Whether or not we choose to believe that the devil is real, the Bible treats him as a person, a living entity. From the dawn of time he appears as one who is opposed to the will of God. Ultimately he will be banished to a place of eternal punishment and torment, and he wants to take as many souls as he can with him. Peer with me now behind the scenes and see him as he truly is.
If you or I were devils we would surely wish to remain hidden. The success of our tactics would depend largely on our our ability to run silent, and our targets' ignorance of our existence, except when and where it would be to our advantage to reveal ourselves, we would for the most part choose to remain behind the scenes, emerging only to tempt, trick, and manipulate the ectoplasmic illusory system designed to perpetuate our unwitting hosts' vulnerability. Were we devils we would try at all costs to keep people away from any expose' that was published to reveal our modus operande. With that in mind, let us look fearlessly at what the Bible says about the origin of Satan and his cohorts. In the following excerpted passage, God addresses first a man and then the spirit at work behind the man, who, as it turns out, is none other than Satan himself. Look at how he is described here:
You seal up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. You have been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering... the workmanship of your tabrets and of your pipes was prepared in you in the day that you were created. You are the anointed cherub that covers; and I have set you so... you were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, till iniquity was found in you. By the multitude of your merchandise they have filled the midst of you with violence, and you have sinned: therefore I will cast you as profane out of the mountain of God and I will destroy you, O covering cherub... Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty, you have corrupted your wisdom by reason of your brightness: I will cast you to the ground... You have defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude of your inquities... therefore will I bring a fire from the midst of you, it shall devour you...
(Ezekiel 28:12-18)
I want to call your attention to some of the terminology used here. Admittedly, some of the wording is symbolic, but this clearly describes a perfectly created being who became proud because of his beauty and wisdom. Note that he was created, not born. The term "covering" in association with "anointed cherub" is thought by some to suggest that he was in charge over all creation, to direct its praise toward God, perhaps even to orchestrate it, compose it, and traffic it; In the phrase, "the workmanship of your tabrets and of your pipes..." he is depicted as though he were designed with musical instrumentation built right into him (a worship director?), but that he became lifted up with pride and sought to hold back some, if not all, of the glory and the praise for himself, even to the point of doing violence. Finally, notice the fire is brought forth from the midst of him, not from outside of him. Rather than crush his rebellion through government God will let him be seen for what he is. More on that later. Let us continue with the introduction:
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations! For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see you shall narrowly look upon you and consider you, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; that made the world as a wilderness and destroyed the cities thereof, that opened not the house of his prisoners? (Isaiah 14:12-17)
Here again we see, in this passage, God speaking to Satan but if you read it in context, the chapter begins addressing a ruler on earth (are you starting to catch on to a pattern here?). Lucifer, Satan's name before his rebellion, means Angel of Light. What a glorious position he once held! But he was lifted up with pride (notice how many times the term "I will" is used). I want you to file something else here: Lucifer had a throne! And he tried to go over God's head... big mistake!!! [Click Here to Continue]