17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” ~ Luke 10:17-20
The disciples returned from their mission trip with joy because the demons submitted to them. In v.17 we read, "The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." There is a key phrase in this one verse that we must consider. These two words are "to us." The disciples were, no doubt, tempted to think that they themselves were more important than the power of God behind them.
These demons were created by God to glorify and to serve God. One-third of them were thrown out of heaven and cursed to eternal damnation in a lake of fire forever for their rebellion.
On the other hand, evangelism is the task of rescuing souls, ripping them from the lap of the evil one. Evangelism is breaking into the domain of darkness, it is a rescue operation. And, in order to achieve this most important work, the powers of hell must be overthrown. This is why the Lord Jesus gave these disciples the power over the demonic world.
An even more important key phrase is found at the end of v.17 where we read, "in Your name." This power is the Lord Jesus' power. These disciples were giddy when they returned because they saw God doing great work through them. In the name of the Lord Jesus, they shared the gospel and exorcized demons.
I'm often asked how many people I have led to the Lord Jesus. I always answer, "zero." Then I tell them, I have witnessed some go from the darkness to the light as God did His work in their hearts.
In v.18 the Lord Jesus said, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven." All of these returning disciples were excited about the battles that they won. The Lord Jesus is saying, "Let me tell you about the whole war. I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning. You saw some demons go down; I saw their leader go down. I was there when he fell from heaven. I was there when He was defeated in the wilderness during my forty day trial. I was there when his demons were cast out of those people during my earthly ministry. And I will be there at the end of Revelation when Satan will be thrown into the Lake of Fire for forever." From the standpoint of eternity, the Lord Jesus was able to see everything in human history from the fall of Satan to his final doom at the eternal lake of fire.
In v.19 we read, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." The Lord Jesus reminds His disciples, "if we center our sense of joy on what has been accomplished, losing sight of the fact that it is only because of what we have received, just like every other Christian has received, we can be thrown off course." We were created to know Him and to make Him known.
In v.20 we read, "do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
Revelation 20:15 declares, “If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” The Book of Life, in this context, is the set of names of those who will live with God forever in heaven. It is the roll of those who are saved. This Book of Life is also mentioned in Revelation 3:5; 20:12; and Philippians 4:3. This same book is also called the Lamb’s Book of Life because it contains the names of those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lord Jesus (Revelation 13:8; 21:27).
Once our name is written in the Book of Life, it is never erased (Revelation 3:5; Romans 8:37-39). No true believer should doubt his eternal security in Christ (John 10:28-30).
The Great White Throne Judgment described in Revelation 20:11-15 is a judgment for unbelievers. That passage makes it clear that no one at that judgment has his name in the Book of Life (Revelation 20:12-14). The fate of the ungodly is sealed; their names are not in the Book of Life; their punishment is sure. And, for those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life, well, we will step eternity in heaven with the One who laid down His life to purchase us back to God.
