Question 1: Did God create the Devil?
Well. yes and no. Yes, He did create a Cherub that became the Devil. But God did not create evil. To become evil was a choice made by the Cherub. The Bible declares that "The devil sinneth from the beginning." 1 John
3:8. The Devil goes by many names. "That old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan." Revelation 12:9.
Answer: Satan, also called the devil, is the originator of
sin. Without the Scriptures, the origin of evil would remain unexplained.
Question 2: What was
Satan's name before he sinned? Where was he living at that time?
Answer: "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the
morning!" Isaiah 14:12. Jesus said, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall
from heaven." Luke 10:18. "Thou wast upon the holy mountain of
God." Ezekiel 28:14.
Answer: His name was Lucifer, and he was living in heaven.
Lucifer is symbolized by the king of
Babylon in Isaiah 14 and as the king of Tyrus in Ezekiel 28.
Question 3: What was
the origin of Lucifer? What responsible position did he hold? How does the
Bible describe him?
"Thou wast created." Ezekiel 28:13, 15. "Thou
art the anointed cherub that covereth." Ezekiel 28:14. "Thou sealest
up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty ... every precious stone was
thy covering ... the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared
in thee in the day that thou wast created. ... Thou wast perfect in thy ways
from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee."
Ezekiel 28:12-15.
Answer: Lucifer
was created by God, as were all other angels (Ephesians 3:9). Lucifer was a
"covering" cherub, or angel. One great angel stands on the left side
of God's throne and another on the right (Psalms 99:1). Lucifer was one of
those highly exalted angel leaders. Lucifer's beauty was flawless and
breathtaking. His wisdom was perfect. His brightness was awe-inspiring. Ezekiel
28:13 seems to indicate that his throat was specially prepared to make him an
outstanding musician. Some think he led the angelic choir.
Question 4: "Was
Satan in charge of music in Heaven?"
Answer: Ezekiel 28:13 of the KJV and NKJV seems to hint that
Satan was involved with music in Heaven. The NKJV says, “The workmanship of
your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created,”
although the exact meaning of this difficult Hebrew text is uncertain. There
may have been such instruments in heaven, but there is no evidence outside this
verse to verify it. Revelation 5:8 and 15:2 refer to harps, but not to timbrels
or pipes.
The two Scripture passages that describe Satan before he
fell are Ezekiel 28:12-19 and Isaiah 14:12-15. Satan was the “anointed cherub”
(Ezekiel 28:14). He was adorned with every precious jewel imaginable (Ezekiel
28:13). He was “the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty”
(Ezekiel 28:12b). Likely he was the highest of all angels. He was persuasive
enough to convince one-third of the angels to join him in his rebellion
(Revelation 12:4). Even after his fall from heaven, not even Michael the
archangel dared to stand up to him without the Lord’s help (Jude 9). Satan fell
because of pride. He did not like being “second best.” He wanted to be God:
“You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above
the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost
heights of the sacred mountain’” (Isaiah 14:13).
Was Satan the head musician? This cannot be answered
definitively. Scripture does not say enough about what his duties were in
heaven. Considering the fact that the angels constantly worship God (Isaiah
6:3; Revelation 4:8), it is possible that Satan led that worship. One thing is
sure: for Satan to rebel despite having such an exalted position and close
relationship with God, the devil is surely due his eternal destiny (Revelation
20:10) (GotAnswers.org)
Question 5: What
happened in Lucifer's life that led him to sin? What blasphemous sin did he
then commit?
Answer: "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou
hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness." Ezekiel 28:17.
"For thou hast said in thine heart, ... I will exalt my throne above the
stars of God: ... I will be like the most High." Isaiah 14:13, 14.
Answer: Pride, jealousy, discontent, and self-exaltation
arose in his life. Lucifer decided to attempt to unseat God and then demand
that all worship him. It was treason of the worst kind.
Note: Why is
worship such a big thing? Worship is the key factor in the ongoing warfare
between God and Satan. People were created to be happy and fulfilled only when
they worship God solely. Not even unfallen angels of heaven are to be worshiped
(Revelation 22:8, 9). Satan sought worship in the beginning. Centuries later,
when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness, worship was still the central issue
(Matthew 4:8-11). In these last days, God is calling upon all people to worship
Him (Revelation 14:6,7). This so infuriates Satan that he will try to force
people to worship him or else be killed (Revelation 13:15).
Anything or anyone (other than God) that receives first
place in my life becomes an idol which I worship.
Everybody worships
somebody or something:
Power, prestige, food, pleasure, possessions, one's own
opinion, etc. God says, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
Exodus 20:3. And unless we worship Him only, He counts us against Him (Matthew
12:30). This news is shocking, but true. If anything or anyone other than God
receives first place in my life, I am--innocently perhaps--worshiping and
supporting Satan. Does God have first place in my life, or am I unconsciously
elevating Satan? It is a sobering question, isn't it?
