The ultimate source of evil in the world is Satan, also called "the devil" (Luke 8:12) and "the wicked one" (Matt. 13:19). The Christian believer can rest assured that Jesus will triumph at the end of time, when Satan will be cast into a lake of fire and brimstone and evil will be overcome (Rev. 20:10).
Evil also comes from the hearts of men (Mark 7:20-23). It does not come from GOD, "for GOD cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone" (James 1:13).
Lucifer
Lucifer (morning star) is the Latin name for the planet Venus. The word Lucifer appears only once in the Bible (Is. 14:12). Literally, the passage describes the overthrow of a tyrant, the king of Babylon. But many Bible scholars see in this passage a description of Satan, who rebelled against the throne of GOD and was "brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit" (Is. 14:14). The same kind of interpretation is often given to Ezekiel 28:11-19. The description of the king of Tyre thus is believed to reach beyond that of an earthly ruler to the archangel who was cast out of heaven for leading a revolt against GOD.
Other scholars argue that Isaiah 14:12 should be interpreted as a reference to a Canaanite myth. "Telal, son of Shahar" is mentioned in an ancient text discovered at Ugarit, a Canaanite town. According to this view, Isaiah referred to the ancient Canaanite myth to dramatize the fall of the king of Babylon.
Satan
Satan (adversary) is the great opposer, or adversary, of GOD and man; the personal name of the devil.
The Hebrew word from which Satan comes sometimes refers to human enemies (I Sam. 29:4; Ps. 109:6). Once it refers to the angel of the LORD who opposed Balaam (Num. 22:22). But whenever this word is used as a proper name in the Old Testament, it refers to the great superhuman enemy of GOD, man, and good (I Chron. 21:1; Job 1-2). This use of the word also occurs frequently in the New Testament.
Another common name for Satan in the New Testament is "the devil", meaning "slanderer" or "false accuser". Other titles by which Satan is identified in the New Testament include "the tempter" (I Thes. 3:5); "Beelzebub" (Matt. 12:24); "the wicked one" (Matt. 13:19, 38); "the ruler of this world" (John 12:31); "the god of this age" (II Cor. 4:4); "Belial" (II Cor. 6:15); "the prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2); and "the accuser of our brethren" (Rev. 12:10).
History. Two Old Testament passages - Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:11-19 - furnish a picture of Satan's original condition and the reasons for his loss of that position. These passages were addressed originally to the kings of Babylon and Tyre. But in their long-range implications, many scholars believe, they refer to Satan himself. They tell of an exalted angelic being, one of GOD's creatures, who became proud and ambitious. He determined to take over the throne of GOD for himself. But GOD removed him from his position of great dignity and honor.
Building upon this foundation, Revelation 12 sketches the further stages in Satan's work of evil. In his fall from GOD's favor, Satan persuaded one third of the angels to join him in his rebellion (Rev. 12:3-4). Throughout the Old Testament period he sought to destroy the messianic line. When the Messiah became a man, Satan tried to eliminate Him (Rev. 12:4-5). During the future period of tribulation before the Messiah's second coming Satan will be cast out of the heavenly sphere (Rev. 12:7-12). Then he will direct his animosity toward the Messiah's people (Rev. 12:13-17). Revelation 20 notes the final phases of Satan's work. He will be bound for a thousand years and then finally cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:2,10).
Characteristics. As a result of his original status and authority, Satan has great power and dignity. So great is his strength that Michael the archangel viewed him as a foe too powerful to oppose (Jude 9).
Satan's influence in worldly affairs is also clearly revealed (John 12:31). His various titles reflect his control of the world system: "the ruler of this world" (John 12:31), "the god of this age" (II Cor. 4:4), and "the prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2). The Bible declares, "The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" (I John 5:19).
