The Devil
"How you have fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of the Dawn."
-Isaiah 14:12
The Devil has many names. He has been called Lucifer, Day Star, Satan, the Serpent, Son of Dawn, the Dragon, the Accuser, as well as many more. But who is the Devil? What is his story? People have argued this point many times throughout history. Here, I will share my opinions on Satanael, the Fallen Angel.
The angel Lucifer is described, in the Bible, as being the most beautiful of all the Angels. He was God's right hand, and so God had made him magnificent. Ezekiel 28:13 describes Lucifer, saying "every precious stone was your covering, carnelian, chrysolite, and moonstone, beryl, onyx, jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald; and worked in gold were your settings and your engravings."
The Bible tells of Lucifer's Fall in several places. The clearest descriptions can be found in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28. It tells how Lucifer, who was "blameless in his ways" (Ezekiel 28:15) began to desire more than mere rule over all of the angels. He wanted to become God; he wanted to overthrow the Lord in Heaven. Because of this, God cast Lucifer, as well as a third of the angels, down into the pits of Hell, where he would become the "ruler of this world" (John 12:31, 14:30 and 16:11).
Now, as the Devil, the Bible says, "He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to him own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44) The Bible allows no other possibility than Satan's evil nature—his sole plan is to destroy mankind, Jesus and God Himself. Despite all this, however, God still is more powerful than Satan. Satan may do evil things, but in the end, God has complete control, he always holds the reins. This is what the Bible teaches. I do not believe this.
I believe that Satan and God our equals. God is not controlling Satan—no one controls Satan besides himself (or herself—I often think that Satan is feminine). When things of great Evil happen, it is not because God has some divine plan that will eventually become clear to us. September 11, for example. That was an act of enormous Evil. I do not think God is responsible for that, nor could he have stopped it if he had wanted to. Satan caused that to happen, and the most God could do was to influence as much Goodness upon the world after the plane crashes had taken place.
The reason I believe that God and the Devil are equals is this: why didn't God destroy Satan if it was in his power to do so? No, I think Satan tried to overthrow God but could not do it in Heaven, in the Lord's own territory. The most God could do was to banish Satan to Hell, where Satan became God's equal, in his own fiery environment. I think that if Satan and God were to battle on neutral ground (such as the earth) they would destroy each other, along with the World.
I think the Devil is fascinating as a character, however I cringe when I think of all the Evil he has done. I do think that Satan will always exist as long as God does, and vice versa. After all, Virtue defines Evil, and the Universe has always maintained the Great Balance between Good and Evil. I believe that it always will, until the end of Eternity.
"How you have fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of the Dawn."
-Isaiah 14:12
The Devil has many names. He has been called Lucifer, Day Star, Satan, the Serpent, Son of Dawn, the Dragon, the Accuser, as well as many more. But who is the Devil? What is his story? People have argued this point many times throughout history. Here, I will share my opinions on Satanael, the Fallen Angel.
The angel Lucifer is described, in the Bible, as being the most beautiful of all the Angels. He was God's right hand, and so God had made him magnificent. Ezekiel 28:13 describes Lucifer, saying "every precious stone was your covering, carnelian, chrysolite, and moonstone, beryl, onyx, jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald; and worked in gold were your settings and your engravings."
The Bible tells of Lucifer's Fall in several places. The clearest descriptions can be found in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28. It tells how Lucifer, who was "blameless in his ways" (Ezekiel 28:15) began to desire more than mere rule over all of the angels. He wanted to become God; he wanted to overthrow the Lord in Heaven. Because of this, God cast Lucifer, as well as a third of the angels, down into the pits of Hell, where he would become the "ruler of this world" (John 12:31, 14:30 and 16:11).
Now, as the Devil, the Bible says, "He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to him own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44) The Bible allows no other possibility than Satan's evil nature—his sole plan is to destroy mankind, Jesus and God Himself. Despite all this, however, God still is more powerful than Satan. Satan may do evil things, but in the end, God has complete control, he always holds the reins. This is what the Bible teaches. I do not believe this.
I believe that Satan and God our equals. God is not controlling Satan—no one controls Satan besides himself (or herself—I often think that Satan is feminine). When things of great Evil happen, it is not because God has some divine plan that will eventually become clear to us. September 11, for example. That was an act of enormous Evil. I do not think God is responsible for that, nor could he have stopped it if he had wanted to. Satan caused that to happen, and the most God could do was to influence as much Goodness upon the world after the plane crashes had taken place.
The reason I believe that God and the Devil are equals is this: why didn't God destroy Satan if it was in his power to do so? No, I think Satan tried to overthrow God but could not do it in Heaven, in the Lord's own territory. The most God could do was to banish Satan to Hell, where Satan became God's equal, in his own fiery environment. I think that if Satan and God were to battle on neutral ground (such as the earth) they would destroy each other, along with the World.
I think the Devil is fascinating as a character, however I cringe when I think of all the Evil he has done. I do think that Satan will always exist as long as God does, and vice versa. After all, Virtue defines Evil, and the Universe has always maintained the Great Balance between Good and Evil. I believe that it always will, until the end of Eternity.