What do the following names have in common: Beelzebub, the great red dragon, Lucifer, the old serpent, the tempter, the devil, the wicked one, the god of this world, the angel of the bottomless pit, the father of lies, the prince of the power of the air, the enemy? They all represent different names the Bible uses to refer to Satan.1
Being born with a sin nature helps us to understand why it is so difficult to cope with the day-to-day struggles we encounter. But what went on behind the scenes, leading up to our inheriting this nature, is essential to our understanding the need for God’s magnificent alternative way of living.
The devil, in the form of the serpent, right from the very beginning of humanity, inhabited the same garden of Eden as did Adam and Eve. He wasted no time in enticing Eve to break the command of God regarding the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 3:1) tells us:
Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”
The serpent went on to tell Eve:
You surely shall not die? For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. (Genesis 3:4-5)
The rest is biblical history. Eve took a bite, gave some to Adam to eat, and sin entered the world. A logical question you might be thinking is: Where did the serpent come from?
The Scriptures tell us that the serpent was not always a “beast of the field,” but a creature of incredible beauty, wisdom and power. Before God created the earth there existed a vast army of created spirit beings called angels. These angels spend their entire eternal lives in worship and praise to their Creator.
One of them, named Lucifer, was the ultimate in perfection. He was created by God, perfect in every way. Indeed, he was the ultimate angel. The Bible tells us that angels are higher than man in many ways, such as power and wisdom. They, however, have one thing in common with you and me. Angel or man, we are all given a free will by our Creator, to make our own decisions.
Adam and Eve made one fatal mistake in the garden. They exercised their free will in disobedience to God. As a result, fellowship with God was broken, sin entered the world, and death came through sin.
The writings of the prophet Ezekiel begin to tell us a little of the background behind the magnificence of this most supreme of created spirits, Lucifer. For we read:
You had the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz, and the diamond; the beryl the onyx, and the jasper; the lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald; and the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, was in you. On the day that you were created they were prepared. You were the anointed cherub who covers, and I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked in the midst of the stones of fire. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you. (Ezekiel 28:12-15)
Another prophet, Isaiah, informed us of the nature of this unrighteousness:
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning. How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations. For thou has said in thine 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. (Isaiah 14:12-14 KJV)
(Ezekiel 28:16) completes the picture:
By the abundance of your trade, you were internally filled with violence, and you sinned; therefore, I have cast you as profane from the mountain of God…
Lucifer exercised his free will and became so puffed up with pride that he wanted to be God. A great rebellion in heaven followed, and Lucifer, along with one-third of the angels, were cast out of heaven and sentenced to eternal banishment. (See Revelation 12.)
While Lucifer’s sentence is permanent, God has allowed him to roam the earth until the final day when this world of ours comes to an end. As Satan, he still possesses his great power and has used it to plague mankind from day one.
He indeed is the father of lies, the great tempter and the reason behind all the wickedness and perversion that exists today. (Ephesians 6:12) says:
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
These names all refer to the demonic influences that inhabit our planet.
In tomorrow’s devotion we will share more of how Satan controls so much of this world.
1 Beelzebub – Matthew 12:24.
Great red dragon – Revelation 12:3.
Lucifer – Isaiah 14:12 (KJV).
The old serpent – Revelation 12:9 (KJV).
The tempter – Matthew 4:3.
Devil – Matthew 4:1.
The wicked one – Matthew 13:19 (KJV).
The god of this world – II Corinthians 4:4.
Angel of the bottomless pit – Revelation 9:11 (KJV).
Father of lies – John 8:44.
The prince of the power of the air – Ephesians 2:2.
The enemy – Matthew 13:39.