Satan exercises his evil power through demons (Matt. 12:24; 25:41; Rev. 12:7-9). An outburst of demonic activity occurred when Jesus came to earth the first time because of the Savior's attack against Satan's kingdom (Matt. 12:28-29; Acts 10:38). Another such outburst is expected just before the second coming of Christ, because this will bring about the downfall of Satan and his angels (Rev.9:3-17; 12:12; 18:2).
Satan also has high intelligence. Through it he deceived Adam and Eve and took over their rule of the world for himself (Gen. 1:26; 3:1-7; II Cor. 11:3). His cleverness enables him to carry out his deceptive work almost at will.
Yet Satan's attributes, impressive as they are, not limitless. His power is subject to GOD's restrictions (Job 1:12; Luke 4:6; II Thes. 2:7-8). The reins of GOD on his activities are illustrated by Satan's request to GOD for permission to afflict Job (Job((:7-12).
Satan is permitted to afflict GOD's people (Luke 13:16; I Thes. 2:18; Heb. 2:14). But he is never permitted to win an ultimate victory over them (John 14:30-31; 16:33).
A part of Satan's continuing ambition to replace GOD is his passionate yearning to have others worship him (Matt. 4:8-9; Rev. 13:4,12). Since GOD has frustrated this desire and put down Satan's rebellion, he has become GOD's exact opposite. He is "the wicked one" (Matt. 13:19,38, while GOD is "the Holy One" (Is. 1:4).
Satan's nature is malicious. His efforts in opposing GOD, His people, and His truth are tireless (Job 1:7; 2:2; Matt. 13:28). He is always opposed to man's best interests (I Chron 21:1; Zech. 3:1-2). Through his role in introducing sin into the human family (Gen. 3), Satan has gained the power of death - a power which Christ has broken through His crucifixion and resurrection (Heb. 2:14-15).
Methods. Of the various methods used by Satan in carrying out his evil work, none is more characteristic than Temptation (Matt. 4:3; I Thes. 3:5). Satan leads people into sin by various means. Sometimes he does it by direct suggestion, as in the case of Judas Iscariot (John 13:2,27); sometimes through his agents who disguise themselves as messengers of GOD (II Thes. 2:9; I John 4:1); and sometimes through a person's own weaknesses (I Cor. 7:5). He tempted Christ directly, trying to lead Him into compromise by promising Him worldly authority and power (Luke 4:5-8).
Along with his work of tempting mankind, Satan also delights in deception (I Tim. 3:6-7; II Tim. 2:26). His lying nature stands in bold contrast to the truth for which Christ stands (John 8:32,44). The great falsehood which he uses so frequently is that good can be attained by doing wrong. This lie is apparent in practically all his temptations (Gen. 3:4-5). As the great deceiver, Satan is an expert at falsifying truth (II Cor. 11:13-15).
Satan's methods are designed ultimately to silence the gospel. He seeks to stop the spread of GOD's Word (Matt. 13:19; I Thes. 2:17-18). When the gospel is preached, Satan tries to blind people's understanding so they cannot grasp the meaning of the message (II Cor. 4:3-4; II Thes 2:9-10). At times he opposes the work of GOD by violent means (John 13:2,27; I Pet. 5:8; Rev. 12:13-17). He brings disorder into the physical world by afflicting human beings (Job 1-2; II Cor. 12:7; Heb. 2:14). Sometimes GOD allows him to afflict His people for purposes of correction (I Tim. 1:20).
Defeat. Satan is destined to fail in his continuing rebellion against GOD. His final defeat is predicted in the New Testament (Luke 10:18; John 12:31; Rev. 12:9; 20:10). The death of Christ on the cross is the basis for Satan's final defeat (Heb. 2:14-15; I Pet. 3:18,22). This event was the grand climax to a sinless life during which Jesus triumphed over the enemy repeatedly (Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). The final victory will come when Jesus returns and Satan is cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:1-15).
