Who is the Devil?
1st Peter 5:8
¶ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Ephesians 2:2
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
2nd Corinthians 4:3-4
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Who is the Devil? Does he exist? Is he a red man with a beard and horns protruding from his head? Does he carry a pitch fork and possess a pointed tail? Could it be Satan?
The world likes to mock and laugh off the devil and I can remember when I first saw a skit on the television show Saturday Night Live when a male actor dressed up as a woman in the role of “the church lady” and coined the phrase “Hmmm… Could it be Satan?” And everyone laughed.
The devil is the most popular costume worn at parties and on Halloween and the world thinks he is largely a joke.
But the truth of the matter is the devil is no laughing matter. He is not a cartoon character or a figment of your imaginations, but a very deadly, dangerous, foe, and for those of us in Christ he is a formidable foe. The devil uses lies and deception to achieve his goal.
That goal of the devil is to make sure you are destroyed and separate you from God.
He wants nothing more than you to be lost and he hates everything about you, because God has chosen you to love, and not him and his minions who will one day end up punished in the judgment of God for their crimes and sins against a holy righteous God.
The very first mention of the devil in the bible is indirectly mentioned in the book of Genesis in the first days of the creation of the world by God. In the beginning God created man and gave him a commandment to obey and only one commandment not to eat of the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden.
Genesis 2:15-17
And YHWH God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16 ¶ And YHWH God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
It is here we meet the adversary, or a being created by God named Satan, who in the form of the serpent would deceive man with the curse of death, not just physical death, but more important to the devil, spiritual death or separation from God and his presence.
Read Genesis 3
Genesis 3:1-5
¶ Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which YHWH God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
The devil used God’s words with the woman, but he twisted them, and using some truth and some falsehood deceived the woman into eating the forbidden fruit of the tree God commanded them not to touch or eat, thus breaking God’s law.
Genesis 3:6
¶ And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
The result was sin, or transgression of the law of God, upon all of Adam and Eve’s descendants, all mankind.
Who is the devil and where does he come from?
The Holy Bible gives us the answers to these questions.
The name of the devil is found in the book of the prophet Isaiah.
Isaiah 14:12-17
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. 16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; 17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?
His name is Lucifer, meaning in the Hebrew tongue, “light bearer.”
01966 heylel hay-lale’
from 01984 (in the sense of brightness); n m; [BDB-237b] {See TWOT on 499 @@ "499a"}
AV-Lucifer 1; 1
Lucifer= "light-bearer"
1) shining one, morning star, Lucifer
1a) of the king of Babylon and Satan (fig.)
2) (TWOT) ‘Helel’ describing the king of Babylon
We learn that Lucifer was once one of the high angels of God and a beautiful creature before pride and sin entered his heart and he quickly fell from God’s good grace.
This idea is further communicated in the prophet Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 28:12-17
Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
So, Lucifer is old as the creation of the world and is an angelic being.
But as you will learn that although he has abilities of deception and evil, he has not power any more than God gives to him.
This is evident in one of the oldest books of the bible the book of Job.
Job 1:6-12
¶ Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before YHWH, and Satan came also among them. 7 And YHWH said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered YHWH, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8 And YHWH said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 9 Then Satan answered YHWH, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 12 And YHWH said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of YHWH.
It is in the book of Job we learn of Lucifer’s other name Satan, or adversary.
07854 satan saw-tawn’
from 07853, Greek 4566 σαταν; n m/nm-pr; [BDB-966a] {See TWOT on 2252 @@ "2252a"}
AV-Satan 19, adversary 7, withstand 1; 27
1) adversary, one who withstands
1a) adversary (in general-personal or national)
2) superhuman adversary
2a) Satan (as noun pr)
The devil has limited power, but only power that God has given to him.
Note all the capabilities of Satan in the next scripture.
Job 1:13-21
¶ And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: 14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: 15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: 19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 20 ¶ Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: YHWH gave, and YHWH hath taken away; blessed be the name of YHWH. 22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
The Devil cannot control our mind, but he can try to persuade us in our minds and the devil watches us and seeks constantly looking for a weakness to use and cause man to fall and sin against God.
1st Chronicles 21:1-4
¶ And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. 2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it. 3 And Joab answered, YHWH make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel? 4 Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.
Satan is the enemy of our souls and the resister to everything that is holy and comes from God.
Zechariah 3:13-4:1-2
Be silent, O all flesh, before YHWH: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation. 1 ¶ And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of YHWH, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2 And YHWH said unto Satan, YHWH rebuke thee, O Satan; even YHWH that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
But do not be fooled, God is far more supremely powerful than Satan and God’s angelic army are more powerful than the devil or his minions.
