Though many don’t wish to believe such an evil force exists, it’s a well-grounded understanding with abundant biblical and anecdotal evidence to support it. If you give the idea a fair chance, you may find it can help make sense of many things that are happening in our world.
It's short-sighted to dismiss the idea of unseen beings, especially in light of how many scientific discoveries have demonstrated new elements of the universe are being revealed that we previously never knew existed. The spiritual realm is something that God is not allowing us to discover with equipment or technology. He has kept it hidden from humanity until the end of our age, when all things will be revealed at his visible coming.
Lucifer was the highest angel in Heaven, who was once mild and beautiful, but he became jealous and transformed into a tyrant who hides his rage behind promises of peace, alluring temptations and deceptive ideas. Instead of destroying Lucifer, God wisely preserved him and allowed him to develop his purposes and plans, so that all might have a chance to see the natural results of rebelling against God’s principles. Now he is sewing seeds of ruin and misery everywhere, yet almost no one believes he exists.
This is his doing too. He works best in darkness, behind a veil of disbelief and ignore-ance. All the while he chips away at society through relentless zeal born of ambition to rule the world and blot out the image of God in man. Like a replicating virus, he seeds his ideology within the hearts of men and women, that they may catch his own disease and pass it on.
"Do what thou wilt" is his core principle teaching. It's all he needs to accomplish the utter ruin and degradation of unsuspecting multitudes. Yet he does not work alone. Human beings throughout the earth have taken up his tenets and united with his purposes, whether knowingly or unknowingly.
Lucifer is the mastermind behind Earth’s controversy between good and evil, the struggle that continues for the hearts and minds of people everywhere. The one who tried to usurp the very throne of God still has an insatiable desire to rule. While the world is busy looking for aliens and big foot, Satan and his angels are the true enemy of mankind. Evidence for his existence can be seen in several ways…
Cultural Evidence
The majority of people and cultures on earth believe in the existence of the devil or evil spirits. In the united states, a majority of the population believes he exists. This common-sense knowledge is evidence of the truth of this factor. Such pervasive ideas may have been passed down through generations, providing evidence of prevalent knowledge that goes back to the origins of society soon after the fall of man. But, also it may be based on seeing evidence of the activity of evil spirits, which many people have had experiences with.
Anecdotal Evidence
Many people have seen evidence of spiritual beings, such as evil spirits and paranormal phenomenon that cannot be explained by science. Many of the legends about people seeing mythical creatures may be from the same source. For example, the ledgends of Moth Man, coming from West Virginia, are likely deceptive manifestations of evil angels. Multiple sightings like this have been reported.
And we have the witness of truth in our common sense. The natural fear we feel about things like ghosts, aliens or unknown creatures speaks of something more than mortal fear of death. The only reason people feel terrified or afraid about ghosts and paranormal phenomenon is because it is a foreboding of spiritual evil, a knowledge of the danger of demonic possession. Imaginary creatures cannot do us spiritual harm, but evil angels, who take these deceptive forms, can take possession of the control centers of the human mind.
Human strength alone is not enough to prevent this intrusion. But Satan does not have power over everyone because God is merciful to humanity and protects people to give them time to turn to him. But many have also wandered into trouble when they becoming increasingly fascinated with paranormal phenomenon and thus invite evil spirits in to their lives.
In regard to ghosts, there are many people have seen apparitions that they call “ghosts.” But if you think about it, it makes no sense that such appearances would cause fear if they really were the spirits of dead people, whether good or evil. It’s because they are evil angels rather than dead people that we fear them.
The Bible clearly compares death to sleep, and this is an important doctrine to protect us from Satan’s deceptions. Jesus himself also compared death to sleep, and in relation to his own death, after several days resting in the grave he said that he had not yet ascended to heaven.
See also, Can you talk to the dead?
Literary Depictions
Literary and media depictions of the devil are many. Images and representations abound through which a glimpse of his likeness can be seen or imagined. But many portray him as the underdog who was unjustly treated, or someone who you can make friends with and if you just try.
All such depictions betray their true source of inspiration as coming from the deceiver himself, who continues the same work on earth that he began in heaven of murmuring against God and trying to justify himself. Satan wants you to believe you can make friends with him on the same basis that a con artist does, in order to gain access to your soul, to manipulate the control centers of your mind, to steel what is rightfully yours and render you emotionally bankrupt.
For all you could ever give to him, he will never be loyal to you. The principles by which he operates are entirely self-serving. Every man for himself, and dog eat dog. His grand promises for a “better way,” always end in despair, broken dreams and missed opportunities.
The kind of liberty promoted by the mastermind of evil, in turning away from the principles of right, results in the worst form of bondage. Though he offers the false premise of noble independence, in reality, embracing the tenets he teaches results in co-dependence, jealousy, unhappiness and anxiety.