Question 6: What
happened in heaven as a consequence of Lucifer's rebellion?
Answer: "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels
fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 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." Revelation 12:7-9.
Lucifer
won the support of one-third of the angels (Revelation 12:3, 4) and caused an
insurrection in heaven. God had no choice but to oust Lucifer and his angels.
This was the greatest battle, by far, ever fought. Lucifer's aim was to usurp
God's throne, even if it might eventually lead to murder (John 8:44). After his
expulsion from heaven, Lucifer was called Satan (adversary) and devil
(slanderer), and his angels were called demons.
Question 7: Where is
Satan's present headquarters? How does he feel about people?
"The Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And
Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from
walking up and down in it." Job 2:2. "Woe to the inhabitants 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." Revelation 12:12.
"Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom
he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8.
Answer: Contrary
to popular opinion, 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 it
to Satan (Romans 6:16), who then became ruler, or prince, of the earth (John
12:31). Satan bitterly hates humans, who were created in God's image. He can't
touch God. So, instead, his venom is directed against people who are God's
children. He's a hateful, vicious murderer whose aim is to destroy you and thus
hurt God.
Question 8: When God
created Adam and Eve, what one thing did He forbid them to do? What was to be
the penalty for disobedience?
"But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,
thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt
surely die." Genesis 2:17.
Answer: They were
not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The penalty for
eating of the tree was to be death.
Question 9: What
medium did Satan use to deceive Eve? What lies did Satan tell her?
"Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the
field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God
said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" "And the serpent
said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day
ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods,
knowing good and evil." Genesis 3:1, 4, 5, emphasis added.
Answer: Satan
used a serpent--the wisest, most appealing animal God made--to deceive Eve.
Some think 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 won't die, and (2) eating the fruit will make you wise. Satan,
who invented lying (John 8:44), mixed truth with the lies he told Eve. Lies
that include some truth are the most effective of all. It was true they would
"know evil" after sinning. In love, God had withheld from them the
knowledge of heartache, grief, suffering, pain, and death. Satan, as he does
today, made the knowledge of evil appear attractive. Satan told lies to
misrepresent God's character because he knew that no one would ever turn away
from such a loving God unless he misunderstood His character.
Question 10: Was
eating a piece of fruit such a bad thing? Why were Adam and Eve removed from
the garden?
"To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to
him it is sin." James 4:17. "Sin is the transgression of the
law." 1 John 3:4. "He that committeth sin is of the devil." 1
John 3:8. "And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us,
to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of
the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever." "So he drove out the
man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming
sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life."
Genesis 3:22, 24.
Answer: Yes, eating of the fruit was a sin
because it was a direct rejection of one of God's few requirements. It was open
rebellion against God's law and authority. By rejecting one of God's commands,
Adam and Eve allied themselves with Satan, God's enemy, and thus brought
separation between themselves and God (Isaiah 59:2). Satan hoped the couple
would sin and then eat of the tree of life, and thus become immortal sinners.
But God removed them from the garden to prevent such a tragedy.
Question 11: What amazing facts does the Bible reveal
regarding Satan's methods to hurt, deceive, discourage, and destroy people?
Answer: Satan uses every conceivable approach to deceive and
destroy people. His demons can appear and pose as righteous people, even
clergymen. And Satan will appear as a glorious angel of light with power to
call fire down from heaven. He will impersonate Jesus. But you have been
warned, so don't fall for it. When the Rapture takes place Jesus He will remain
in the clouds and not even touch the earth (1 Thessalonians 4:17); however, at
the Second Coming every eye will see Him (Revelation 1:7).
The Bible Says Satan:
v Deceives/persecutes
~ Revelation 12:9, 13
v Quotes/misquotes
Bible ~ Matthew 4:5, 6
v Falsely
accuses/murders ~ Revelation 12:10; John 8:44
v Traps/ensnares
~ 2 Timothy 2:26; 1 Peter 5:8
v Makes
war against God's people ~ Revelation 12:17
v Binds/prompts
betrayal ~ Luke 13:16; John 13:2, 21
v Imprisons
~ Revelation 2:10
v Possesses/hinders
~ Luke 22:3-5; 1 Thessalonians 2:18
v Works
miracles/lies ~ Revelation 16:13, 14; John 8:44
v Appears
as angel of light ~ 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
v Brings
disease/afflicts ~ Job 2:7
v His
demons impersonate pastors ~ 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
v Slanders
~ "Devil" means "slanderer"
v Calls
fire from heaven ~ Revelation 13:13
Question 12: How
powerful and effective are Satan's temptations and strategies?
