Six Biblical Reasons Why Satan Exists

In many universities, they teach a class on philosophy. One of the questions that always comes up, and it's one of the hardest ones to be able to answer, is, why does evil exist? Others don't have a real answer for that, but this day of atonement does give the answer, why evil exists. Today is a time of fasting and showing God that we are repentant of our sins, but is also a symbol of what we are celebrating when Satan will be bound for a thousand years and receive an everlasting punishment. So today is a day when we look forward to that time when Satan will no longer be around. God has already written that as an accomplishment. That is something that is written here, and it has his vow that it will be carried out. Let's go to Revelation chapter 19 as we follow this feast season. Revelation 19 has to do with the Feast of Trumpets, which we already celebrated. It mentions in verse 17 when Christ comes back. We have the whole description. It says, and I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried with a loud voice saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, come and gather together for the supper of the great God, because Jesus Christ is coming. And then let's skip over in verse 19. It says, and I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse and against his army. Talk about Jesus Christ described there in verse 13, that his name is called the Word of God. It says, and it goes on to say, these two, the beast and the false prophet, were cast alive into the lake of fire, burning with brimstone. So there is going to time evil is going to be wiped out. It says, and the rest were killed with a sword which proceeded from the mouth of him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh, because they're defying Christ, and he annihilates them. He's not going to let them rule again. And here's where the Day of Atonement starts, the meaning behind it. Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit, and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and he cast them into the bottomless pit, that means a place that's so deep you can't see the bottom of, and shut him up and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. So Satan will receive his punishment. He has done so much damage to mankind, but he is going to be judged, and the saints are actually going to be involved in that judgment.

And so this ceremony that is described for Leviticus 16, where we have the Day of Atonement, this ceremony is found there, and it explains the origin of evil and why Satan exists.

People have a hard time. We all do. We see death and mayhem. Look at these hurricanes that just ravaged areas. We got wars in the Middle East. And so God explains to us why evil exists and why he allows Satan to deceive people, as we see here. He's been doing it until he is removed. So let's go to Leviticus chapter 16, because this deals with the Day of Atonement, the day that we are keeping today. Leviticus 16, starting in verse 7.

It says in verse 7, talking about the high priest, he shall take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. This happens on the Day of Atonement.

Verse 8, then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats, one for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat. And actually, that's not a good translation. It used to be Old English, which was the escape goat, which means a goat that escaped into the desert. But the Hebrew word is a zazal, and it means the expelled one. So basically, you have one that is for the Lord, and the other one is against the Lord. It is this a zazal. What is representing Satan? And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord's lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering. So this is the one. This goat represents Jesus Christ and the sacrifice that he did for us. Notice he has to do that before Satan is punished. And this is all very chronologically set up. Christ already did that. It says, but the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, or the expelled one, shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into their wilderness. So here we have the term atonement. Yom Kippur in Hebrew. And it's a very interesting word as the first message brought out that this is a time of reconciliation. And this word atonement first appears in the English Bible of the Tyndale Bible. He used the translation and said atonement, which means to be at one with another person. So this is at one meant. We are at one with God when we fulfill this part here. It's interesting that this word has a description of a cloth, maybe what would be a coat that is torn in two parts. And then you bring it together and you sew it up and then it is one cloth again. So here it's the same way. There's a separation and now there is a healing. There is a restoring of making whole the relationship that we have with God and it should be with man. And then it goes on to say, verse 16, so he shall make atonement for the holy place with the blood of the goat that was killed because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel and because of their transgressions for all their sins so that he shall go for the tabernacle. He shall do to the tabernacle of meeting which remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness. And then it goes on to say, verse 20, and when he has made an end of atoning for the holy place, the tabernacle of meeting, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat. This is the one that represents Satan. Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of this live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel and all their transgressions concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, in other words, the blame, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. The goat shall bear on itself all the iniquities to an uninhabited land, and he shall release the goat in the wilderness. So he's not killed because of who he represents. And Satan is an immortal angelic being, but he is going to be punished for all the damage that has taken place here on earth.

