When a Christian is considering baptism one set of scriptures often turned to is Luke 14:31: “Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” This verse reminds us we must be fully committed when we enter into baptism with God.

But this story also has an interesting lesson that is tied to the Day of Atonement. The Day of Atonement represents when Satan will finally be locked away for 1,000 years so that the Millennial reign of Christ can begin without the influence of Satan. But unlike human wars we already know who is going to win. We don’t have to be like the king in Luke 14, trying to decide whether our side will win. If we commit to God’s side we are assured of victory.

Christ’s victory and binding of Satan is a forgone conclusion and really more a formality than a battle. We know God cannot lie (Titus 1:2), and in Revelation 20 we see God shows definitively that Satan will be defeated and bound. Satan knows he has a short time before he will be defeated (Revelation 12:12). Even the demons know and admit that their defeat is going to be the outcome (Matthew 8:29). It is encouraging and the Day of Atonement is a great reminder that the outcome is decided, Satan will be defeated and the world will be free from his influence.

The day pictures a time very shortly after the return of Christ when He fully establishes His Kingdom on earth by removing the previous leader, Satan the devil. The removal of Satan is the true sign of the end of his reign and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.

But really, the defeat of Satan has already taken place as well. As much as the Day of Atonement pictures the removal of Satan from the world, God the Father and Jesus Christ have taken steps to defeat Satan in our lives already. We don’t have to wait until the future fulfillment of the Day of Atonement to be released from Satan. Christ already came down and defeated Satan as a human to free us from him. Hebrews 2:14 tells us, “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Through Christ’s perfect life, death, and resurrection Satan has been defeated.

When Christ returns to defeat Satan and have him bound for 1,000 years He will do it as a spirit being. But Christ came as a physical human being and defeated Satan nearly 2,000 years ago. The word “destroy” in verse 14 actually means to disarm or remove. Christ came and disarmed Satan. He took away his power over us. Mankind will have to wait until Satan is removed from the world, but we can take advantage of him being disarmed in our lives right now. We may live in a world that is deceived and led by Satan, but you and I have been freed, and Satan has been defeated for us already. He knows it, his followers know it, Christ knows it, and the Father knows it. Do we know it?

In Matthew 28:18 Christ said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” Our King is already in control. Our King is not going to war without being sure of the victory, we can be confident about that. We know what side is going to win. We know what side has already won. The Father and Son have already won, and they are going to win again. We can be and will be victorious with them as well.