Strength for a Christian's victory over sin has also been provided through the death of Christ. We have assurance that "the GOD of peace will crush Satan under your feet" (Rom. 16:20). But such personal victory depends on our will to offer resistance to Satan's temptations (Eph. 4:25-27; I Pet. 5:8-9). To help Christians win this battle against Satan, GOD has provided the power of Christ's blood (Rev. 12:11), the continuing prayer of Christ in heaven for believers (Heb. 7:25), the leading of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:16), and various weapons for spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:13-18).
Reality. Some people have trouble admitting the existence of such an enemy as Satan. But his presence and activity are necessary to explain the problems of evil and suffering. The Bible makes it plain that Satan exists and that his main work is to oppose the rule of GOD in the affairs of man.
Many wonder why GOD would allow Satan, this great embodiment of evil, to exist in His creation. No completely satisfying answer to this question has been found. Perhaps He allows it to show that evil and wrongdoing do not provide the key to the ultimate meaning of life which man so desperately desires.
The devil (accuser) is the main title for the fallen angelic being who is the supreme enemy of GOD and man. Satan is his name, and devil is what he is - the accuser or deceiver. The title "devil" appears 35 times in the NKJV. In every case it is preceded by the article "the", indicating a title rather than a name. The term comes from a Greek word that means "a false witness" or "malicious accuser".
Several descriptive phrases applied to the devil in the New Testament point out the nature of his wicked personality and the extent of his evil deeds.
Enemy. (Matt. 13:25,28,39). The devil is man's worst enemy. This is one enemy Jesus does not want us to love. He is an enemy of Christ, the church, and the gospel; and he is tireless in his efforts to uproot good and sow evil.
Murderer. (John 8:44). "He was a murderer from the beginning" are strong words from the lips of Jesus. The devil killed Abel and the prophets, and he wanted to kill Jesus before His time (8:40).
Deceiver. (Rev. 20:10). Starting with Eve, the devil has attempted to deceive every living soul. Evil men operating under the power of the evil one will continue to deceive (II Tim. 3:13).
Beelzebub, Prince of Demons. (Matt. 9:34; 12:24). The religious leaders of Jesus' time were guilty of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit because they claimed the miracles of Jesus were actually conducted by the devil. The KJV and some other versions incorrectly translate "demons" as "devils". There are many demons but only one devil. His name is Beelzebub, the chief leader of the fallen angels known as demons.
Baal-Zebub, which means "lord of the fly", was "the god of Ekron" (II Kin. 1:2-3,6,16) - the name under which Baal was worshiped at the Philistine city of Ekron. This god was worshiped as the producer of flies, and consequently as the god that was able to defend against this pest. In the New Testament, reference is made to Beelzebub, a heathen god considered the chief evil spirit by the Jewish people (Matt. 10:25; 12:27; Luke 11:18-19). The Pharisees called him "the ruler of the demons" (Matt. 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15), and Jesus identified him with Satan.
Ruler of This World. (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). Three times Jesus called the devil the "ruler of this world". The devil offered the world to Jesus if he would worship him (Luke 4:5-7), but the LORD refused with these words, "Get behind me Satan" (4:8). At Calvary GOD dealt a death blow to this world ruler. It is only a matter of time before GOD will win the final victory at the end of time (I John 3:8; Matt. 25:41; Rev. 12:7).
The devil is strong, but Christians are stronger through the LORD (Eph. 6:11). They have the protection needed to withstand his assaults. The devil tempts, but GOD provides a way of escape (I Cor. 10:13); the devil tries to take advantage of people (II Cor. 2:11), but he will flee is fought (James 4:7). The devil should not be feared, for Jesus is more powerful than this deceiving prince of the demons (I John 4:4).
A serpent is a crawling reptile, or snake, often associated in the Bible with temptation, sin and evil.
