Who Is the Devil? God wants us to know!
Not all the angels are interested in our welfare, for besides the numberless host of the angels of God whose daily task is to assist us ‘ is a smaller host of evil angels led by the devil. Their sole concern is to drag us down to the same ruin that will eventually engulf them. The Lord Jesus warned of the “everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matthew 25:41.
The leader of this malevolent host of “demons,” or “wicked spirits “who work not for, but against, those who shall be heirs of salvation, was Lucifer, the most exalted created being in the universe. Hence he is the one who has experienced the greatest fall. Ezekiel speaks of him under the figure of the king of Tyrus, and says that our arch-enemy in ages past was “the anointed cherub that covers,” who stood in “the
holy mountain of God.” Lucifer occupied that supreme angelic position in heaven as God’s immediate attendant. He was the angel whose wings overspread the everlasting throne. And of this exalted being the prophet goes on to say:
“Thou was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou was created, till iniquity was
found in thee.” Ezekiel 28:13-15.
His heart was lifted up with pride (verse 17), and his spirit was slowly embittered with envy. He resented his subservience to God and His law, and resentment gradually developed into open rebellion. This tragedy is briefly described by Isaiah, who asks: “How art thou fallen from heaven, 0 Lucifer, son of the morning! Thou has said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will be like the most High.” Isaiah 14:12-14.
God did not create a devil. He created Lucifer, noble and perfect. Having a free will, Lucifer succumbed to pride, and eventually chose the way of rebellion, enlisting one-third of the angels on his side.
We have no record of the merciful warnings and entreaties which the rebels must have received from the God of love, but we do know that every inducement to be loyal was spurned. And so “there was war in heaven: Michael [Christ] 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 deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:7-9.
Our Lord briefly referred to this tragic event when He said: ‘I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” Luke 10:18. And ever since, that unhappy host of “angels that sinned” and “which kept not their first estate,” have pursued with venomous fury the evil purposes of their satanic leader. (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6)
The devil is primarily responsible for all the sin and misery and strife and contention in the world today. He would ban God from men’s thinking and planning, and set their minds on fire with ideas and philosophies whose end is ruination. “The devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour,” says Peter, therefore we must “be sober, be vigilant.”1 Peter 5:8. He knows he is doomed, and that
his time is short, therefore his efforts to demoralize and pervert humanity are put forth with the utmost vehemence. Because of this, a woe is pronounced on the inhabitants of this earth. (Revelation 12:12.)
But we are not left without a defense. We would, of course, be overcome if we resisted him in our own strength. But if the Spirit of the Lord dwells within us, and if we submit humbly to God, asking Him for power to overcome, then victory will be ours.
‘When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” Isaiah 59:19.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God, Resist the devil, and he will flee from you!” James 4:7.
The leader of this malevolent host of “demons,” or “wicked spirits “who work not for, but against, those who shall be heirs of salvation, was Lucifer, the most exalted created being in the universe. Hence he is the one who has experienced the greatest fall. Ezekiel speaks of him under the figure of the king of Tyrus, and says that our arch-enemy in ages past was “the anointed cherub that covers,” who stood in “the
holy mountain of God.” Lucifer occupied that supreme angelic position in heaven as God’s immediate attendant. He was the angel whose wings overspread the everlasting throne. And of this exalted being the prophet goes on to say:
“Thou was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou was created, till iniquity was
found in thee.” Ezekiel 28:13-15.
His heart was lifted up with pride (verse 17), and his spirit was slowly embittered with envy. He resented his subservience to God and His law, and resentment gradually developed into open rebellion. This tragedy is briefly described by Isaiah, who asks: “How art thou fallen from heaven, 0 Lucifer, son of the morning! Thou has said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will be like the most High.” Isaiah 14:12-14.
God did not create a devil. He created Lucifer, noble and perfect. Having a free will, Lucifer succumbed to pride, and eventually chose the way of rebellion, enlisting one-third of the angels on his side.
We have no record of the merciful warnings and entreaties which the rebels must have received from the God of love, but we do know that every inducement to be loyal was spurned. And so “there was war in heaven: Michael [Christ] 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 deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:7-9.
Our Lord briefly referred to this tragic event when He said: ‘I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” Luke 10:18. And ever since, that unhappy host of “angels that sinned” and “which kept not their first estate,” have pursued with venomous fury the evil purposes of their satanic leader. (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6)
The devil is primarily responsible for all the sin and misery and strife and contention in the world today. He would ban God from men’s thinking and planning, and set their minds on fire with ideas and philosophies whose end is ruination. “The devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour,” says Peter, therefore we must “be sober, be vigilant.”1 Peter 5:8. He knows he is doomed, and that
his time is short, therefore his efforts to demoralize and pervert humanity are put forth with the utmost vehemence. Because of this, a woe is pronounced on the inhabitants of this earth. (Revelation 12:12.)
But we are not left without a defense. We would, of course, be overcome if we resisted him in our own strength. But if the Spirit of the Lord dwells within us, and if we submit humbly to God, asking Him for power to overcome, then victory will be ours.
‘When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” Isaiah 59:19.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God, Resist the devil, and he will flee from you!” James 4:7.
posted by Michael A. Redwine at Tuesday, June 14, 2005
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