SATAN
Satan was created by God and originally named Lucifer, but he rebelled when his heart was lifted up in pride (Isaiah 14:12–15). Some of his other names are the “devil,” the “great dragon,” “that old serpent,” and “the tempter” (Revelation 12:9; Matthew 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:5). The Bible teaches that “he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44). Because he is a liar, he would be expected to twist the Bible and have teachings contrary to it. The devil controls people by his deceptions and lies. “And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (2 Timothy 2:26). “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world” (Revelation 12:9).
It works to the devil’s advantage if a person does not believe he exists, but he is a real person, not just a name for temptation. He is the enemy of Christians: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith” (1 Peter 5:8–9). Christ was not speaking to Himself when He rebuked the devil (Matthew 4:3–11). A third of the angels of heaven followed the devil and became his demons (Revelation 12:3–4, 7–9). As believers in Christ, we have been given spiritual armor for our spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10–19). The devil is not omnipresent. During the millennial reign of Christ here on earth, the devil will be bound in one place (the bottomless pit, Revelation 20:1–2). The devil, though powerful, is limited by God: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:13–14; see also Job 1:12; 2:4–6; see TEMPTATION). We are not to make light of the devil or mock him: “Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee” (Jude vv. 8–10).
The devil is not in charge of hell but will have the lowest spot in it (Isaiah 14:12, 15–19). Jesus Christ has “the keys of hell and of death” (Revelation 1:18). The devil will ultimately be in the “lake of fire,” and he will not want to go there, as he is “cast” into it. “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).
Christians “overcame” the devil “by the blood of the Lamb” (sing songs about the blood of Christ and godly Christian songs; see 1 Samuel 16:16, 23), “by the word of their testimony” (give public testimony of your faith in Christ; Revelation 12:11; see also Luke 9:26), and also by “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (read the Bible daily and obey it—Ephesians 6:17). Remember that “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). The Bible tells us, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). I have never seen the devil, but I have seen how he works in the lives of the lost and backslidden Christians. I am not talking about demon possession (see POSSESSED) but wrong beliefs, bad attitudes, self-deception, etc. How do we “resist” the devil, who is using such people to attack us or tempt us to do wrong? By saying “No.” Eventually they will leave you alone (see Nehemiah 6:2–11; Luke 4:1–13).
Satan was created by God and originally named Lucifer, but he rebelled when his heart was lifted up in pride (Isaiah 14:12–15). Some of his other names are the “devil,” the “great dragon,” “that old serpent,” and “the tempter” (Revelation 12:9; Matthew 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:5). The Bible teaches that “he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44). Because he is a liar, he would be expected to twist the Bible and have teachings contrary to it. The devil controls people by his deceptions and lies. “And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (2 Timothy 2:26). “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world” (Revelation 12:9).
It works to the devil’s advantage if a person does not believe he exists, but he is a real person, not just a name for temptation. He is the enemy of Christians: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith” (1 Peter 5:8–9). Christ was not speaking to Himself when He rebuked the devil (Matthew 4:3–11). A third of the angels of heaven followed the devil and became his demons (Revelation 12:3–4, 7–9). As believers in Christ, we have been given spiritual armor for our spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10–19). The devil is not omnipresent. During the millennial reign of Christ here on earth, the devil will be bound in one place (the bottomless pit, Revelation 20:1–2). The devil, though powerful, is limited by God: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:13–14; see also Job 1:12; 2:4–6; see TEMPTATION). We are not to make light of the devil or mock him: “Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee” (Jude vv. 8–10).
The devil is not in charge of hell but will have the lowest spot in it (Isaiah 14:12, 15–19). Jesus Christ has “the keys of hell and of death” (Revelation 1:18). The devil will ultimately be in the “lake of fire,” and he will not want to go there, as he is “cast” into it. “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).
Christians “overcame” the devil “by the blood of the Lamb” (sing songs about the blood of Christ and godly Christian songs; see 1 Samuel 16:16, 23), “by the word of their testimony” (give public testimony of your faith in Christ; Revelation 12:11; see also Luke 9:26), and also by “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (read the Bible daily and obey it—Ephesians 6:17). Remember that “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). The Bible tells us, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). I have never seen the devil, but I have seen how he works in the lives of the lost and backslidden Christians. I am not talking about demon possession (see POSSESSED) but wrong beliefs, bad attitudes, self-deception, etc. How do we “resist” the devil, who is using such people to attack us or tempt us to do wrong? By saying “No.” Eventually they will leave you alone (see Nehemiah 6:2–11; Luke 4:1–13).