Goes on to say here, a little later, in Leviticus 16, in verse 29, it says, this shall be a statute talking about the day of atonement forever to you in the seventh month on the tenth day of the month. That's today. You shall afflict your souls and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you, for on that day the priest shall make atonement for you to cleanse you that you may be clean from all your sins before the Lord. It is a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever. Verse 34, this shall be an everlasting statute for you to make atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. So we see here that in this very ceremony you have the goat representing Jesus Christ, and you have the goat representing the rebel, the expelled one. And so we're going to focus now on that second goat, the expelled one. Why is he called this? In Hebrews chapter 2, let's go there in verse 14, we see that he has been expelled. He has been thrown down to this earth. That's why evil exists. He's the one that motivates sins.

Hebrews 2 verse 14, where does he get his power? It's very interesting. Hebrews 2 verse 14, it says, inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he, talking about Christ himself, likewise shared in the same that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death, that is the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. In other words, bondage to Satan. And so Satan, as our adversary, is the accuser of the brethren. Revelation 1210, you can jot it down. It says that when he is cast down again, it says that he is the accuser of the brethren that accuses them day and night. He demands death.

It was through Satan that sin first entered the world.

Since God decreed that death was the penalty for all who sinned, in his role as an adversary, the devil can demand that penalty be paid.

But that penalty is paid through that first goat.

Notice in 2 Corinthians chapter 4, Satan is the present ruler of this world. It says in verse 3 of 2 Corinthians 4, it says, But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the God of this age has blinded, who do not believe lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. The God of this age. People don't know that they're worshiping a false God.

It is a kingdom of darkness. 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 12. Let's go to 1 Corinthians chapter 1 and verse 12.

It starts here. It says, Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints, he has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the son of his love, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.

So, Satan is the ruler of darkness. He likes to do his actions where they can be hidden. He influences people in the wrong way, and he's always saying, See God, he's part of your church and he sins and he should have the death penalty. Ain't Christ is there? He says, No. The person has repented. There isn't atonement for that.

And so, Satan is being reproved and rebuked at that time.

So, why, according to the Bible, is Satan allowed to exist?

We're going to cover this and give six biblical reasons why Satan exists.

First of all, it's because of God's loving plan of salvation.

Both God the Father and Jesus Christ paid the dearest price to carry this out. So, of course, remember, Satan is the biggest adversary of who?

Of God the Father and Jesus Christ. So, they are putting up with him for our benefit, to carrying out this great plan of salvation.

Notice in Hebrews chapter 2, we see this plan of salvation. And what is the goal? It says it here in Hebrews 2 verse 10.

It says, For it was fitting for him, for whom are all things, this is talked about God the Father, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons, which the term here means children, men and women, to glory, to make the captain of their salvation, talked about Jesus Christ, perfect through sufferings. So, it's a plan God has suffered and Jesus Christ has suffered indelibly, incredibly, to carry out so that one day we'll be there as a family in his kingdom.

And all of this will be put away. All of this type of life with Satan here and this present evil world, all that's going to disappear. It's temporary. And God knows to be able to carry out this plan, it requires testing. It requires people to overcome, overcome temptations. And it can't just be a theory, it has to be an action. It has to be a fact.

So, we were going to be submitted to temptations that Satan was going to bring up.

And there's a great reward if we overcome, if we don't succumb to the world.

Notice in 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 8. 1 Peter 5 verse 8 through 10.

It says, Be sober means be serious-minded. Be vigilant because your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. This is part of the process. We're going to enter the kingdom of God through suffering, through having to fight with our own human nature, with the world's false values, and with Satan as well. It says, But may the God of all grace who called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, established, strengthened, and settled. So it says, We are going to have to suffer for a while. That's part of God's plan.

And somebody had to be the one who was going to carry that out.

