What The Bible Says About The Devil

(Text: Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:11-15)
By: Barry L. Cameron


Where Did The Devil Come From & Why Does God Allow Him To Exist?

1. Satan was created by God.
- Not in his present, corrupt form, but pure and good.
- Ezekiel 28:12b-15a describes his goodness.
- Colossians 1:16 tells us Satan was created by Christ.

2. He was in the highest class of created angels.
- Cherubim class – Ezekiel 28:14,16
- Most scholars agree that to be a cherubim class angel is to be in the highest classification of angels.
- Cherubim speak of God’s presence, glory, holiness and sovereignty.

* This makes Satan’s defection even more heinous and reprehensible.

3. He wasn’t just good, he was incredibly good.
- Ezekiel 28:12 – “model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.”
- Ezekiel 28:15 – “you were blameless in your ways from the day you were created.”

4. God doesn’t explain where evil came from.
- Ezekiel 28:15b – “till wickedness was found in you.”
- Where did wickedness come from?

5. While Satan does not appear to be the initiator of evil, it does make its first appearance through him.
- Evil made its debut through Satan’s choice.

Satan’s “I” trouble or 5 indicators of heart trouble:
a. “I will ascend to heaven.” (Isaiah 14:13)
b. “I will raise my throne above the stars of God.” (Isaiah 14:13b)
c. “I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.” (Isaiah 14:13c)
d. “I will ascend above the tops of the clouds.” (Isaiah 14:14a)
e. “I will make myself like the Most High.” (Isaiah 14:14b)

Ezekiel 28:16 – “and you sinned” (Satan is clearly responsible for his sin.)

* Sometimes people say, “the devil made me do it.” (Who made the devil sin?)
- We are each responsible for the choices we make. (James 1:13-15)

Why Does God Allow Satan To Exist?
* Before we answer that question, ask yourself this one: why does God allow you and me to exist?

a. God can and will do whatever He wants (Isaiah 46:8-11)

b. We couldn’t understand the reason why, even if God told us. (Isaiah 55:9)

c. God is using Satan to accomplish His plan and is in full control.
* Ephesians 1:11, “. . . according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.”
* Romans 9:17-18. Pharoah made the choice. God confirmed it and used it for His glory.

d. God’s control over Satan.

1. Satan’s final doom. (Revelation 20:1-3; 7-10)

2. Satan’s limitations now (Job 2:1;6; John 17:15; I John 5:18)
a. He rules the fallen angels (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 12:9)
b. He is the leader of demons (Matthew 12:24-28)
c. He rules the world system (John 12:31; John 16:11)
d. He is the “god” of this world (II Corinthians 4:4)
e. He abides in the spirit realms of both the heavens and the earth (Ephesians 6:11-12)
f. He has limited access to Heaven (Revelation 12:10)
g. He is active on the earth (I Peter 5:8)

* The Devil doesn’t mind if you believe that there’s a God...that JESUS was who He said He was and did what God says He did...a literal, infallible book called the Bible...the person, power and presence of the Holy Spirit... or even if you believe in a place called Heaven.

- All that’s fine. Just as long as you don’t believe that he actually exists.

* The tragic reality is that our world has so trivialized the devil, demons and the existence of a real, literal Hell, that people think the devil is a clown in a red-rubber suit, demons are a figment of some moviemaker’s imagination, Halloween is a harmless holiday and the chances of a real lake of fire called Hell where people will spend eternity is nothing more than a punch-line to a joke.

* Well, you need to know that the devil is real. Demons are here. And Hell is a real place of eternal anguish and torment.

(1) THE DEVIL (I Peter 5:8)
(a) Three irrefutable witnesses:

1. The Old Testament.
* O.T. takes for granted the existence of God and the devil.
* Gen. 3. The whole plot to the book of Genesis revolves around the reality of the devil.
* Job is based on the battle between God and the devil (Job 1 & 2)
* Psalm 106:36-37; 109:6 says that demons are behind idolatry.

2. The New Testament.
* The devil’s existence is recognized by every N.T. writer.
* 19 of the 27 books mention the devil by name.
* 4 of the other 8 imply his existence by the mention of demons or evil angels.

3. Jesus Christ.
* In the gospels, there are 29 references to the devil.
* In 25 of those, it’s Jesus who speaks of the devil as a person.
* Matthew 4, Jesus deals with the devil face-to-face.