These things may not at first take full control of a person’s heart when they turn from God, but slowly and imperceptibly grow within. Only God gives true independence and nobility, the principles of Satan bring failure, loss and illness.
We must be careful not to judge superficially about these things, however. Not everyone who claims to know God is truly embracing the principles of his kingdom, and not everyone who doesn’t claim to be following God is necessarily following principles of Satan. There are many different factors involved in every life.
Scripture
While mythology has no more basis than imagination, the Bible’s credibility has been established through verification, historical analysis and prophecy fulfillment. It opens a veil on the unseen world to things our eyes cannot now see… from history throughout eternity.
It speaks of lucifer, it says in passages such as Ezekiel 28, where he is depicted as the anointed covering cherub who’s heart was lifted up because of his beauty. Isaiah 14:12-13 says of him, How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! … For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…
Revelation identifies him as the serpent and the dragon who fights Heaven. John 8:44, depicts him as the father of lies and a murderer. But 2 Corinthians 11:14, says he disguises himself as an angel of light. Different verses also call him the devil, Satan, and the evil one, meaning of Satan is adversary or accuser.
2 Corinthians 4:4 speaks of the Spiritual blindness that he causes…The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." The prevalent spiritual apathy and antipathy toward God is one of the greatest evidences that Satan does indeed exists and is spreading his original ideology throughout the earth.
The story of King David’s son, Absalom, reflects many elements of the story of Lucifer, and shows us God’s true feelings toward him. Second Samuel records his physical perfection and how he tried to usurp his father’s throne, then tells of how his father wept inconsolably over his loss, mourning the fact that he could not die in his place.
But can mortal man be more just than God? It was not only David that mourned for a lost, rebellious son, but God himself mourns this much and more … not only for Lucifer but for every lost son and daughter that turns away from him. He doesn’t see them as enemies but as children. That tells you a lot about the character of God.
In the natural world, there are many natural illustrations of what Satan is like. Many of them are alluded to in the Bible as well; In addition to the lion stalking in the darkness, we see him in ravening wolves, vipers and dragons. We see him setting traps and pitfalls in how spiders spin their webs to catch unsuspecting victims. That doesn’t mean these creatures are evil. They are beneficial in the balance of nature, but I believe God has allowed these illustrations to show people the likeness of an unseen enemy that lurks behind the scenes on earth.
The story of Moses in exodus chapter 7, where sorcerers threw their staffs down and they became serpents, is important in how it shows that evil angels are able to somehow create deceptions of what appears to be paranormal or magical creatures.
The Question of Invisibility
Some people deny the existence of unseen beings on the basis that we cannot observe or measure it with the technology we now have. But that is not a reasonable viewpoint when you think about how much technology we have now compared to even a hundred years ago.
And such arguments are quite self-limiting when you consider that many of the same people who deny that unseen beings could exist are quick to promote the possibilities unlimited technology development. This makes it clear that denial of God, more than genuine unbelief, is the factor in their viewpoints.
Because, if you are able to recognize how different things might be if we continue to advance at the rate we have been and therefore understand that we don’t yet know everything about the universe, you should be able to recognize that perhaps there could be things about the which we do not yet have the technology to analyze. Perhaps it’s humbling to consider the possibility that there could be a God who is already far in advance of us and the very best of our technological advances.
False Ideas of the Devil
There are many false ideas about the devil, so we have to distinguish between the truth and mistaken ideas of folklore. He doesn’t have horns and hooves, he is not a little red man or in charge of hell. He is simply a fallen angel. He himself will come to an end, together with all of his followers, at the end of the age.
Spiritual Danger
Most cultures throughout history have been aware of the phenomenon of demonic possession, in which evil spirits are able to control or strongly influence of a human being. Though it’s also true that physical and mental disorders have sometimes been mislabeled demonic possession, many examples of this have been witness which demonstrated things which could not be explained by normal circumstances, such as different voices speaking from the person which they would not be physically able to produce.
Several Bible passages speak of demonic possession or depict Satan filling the heart or entering into someone. This is a view of things we cannot see in our finite power, and need the perspective provided by the Bible to help us see the unseen.
Just like how manipulative people try to bully and control others around them and make them into zombies that will follow their orders, the devil can do this too. only he is able to somehow access the control centers of the mind more directly if he is allowed to, perhaps through his advanced knowledge of brain function.
It’s described in the Bible as demon possession, where some individuals loose control of independent thought and action. But Satan is wise enough to act differently with different people. It can suit his purposes for some people to deny him, so he doesn’t make it obvious that he’s influencing them. When we let our guard down he can gain access to the mind. That can especially happen though substance use or meditation that leaves the soul unguarded.
