Popular culture has done a great job trying to glamorize the devil. Many think He is somehow cool or even sexy. They like Satan because He lets them indulge in what they want. Many would even sell their souls to him thinking it would gain them some fame and fortune for doing so. Such people’s heads are not in the right place. What is cool about being duped? What is sexy about being destroyed? Why make deals with someone who does not have your best interests and welfare at heart? The Bible provides sufficient historical background on the devil to understand his intentions and the devices He employs. Scripture also describes what would ultimately befall this angel and his followers in the future. Understanding the truth about the devil may help a person think twice about keeping such romanticized views. The method behind the Serpent’s madness
Lucifer, son of the morning, was the original name of that serpent of old, the great dragon of Revelation, commonly referred to as the Devil and Satan (Rev 12:9). He was a created being, established as an anointed cherub who covers by God himself. God made Lucifer the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty (Ezek 28:12). Every precious stone was his covering on the day He was created. Lucifer walked backed and forth in the midst of the fiery stones. He was in Eden, the garden of God. Lucifer was perfect in his ways from the day He was created, till iniquity was found in Him (Ezek 28:15). His Heart became lifted up because of his beauty; He corrupted his wisdom for the sake of his splendor (Ezek 28:17). Lucifer said in his heart, ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God, I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the most High (Isa 14:13-14). Being like God was the very Idea the serpent tempted Eve with in the Garden. There was method to Lucifer’s madness in tempting Eve in the garden. The serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made (Gen 3:1). By drawing worshippers away from the creator and getting them to sin, Satan figured He could manipulate God’s hand and keep Him from destroying Him. If you are going to destroy the devil, then justice demands you would have to destroy sinful mankind as well. Satan knows the nature of God’s justice; God would rather die than not see justice done. On the other hand, God also loves mankind and would rather die than see them lost or destroyed. By keeping His loved ones hostage to sin, the devil would be able to ultimately keep God’s wrath at bay. By doing this, Satan attempted to thwart God through his own nature. What is cool about Satan using someone as a fall guy to save his own skin?
Christ has beaten the Devil at his own game.
Despite the Serpent’s cunning, no one can attempt to outwit omniscience and win. God catches everyone in their own craftiness. Because Satan made man fall in the Garden, He is cursed by God above all creatures (Gen 3:14). Because He made the woman to stumble, God promised the future seed of the woman would someday bruise the serpent’s head (Gen 3:15); a male child who would be Christ. God would delay Lucifer’s punishment to redeem mankind from the curse. It would only be a matter of time before God would make good on the serpent’s punishment. Since that curse, the dragon has tried to devour the male child that would ultimately condemn Him (Rev 12:4). In crucifying Jesus on a tree, Satan has made a way for God to redeem all mankind. As a result, Satan had lost the main reason for God to delay his wrath. Because of dying on the cross, Jesus said ‘the ruler of this world now stands condemned.” (John 16:11). The omniscient God has outwitted the devil at his own game. Christ has disarmed all principalities and made a public spectacle over them, triumphing over them at the cross (Col 2:15). The devil finds himself in a losing battle; a battle from which he cannot recover. Tempting and accusing the brethren are the only cards left for Lucifer to play to stall and delay the inevitable. Whoever cheered the losing side when they were bad? Why jump on a sinking ship? Doing so would only make you look foolish.
Do not be ignorant of the Tempter’s devices.
People should not be ignorant of the devil’s devices. Christians do not battle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and dark powers in the heavenly realms. The Devil is the primary instigator and author of all that is sinful. Out of Self-Preservation, the Devil goes to and fro on the earth seeking whom He may devour (Job 1:7, Job 2:2, I Peter 5:8). Of Course, The devil’s intent was never to give people life or fulfill their passions; His only intent was to make them his pawn. The only way to get free agents to do anything is by making them want to do it first. He does this by deceiving them. Why go after something that will never pan out? The Devil is the Father of lies (John8:44). Cunning individuals know how to get people to do what they want and make them think it was there idea to do it in the first place. Not everyone who offers you candy has your best interests at heart. The devil blinds the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see (II Cor 4:4). The Devil works to take away the Word from people’s hearts and He sows weeds in the hearts of men. He promises relief when you scratch his itch, but doing so will only intensify the itch further. The lust of the eyes will never have it’s fill of seeing. The Devil needs to keep you eager and hungry to do his will. He wants to keep you depraved. Depravity always implies a lack for something craved. Those who belong to the devil want to carry out his desire (John 8:44). All who do what is sinful is of the devil for He is at work in all those who are disobedient (Ephes 2:2). Through such tactics, the Devil takes the unbeliever captive to do his will (II Tim 2:26). What is cool about being someone’s captive? Who wants to be the pawn of someone who could care less about you? The whole world has been deceived by Him (Rev 12:9) and is under his control (I John 5:19). Satan knew the Kingdoms of this world belonged to Him and He offered them to Jesus if He would but worship Him. Jesus never refuted this claim. For such reasons, The Devil is referred to as the prince of the power of the air. If you want to blame someone for all the evils woes in the world, blame the one who instigated them all.
