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Satan the Devil

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8).

A central theme of the Bible is that the devil is the enemy of all humanity. The very name Satan, the designation the Bible uses most for this evil being, helps reveal his malicious intent. God calls things what they are. Satan is a Hebrew noun meaning “adversary”—the enemy, opponent, antagonist or foe. The verb forms of the noun mean to “accuse,” “slander” and “be an adversary”. The other term the Bible most often uses to describe this being, devil, is similarly revealing. Devil is translated from the Greek word diabolos, the root from which we get the word diabolical, used to describe something wicked or sinister. Diabolos means “an accuser, a slanderer” (W.E. Vine, Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, 1985, “Devil, Devilish”).

Jesus Christ says Satan is “a liar and the father of it” and that “there is no truth in him” (John 8:44). The Bible reveals the enormity of his lies and their impact, with the apostle John stating in Revelation 12:9 that he “deceives the whole world.”

Satan, the avowed enemy of God and His people, has only one goal: to cause as much damage to the plan of God as possible. Learn what you need to know about your adversary—who he is, where he came from, and how to withstand him.

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  • by James Ginn
Though evil permeates our world, we look forward in hope—to a future day when evil will be gone at last!
  • by Scott Ashley
Our world is changing before our eyes in frightening ways. What’s behind the bizarre things we are seeing, and what can we do about them?
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  • by Darris McNeely
A recent book puts forth an intriguing idea that the ancient gods of the pagan world have returned to haunt our modern societies. Have the pagan deities returned? Or could it be something else, something most do not understand?
  • by Becky Sweat
Satan has an agenda and if you are trying to live by biblical principles he views you as a threat. He will do whatever he can to wear you down, steer you away from God and lead you to destruction. If you are aware of what Satan wants and how he operates, you can know how to respond to his tactics and be better equipped to combat them.
  • by Steve Myers
The devil is much wilier and may be much closer than you think. The Bible reveals that he deceives the whole world—meaning he has even duped churches and religious figures. How is this possible? Could you be deceived too?
  • by Steven Britt
Every day we see and hear of terrible events—wars, horrifying violence, bloody crimes, government corruption, gross immorality, hypocrisy and more. Where do such things come from? And will they ever end?
  • by Steve Myers

Satan is our adversary, we must stay vigilant against his attacks and stay...

  • by Michael Kelley
Few people are aware of the great unseen spiritual battle taking place throughout the world. Fewer still realize that the main battlefield is within their minds!
  • by United Church of God
Few realize that God's Word reveals that Satan the devil has deceived and blinded most of the world. Only through God's calling can that blindness be healed. How does that help us understand who is truly part of the Church?
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  • by Victor Kubik
The beauty and wonder of the world assure us there is a loving God. Yet the picture is marred by evil and misery. Where does evil come from? Is God powerless to stop it? Or will it cease to be?
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  • by Scott Ashley
Sometimes I think the world is going crazy. The rest of the time I know it is.
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  • by United Church of God
The short answer is that the world is currently under the influence and power of Satan, and that God does not promise His followers that they will escape trials during their mortal life. On the contrary, God allows His people to endure hardship in order to build and perfect our faith, promising a future glory that will totally eclipse the present sufferings of this age (Romans 8:18).
  • by United Church of God
In addition to identifying Satan's methods of deceiving people, God gives us specific guidance to counteract the devil and his influence.
  • by United Church of God
The parallels between the astronomical picture and what happened in the spirit realm are striking and reinforce the points Isaiah makes here in describing this tragic angelic rebellion.