It might be compared to hypnotism, how viruses take over a cell, or how malicious code could take over a computer. Like a parasite, he can latch onto our souls, which were made for the dwelling place of God. He seems to gain access to our minds through fear as well. This is why it’s not wise to seek fearful experiences as a form of entertainment. One of the most common ways the devil tries to influence us is through whispers of negativity, doubt or temptations that he suggests. He can also cause a general sense of oppression.
Other Activities of Satan
Aside from trying to control people, impersonating dead loved ones and taking the form of different creatures, Satan and his angels have highly developed plans to degrade and destroy humanity. He is busy in his laboratories, in a sense. We know that many things in nature are a result of his schemes, though we don’t know just how many.
Jesus hinted that the noxious weeds sewn in the farmer’s field were the result of an enemy. In this he could be lifting the veil on some of lucifer’s experiments in transforming nature to suit his purposes. The story of Job also reveals how Satan has some measure of control over nature and may able to cause disasters. He also works in cooperation with mankind to deface and destroy as much of the natural world as he can.
Additionally, evil angels are able to falsely prophesy through intelligent observation and manipulation of circumstances. It’s also possible for them to create sensational false “healings” by causing sickness and later removing it.
No Need to Fear Him
How can we protect ourselves from this unseen enemy? Many people throughout history have had false ideas about using exorcism, amulets, or placing salt on the doorway to protect from evil spirits. Such ideas have no power of protection. Only God can protect us from the power of evil. There’s no need to fear if we take refuge in Christ, who will protect all who seek Him.
But as the old saying goes, knowing is half the battle. Not believing he exists provides him with absolute freedom to work havoc. Just being aware that there’s an unseen enemy is a big step toward learning how to keep from coming under his influence.
James 4:7 tells us that if we resist the devil, he will flee from us. Ephesians 6:11-18 teaches us to put on the full armor of God, so that we can be protected from the devil’s schemes. It also teaches to pray “always… and watching …with all perseverance.” Prayer constantly connects you with God and inspires you to fortify your soul against invasion. The words of Psalm twenty-three, one of the most widely known psalms, reminds us of God’s ever-present care for all his children:
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me… Psalms 23:4
Psalm 121:7 assures us, “The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.”
Jesus lived and died to free us from the evil task master. Claiming his power, and in his strength choosing to refuse the devil is the only source of true freedom that can free us from the unseen power that seeks to deceive us.
The Cosmic Conflict
The temptation and fall of man in the Garden of Eden is described in Genesis 3 as the backdrop for Earth’s early history. Many of the same factors are at the root of problems in our world today. And in our times, we are witnessing the culmination of the great battle between good and evil that began in Eden.
As the centuries have rolled, the devil has had time to mature his plans for maximum destructive impact on Earth and to harvest souls for his kingdom. Draco’s nearness to the north pole depicts the sinister ambitions of Satan to ultimately take over the world and cast Earth’s masses of vulnerable people under the dark shadow of tyrannical cruelty.
Revelation 12 offers one of the most important nutshell glimpses of the history of the cosmic struggle between good and evil, which can help us understand the reason for the tragedies and troubles we see in our everyday lives. Verses 3-9 describe him as “the dragon,” depicting him as the epitome of evil and the mortal enemy of all goodness. Verses 7 through 9, KJV, say:
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 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 deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
Verse 12 says, “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” From these verses, we see the picture emerging of a silent enemy hiding in the shadows, an evil force lurking beneath the waters of humanity, seeking to spread desolation wherever he can.
Satan’s plans to influence humanity to join with him in rebellion against Heaven have thus far been extremely successful, even to the point that he has become the god of this world. We worship and acknowledge him as our leader when we live by his principles, even if we aren’t consciously following him. Like the original fruit off the tree in Eden,
Satan still artfully mises good with evil to sell it. Though few would buy pure evil, his poisonous mixtures sell like hotcakes. And earthlings make valiant efforts to prove how “good” elements justify every evil thing.
His influence can be seen everywhere. He lurks unseen through crowds of jeering fans and restless tumults, imbuing people with his spirit. Some even pay homage to him openly and have sold their souls to him in exchange for earthly power. Though Lucifer was once the light bearer by name, he is now Satan, the adversary. And while we are happily unaware, he is deluding and deceiving people everywhere and getting his kicks at our expense.
The Phantom of the Opera depicts a sinister character who, behind a mask of anonymity, controls Earth’s theatre stage. Satan is the man behind the mask, and how few people realize that. It’s a tragic figure who was first a son of God before being transformed into the personification of evil, a menace to society. Ezekiel 28:19 speaks of his ultimate end in saying;
“never shalt thou be any more.”
…tis the saddest story ever told.
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Parts of this article are excerpted from the upcoming book, “The Dragon’s Revenge.”
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