What evidence do we have that Satan exists?
The physical evidence of Satan’s existence is quite clear on this planet: death, sin, broken marriages, illnesses, murders, theft… To not believe in the existence of the devil on this planet is like walking in a forest and wondering where the trees are.
However, does the Bible offer any evidence of the existence of the devil? Let us briefly look at what the Holy Scriptures have to say about him.
Origin
Ezek 28:12-17 “You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. 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. Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O 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; I made a spectacle of you before kings.” NIV
Contrary to what most people believe, Satan is beautiful in appearance, but rotten inside. His pride led to his downfall. He wanted to be above God.
Isa 14:12-15 “How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit.” NIV
Rev 12:7-9 “And there was war 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.” NIV
As a consequence of his rebellion in heaven, he was hurled down to our planet. He deceived our first parents (see Gen 3) and took over their dominion over our planet. He is now called the “prince of this world” (see John 12:31) He continues even today to lead the world astray.
Please note that God gave him freedom of choice, just like He does to us. We can choose life (a life with God at our side) or we can choose death (a life independent from God). He gave us the option of choice because He cares for us. Oh how it hurts Him to see His creation go astray!
Characteristics
He has control over our world: 1 John 5:19 “The whole world is under the control of the evil one.” NIV No wonder no one is truly happy!
He is a deceiver 2 Cor 11:3 “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” NIV
His deceptions are quite effective. 2 Cor 11:14 “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” NIV This is why it is so important to compare anyone and anything to God’s Word, as God will NEVER contradict His Word.
He tempts people, even tempted the Son of God, though without any success (see Luke 4:1-12), always looking for an opportune time. Luke 4:13 “When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.” NIV
He even afflicts God’s people: Luke 13:16 “Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” NIV
and
1 Thess 2:18 “For we wanted to come to you-certainly I, Paul, did, again and again-but Satan stopped us.” NIV
Satan’s passion is to be worshipped: Matt 4:8-9 “Again, the devil 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.” NIV
and
Rev 13:4 “Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?” NIV
He will try anything to hinder anyone from coming to Jesus Christ. Matt 13:19 “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.” NIV
He even resorts on accusing the very elect of God: Zech 3:1 “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.” NIV
He is a liar and the father of lies. Don’t believe him. He seems to excel in mixing some truth with his lies. John 8:44 “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” NIV
Is He still a threat?
Heb 2:14-15 “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” NIV
Another Bible version of this text says: Heb 2:14 “Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” ASV
“bring to nought” means to bring to zero. Jesus brought Satan to zero through his death and resurrection! Satan lost his dominion over us when Jesus died on the cross. Jesus carried our sins and died in our place, so that we could experience eternal freedom and happiness. Wow! Thank you Jesus!
Just before being crucified, Jesus announced: John 12:31-33 “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” NIV The devil was conquered and defeated when Jesus died on the cross. Hallelujah!
Who has overcome the world and Satan? Jesus! We have nothing to fear any longer!
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” NIV
1 John 3:8 “[But] he who commits sin [who practices evildoing] is of the devil [takes his character from the evil one], for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done].” AMP
Here again the Bible confirms that Jesus made the devil just a barking dog without a bite!
Col 2:15 “[God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross].” AMP
The devil and his armies were clearly defeated at the cross. Jesus’ triumph was not for Himself, but for us! We have authority over the devils, as Jesus gave us that authority:
Luke 10:19-20 “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” NIV
Why be scared of the devil with such a promise from Jesus Himself! We are Christians to whom Jesus gave authority over demons “to overcome all the power of the enemy’! What can the devil do against us? “Nothing will harm you!”. This is Jesus’ promise.
A lot of times people ask God to take care of their problems, but Jesus gave them authority to take care of their problems themselves! Who has the authority? Read Luke 10:19-20 again. We do!
If we don’t use that authority, the devil will be all over us. Eph 6:13-14 “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” NIV
Who is supposed to stand? We do!
Read these powerful words Jesus said to Simon Peter. Luke 22:31-32 1 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” NIV
Notice that Jesus prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail. But whose responsibility was it to not fail in his faith? Simon Peter’s! It’s up to us to use our authority.
James 4:7 “Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” ASV
Who is supposed to resist the devil? We are! None of these texts talk about God intervening for us. Why not? Because God has given us authority through Jesus to be victorious. We have to claim that authority!
Peter understood this clearly as he later wrote: 1 Peter 5:8-9 “Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, whom withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world.” ASV
Who is to withstand the devil? We are! Satan is but a roaring lion. He has no bite, unless you let him. If you waver in your authority, he will take advantage over you. That authority is so total, that it gives you victory over habitual sin!
Rom 6:5-7 “For if we have become united with (him) in the likeness of his death, we shall be also (in the likeness) of his resurrection; knowing this, that our old man was crucified with (him), that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin; for he that hath died is justified from sin.” ASV
We have the riches in Christ. Healing is ours! Salvation is ours! Dominion over sin is ours! Dominion over the works of the evil one is ours! All we have to do is claim it! Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus for sharing your victory with us! The devil is paralyzed, is put to zero through Christ! Victory is ours, thanks to Jesus Christ!
