We established in Part 1 that the Greek word “tachos” does in fact mean “soon” (as in time), in each of the texts in which it is used in the New Testament, and that “soon” is limited to the time of the first century generation. We demonstrated this to be true in both eschatological and non-eschatological texts, including the book of Revelation. We will now show that the interpretation and understanding of the word “tachos” in Romans 16:20 is consistent with the rest of the New Testament, and therefore means “soon”, as near in time. By doing so, we will limit the time of the “crushing of Satan’s head” to the first century generation, “soon” from time when Paul wrote Romans.
“TACHOS” AND THE CRUSHING OF SATAN
Romans 16:20
Then the God of peace will soon (tachos) crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Many scholars and teachers alike rightly recognize these words of Paul as an allusion to Genesis 3:15, which is the first mention in the scriptures of the consummate gospel-victory.
Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.”
Due to the deception of the woman by the serpent, Jehovah had told the serpent that his complete demise would come through the woman, that is, through the Seed of the woman. Paul’s promise to the Romans that Satan (the serpent) would “soon” (tachos) be crushed under their feet, was the promise that Satan’s ultimate defeat as prophesied in Genesis 3:15 would take place in a short period of time.
To understand the fulfillment of Romans 16:20, we must understand exactly what was prophesied in Genesis 3:15. Here are the two texts again, one after the other.
Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.”
Romans 16:20
Then the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
The first thing to notice is the words “head” and “heel”, which represent the nature of the “bruising/crushing”. To bruise the heel, indicates a temporary or affliction/suffering, while to bruise (crush) the head, refers to a complete and final destruction. The seed of the serpent would only accomplish a (seemingly) temporary victory, while the victory through the Seed of the woman (Jesus) would be permanent and perfect, nothing lacking.
The second thing to notice is the word “seed”. This will help us to understand how this bruising/crushing would be accomplished. Notice that the enmity between the woman and the serpent would be manifested through their “seeds”. And, the “bruising/crushing” of both head and the heel would also be manifested through their “seeds”. In other words, the bruising of the heel of the woman, and the crushing of the head of the serpent (the devil) would be accomplished through their “seeds”. What this means is that the crushing of Satan in Romans 16:20 would be accomplished through the crushing of Satan’s seed, just as the bruising of the heel of the woman was accomplished through her bruising of her Seed. Look at it like this….
At the time that Paul wrote his epistle to the Romans, Satan was to be crushed under their feet “soon” (Romans 16:20) which would accomplish the ultimate defeat of Satan as prophesied in Genesis 3:15.
But, the crushing of Satan would be the crushing of Satan’s seed.
Therefore, the crushing of Satan’s seed would be “soon” from when Paul wrote Romans, and would fulfill the ultimate defeat of Satan as prophesied in Genesis 3:15.
In view of this, we must ask the following question: Who does scripture identify as “Satan’s seed” in the first century? The answer to this question is fundamental to a proper understanding of Paul’s declaration in Romans 16:20 that Satan would “soon” be crushed. So, let’s begin.
THE SEED OF THE SERPENT
Make no mistake about it, the seed of the serpent is the seed of Satan. Below are both Old and New Testament definitions for the word Satan.
Hebrew – satan: “Adversary, one who withstands”
Greek – satanas: “Adversary, one who opposes another in purpose or act”
The biblical definition of Satan is “an adversary, one who withstands and opposes the purpose of God”. From the Old Testament, we see that Satan opposes both the blameless (the righteous – Job 1:6-12), and Israel (1 Chronicles 21:1, Zechariah 3:1-2). Therefore, Satan was the adversary of the righteous, who opposed the purpose of God concerning the redemption of Israel. Although this definition is simplified, it establishes a biblical precedent for the New Testament. Both Jesus and his apostles reveal how Satan – through his seed – opposed the righteous of Israel and the purpose of God concerning redemption through the New Testament.
