Who is the Devil?

There really is a Devil. The Devil or Satan was created by God as an angel of enormous prestige and responsibility. The Bible tells his story: "You (Satan) were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty." "You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I (God) ordained you (Ezekiel 28:11, 14 NIV)." “You were blameless in all your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you (Ezekiel 28:15 NIV).”1

The Bible details how Satan fell from grace: "Your (Satan's) heart became proud on account of your beauty and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I (God) threw you to the earth . . . (Ezekiel 28:17 NIV)." "So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, oh guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones (Ezekiel 28:16 NIV)."

Satan had rebelled against God. As a result, he forfeited his exalted position as a guardian cherub. And he now faces a severe future punishment as a result of his rebellion: He will be "tormented day and night for ever and ever (Revelation 20:10 NIV)."

Although Satan was once good, such is no longer the case: Now he seeks only "to steal and kill and destroy (John 10:10 NIV)." And he's angry, as you might expect, with such a dramatic change in fortune: "Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time (Revelation 12:12 NASB)."

The Devil now "leads the whole world astray (Revelation 12:9 NIV)." He is a master of deception.

The Devil can talk directly to God (Job 1:6). He is also "the accuser of our brothers (Christians), who accuses them before our God day and night (Revelation 12:10 NIV)."

Satan was not alone in his rebellion against God. That is why there are now demons.

1 Note: Ezekiel 28:1-10 refers to an earthly ruler--not Satan. 

Next topic: What are Demons?

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