Nowadays, it is fashionable to deny the existence of a real spirit called Satan the devil. We are so “advanced” in our education and understanding of things that even many intelligent people deny the existence of the Creator Himself and surely think that the idea of a real Satan is a relic of Middle Ages ignorance. What is the truth about this matter?

Setting aside our feelings or intellectual vanity, can we prove from the inspired words of God and from the acquired experience of man that the devil really exists? Of course, even using the Bible as a reliable reference is anathema to some. But if you, personally, have an open mind, read on! For the effect of the works of Satan and his demons is frightening; Satan’s actions affect the world around you more than you can imagine!

This civilization, this “era,” the period of 6000 years from Adam to the return of Jesus Christ, has been, and still is, a society dominated by Satan the devil and by millions of fallen angels, or “demons,” who followed him in his rebellion against the Creator God. Satan is not simply a general term for evil, nor is he an invisible force. He is a powerful spiritual being, an ancient cherub created by God who rebelled against his Creator. His original name is “Lucifer,” which means “bearer of light,” but since his rebellion, he has become “Satan,” which means “adversary.” Notice how the mighty Lucifer plotted to overthrow God! His great ability and vanity led him to want to rival his own Creator.

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit” (Isaiah 14:12-15).

SATAN HAS A KINGDOM

After maneuvering to gain supporters, Satan was cast out from the “mountain,” or the Kingdom of God. As indicated in Revelation 12:3-4, Satan succeeded in drawing a third of the angels with him in his rebellion against God! The Bible calls these fallen angels “demons.” Thus, Satan now literally has myriads of fallen angels at his disposal, so it can be said that he reigns over a “kingdom” in the spirit world. He also holds power over the earth. In Ezekiel 28:12, we first read a description of the prince of Tyre, a powerful man who on a human level was the absolute leader of this “New York” of the ancient world. But the prophet Ezekiel points out who holds the true “power behind the throne,” the real king, who acts behind the scenes of this pagan city. Note this:

“Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord God: ‘You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared’” (verses 12-13).

This is a personality that existed thousands of years before Tyre – in the “Garden of Eden”! This is a created being (verse 15), not a member of the family of God. So, the prophet Ezekiel reveals that Satan was the supreme ruler of this great pagan city. Satan is also revealed as an extremely intriguing personality. When Matthew describes the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, we see that Satan goes as far as quoting Scriptures, twisting their meaning to his advantage. Satan even had the audacity to quote the Holy Scriptures to the One who was their Author, Jesus Christ!

“Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you,” and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone‘” (Matthew 4:5-6). Satan continues: “‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me’” (verse 9).

Notice how Christ acknowledged that earthly kingdoms were under Satan’s control. He did not contest Satan’s authority over the governments of the world! Instead, Jesus responded with an appropriate passage of Scriptures:

“Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve‘” (verse 10).

Jesus chose to obey His Father, and to receive His reward at the time chosen by God, and in the manner of God. Later, when Jesus’ enemies accused him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, He responded to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?” (Matthew 12:25-26).

Satan has a kingdom! And as we have seen, he is the invisible “god” of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). He is the first seducer of human beings and nations.

“And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him” (Revelation 12:9).

This text is an excerpt from the book “The Enemies of Man” written by Jérémie TCHINDEBE.

We invite you to read the following article “GOD PROTECTS HIS CHILDREN“.