Consider the following texts concerning the “seed of the serpent”, who is the devil and Satan (Revelation20:2).
John 8:37-39,44
I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore, you also do the things which you heard from your father. They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham…. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature for he is a liar and the father of lies.
In John 8, Jesus acknowledged that the Jews “who had believed him” (v. 31) were “Abraham’s descendants” (v.37), yet he called them children of the devil; “you are of your father the devil”. In other words, these Jews were “Satan’s seed”. If they were truly the seed of Abraham (the seed of the woman) they would have loved Jesus, and done the “deeds of Abraham”. But instead, they desired to kill him, which was the “desire of their father” the devil, who was a murderer from the beginning. “By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious…” (1 John 3:10-12). The apostle John spoke of this certain “seed” years later. Many who were sons of Abraham according to the flesh (Jews) and had believed, would eventually depart from the faith because they were never actually of the faith (1 John 2:19). Jesus identified the Jews of his days as “Satan’s seed”, that is, the children of the devil, and therefore the adversaries of the seed of the woman.
Mathew 13:24-25,30,37-40
Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away…. Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn…. And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age.
In Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the tares, Jesus referred to the tares as the “sons of the evil one”, who had been sown by the devil (vs.38-39). In order to identify the tares (the sons of the devil), we must compare this parable with the words of John the Baptist.
Mathew 3:7-10,12
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore, bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore, every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire…. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Notice that in Mathew 3 John the Baptist is speaking to the Pharisees and Sadducees, first century Jews, and he is warning them to flee from the coming wrath. This was literally, the wrath that is about (from the Greek word mello) to come”. It is in that context that John contrasts the “chaff” being burned up with fire, and the “wheat” being gathered into the barn.
In Mathew 3, John clearly referred to the unfaithful Jews of his day who were not producing good fruit as the “chaff” that would be burned with fire. In Mathew 13, Jesus referred to the sons of the evil one as the “tares” who would be burned with fire. Therefore, the unrighteous Jews were the sons of the devil, who would be burned as tares/chaff in the fire. The following chart demonstrates this to be a valid parallel.
To see the below chart in PDF, click on this link.
| Mathew 13 | Mathew 3 |
| Sons of the evil one | Pharisees and Sadducees |
| Those who commit lawlessness | Trees that do not bear good fruit |
| The tares | The chaff |
| Tares burned with fire | Tares burned with fire |
| Gathered in the time of harvest | Gathered in the time of harvest |
| Harvest at the end of the age
-fulfilled in 1st century- (Mathew 24:3,31,34) |
Harvest at the wrath about to come
-fulfilled in 1st century- (1 Thessalonians 2:16 Luke 21:20-23,32) |
Based on the parallels in Mathew 3 and 13, here is our conclusion:
The unfaithful Jews (represented by the Pharisees and Sadducees) were the tares who would be gathered and burned with fire at the time of the harvest. (Mathew 3)
But, the sons of the evil one were the chaff that would be gathered and burned with fire at the time of the harvest. (Mathew 13)
Therefore, the unfaithful Jews were the sons of the evil one who would be gathered as the chaff/tares and burned with fire at the time of the harvest. In other words, the lawless Jews were “Satan’s seed”.
2 Corinthians 11:1-4,13-15,22
I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me. For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully…. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore, it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds…. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
Paul identifies these false apostles and deceitful workers as “servants of Satan” disguised as “servants of righteousness”, who came to the Corinthians preaching “a different gospel”. But notice, in verse 22 Paul identifies these servants of Satan as Hebrews, Israelites, and “descendants of Abraham”. These false apostles were boasting “according to the flesh” (2 Corinthians 11:18), that is, they were boasting of their Jewish heritage.
According to Paul, these “servants of Satan” were Jews (descendants of Abraham according to the flesh) who were opposed to the true gospel and were adversaries of true Israel.
But, there is more in this text that identifies these “servants of Satan” as first century Jews. Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 11 will surely seem familiar to anyone who has read his letter to the Galatians.