And so, yes, Satan has a role to test us to see if we can overcome. And by the way, it's not that long of a time, right? Because we all have just physical lives. And we're going to get to the point one day where we're going to give our last breath. And guess what? Satan can't tempt us anymore. And the kingdom is coming. And you have qualified to be in part of God's kingdom. So he said, You have to suffer for a while, but it's worth it. The second reason why Satan exists is how he came to become Satan. Because he wasn't that way at the beginning. This is a fascinating topic. You're not going to find this in a philosophy class, but it tells us how this angel was the first one who sinned, who rebelled against God. Notice in Isaiah chapter 14, Satan's fall was allowed by God. Isaiah 14. These angels do have free will. They're not robots. They can decide. And this great angel rebelled against God. Isaiah 14 verse 12. It says, How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning. Lucifer means light bear.

How you are cut down to the ground. So the term here has to do with being thrown on the earth.

You who weakened the nations. For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven.

I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. Of course, stars is a symbol for angels.

I will also sit on the Mount of the congregation, on the farther sides of the north. It's very interesting that in the universe, north of the earth, as you go farther and farther out, it's an area which is quite empty in comparison to the rest of the areas. Now we know that God's throne is beyond that universe, but it seems to be north of the earth. He says, I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. I will be like the Most High. So that was a desire that he had to be number one. Notice in Ezekiel 28, it gives us more details about his fall.

Ezekiel chapter 28. Remember, this is all symbolic of that goat that hands were laid upon him.

And eventually led to the desert.

In Ezekiel 28 verse 11, we again have a description of Lucifer, of Satan. It says in verse 11, Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord God, the king of Tyre had become very proud, very powerful, very vain, and it reminded God of the way Lucifer had become like Satan. And it says here, and of course, the king of Tyre never was in the Garden of Eden, but it's talking about this angel. It says, You were the seal of perfection. This was one of the greatest angels God had created, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the Garden of God. So who was there? Yep, Satan was there in the Garden of Eden, along with Adam and Eve. Every precious stone was your covering. So he had a wonderful garment, mentions here eight of the twelve stones that was in the high priest's breastplate.

So he was a wondrous creature, and beauty and wisdom.

Goes on to say, verse 14, You were the anointed carob who covers.

And from what we know, there are three carobims that were created. One, over a third of the angels, we have the carobim Gabriel, the carobim Michael, and the carobim Lucifer. And they were the ones that were around the throne of God. He says, I established you. You were on the holy mountain of God. Mountain is symbolic for the place of God. You were there in heaven. You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones the beauty of that area of heaven. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created. So God did not create Satan. He created this angel who became Satan through his own will, not God's will. He says, Till iniquity was found in you, sin. This was the first sin. It happened up in heaven.

By the abundance of your trading, you became filled with violence within. And the term trading is used for establishing contracts and establishing packs with others. So it looks like Lucifer, with his third of the angel, he started getting him to follow him and not God the Father through all the multitude of contracts. And here they were there basically plotting to overthrow God the Father and Jesus Christ, the one who became Jesus Christ. And it says, You became filled with violence within, and you sinned. Therefore I cast you out as a profane thing out of the mountain of God. In Luke 10 verse 17, Christ said, I saw Lucifer fall down from heaven. So of course, being the word at that time, he watched when he was cast down. And I destroyed you, O covering carob, from the midst of the fiery stones.

Your heart was filled up because of your beauty. You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground, which is again the earth. I laid you before kings. And so this is part of world history and how Satan has been involved in this.

So the second reason is that God allowed Satan to fall from grace and become the adversary.

The third biblical reason is the lesson of Job. Let's go to the book of Job and the Old Testament. Job, the last chapter of 49.

Because Job was tempted by Satan. There at the beginning in Job chapter 1, Satan is the one that talks to God about Job and says, oh, he's just doing this because of all the blessings. But you take away those blessings, you'll see he has no loyalty toward you. He only wants to get from you, Father. He doesn't really want to follow your way of life. And so God said, go ahead. We'll see if he's really just in it for rewards or if he really loves and is dedicated to me.

At the end of this book in Isaiah, I'm sorry, Job chapter 42 verse 4, it says, after that trial was over, Job did not rebel against God. Job repented before God. He says in verse 4, and this is a good part when we're fasting to read this. It says, listen, please, and let me speak. You said I will question you and you shall answer me. I have heard of you by the hearing of my ear, but now my eye sees you.

