Satan, who is also called the devil, is the originator of sin. Without the Bible, the origin of evil would remain unexplained.

Satan’s name was Lucifer, and he was living in heaven. Lucifer is also symbolized by the king of Babylon in Isaiah 14 and as the prince of Tyre in Ezekiel 28.

Lucifer was created by God, as were all the other angels (Ephesians 3:9). He was a covering cherub, or angel. One covering angel stands on the right side of God’s throne and another on the left (Psalm 99:1). Lucifer was one of these highly exalted angels and was a leader. His beauty was flawless and breathtaking, his wisdom was perfect, and his brightness was awe-inspiring. Ezekiel 28:13 seems to indicate that he was specially created to be an outstanding musician. Some scholars believe he led the angelic choir.

Pride, jealousy, and discontent arose in Lucifer’s heart. He soon began to desire to unseat God and to demand that everyone worship him instead.

Note: Why is worship so important? It is the key factor in the ongoing conflict between God and Satan. People were created to be happy when they worship only God. Not even the angels of heaven are to be worshiped (Revelation 22:8,9). Satan selfishly sought the worship that belongs to God alone. Centuries later, when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness, worship was still his central demand (Matthew 4:8–11). Now, in these last days, as God calls all people to worship Him (Revelation 14:6,7), this so infuriates Satan that he will try to force people to worship him or be killed (Revelation 13:15). Everyone worships someone or something: power, prestige, food, pleasure, possessions. But God says we are to have no other gods before Him (Exodus 20:3). Like Lucifer, we have a choice about whom we worship. If anyone or anything other than the Creator takes first place in our lives, we end up counted against God (Matthew 12:30). Does God have first place in your life?

Lucifer deceived a third of the angels (Revelation 12:3,4) and caused a rebellion in heaven. God had no choice but to cast out Lucifer and the other fallen angels, because Lucifer’s aim was to usurp God’s throne even if it meant murder (John 8:44). After his expulsion from heaven, Lucifer was called Satan, meaning “adversary,” and the devil, meaning “slanderer.” The angels who followed Satan were called demons.

Contrary to widespread belief, Satan’s headquarters is the earth, not hell. God gave Adam and Eve dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:26). When they sinned, they lost this dominion to Satan (Romans 6:16), who then became ruler, or prince, of the earth (John 12:31). Satan despises humans, who were created in God’s image. Since he cannot harm God directly, he directs his anger against God’s children on the earth. He is a hateful murderer whose aim is to destroy you and thus hurt God.

Adam and Eve were told not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The penalty for eating its fruit was death.

Note: Remember that God created Adam and Eve with His own hands and placed them in a beautiful garden where they could eat from every kind of tree (Genesis 2:7–9) except one. It was God’s gracious way of giving them a fair choice. By trusting God and not eating of the forbidden tree, they would have lived forever in paradise. By choosing to listen to Satan, they chose to run from the Source of all life — God — and naturally experienced death.

Satan used a serpent — one of the wisest and most beautiful animals God had made — to deceive Eve. Some scholars believe the serpent originally had wings and flew (Isaiah 14:29; 30:6). Remember, it did not crawl until God cursed it (Genesis 3:14). Satan’s lies were: (1) you will not die, and (2) eating the fruit will make you wise. Satan, who invented lying (John 8:44), mixed truth with his lies. Lies that include some truth are the most effective deceptions. It was true they would know evil after sinning. In love, God had withheld from them the knowledge of evil, which includes heartache, grief, suffering, and death. Satan made the knowledge of evil appear attractive, lying to misrepresent God’s character, for he knows that people are more likely to turn away from a loving God if they misunderstand His character.

Eating the forbidden fruit was a sin because it rejected one of God’s few requirements. It was open rebellion against God’s law and His authority. By rejecting God’s command, Adam and Eve chose to follow Satan and therefore brought separation between themselves and God (Isaiah 59:2). Satan likely hoped the couple would keep eating from the tree of life after their sin and thus become immortal sinners, but God removed them from the garden to prevent this.

The Bible reveals that Satan uses every conceivable approach to deceive and destroy people. His demons can pose as righteous people. One day Satan will appear as a glorious angel of light with power to call fire down from heaven, and he will even impersonate Jesus. But you have been warned — do not fall for it. When Jesus comes, every eye will see Him (Revelation 1:7); He will remain in the clouds and will not touch the earth (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

The Bible says Satan:

• deceives and persecutes (Revelation 12:9,13);
• quotes and misquotes the Bible (Matthew 4:5,6);
• falsely accuses and murders (Revelation 12:10; John 8:44);
• traps and devours (2 Timothy 2:26; 1 Peter 5:8);
• makes war against God’s people (Revelation 12:17);
• binds and prompts betrayal (Luke 13:16; John 13:2,21);
• imprisons (Revelation 2:10);
• possesses and hinders (Luke 22:3–5; 1 Thessalonians 2:18);
• works miracles and lies (Revelation 16:13,14; John 8:44);
• appears as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:13–15);
• brings disease and afflicts (Job 2:7);
• has demons who impersonate pastors (2 Corinthians 11:13–15);
• slanders (the word “devil” means “slanderer”);
• calls fire down from heaven (Revelation 13:13).

Satan’s success rate is astoundingly high. He deceived a third of God’s angels. In Noah’s day, all but eight people on earth were deceived. Before Jesus comes the second time, Satan will appear as an angelic being, posing as Christ. His deceptive power will be so great that our only safety will be in refusing to go and see him (Matthew 24:23–26). If you refuse to listen to him, Jesus will protect you from Satan’s deceptions (John 10:29).

The devil will be cast into sin-destroying fire on this very earth at the end of the world. God will deal with the devil for his sin, for tempting others to sin, and for hurting and destroying the people God loves.

Note: It is impossible to fully describe the anguish God will feel when Satan, His own creation, is cast into this fire — painful not only for those cast into the fire, but for the One who created them in love.

Two crucial events will settle the sin problem. First, all beings in heaven and earth — including the devil and his demons — will of their own free choice kneel before God and openly confess that He is truthful, fair, and righteous. No question will remain unanswered; all sinners will admit they are lost because of their refusal to accept God’s love and salvation, and that they deserve eternal death. Second, sin will be purged from the universe by the permanent destruction of all who choose it: the devil, the demons, and the people who followed them. God’s Word is clear: sin will never again rise up to harm His creation or His people.

Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus made the eradication of sin a certainty.

God the Father loves people as much as Jesus does. Jesus’ key aim in life was to demonstrate His Father’s character so that people would know how loving, warm, and caring the Father really is (John 5:19).

Satan misrepresents the Father. Satan portrays God as unfeeling, aloof, exacting, stern, and unapproachable. The devil even labels his own calamitous violence as acts of God. Jesus came to wipe this slander off His Father’s name and to show that the heavenly Father loves us even more than a mother loves her child (Isaiah 49:15). Jesus’ favorite theme was God’s patience, tenderness, and abundant mercy.

The Father can hardly wait. For the sole purpose of making you happy, our heavenly Father has prepared a fabulous eternal home for you. Your wildest dreams here on earth are no match for what He has waiting for you! He can hardly wait to welcome you.