Is Satan real?
Does Satan exist?
Is he real, or just a fictitious character in a red suit with a pitchfork?
People have pondered this question for centuries.
Jesus said that Satan is real, that he fell from grace, and that he's our enemy luring us into sin.
"Jesus said a good deal about Satan.
(Click on the links)
Called him "the enemy" (Matthew 13:39).
"The evil one" (Matthew 13:38).
"The prince of this world" (John 12:31; 14:30).
"A liar," and "the father of lies" (John 8:44).
"A murderer" (John 8:44).
Said that he "saw him fallen from heaven" (Luke 10:18).
That he has a "kingdom" (Matthew 12:26).
That "evil men are his sons" (Matthew 13:38).
That he "sowed tares among the wheat" (Matthew 13:38; 13:39).
He "snatches Word from hearers" (Matthew 13:19; Mark 4:15; Luke 8:12).
That he "bound a woman for 18 years" (Luke 13:16).
That he "desired to have Peter" (Luke 22:31).
That he has "angels" (Matthew 25:41).
That "eternal fire is prepared for him" (Matthew 25:41).
The Bible represents Satan as:
"The tempter" (Matthew 4:3).
"The prince of demons" (Matthew 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15).
"Source of demoniacal possession" (Matthew 12:22-29; Luke 11:14-23).
That he put the betrayal into the heart of Judas (John 13:2; 13:27).
That he perverts the Scripture (Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:10; 4:11).
That he is "the god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4).
That he is "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2).
That he "fashions himself into an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14).
That he is our "adversary" (1 Peter 5:8).
He is "the deceiver of the whole world" (Revelation 12:9; 20:3; 20:8; 20:10).
Calls him "the great dragon," "the old serpent" (Revelation 12:9; 20:2).
The "seducer of Adam and Eve" (Genesis 3:1-20).
That he will "flee if resisted" (James 4:7).
That he caused "Paul's thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7).
Hindered Paul's missionary plans (1 Thessalonians 2:18).
Caused Ananias to lie (Acts 5:3).
That Gentiles are under his power (Acts 26:18).
That he blinds the minds of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4).
False teachers are "a synagogue of Satan" (Revelation 2:9; 3:9).
Can produce false miracles (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
Is the moving spirit of the "Apostasy" (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
As a roaring lion seeks to devour Christians (1 Peter 5:8).
Is overcome by faith (1 Peter 5:9).
Is wiley (Ephesians 6:11).
Is the spirit that works in the disobedient (Ephesians 2:2).
Moved David to sin (1 Chronicles 21:1).
Caused Job's troubles (Job 1:7-2:10).
Was the adversary of Joshua (Zechariah 3:1-9).
Gets the advantage of Christians (2 Corinthians 2:11).
Evil men are his children (1 John 3:8; 3:10).
Is there really a devil? The language of Jesus certainly indicates his own belief in the existence of a personal devil.
Jesus knew what he was talking about. If Jesus was merely accommodating himself to popular error, his words are no revelation of truth at all, for who, then, can discern between the actual truth that he is aiming to teach and the error that he speaks of as if it were truth?"
(From "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; pages 497-499)
Is he real, or just a fictitious character in a red suit with a pitchfork?
People have pondered this question for centuries.
Jesus said that Satan is real, that he fell from grace, and that he's our enemy luring us into sin.
"Jesus said a good deal about Satan.
(Click on the links)
Called him "the enemy" (Matthew 13:39).
"The evil one" (Matthew 13:38).
"The prince of this world" (John 12:31; 14:30).
"A liar," and "the father of lies" (John 8:44).
"A murderer" (John 8:44).
Said that he "saw him fallen from heaven" (Luke 10:18).
That he has a "kingdom" (Matthew 12:26).
That "evil men are his sons" (Matthew 13:38).
That he "sowed tares among the wheat" (Matthew 13:38; 13:39).
He "snatches Word from hearers" (Matthew 13:19; Mark 4:15; Luke 8:12).
That he "bound a woman for 18 years" (Luke 13:16).
That he "desired to have Peter" (Luke 22:31).
That he has "angels" (Matthew 25:41).
That "eternal fire is prepared for him" (Matthew 25:41).
The Bible represents Satan as:
"The tempter" (Matthew 4:3).
"The prince of demons" (Matthew 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15).
"Source of demoniacal possession" (Matthew 12:22-29; Luke 11:14-23).
That he put the betrayal into the heart of Judas (John 13:2; 13:27).
That he perverts the Scripture (Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:10; 4:11).
That he is "the god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4).
That he is "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2).
That he "fashions himself into an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14).
That he is our "adversary" (1 Peter 5:8).
He is "the deceiver of the whole world" (Revelation 12:9; 20:3; 20:8; 20:10).
Calls him "the great dragon," "the old serpent" (Revelation 12:9; 20:2).
The "seducer of Adam and Eve" (Genesis 3:1-20).
That he will "flee if resisted" (James 4:7).
That he caused "Paul's thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7).
Hindered Paul's missionary plans (1 Thessalonians 2:18).
Caused Ananias to lie (Acts 5:3).
That Gentiles are under his power (Acts 26:18).
That he blinds the minds of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4).
False teachers are "a synagogue of Satan" (Revelation 2:9; 3:9).
Can produce false miracles (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
Is the moving spirit of the "Apostasy" (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
As a roaring lion seeks to devour Christians (1 Peter 5:8).
Is overcome by faith (1 Peter 5:9).
Is wiley (Ephesians 6:11).
Is the spirit that works in the disobedient (Ephesians 2:2).
Moved David to sin (1 Chronicles 21:1).
Caused Job's troubles (Job 1:7-2:10).
Was the adversary of Joshua (Zechariah 3:1-9).
Gets the advantage of Christians (2 Corinthians 2:11).
Evil men are his children (1 John 3:8; 3:10).
Is there really a devil? The language of Jesus certainly indicates his own belief in the existence of a personal devil.
Jesus knew what he was talking about. If Jesus was merely accommodating himself to popular error, his words are no revelation of truth at all, for who, then, can discern between the actual truth that he is aiming to teach and the error that he speaks of as if it were truth?"
(From "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; pages 497-499)