A serpent appears early in the Scriptures in the account of the temptation and fall of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3). Satan, or the Devil, is the Tempter; but he made his approach to Eve by speaking through a serpent, which is described as "more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD GOD had made" (Gen. 3:1). Because of the serpent's role in the temptation, GOD pronounced a curse on the animal, sentencing it to crawl on its belly and eat dust "all the days of your life" (Gen. 3:14).
This account of the temptation and fall of man helps us understand many of the references to serpents throughout Scripture. Serpents are mentioned under various names (for example, asp, cobra, and viper), and they pose a life-threatening danger to man because of their poisonous bite (Deut. 8:15). They are also mentioned as instruments of GOD's wrath upon rebellion or apostasy (Jer. 8:17). The best-known incident of this kind happened during the wilderness journey to the Promised Land when "the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people" (Num. 21:5-6). Wicked and rebellious persons are addressed as "serpents" or are compared to serpents because of their destructive influence (Ps. 58:4; Matt. 3:7).
In line with the theme of Genesis 3:15, redemption is sometimes described as the destruction or subduing of serpents (Is. 27:1; Mic. 7:17). In Numbers 21, the threat of the fiery serpents was overcome when, at the command of the LORD, Moses fashioned a serpent of bronze and put it on a pole: "And so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived" (Num. 21:9). The bronze serpent raised up by Moses in the wilderness serves as a symbol of the saving power of Christ on the cross (John 3:14). By his crucifixion and resurrection, Christ has bruised the head of the serpent (Gen. 3:15).
The prophet Isaiah used the taming of the serpent to describe the peace that will prevail in the messianic kingdom (Is. 11:8; 65:25). And Jesus gave His disciples "authority to trample on serpents and scorpions" (Luke 10:19).
Demons is another name for fallen angels who joined the kingdom of Satan in rebellion against GOD.
Origin. The origin of demons is not explicitly discussed in the Bible. But the New Testament speaks of the fall and later imprisonment of a group of angels (I Pet. 3:19-20; II Pet. 2:4; Jude 6). The group that participated in the fall apparently followed one of their own number, Satan. The fall occurred before GOD's creation of the world, leaving Satan and his angels free to contaminate the human race with wickedness (Gen. 3; Matt. 25:41; Rev. 12:9).
Only part of the fallen angels took part in the wickedness at the time of the Flood (Gen. 6:1-4). These were the ones who were imprisoned. GOD left the rest free to try to undermine the cause of righteousness in the world.
A symbolic view of this "initial" fall appears in Revelation 12:3-4 where the dragon (a symbol for Satan) "drew a third of the stars of heaven" (a symbol for angels) and "threw them to the earth". Thus, Satan has his own angels, presumably these demons (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 12:9).
Demons in the Old Testament. Because the Jews believed GOD's power was unlimited, the Old Testament contains little information about demons. The primitive status of the understanding of demons during this time is perhaps reflected in the way the Old Testament relates the fallen angels to GOD. It was a distressing (or evil) spirit from GOD" (I Sam. 16:15-16,23) that brought great distress to Saul the king. It was a "lying spirit" from the LORD about whom Micaiah, the prophet of the LORD, spoke (I Kin. 22:21-23).
Pagan worship is also related to demon activity in the Old Testament (Lev. 17:7; Ps. 106:37). Demons delight in making heathen idols the focus of their activities.
Demons in the New Testament. The New Testament accepts the Old Testament teaching about demons and advances the doctrine significantly. Demons are designated in a number of different ways in the New Testament. Quite frequently they are called "unclean spirits" (Matt. 10:1; Mark 6:7). Another descriptive phrase for them is "wicked (or evil) spirit" (Luke 7:21; Acts 19:12-13). In his writings Paul calls them "deceiving spirits" (I Tim. 4:1). John refers to "the spirit of error" (I John 4:6) and "spirits of demons" (Rev. 16:14). Luke describes one demon as a "spirit of divination" (Acts 16:16).
