Serpent, Devil, Satan, Adversary, Demons, Evil Spirits and Anti-Christs ***

SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE FOR THE EXISTENCE OF SATAN, THE DEVIL AND DEMONS
We think it is reasonable to say that Christians accept the existence of Satan, the Devil and demons primarily because of evidence found in the New Testament. Christians therefore default to accepting that these spiritual entities are real because they interpret everything written there literally.

Jews, of course, do not accept the teachings of the New Testament, and that may explain why they are quite silent on the subject — even though the Old Testament has its share of scriptures that identify Satan and the Devil as real characters. But instead of looking for the symbolic meaning of Satan and the Devil, Jews appear to just dismiss them from consideration because there is only one God and they, as other gods cannot possibly exist. It may also be true that Jews exclude Satan and the Devil from their theology simply because Christians include them. This fits with the general practice of Jews to categorically dismiss almost everything that Christians hold dear.

With this tendency to interpret all scripture literally, it is not surprising that people believe in the devil/satan. Consider these scriptures:

1 John 5:19: We know that we are of God, and the whole world is in the power of the evil one.

COMMENTARY: See The World.

2 Corinthians 4:4:In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God.

COMMENTARY: See Blindness.

Ephesians 2:1-2: And you he made alive, when you were dead through the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.
John 12:31: Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast out;
COMMENTARY: The rulers of the world of religion are Pastors, Priests, Rabbis, Apostles, Bishops, Elders, Deacons, Overseers, Rabbis, Popes, Missionaries and Evangelists and Kings, Queens and Princes. God has judged the world of religion to be guilty of sin. This verse says that the rulers will be displaced from their positions as idols whom religious people follow by listening to their teachings and obeying their religious laws.
John 14:30: I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me;
COMMENTARY: There is no single ruler of the world of religion which has many rulers called by many names: Pastors, Priests, Rabbis, Apostles, Bishops, Elders, Deacons, Overseers, Rabbis, Popes, Missionaries and Evangelists. Satan, and Devil, are two terms found in the Bible that symbolically represent all rulers of the religious world.
Pharisees and Scribes were the rulers of the world of religion in Jesus’ time. Jesus knew that they were plotting to kill him because he threatened to destroy their religious kingdoms. Thus he knew that his time for talking with his disciples was limited. He says that religious rulers have not power over him because he knew that God would raise him from the second death.
STUDY TIP: See Death, Resurrection, New Life, Salvation, Forgiveness, Heaven and Hell for understanding of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
John 16:6-11: But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convince the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
COMMENTARY: ***
Ephesians 6:12: For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
COMMENTARY: See Kings, Queens, Princes.

Considering the literal content of these scriptures, it is impossible to imagine that Satan, the devil, and demons are not real. Unfortunately, many well-meaning religionists have made this error. This is another example of how the The Law (i.e. the written word) is A Stumbling Block. Taken literally, these scriptures lead us to a set of doctrinal conclusions that deflect responsibility for our behaviors to external, evil forces who tempt and deceive us to do things we would not otherwise do. Taken symbolically, however, we come to another set of conclusions about our covenant relationship to God. Understanding the difference between the two doctrines is critical to our spiritual lives.

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