as a Holy, consummated marriage in Heaven. While time remains, Satan can suggest to the mind to do this or that but the True Christian saint knows to turn the mind the place of refuge at their born again experience and the comforting peace in their bosoms by God's grace and reign of Jesus Christ.