Satan’s destiny is guaranteed: Rev 20:10 “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulphur…” NIV It is up to you if you will join him or not in his final destination, as Rev 20:15 ‘If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” NIV
Are you leading a life independent from God? There is still time to do something about it. Don’t follow the example of the deceiver. All he will do to you is deceive you and lie to you. Only one can give you inner peace and victory over your sins: Jesus Christ. Come to Him and accept Him into your life before it is too late. Why don’t you do so by accepting the Saviour’s call!
Rob Chaffart
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“Satan SA’TAN, n. [Heb. an adversary.] The grand adversary of man; the devil or prince of darkness; the chief of the fallen angels.” (Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary of American English)
The fact of Satan being mentioned in the Bible indicates there is something real about his existence. There are many references, direct and indirect, that refer to him. It would take several volumes to do justice to all that has been written…..
It is difficult to conceive of God, as creator of all things, having created something evil.
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. (Luke 10:18 KJV)
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 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. (Revelation 12:7-9 KJV)
These verses suggest that we can identify Satan with the fallen angels.
Satan Is Real (An illustration from 2000+ Illustrations from the Bible, an add-on to the e-sword package available from http://e-sword.net)
A man came to Charles Finney, the well-known evangelist, and said, “I don’t believe in the existence of a devil.” “Don’t you?” asked Finney. “Well, you resist him for a while, and you will believe in it.” That’s what the second commandment of James is: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (Jam_4:7). A godly life is characterized by its conflicts with sin. The place most frequented by Satan is where holiness dwells.
Richard Voogd
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This is easy. Satan is ALL around us. He is becoming more and more evident too as we see all the baby murdering going on and the violence and disease and war. Satan is at the heart of every bit of it……………..Plus scripture proves it!
Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) This scripture lets us know that Satan is a deceiver. A sneak.
“The devil sinneth from the beginning” (1 John 3:8) This scripture lets us know that Satan was a sinner from the very beginning and remains so!
Satan “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 if it” (John 8:44) This scripture tells us that Satan was a murderer right off and knows no truth. He is nothing but a liar. All the lies and deceiving that go on in this world are complete proof of his horrid existence.
“In the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1) This scripture pretty much spells out what is happening right now in this world. How some people stray away from the Lord and give in to Satan’s wishes. It’s proof in abortion, murder, war, starvation, disease, etc. We see it every single day whether on the news on TV or in the newspaper. It’s everywhere! Satan’s luring is ramped.
Satan may take away the Word that has been sown in people’s hearts if they don’t believe it (Matthew 13:19). This scripture is telling straight out how if we don’t BELIEVE in the word of God and the teachings of Him, then Satan will take over our thoughts and deeds.
The powers of darkness fight against the saints (Ephesians 6:12) This is true in everyday life. How good and bad are always fighting against each other. That is why we must stand firm in the Lord. Not sway or falter! Not leave the teaching of the Bible.
The devils believe in God and tremble (James 2:19) This lets us know that Satan is scared of the Lord. So the best thing we can do is make it impossible for him to gain access to us by standing firm in God and not letting him in our hearts and thoughts.
Oh yes, Satan definitely exists. No doubt about it. He will exist until the time of our Lord’s coming again. Then Revelations tells how the Lord will ‘blow him away’ so to speak. I truly love reading that part. So, it’s a never ending battle in this evil world. So we must continue to listen to Jesus Christ, and by doing that make Satan just keep on shrinking. He hates and fears God and will truly tremble and be angry that we are listening to our Lord. And that is what we want. So let him keep on trying and not get anywhere. Because we wear the armour of the Lord.
DeeDee
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Well, if it were not for the reality of Satan, there would be no evil on this planet. Jesus would not have had to come here and die and there would be no death for any of us. Let us look at what the bible tells us of Satan.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].
Lucifer was a beautiful angel (he still is) who was an anointing cherub who covered the throne of God with his wings and was perfect from the day he was created until iniquity was found in him. This was able to happen because all the sentient beings that God has created were given a free will.
Ezekiel 28:13 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.
Ezekiel 28:14 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.
Ezekiel 28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Ezekiel 28:16 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.
Ezekiel 28:17 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.
Ezekiel 28:18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
Ezekiel 28:19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.
Isaiah 14:12 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!
Isaiah 14:13 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:
Isaiah 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Isaiah 14:15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Lucifer must have gone out in the kingdom of heaven and waged a political campaign because one third of the angels came over to his side. This enabled him to mount what we would call a military coup. There was war in heaven. We are not told how this war was waged. It may have been like ‘Star Wars’ with turbo lasers, we do not know those details. What we do know is that the Archangel Michael fought against Lucifer and cast him and his angels out of heaven. We also do not know when this happened but it must have been around the time of our creation, because he came here after being cast out of heaven and found the earth occupied by Adam and Eve. We also do not know how long Adam and Eve lived before their fall.