Therefore I abhor myself and repent and dust and ashes. He sees himself not as he himself sees. He's seen himself as God sees him and that we are not good and holy and just. We all need to repent before God because without him we have no hope. And it says in verse 12, now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning, for he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. So there's nothing wrong with God blessing us, but you can't set that as your goal.

Serving God first. He will provide the blessings. He also had seven sons and three daughters. And it says in verse 16, and after this, Job lived 140 years and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. So God will test us, but if we're faithful, if we stay with him, then he will bless us.

The fourth lesson is that Jesus was perfected as our high priest as the result. Something had to happen with the plan of God, that it couldn't be just God the Father and Jesus Christ having all these children, and that they would never understand the plight of humanity, all that they have to go through. And so notice in Hebrews 5 verse 8, yes, in Satan's grip, Jesus Christ was tested above everyone else. Hebrews 5 and verse 8, it says, though he was a son, talking about his divinity, yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered, and having been perfected, he became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him, called by God as high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

And so this was something that had to be part of the plan. We have an advocate, we have a high priest that knows what it is to go through temptations, to suffer, and yet he gave us his example in his life. Then the fifth reason is that all will be used by God to further a better result. Yes, in the short run, it looks terrible, but in the long run, people are going to look back and say, you know, I learned how to obey God because I was tested.

You can't really show God until you're tested, and you're faithful. A lot of people can just say they worship God, but as one gentleman, I remember when I visited as a young minister in Mexico, and we had all these visit requests, and we went to his home, and we started talking, and he says, oh, I pray to God, and I praise God during the whole day.

And we're thinking, man, that guy's very spiritual. I don't do that. So we were thinking, oh, look how he praises. And then when we got to the Sabbath, about keeping the Sabbath, then he said, oh, no, no, no, I'll just keep praying and praising God, but don't ask me to obey God there. So you see, that's not really showing God who you really care about and put first. Notice in Romans 828, Romans 828, it's when we're tested that we truly show whether we love God or not, whether we put him first or not.

Verse 28, it says, for whom? He says, and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God to those who are called according to his purpose. So yes, we're going to have suffering. We're going to have tragedies. We're going to have things that are going to test us. But you know, this is all temporal. We're going to see people again. There's going to be a wonderful kingdom.

Do you really want to live through the next five or ten years when there could very easily come to the beginning of World War III? We're just right before that time. Do you really want to go through all the tribulations and plagues? People are going to be happy they died before that time. Notice in the sixth and final answer, Satan's ultimate fate. All he's going to get is just desserts. In Matthew 25 and verse 41. Matthew 25 verse 41. It says, then he will also say to those on the left hand, those who are rebellious, disobedient. He says, depart from me you cursed into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. So there is that fate for the devil and his angels.

The demons that follow Satan right now, they're going to get their punishment along with Satan. Notice in Revelation 20 in verse 10. Revelation 20 in verse 10.

This is the ultimate fate of Satan. Revelation 20 verse 10. It says, the devil who deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone. Where the beast and the false prophet, you should say, were, because they already perished at the beginning of the millennium. And it talks about Satan and his angels. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. The word here for tormented is basa niso. And it means to vex, to torment. And it can mean the mind. It doesn't have to be the body. Because Satan is an immortal being. But he can be tormented, vexed of mind. He's going to have to contemplate all what he did. And he will be expelled. He won't have any more activity. He won't be able to deceive anyone anymore. So why does Satan exist? It is necessary for the choices to be made, either good or evil. And it had to be a reality for God's plan to work out. As we saw with Job, turned out for the ultimate good. Job was a much better person after that trial. And believe me, I can say the same thing. If it weren't for the trials, I wouldn't be any better. I'm a better person because of those trials. I think everyone can say the same thing. Our fasting is good to spiritually prepare for this next feast that's around the corner. The glorious Feast of Tabernacles. Have a wonderful feast wherever you go. God and I are blessed to be able to go to the Feast in Crete. Never been there. And bring back a lot of interesting things about archaeology. God willing.