The chart below demonstrates the parallels between Galatians and 2 Corinthians 11, as identifies the Jews of Paul’s day as the “servants of Satan”.
To see the below chart in PDF, click on this link.
| 2 CORINTHIANS 11 | GALATIANS |
| Being led astray, being enslaved
(11:3,20) |
Bringing them into bondage under the Law
(2:4,21) |
| By false apostles
(11:13) |
By false brethren
(2:4) |
| Preached a different gospel
(11:4) |
Preached a different gospel
(1:6) |
| Hebrews, Israelites, descendants of Abraham according to the flesh
(11:22) |
Children of the then-present Jerusalem, sons of Abraham according to the flesh
(4:23-25) |
| Servants of Satan
(11:15) |
Pharisees from Judea
(Compare Galatians 2:1-6 with Acts 15:1-5) |
Based on these parallels, here is our conclusion:
The Jews according to the flesh were the false brethren who preached a different gospel, attempting to bring the Church into bondage. (Galatians)
But, the servants of Satan were the false apostles who preached a different gospel, attempting to lead the Church astray. (2 Corinthians 11)
Therefore, the Jews according to the flesh were the servants of Satan. Old Covenant Israel after the flesh was “Satan’s seed”.
Revelation 2:9-10, 3:9
I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life…. (3:9) Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.
Now ask yourself the question. Who was it in the first century who claimed to be “Jews” but were not? For those familiar with the teachings of the apostle Paul the answer is obvious (Galatians 3:16-29, 6:15-16 Romans 9:3-9 Philippians 3:1-3). It was the descendants of Abraham, the Jews according to the flesh, who claimed to be Jews (true Israel) but were not. Israel (the true Jew) was being redefined in Christ in the first century. The righteous remnant of the flesh-seed of Abraham and the grafted in Gentiles were being gathered together into one new body in Christ, and they together constituted the “new” and transformed Israel – the true Jew.
Despite this redefining of the Jew in Christ, many of ethnic Israel continued to call themselves “Jews” (Israel), but they were not. Those who had accepted the Seed of the woman had become the true synagogue (assembly) of Jehovah. But, those who had rejected that Seed and their inheritance, had been redefined as the synagogue (the assembly) of Satan. The first century Jews had become “Satan’s seed” and would soon experience their “hour of testing” (Revelation 3:10).
Acts 13:6-10
When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the magician (for so his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But Saul, who was also known Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him, and said, “You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord?
At this point we need to recall our definition above of Satan, who is the devil.
Satanas: “Adversary, one who opposes another in purpose or act”.
This false prophet was a “son of the devil”, for he opposed the way of righteousness, and attempted to “make crooked” what had previously been made straight (Luke 1:76 Mathew 3:3). And notice, he was a Jew. By opposing Jehovah’s plan of redemption, this apostate Jew had become an enemy of righteousness and the “seed of Satan”.
Based on the above evidence, it seems glaringly obvious that the identity of the “Satan’s seed” can be none other than first century Old Covenant Israel, that is, the apostate Jews. In view of this, let’s reiterate the argument we made from above:
At the time that Paul wrote his epistle to the Romans, Satan was to be crushed under their feet “soon” (Romans 16:20) which would accomplish the ultimate defeat of Satan as prophesied in Genesis 3:15.
But, the crushing of Satan would be the crushing of Satan’s seed.
Therefore, the crushing of Satan’s seed would be “soon” from when Paul wrote Romans, and would fulfill the ultimate defeat of Satan as prophesied in Genesis 3:15.
But, the seed of Satan was first century apostate Old Covenant Israel.
Therefore, the crushing of Satan would be accomplished through the crushing (destruction) of first century apostate Old Covenant Israel, the seed of Satan. And according to Paul, that was to take place “soon”, from the time that he wrote Romans.