He convinced: one-third of the angels (Revelation 12:3-9);
Adam and Eve (Genesis 3); all but eight people in Noah's day (1 Peter 3:20). He
will make the lost feel saved (Matthew 7:21-23). Almost the entire world will
follow him (Revelation 13:3). Few will be saved (Matthew 7:14; 22:14).
Answer: Satan's
success rate is so astoundingly high that it seems almost unbelievable. He
deceived a third of the angels. In Noah's day, all but eight people 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 lie in refusing to go to see him (Matthew 24:23-26). If you
absolutely refuse to look and listen, Jesus will protect you from deception
(John 10:29).
Question 13: When and
where will the devil receive his punishment? What will that punishment be?
"So shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of
man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all
things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a
furnace of fire." Matthew 13:40-42. "And the devil that deceived them
was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone." Revelation 20:10.
"Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil
and his angels." Matthew 25:41. "Therefore will I bring forth a fire
from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes
upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee ... and never shalt
thou be any more." Ezekiel 28:18,19. annihilation
Answer: The devil
will be cast into the lake of fire on this earth at the end of the world. The
fire will devour Satan, turn him into ashes, and end his existence for
eternity. This fire also will destroy all sinners. In this final showdown, not
one being on God's side will die and not one being on Satan's side will
survive.
Note: It is not possible to adequately describe the sadness
and anguish the Father and Son will feel at Satan's destruction. He was closer
to them than any other being--a warm, personal friend. To destroy him and the
millions who have followed him will pain the Father and the Son more than the
burning will hurt anyone in the fire.
Question 14: What is
it that forever settles the horrible problem of sin? Will sin ever rise up
again?
"As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess to God." Romans 14:11. (See also
Philippians 2:10,11; Isaiah 45:23.) "Affliction shall not rise up the
second time." Nahum 1:9.
Answer: Two crucial
happenings will settle the sin problem:
First, all beings in heaven and earth, including the devil
and his angels, will of their own free choice kneel and publicly confess that
God is truthful, fair, and righteous. No questions will remain unanswered. All
sinners will openly admit that they are lost because of their determined
refusal to accept God's love and salvation. They will admit that justice
demands they must die. All will confess that they deserve eternal death.
Second, sin will be purged from the universe by the total
and final destruction of sin, sinners, the devil, and his angels. God is
positive on this point: Sin will never again arise to mar God's universe.
Question 15: Who
makes the final, complete eradication of sin from the universe a certainty?
"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that
he might destroy the works of the devil." 1 John 3:8. "Forasmuch then
as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took
part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of
death, that is, the devil." Hebrews 2:14.
Answer: Through
His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus made the eradication of sin a
certainty.
Question 16: How does
God the Father feel about people?
"The Father himself loveth you." John 16:27. (See
also John 3:16; 17:22, 23.)
Answer: The
Father loves people as much as the Son does. Jesus' key aim in life was to
demonstrate His Father's character in His own life so people would know how
loving, warm, and caring the Father really is (John 5:19).
Satan Misrepresents
the Father
Satan misrepresents the Father as unfeeling, aloof,
exacting, stern, and unapproachable (the devil's own traits). He even labels
his own ugly, calamitous acts as "acts of God." Jesus came to wipe
this slander off His Father's name and demonstrate that our heavenly Father
loves us 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
In order to make people supremely happy, our heavenly Father
has prepared a fabulous eternal home for them. Our dreams here are no match for
what He has waiting! He can hardly wait to welcome His people on the glad
homecoming day just ahead. Let's get the word out! And let's be ready. The
countdown has already begun.
Thought Questions:
1. Was the fruit that Adam and Eve ate an apple? (Genesis
3:6)
We do not know. The Bible does not say.
2. Where did the concept originate that portrays the devil
as a red, half-man and half-beast with horns and tail? (Ezekiel 28:14)
It came from pagan mythology and pleases the devil. He knows
thinking people reject monsters as fable and so will be led to deny his
existence. Those who do not believe in a devil are the first to be captured by
his wiles.
3. God said to Adam and Eve, "In the day that thou
eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Genesis 2:17. Why didn't they die
that day? (Genesis 2:17)
The Bible speaks of two deaths:
(1) The "first" death we all die (Hebrews 9:27).
(2) The "second" death the wicked die in hellfire
at the end of time (Revelation 21:8).
The difference is that there is no resurrection from the
second death. It is eternal.
Question 17: Jesus
Died the Second Death for Every Person
Answer: When Adam
and Eve sinned, they immediately would have died the second death except for
the fact that Jesus stepped forward and offered to die the second death on
Calvary for every person. His supreme sacrifice spared them (Hebrews 2:9).
