Is the Devil (Satan) REAL?
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YES! The Devil (Satan) is real! He is not a fictitious or "made up" individual. He is real! How do we KNOW this? Well, let's look at some of his traits and characteristics. They will show us that he is a REAL entity.
The devil has a personality and possesses a heavenly body. He does not have an earthly body like ours, but an angelic body, since he is a created being, an angel. However, he rebelled against God and became a "fallen" angel. Yet even as a demon (fallen angel), he still has his amazing angelic body with the powers and abilities which are inherent to such bodies (which is another subject in itself.)
The devil possesses intelligence (2 Cor. 2:11 & 11:3) and he has a memory (he had apparently memorized and remembered Psalms 91:11-12 which he quoted when talking to Jesus in Matthew 4:6).
The devil has a will (2 Timothy 2:26).
The devil has emotions including those of desire (Luke 22:31), pride (1 Timothy 3:6), and wrath (Rev. 12:12).
The devil has the ability to think and to organize and has, therefore, devised his own synagogues, doctrines, and "deep things" (1 Timothy 4:1, Rev. 2:9, Rev. 2:24, Rev 12:4, Rev 20:7-9).
He does things (has actions and activities) including trying to imitate God. He does this by having his own false trinity (Rev 13:2 & 16:3), and by having his own synagogues (Rev. 2:9) and doctrines (1 Timothy 4:1). The devil also has his own mysteries (2 Thess. 2:7), his own throne (Rev. 2:13 & 13:2), kingdom (Luke 4:6), worshipers (Rev. 13:4), angels (Rev 12:7), and ministers (2 Cor. 11:15). He does miracles (2 Thess 2:9 & Matthew 7:21-23) and sacrifices are offered to him (1 Cor. 10:20).
The devil has armies to fight for him (Isaiah 24:21, & Rev 14:14-17) -- but one day he and his armies will be defeated by the REAL God, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings (see Revelation 19:11-16).
What else does the devil "do"? Well, he sows tares among God's wheat (Matthew 13:24-30), he puts false doctrine into the world (1 Timothy 4:1-3), and he perverts the Bible, the Word of God, in several ways including causing it to be misinterpreted and by taking it out of context (Matthew 4:6, Genesis 3:1-4).
And there are many more things that he is, has, and does. These are just a few. The point is -- the devil IS REAL! Satan is NOT a figment of our imagination. Rather, he is a real individual and his goal is to keep everyone from knowing, loving, and serving the REAL God, the Creator of the universe.
Since, it is the devil's plan and desire to try to divert all worship and service from the REAL GOD to himself, one of the first ways he does this is by trying to make us "believe" that he is not real. Why? because, if we think he is a figment of our imagination and not a real person, then we will not be aware of his devices and schemes or even suspect them.
So, Don't be fooled or ensnared by the devil! KNOW that he is REAL and that he desires to keep you from knowing, loving, serving, and obeying the TRUE GOD!
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