So, if the crushing of Satan was to take place “soon” (in the first century), and the crushing of Satan would be accomplished through the crushing of the Jews (Satan’s seed), then we should expect to find the crushing (destruction) of the Jews in the first century, and “soon” from the time that Paul wrote Romans.
Below are several texts, from both Old and New Testaments that place the full and final crushing (destruction) of the Jews in the first century generation.
Deuteronomy 32:18-20,41-42
You neglected the Rock who begot you, and forgot the God who gave you birth. The Lord saw this, and spurned them because of the provocation of His sons and daughters. Then He said, ‘I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end shall be; for they are a perverse generation, sons in whom is no faithfulness…. If I sharpen My flashing sword, and My hand takes hold on justice, I will render vengeance on My adversaries, and I will repay those who hate Me. I will make My arrows drunk with blood, and My sword will devour flesh, with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the long-haired leaders of the enemy.’ Rejoice, O nations, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His servants, and will render vengeance on His adversaries, and will atone for His land and His people.”
Deuteronomy 32 is a prophecy of Israel’s “end”. At the time of Israel’s “end”, the Lord would despise (spurn) them, and hide his face from them. He would “render vengeance on his adversaries”, and repay those of Israel who had hated Him. At the time of Israel’s “end”, Jehovah would “avenge the blood of His servants” through vengeance upon Israel, His adversaries.
Jesus emphatically placed the avenging of the blood of his servants in the lifetime of his contemporary generation, through the vengeance (judgment) of Old Covenant Israel.
Mathew 23:34-36
Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
Thus Israel’s “end” (their ultimate crushing) was accomplished, when Jehovah’s vengeance came upon them in the first century for shedding the blood of the righteous.
Daniel 12:1,6-7
Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued…. And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed.
The prophet Daniel placed the “shattering of the power of the holy people” (the Jews) at the time of the “great tribulation” (a distress such has never occurred since there was a nation). In other words, the crushing (destruction) of the Jews was synchronous with the great tribulation.
But, Jesus placed the great tribulation in the first century, in the lifetime of his contemporary generation.
Mathew 24:15,21,34
Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand) …. For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will…. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
Therefore, the shattering (the crushing) of the power of the Jews (the holy people) took place in the first century, surrounding the events of the great tribulation in the lifetime of Jesus’ contemporary generation.
Mathew 21:33,38-41,45
Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard and put a wall around it, and built a winepress in it, and built a tower, and rented it out to vine-growers and went on a journey…. But when the vine-growers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ They took him, and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?” They said to Him, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.…. Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it.
Without a doubt, Israel is the vineyard (Isaiah 5). According to Jesus, Israel would be brought to a “wretched end” when their (Old Covenant) kingdom was taken from them and given to another people (nation). But, Jesus promised his disciples that the Kingdom of God would be established and received in their lifetime.
Mathew 16:28
Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.
Luke 21:20,31-32
But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near…. So you also, when you see these things happening recognize that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place.
Therefore, the Jews (Israel) would be crushed at their “wretched end”, when the Kingdom was taken from them (the unfaithful of the nation) and given to the righteous – and transformed – remnant in the first century. Based on the above evidence, consider our closing argument:
At the time that Paul wrote Romans, Satan would “soon” be crushed.
But, Satan would be crushed through the crushing of his seed.
But, Satan’s seed was first century Old Covenant Israel who was prophesied to be crushed “soon”, within the lifetime of the Jesus’ generation.
Therefore, when the unfaithful of Old Covenant Israel – Satan’s seed – was crushed and brought to a “wretched end” in AD70, Satan was crushed under the feet of the Church, and the ultimate defeat of Satan was accomplished in fulfillment of Genesis 3:15. When Paul wrote Romans, the God of peace did crush Satan under foot “soon”. Soon (tachos) does mean soon in Romans 16:20 just like it does in the rest of the New Testament, and is limited to the time of the first century generation.
Dan Dery
Titus 1:9