Is There Really a Being Called Satan?

More people believe in God than they do in Satan. Is there really a being called Satan? Does he really exist? Is Satan a threat to Christians? What does the Bible say about a being called Satan?

Believing in God

It is ironic that more people believe in God than believe in Satan, even though the Bible clearly teaches that Satan does exist. If God exists, and He does, then Satan must exist too because that is what God’s Word, the Bible teaches. You can’t have a God and not have an adversary, Satan also called the Devil. Fox News reported that 93% of Americans believe in God but only 68% believe in the Devil. How can one believe in God and not believe in the Devil? Good question. Just as perplexing is the fact that more people believe in heaven (86%) than in hell (82%).

Did God Create a Devil?

No, actually God created a powerful angel called Lucifer which means “light-bearer.” He was said to be perfect in every way. Before he was the Devil or Satan, he was Lucifer. Ezekiel, 28:12-13 shows that he was most beautiful, “You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you.” God created him to be over the throne of God, and was created without flaw, “You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you” (Ezek 28:14-15).

Lucifer was created in beauty and in knowledge but he became lifted up in his mind or as the Bible says, he became proud. God said that Lucifer became full of pride and he “sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth” (Ezek 28:16-17). He was cast down to the earth because he became prideful and wanted to overtake God’s throne -even to be like the Most High God (Isaiah 14:14). Lucifer said in his heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars (angels) of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain” (throne of God) (Isaiah 14:13). Pride is listed as the number one sin amongst the seven deadly sins mentioned in Proverbs 16:16-19. In fact, pride is present in all sin.

Lucifer Becomes Satan or the Devil

When Lucifer sinned, he no longer was a “light-bearer” but became an adversary and the accuser of the brethren (Christians). His name became Satan, which means the opposer or to obstruct, to accuse, or to be an adversary. And Satan is certainly the opposer of every Christian today and day and night he accuses all the believers before the throne of God (Rev 12:10). The name he is also assigned is the Devil, which means the slanderer or the destroyer in some languages. So when Lucifer sinned and became full of pride, he fell and great was his fall. He has further to fall because someday he will be “thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Rev 20:10). The Devil knows that his time is running out and we should expect an increase in demonic activity the closer we come to the return of Christ at the Second Advent (Rev 12:12).

When Lucifer-turned-Satan was cast down to earth, he took 1/3 of the angels with him (Rev 12:4). When these angels rebelled with Satan, they became demons and they too are headed for the lake of burning sulfur. Their fate is sealed (2 Peter 2:4) and today the demons and Satan try to tempt and influence the believers of God into sin but God (1 Peter 5:8), through Jesus Christ, has already achieved victory over the Devil (John 12:31, John 16:11, Heb 2:14-15, James 2:19). Jesus defeated Satan (John 19:30). John 16:11 shows that, “the prince of this world (Satan) now stands condemned.”

Is Satan a Threat to Christians Today?Visit Site

Satan or the Devil is only a threat to Christians in that he tempts us, as do the demons, to sin and rebel against God. Today Satan is the ruler of the world of those who do not belong to Christ as 1 John 5:19 says, “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” Satan has blinded those who do not believe in Jesus, and is called, “The god of this age (who) has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor 4:4).

Satan is no longer a threat to a believer’s salvation but he still holds sway over the unsaved world (Rev 12:9). In fact, Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness by offering him a short cut to be king over the world that Satan already had as his own and thus Jesus could have avoided Calvary but only if he worshiped Satan. Satan, “took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me” (Matt 4:8-9). Of course Jesus rebuked Satan and when we flee temptation and rebuke him in Jesus’ name, he must depart (Matt 4:10). Satan is an adversary to believers even if he can’t rob our eternal life from us, but this is why Peter warned us to, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Pet 5:8).

War in Heaven – God One, Satan Zero

Revelation 12:7-9 tells just how warped Satan is by thinking he can overtake the throne of God: “Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.” How warped the Devil’s mind must be to think that he could overtake the God that created him. Satan never had a chance, but pride blinds one to one’s own capabilities and Satan was cast down to the earth.

Even the angels that Satan persuaded to rebel with him deceived themselves. Their fate is sealed. “And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.” (Jude 6).

Satan or the Devil is a real being. The Bible tells us he is real. The Bible also says his fate is sealed but those who belong to Christ are no longer in the Devil’s hold and we are no longer blinded by him to the gospel. He will be cast into the lake of burning sulfur someday. All those who have not placed their trust in Jesus will also be cast into hell…a place that was originally created for the Devil and all his demons. Jesus says to those who refuse to repent and believe in Him that they are headed for the same fate as Satan. Jesus says, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt 25:41). Hell was not created for humans but for Satan and his fallen angels (demons). Today, before Christ returns, you can choose heaven over hell – eternal life over eternal torment. I pray you will place your faith in Christ Jesus and be spared the same fate that awaits Satan and all his dastardly demons.