“And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation.” Revelation 13:7
Satan was given authority to wage war against the saints and put them to death, to overcome them. Our physical lives might be taken from us, but this is not our defeat. “And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But not a hair of your head will perish!” (Luke 21:17-18) Satan may interrupt our physical existence, but he cannot touch the spiritual future that we have, with a new body that our souls will go into. A soul redeemed by the blood of Messiah. “What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.” (1 Corinthians 15:50) It was granted to him to make war with the saints: Revelation 12 described the broad phenomenon of satanic persecution during the tribulation period. Here, the main instrument of that persecution is revealed: the government of the beast will persecute and kill all those who do not bow in worship to the beast. The expression “it was given to him” refers to the satanic origin of his power. Acting as Satan’s tool, the beast is able to wage war against the saints throughout the entire globe and to overcome them. To overcome them: Overcome does not mean that the beast can overcome the faith of the saints, but that he can destroy their physical lives, and by all appearances defeat the cause of God’s people on this earth.