The scheme of human redemption was a long process that began just as soon as man and woman were cast out of Eden. Genesis 3:15 gives the first promise that sets the stage for a conflict between Christ and Satan. Christ is the victor and that victory is described in this text as Satan’s head being crushed, while Jesus’ heal would be bruised. The victory was assured at the start. No one needed to wait to see the outcome.
Very little is said of Satan in the Old Testament, compared to the New Testament. In this conflict, Satan is being cast down to the earth with his angels (cf. Revelation 12:7-9). In that case, Michael is waging battle against Satan. The earth was the battleground and the stage is set for the seed of woman to crush the head of the serpent. Jesus was sent to the earth through the virgin Mary to destroy the works of the Devil (1 John 3:8). He took on flesh and blood that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage (Heb. 2:14-15). The cross and the grave were two epic battles that crippled the devil and his plans. In the cross, He released humanity from the guilt of sin. John 12:31 reads, “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out” (John 12:31, ESV, cf. John 14:30). This “deliverance” is accomplished by the cross. Paul writes, “having despoiled the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it (the cross, v. 14, Col. 2:15). Here, Christ’s heel was bruised and Satan’s head was crushed. Then, in the grave, He took the keys of death and hades and came forth from the grave.
The New Testament depicts the activity of Satan immediately after His baptism. This was Satan’s first defeat as he tempts the Lord in the Wilderness (Matt. 4:1-11). Throughout the life of Christ, demons were cast out to show His power to be greater than Satan’s power. But, in following the pattern of events that stand out as a conflict on the field of battle, I appeal to Luke 10:18-19. There Jesus gave to the seventy power over demons and diseases. Jesus said, “I saw Satan falling as lightning from heaven.” When He gave a parable of a strong man being overcome after He was charged with having cast out demons by the power of Beelzebub, he explained, “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil.” (Luke 11:21-23, ESV). Matthew records Jesus saying, “Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house” (Matt. 12:29, ESV).
The Revelation of Jesus Christ has Satan bound during His reign with the saints (Rev. 20). He is defeated but will be released for another short time to deceive the nations and gather them to war against the people of God. The promise is that Jesus will one day cast him into the lake of fire along with death and hades.