When Adam Sinned, His "Undying" Nature Became a
"Dying" Nature
Regarding the first death, the literal rendition of the word
"die" in Genesis 2:17 is "dying
thou shalt die," which is noted in the margin of most Bibles. It means
that Adam and Eve would enter into the process of dying. Before sinning, the
couple possessed an undying, sinless nature. This nature was perpetuated by
eating of the tree of life. At the moment of sin, their natures changed to
dying, sinful natures. This is what God had predicted. Because they were barred
from the tree of life, decay and deterioration--leading ultimately to
death--began immediately. The grave became a certainty. The Lord stressed this
later when He said to them, "For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou
return." Genesis 3:19.
Question 18: But
since God created Lucifer, isn't He really responsible for his sin? (Joshua
24:15)
Answer: Not at
all. God created Lucifer a perfect, sinless angel. Lucifer made a devil of
himself. Freedom to choose is a cornerstone principle of God's government. God
knew Lucifer would sin when He created him. If at that point God had refused to
create him, He would have been repudiating that prime principle of free choice.
Question 19: "Is
Freedom to Choose" biblical?
Answer: So,
knowing full well what Lucifer would do, God still created him. The same facts
apply to the creation of Adam and Eve. And, closer to home, these facts apply
to you and me. God knows before we are born how we will live, but even so, He
permits us to live and choose whether to endorse His government or Satan's. God
is willing to be misunderstood and falsely accused and blamed for ages, while
taking the time to allow every person to freely choose whom he will follow.
Only a Loving God Would Risk Granting Full Freedom for All
This glorious, crucial gift of freedom could come only from
a just, open, loving God. It is an honor and joy to serve such a Lord and
friend.
Question 20: Why
didn't God destroy the devil when he sinned, and thus end the sin problem? (1
Corinthians 4:9)
Answer: This is part of the mystery
of:
v "the
mystery of iniquity (2 Thess. 2:7 KJV)
v "mystery
of [God's] will" (Eph. 1:9 NIV)
Now, how well can you
answer these questions?
1. With whom did sin originate? (1)
___ Michael.
___ Lucifer.
___ Gabriel.
2. Where was Lucifer living when he first sinned? (1)
___ On the earth.
___ In heaven.
___ On the North Star.
3. Check the items that once described Lucifer: (6)
___ Created angel.
___ Full of wisdom.
___ Rode a heavenly white horse.
___ Perfect in his ways.
___ Keeper of heaven's gate.
___ Outstanding musician.
___ Perfect in beauty.
___ Covering cherub.
4. Mark the items that tell the truth about Lucifer's
rebellion: (5)
___ He was cast out of heaven.
___ He repented and stayed in heaven.
___ He hid inside a palace.
___ His name became Satan.
___ He was the first sinner.
___ Jesus saw him being cast out.
___ One-third of the angels fell with him.
5. What did Lucifer want? (2)
___ To be worshiped.
___ To unseat God and take His place.
___ To fly across the entire universe.
6. Check the items that are true about the devil, Satan: (4)
___ He is red with horns and hooves.
___ His home is in hell.
___ He loves people.
___ He can appear as a heavenly angel.
___ He cannot work miracles.
___ He's a liar and a murderer.
___ He can call down fire from heaven.
___ Most people will follow him and be lost.
7. Which of the items below are true about the fall of Adam
and Eve? (3)
___ Satan was disguised as an angel.
___ Satan called God a liar.
___ We know Satan gave them apples.
___ Satan came to Adam first.
___ Satan hoped they would become immortal sinners.
___ In tempting them, Satan mixed lies and truth.
8. What is true about Satan's final punishment? (4)
___ He will be turned to ashes in the fire.
___ His angels will escape.
___ The fire will be in heaven.
___ Satan and his angels will admit they were wrong.
___ The fire will also destroy sin and sinners.
___ Satan will confess God's justice.
9. Why didn't God kill Lucifer when he sinned? (4)
___ Angels might misunderstand.
___ Some might be afraid of God.
___ Lucifer was too strong for God.
___ The good angels would not let Him.
___ Time was needed to demonstrate Lucifer's plan.
___ Time was needed to vindicate God's plan.
10. What one thing will finally vindicate God's government?
(1)
___ God will work some miracles.
___ Every soul in the universe will kneel, confessing God's
love and justice.
___ The angels of heaven will ask everyone to serve God.
11. What facts below are true about sin? (5)
___ Jesus has made sin's destruction certain.
___ Sin is breaking God's law.
___ Sin separates us from God.
___ Sin is easy to overcome.
___ Satan invented the sin of lying.
___ Once destroyed, sin will not rise up again.
12. Which items below are true? (5)
___ Satan attributes his traits to God.
___ God loves us more than our parents do.
___ Jesus' life revealed God's character.
___ God the Father is stern.