The only individual demon named in the New Testament (Satan himself is never referred to as a demon) is the one called Abaddon in Hebrew and Apollyon in Greek (Rev. 9:11). Some scholars believe this is another name for Satan or that this is an unfallen angel. But stronger evidence suggests he was a fallen angelic leader who is subject to the kingly authority of Satan. Legion (Mark 5:9; Luke 8:30) is probably a collective name for a group of demons rather than the name of a single demon.
A prime purpose of Jesus' earthly ministry was to overcome the power of Satan. This included His conquest of the demonic realm (Matt. 12:25-29; Luke 11L17-22; John 12:31; I John 3:8). This explains the fierce conflict between Jesus and these evil spirits while He was on earth.
Yet Jesus' enemies accused Him of being in alliance with Satan's kingdom, including his demons (Mark 3:22; John 8:48). This same accusation was made against His fore runner, John the Baptist (Matt. 11:18; Luke 7:33). But Jesus' works of goodness and righteousness showed that these claims were not true (Matt. 12:25-29; Luke 11:17-22).
Following the resurrection of Jesus and His return to heaven, these demonic principalities and powers have continued their warfare against those who are His followers (Rom. 8:38-39; Eph. 6:12). Yet Satan and his allies will finally be overthrown by GOD. After Christ returns, the devil and his angels will be defeated and thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10). This is a doom with which demons are quite familiar (Matt. 8:29). GOD will achieve the ultimate victory in the conflict which has been going on since the beginning of time.
Demon possession is an affliction of persons in the New Testament who were possessed or controlled by demons (Matt. 4:24; 8:33; demoniac, NASB).
The New Testament gives graphic descriptions of the effect of demons on people. Some of the diseases which they caused included muteness (Matt. 12:22;; Mark 9:17,25), deafness (Mark 9:25), blindness (Matt. 12:22), and bodily deformity (Luke 13:10-17). But demons were not responsible for all physical ailments. The gospel writers frequently distinguished between sickness and demon possession (Matt. 4:24; Mark 1:32; Luke 6:17-18). Sometimes a problem caused by demons appears to have another cause in another situation (Matt. 12:22; 15:30).
In New Testament times demons were also responsible for some mental problems (Matt. 8:28; Acts 19:13-16). The ranting and raving that they produced probably should be included with mental disorders (Mark 1:23-24; John 10:20). Uncontrolled fits were another form of demonic affliction (Luke 9:37-42; Mark 1:26). Sometimes a demon also caused a person to behave in an antisocial manner (Luke 8:27,35).
The method of Jesus and His disciples in casting out demons differed radically from the magical methods so often used in that time. Through His simple command Jesus expelled them (Mark 1:25; 5:8; 9:25). His disciples simply added the authority of His name to the command (Luke 10:17; Acts 16:18). Even some people who were not His followers invoked His power (Luke 9:49; Acts 19:13). In some instances prayer was necessary before a demon could be cast out (Mark 9:29)>
By casting out demons, Jesus showed that the Kingdom of GOD - GOD's rule in the affairs of mankind - was a present reality. This was also a clear demonstration of His power over Satan and the demonic forces of sin and evil in the world.
The above article is taken from the "Illustrated Bible Dictionary". See description in the Bible Index.
The purpose of Satan is not primarily to establish a kingdom of crime and confusion but to establish a permanent kingdom that supplants and coexists with GOD's kingdom. In so doing, he focuses attention upon GOD's restrictions and tempts believers to doubt the goodness of GOD. He presents attractive counterfeits for GOD's will and true worship such as piety, religious practices, money, power, and prestige. Constantly Satan places our attention on the present instead of GOD's eternal values (Matt. 4:1-11).
Believers should respond with total dependence on the LORD Jesus Christ. One should not overestimate or underestimate Satan's tactics. Instead, members of the community of faith must draw upon the spiritual resources available to them, stand firm, ultimately submit to GOD, resist the devil, and draw near to GOD. He will in turn draw near to His people (Jas. 4:7-8). (HBH)
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