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Is the Devil Real?
Many people scoff at the idea that the devil is real, but he is real and we must not be deceived into thinking that he's not. Who is the devil? Learn how he's a spirit son of God who desired God's power, rebelled against God, and started a war in heaven. Also learn how the scriptures and prophets testify of the reality of the devil.
The Devil is a Son of God:
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ should believe that the devil is a real being. Just like all of us he was born in the pre-existence { We lived (as spirits) before we were born, in a place called the Pre-Existence (or heaven) with God, who is our Heavenly Father, and the father of our spirits. God presented to us his Plan of Salvation; a Savior was chosen; and Satan rebelled.} and is a spirit son of God. In the pre-existence, before he fell and became the devil, he was called Lucifer which means "Shining One or Lightbearer." He was also known as a "Son of the Morning" although later he became known as Satan.
The Devil Desired Power:
Lucifer rebelled against God and began a war in Heaven. Other angels fell when they rebelled against God and followed Satan. These are angels that have fallen from God's grace,to never return to the presence of God. . Satan and one-third of the angels were thrown out of Heaven to forever be denied the blessings in an attempt to place themselves as rulers in the Kingdom of Heaven, by overthrowing God and the faithful angels. Fallen angels have sided and allied with Lucifer by misusing the free will that had been granted to them by God.
One theory about the cause of the conflict is that when God created man he called upon all of angelic forces to bow before his new creation. Lucifer at that time being one of the highest angel found this too humbling by far and refused to debase himself in this manner and duly asked if
"A son of fire should be forced to bow before a son of clay?".
A similar theory and one very much like the latter suggests that Lucifer should bow before Jesus the son of man. In the pre-existence Lucifer was a righteous spirit (or angel) who gained power, knowledge, and authority from God. However, when God presented His great Plan of Salvation (to allow men the opportunity to become like Him through gaining a body and exercising agency) "Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power" (Moses 4:3).
Whatever the reason for the conflict Lucifer appeared to be outgrowing his post as highest of the Seraphim and chief of Angels.
Revelation 12:7-10 (KJV):
Michael the Archangel Defeats the Great Dragon
Revelation 12:7-10:
A supernatural battle occurs between the Angels of God and the Fallen Angels of Satan.
The Angels of God prevail: 7. And there was war in Heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the Dragon; and the Dragon fought and his angels,
8. And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in Heaven.
9. And the Great Dragon was cast out, that Old Serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceived the whole world: he was cast out into the Earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10. And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven, 'Now is come Salvation, and Strength, and the Kingdom of our God, and the Power of His Christ: for the Accuser of our Brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God Day and Night.'
 ..."How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! ...
WHO IS HE?
Is Lucifer the opposite of God?
Lucifer cannot be God's opposite because he was created by God.
Lucifer is the opposite of Michael. (the Head Archangel)
The traditional theory is that Satan was the angel that betrayed and then led the revolt against God. It boils down to Satan that he was very jealous of the love that God felt towards Adam. Either by transforming into a snake or just using the snake as a tool, Satan tempted Eve with the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge.
The Devil is Real:
When the devil and his followers were cast out of heaven they were sent to Earth where they, as evil and invisible spirits, seek to destroy all mankind. Although Satan does not possess a physical body he is a real being who is in eternal opposition to the Father who "seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself" .
The devil and his angels seek to destroy us by tempting and deceiving us. They try to lead us away from God and Christ. Indeed, one of the devil's greatest deceptions is to persuade us that "there is no devil."
"And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance".
Scriptures State that the Devil is Real:
To deny the reality of Satan is not only a deception, it is illogical. There are many scriptures supporting the literal existence of Satan:
"For I say unto you that whatsoever is good cometh from God, and whatsoever is evil cometh from the devil"
From the New Testament we know that Christ cast out devils (Satan's followers) and was tempted by Satan himself. Not only do the scriptures and prophets testify of the reality of the devil but you can know for yourself, through the power of the Holy Spirit, that the devil is real.
We Must Not Be Deceived:
When we deny the existence of the devil, thinking of him as merely a symbol of evil, we set ourselves up for destruction. How can we defend ourselves against an enemy we do not believe exists?
"We Members of The Church of Jesus Christ need not be, and we must not be, deceived by the sophistries of men concerning the reality of Satan. There is a personal devil, and we had better believe it. He and a countless host of followers, seen and unseen, are exercising a controlling influence upon men and their affairs in our world today."
Although we should not spend an inordinate amount of time dwelling upon the devil's existence, we still must study the scriptures to understand who he is, what his tactics are, and what his ultimate goal for mankind is. The war in heaven still carries on today. The devil seeks to destroy us while Christ strives to lead us back into the presence of the Father. Each of us is at war and we must choose for whom we will do battle. If we are deceived into believing there is no devil we may find that we are furthering his cause. Let us not be deceived. And Remember!
That Devil wants "All men might be miserable like unto himself" .  
 
Jesus has complete power over Lucifer
-- He defeated Lucifer when He
died and rose again
for the sins of mankind --.
One day Lucifer will be bound forever,
never again to do his evil work.
But until that day,
we who belong to Christ
are part of the ongoing battle for our very souls.
Our weapons are the Word of God,
being watchful,
giving no place to him and resisting him. 
| 1 | Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God! | | 6,400+ |  | |
Devotional | 56 min
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