Who is the devil and is he real?

Our first introduction to the Devil in the Bible is in Genesis 3:1 when he appeared to Eve in the form of a snake (or some form of reptilian creature as some suggest), where he twists God’s Word and convinces Eve into sin. He is referred to as a serpent, a dragon, the Devil, the Prince of this World, or Satan. But where did he come from and was he always evil?

The books of Isaiah and Ezekiel give us a better description of the Devil whose original name was Lucifer and referred to prior his fall as the son of the morning or morning star. He was an arch-Angel created to serve God Almighty and the Bible describes him as being perfect in beauty. He was covered in precious stones and gold and the Bible makes a presumption that he possessed musical abilities. He walked in the presence of God ‘up and down’ before the throne of God. He was perfect in all of his ways until he sinned.

Ezekiel 28:14-15 “Thou art the anointed Cherub (highest Angelic form)…. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.”

For some reason, Lucifer became filled with pride. Possibly because he was so beautiful? The Bible says that he was ‘bright’, as in – he emitted light. In fact we find out later in the Bible that he can appear as an Angel of Light.

Ezekiel 28: 17 “Thine (Lucifer) heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.”

Lucifer had visions of grandeur and imagined that he could become even greater:

Isaiah 14: 13 “For thou (Lucifer) hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into Heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…. I will be like the most High.”

It was this act of self-pride that led to him being filled with much evil and after convincing a third of the Angels to follow him in a rebellion against God Almighty, he was thrown out of God’s throne room where he would continue his rebellion against God’s creation – mankind.

Luke 10:18 “And He (Jesus) said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven.”

Revelation 12: 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.”

It’s at this point that Lucifer, now called Satan enters the Garden of Eden intent on destroying God’s ultimate creation – Mankind. Ever since, Satan has been lying, deceiving and destroying mankind. He caused death to enter into the human race and his goal is to prevent anyone and everyone from hearing and believing in God and Jesus, so that they enter not into Heaven.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world (Satan) 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.”

Referring to Satan, Jesus says in 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.”

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

Hebrews 2: 14 “….that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the Devil.”

The Christian life is one of overcoming the powers of the Devil through our Saviour Jesus Christ. Ever since Satan was cast out of Heaven his sole purpose is to bring death to mankind, but Jesus overcame death when He rose from the dead and through Him we too are overcomers. As a follower of Jesus, nothing can separate us from the love of God, not even the Devil.1 John 2:14 “…and the Word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.”