Until now we have looked at scriptures from the Old Testament, but it is in the New Testament we learn of the devil as we know him today.
The word for “devil” is the Greek word diabolos.
1228 diabolos dee-ab’-ol-os
from 1225; adj; TDNT-2:72,150; {See TDNT 185}
AV-devil 35, false accuser 2, slanderer 1; 38
1) prone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely
1a) a calumniator, false accuser, slanderer,
2) metaph. applied to a man who, by opposing the cause of God, may be said to act the part of the devil or to side with him
Satan the prince of the demons, the author of evil, persecuting good men, estranging mankind from God and enticing them to sin, afflicting them with diseases by means of demons who take possession of their bodies at his bidding.
Many do not believe in the devil, but Jesus spoke about the devil and confirms his existence and the gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, all testify of the devil, as spoken about by Jesus. Most people believe Jesus existed as a real person. If Jesus spoke of the devil and demons then you should believe it too.
Jesus was himself tempted by the devil and in this scripture, we can see that the devil uses and knows the word of God, and he will use it to try and deceive Jesus, the Son of God.
Matthew 4:1-11
¶ Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
In every case Jesus combats against Satan and his charade by using the word of God, using the holy scriptures of God’s own law.
The devil has no power against God’s word and he knows it.
The devil, as said before, has limited powers we will look at these next.
One power is possession.
Matthew 12:22-28
¶ Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. 25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? 27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
It is clear from this scripture that people can be possessed of a devil or a demon.
In the next scripture we will see that the devil can steal away, affect, and influence your faith.
Mark 4:1-20
¶ And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. 2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine, 3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: 4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. 5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: 6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. 9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. 11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. 13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? 14 The sower soweth the word. 15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. 18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. 20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
In the next scripture we see a woman who was bound by Satan in her body.
Luke 13:11-16
And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. 13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. 15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? 16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
In the next scripture we can see that Satan can enter a person.
Luke 22:1-4
¶ Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. 2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people. 3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. 4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
In this next scripture we see that Satan specifically chooses to attack those in Christ and those doing God’s will.
Luke 22:31-32
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Jesus referred to Satan as a murderer, and a liar, and a thief.
John 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
One of Christ’s 12 disciples, Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus, was entered into by Satan.
John 13:21-27
When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. 23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. 25 He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? 26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
Like Judas, in the book of Acts we see Satan can enter a man’s heart.
Acts 5:1-6
¶ But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
While Satan only attacks those already in Jesus the Christ, he leaves alone those he already owns in the world who are walking in darkness and under the power of the devil.
In the book of Acts the apostle Paul speaks of this possession of the world by devil.
Acts 26:18
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Paul also tells us that God shall bruise Satan under our feet.
Romans 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
As stated before, Christians must be on guard against the wiles of the devil.
1st Corinthians 7:5
Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
2nd Corinthians 1:10-11
To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; 11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Even those who claim to preach a gospel can be false and deceitful workers for even Satan can transfer himself into an angel of light.
2nd Corinthians 11:13-15
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Christians must, therefore, be on guard against the devil and rely closely only on God’s Word found only in the Holy Bible.
The world laughs at Satan, but Satan is not laughing, for he one day will cause destruction, raising up a man fully enveloped in his sinful and evil ways.
2nd Thessalonians 2:1-10
¶ Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 ¶ Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
But realize that the end of story does not end well for the devil.
Revelation 12:7-10
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Revelation 20:10
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.
The devil knows his end is coming with all his minions, so he wants to kill you with him, for if he must die, he is planning on taking you with him.
This why we preach the gospel of Jesus Christ who died for your sins that the devil caused man to take on and become separated from the presence of God.
2nd Corinthians 4:3-6
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Now you know all about the devil...
Wont’ you take some time to learn about Jesus?
Do you know Jesus?
He came to die for your sins to free you from the future of the devil and the wrath of God that all who fail to know Jesus will experience with the devil.
You can begin by calling and believing in God and his Son Jesus by repenting of your sins to God.
Then be baptized in his atoning blood.
You can be saved today.
My friend
The devil is real.
God is real.
Jesus is real.
Hellfire in the wrath of God is real.
You do not want to join the devil there.
Heavenly Father thank you for your Son Jesus and for sending him to die for our sins that we might be saved from evil wishes of the devil.
I praise your holy name forever more for your love and your testimony of the Holy Bible!
I will rejoice in God for I know firsthand the attack of the devil just before this article was published. Thank You Lord for your strength and protection and being who you are!
You are Lord of lords and King of kings! All Blessing, and honor, glory and power be unto you! Amen!