(b) Two Unmistakable Characteristics:

1. His Person
* There are three basic proofs that he’s a genuine person.

a. Traits of personality. (He possesses intellect, emotions and will.
1. Intellect. Scheming to deceive (II Cor. 11:3). Communicating with other people (Luke 4:1-12)
2. Emotions. Involved in his rebellion to oppose God (Isaiah 14:12-17) and in his desire to dethrone Jesus (Luke 4:1-12).
3. Will. Appeals to the will of Jesus in commands (Luke 4:3 & 9) and in his opposition against God (Revelation 20:7-9)

b. Personal Pronouns. The Bible repeatedly uses personal pronouns to refer to the devil. (Ezekiel 28:14-16; II Corinthians 11:14-15 and James 4:7)

c. Moral Responsibility. Neither impersonal animals nor forces are held morally accountable. Only persons who reflect the moral image of their Creator (Matt. 25:41; John 16:11)

* Not only do we learn who he is from HIS PERSON but we can also learn about him from:
2. His Nature (Certain key facts are very clear about the devil’s makeup)

a. Creature.
- He was created by God; wonderfully constituted and holy.
- Described in Ezekiel 28:15 and Colossians 1:16.
b. Spirit Being.
- In essence, he’s a spirit. Finite and limited.
- Isaiah 14:12-13; Matthew 25:41, Revelation 12:9
c. Cherubim Class
- Highest classification of angelic beings
- Ezekiel 28:14-16, “the anointed cherub,” “the covering cherub.”
- Cherubim always speak of God’s presence, glory, holiness and sovereignty.
d. First In Rank Among All Creatures
- Before he fell, he was the highest stationed guardian angel for God.
- Ezekiel 28:12-13. He appears to have been the top creature.
- He still retains some of the leadership qualities he had before.
- He is regarded as the “leader” of the fallen angels...and without equal (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 12:4 &7)
- Probably equivalent to an archangel among the demons or fallen angels.

DEADLY AND DANGEROUS
EVIL AND ENTICING
VICIOUS AND VICTIMIZING
INNOVATIVE AND INTIMIDATING
LOST AND LOSING

(2) DEMONS (Ephesians 6:12)
- The word “angel” is used 108 times in the O.T. and 165 times in the N.T.
- There are two different classifications for angels:
a. Good, Elect or Holy Angels (I Timothy 5:21; Matthew 25:31)
b. Evil or Fallen Angels (Matthew 25:41; 12:26-28)
* These supernatural force “angelic armies” engage in constant warfare that far exceeds human comprehension. And what they do affects the course of nations and the world.

Five Things You Need To Know About Demons:
1. They are for real.
a. Satan’s fall. (Ezekiel 28:12-19; Isaiah 14:12-17)
- He was the highest of all angelic beings.
b. Satan’s following (Matthew 25:41)
- There were other angels who shared in his rebellion against God.

* The Mosaic Law warned the Israelites against “mediums” or “spirits” (Lev. 20:27; Deut. 32:17)
- The N.T. mentions DEMONS at least 80 times.
- All four gospels mention them. Most of the Epistles mention them.
- Jesus repeatedly dealt with people who were involved with demons
(Mark 1:21-34, 39; 3:15, 22; 5:1-20; 6:13; 16:9)
- I Timothy 4:1 and James 2:19

2. They are intelligent beings.
- Demons can speak, think, and act of their own free choice.
- Acts 19:13-16 is a good illustration of this.
- James 2:19 confirms that demons know the truth of the Bible and even tremble with fear because of it.

I Timothy 4:1ff. Perverse and false doctrines are the specialties of demons.

They are for real...they are intelligent beings...
3. They are spirit beings.
- They belong to the spiritual realm, without flesh and bone (Luke 24:39).
* Eph. 6:12 defines who the battle is against.
- Demons have no body of their own, but they can possess the body of someone else.

Demons can cause...
* Lunacy (Matthew 17:15), Dumbness (Matthew 9:32-33), Blindness (Matthew 12:22), and even Deformity (Luke 13:11).
- They often cause people to “mutilate” their own bodies:
a. Demon-possessed boy (Matthew 17:15)
b. Gadarene demoniac (Mark 5)

* Although they attack physically at times--the battle is spiritual.

4. Demons do not die.
- They do not reproduce nor are their numbers diminished by death.
- Gen. 6:4. They can possess physical bodies and reproduce.
- They will finally be punished by death.
- Hell was prepared especially for them (Matthew 25:41; Mark 1:24; Matthew 8:28-29; I John 4:4)

5. Demons have a hierarchy.
- They operate under a structured system.
- Vast numbers and large organization offset the fact that Satan is not omnipresent or omniscient.
* Jesus referred to this hierarchy as a “kingdom” (Matthew 12:25-26)

Ephesians 6:12. Demons are governing officials of an invisible kingdom of evil.

* Demons cannot possess a Christian. (Luke 11:14-28)

(3) HELL (Revelation 21:7-8)
- Five Facts About Hell:
1. Hell is going to be a place of evil associations (Revelation 21:8)
* The devil will be there (Revelation 20:10; Matthew 25:41)
* Ungodly people will be there (Revelation 21:8)
2. Hell is going to be a place of separation from the saints (Revelation 21:27)
* Luke 13:28 pictures that horrifying day.
3. Hell is going to be a place of eternal darkness (Matthew 8:12)
4. Hell is going to be a place of eternal dying (Revelation 20:14)
5. Hell is going to be a place of hopelessness and despair (Revelation 14:10-11)
6. Hell is going to be a place of eternal burning (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:14, 21:8)

Remember:
I John 4:4, “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
Colossians 2:15, “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

“Satan trembles when he sees, the weakest saint upon his knees.”