The one who tempts is also the same one who accuses.
Of course, the devil made me do it argument does not keep you from personal responsibility. You have to face the music alone when you stand before God. The devil will not hold your hand on the way down. In Heaven, Satan and his servants masquerade as angels of light (II Cor 11:14). The Hebrew transliteration for the word Satan means adversary or accuser. The one who tempts is also the same one who accuses us. Revelation says Satan accuses people before our God day and night (Rev 12:10). Like Job, Satan tries to defame the innocent before God. Satan tells God that men are only out for their own blessing and saving their own skin. Because of such accusations, Satan incites God to destroy men without cause (Job 2:3). The one who has enmity for women will not be your lover. The one who stabs you in the back won’t be your real friend. Why makes friends with some who will eventually turn on you? There is no honor among liars and thieves! Self-serving angels do not have friends they only have interests. God has made Satan’s entire ministry to be the destruction of the sinful nature (I Cor 5:5). He walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom He may devour (I Peter 5:8). He strikes at their heels to trip them up. People are delivered to Satan for the destruction of their flesh. Satan buffets God’s servants lest they be exalted beyond measure (II Cor 12:7). He asks to sift them as wheat. Whenever God’s chosen people sin, God’s enemies are given the opportunity to show contempt (II Sam 12:14). He who looks down on people can never be said to love them. Why try to make deals with someone who would destroy you?
Do you really want to share the same fate as the Dragon?
All these truths about the dragon will someday rear their ugly head. Satan will stand at the right hand of God to oppose Yeshua the High priest and God will rebuke him (Zech 3:1-2). War will break out in Heaven. Michael and his angels will fight with the dragon and his angels. The devil will not prevail and they will be cast out of Heaven (Rev 12:7-9). He will be cast out like a profane thing from the mountain of God (Ezek 28:17) Satan will fall like lightening from Heaven (Luke 10:18). When the dragon sees He is cast to the earth, He will be filled with fury knowing his time left will be short. In vengeance, He will attack the only people now within his reach- human beings. He will do this simply to try and get back at God. He will persecute the woman who gives birth to the male child (Rev 12:13). He will attempt to sweep her away with a flood spewed from his mouth (Rev12:16). Once she escapes, the Dragon will be enraged and will make war with all who keeps God’s commands and hold the testimony of Jesus (Rev 12:17). Satan will work many signs and lying wonders to deceive all those who do not love the truth (II Thess 2:9-10). He will make the world a wilderness and destroy it’s cities (Isa 14:17) destroying his land and slaying it’s people (Isa 14:20). He will not set the prisoners free (Isa 14:17). He will gather the kings of the earth to fight the Lamb on the day of God Almighty (Rev 16:13-14). He will be captured and cut to the ground (Isa 14:12). He will be laid before kings that they might gaze on him (Ezek 28:17). God will allow them to gaze at him so they will no longer be enamored with him. People will gaze at him and consider ‘is this the man who made the earth tremble?’ (Isa 14:16). God promised the Serpent He would be brought down to Sheol, the lowest depths of the pit (Isa 14:15); the devil will be cast into the abyss, the bottomless pit and bound there for a thousand years (Rev 20:2). At the end of the 1,000 year reign, Satan will be released from his prison and will deceive the nations once again. God will bring fire from Satan’s midst that will devour him and turn him to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all who see him (Ezek 28:18). All the people who knew him will be astonished and find him a horror (Ezek 28:19). The Devil will be cast into the lake of fire and will be tormented day and night forever and ever (Rev 20:10). Satan shall be no more forever (Ezek 28:19). All the Devil’s children will also be slaughtered (Isa 14:21). Anyone who worships the devil will also drink of God’s wrath and be tormented with fire and brimstone (Rev 14:10). Do you really want to share his same fate?
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