Revelation 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
This verse is in the context of the devil waiting to destroy baby Jesus, but it has reference to his tail drawing a third part of the stars (angels) of heaven.
Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Revelation 12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in 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.
Now the planetary leader of earth was the newly created man, Adam. Lucifer (Satan, devil) could not have remained here unless he was able to persuade Adam to do like the evil angels did and change over to his side. He did not tell Adam what it was all about, he practised deceit. God had also given Adam and his wife Eve, a free will. And so they could choose between obedience and disobedience, he forbade them only one thing. They were not to eat of a certain tree or they would grow old and die. The original Hebrew reads ‘dying thou shalt die’.
Satan entered into a serpent which at that time was a beautiful creature that could (perhaps) fly. He tempted Eve to sample the forbidden fruit and told her she would not surely die but would become as God, knowing good and evil. Well, you know the story. Eve ate of the fruit and gave some to Adam who also ate of it. They got their knowledge of good and evil all right, but what they did not realize was that Satan was now the planetary leader of earth. He had ‘bought’ Adam’s possession from him.
God’s laws provided for man to redeem the earth back from Satan, but there was a catch. Later, God gave laws of redemption to the Jews which help us to understand. If a man fell on hard times and sold the farm to another, an agreement was drawn up at that time in the same way we do now. However, that agreement also included an agreed redemption price which would allow the seller or his son or grandson to buy back the farm by paying the redemption price. These agreements usually provided a period of grace for the buyer to allow him to get off a crop or whatever before having to vacate the farm upon redemption. If he failed to get off by the agreed time, the redeemer had the right to take the agreement, open the seals on it, and with the open document as his authority, use whatever force was necessary to retake possession of the farm.
In the transaction concerning the earth, mankind was in a bit of a pickle. The wages of sin is death, and the price of redemption was the death of a man who must be a legal descendent of Adam, but in the same spiritual condition as Adam was when he made the ‘sale’. Since Adam was now sinful he could not do it; and since this condition was passed on to all his descendants by birth, no man could do it, ever. Satan was laughing.
We know Satan represented the earth at conferences in heaven. He had previously been exiled from heaven but now, as the ‘owner’ of the planet Earth, he was permitted access.
Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Job 1:7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
God, however, had a plan which was formed before the world began. The Son of God would become a man and accomplish the redemption of the earth and mankind from Satan.
2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
In fact, God even gave Adam and Eve a promise to this effect right back when He was handing out the punishment to them.
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
So in due course the eternal Word of God, who had created the heaven and the earth and all that in them is, became the seed of the woman. Had Jesus been the ‘seed of the man’ He would not have been born with a sinless nature. He was conceived by the Holy Ghost in the body of the woman, Mary. Because His natural father was God, He was the Son of God. Because His mother was a human woman, He was the Son of man; a title He often referred to Himself as. Because of the miracle of His birth, He was qualified to be the redeemer of the Earth, so long as He remained without sin. That Jesus could have sinned is evident by the tempting of Him. He could not have been tempted if it was not possible for Him to sin. Imagine what would have happened if He did. All God’s eggs were in one basket and that was a human man. Jesus could not use His divinity to accomplish our redemption or He would have been accused of cheating by the devil. He had to do it all as a frail man. Think of the responsibility.
Well Jesus carried it off and we all know the story of His trial and crucifixion and subsequent resurrection. Having paid the redemption price, the earth and mankind now belong to the Man Jesus. From that time, Satan no longer represented us in heaven and there is a verse that indicates this.
Luke 10:17 ¶ And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
Luke 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
I don’t think the period we have been waiting for Jesus to return is an ‘agreed’ period as such because Satan does not know the time it will happen. Neither do we; and neither did Jesus when He was living here. The time was known to the Father only. (for security reasons I expect). Nevertheless, we know from the signs we were given that the return of Jesus is very close.
In Revelation we are given a glimpse of the Father holding up a document and calling for someone to come forward and take it. Only one in all of heaven was worthy to take the document from the father, our redeemer. Jesus steps forward and takes the document and then proceeds to open the seals on it. As the seals are opened we are given prophecy, most of which is history now. When the last seal is opened is when Jesus returns to retake His possession by force. That event is what every Christian looks forward to. The dead in Christ will rise first and then those who are alive will be changed and caught up.
Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Not everyone is going to go to heaven with Him when He returns. We still have a free will which God will not interfere with. We have to choose to go with Jesus, and we can choose not to. Which way have you chosen dear reader?
Lance Wearmouth
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I see God all around me in the beauty of the day and in the eyes of Children. I see satan in the eyes of the drug addicts and those who have lost hope. Through the power of discernment, I know the evils of this world are of satan and know the goodness is of God.
BJ Cassady