by John D Carmack

Created on: March 23, 2009

"And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

"And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."

~ Rev 12:7-9

In the first book of the Bible, we see a serpent in the Garden of Eden. This serpent tells the first recorded lie in the Bible. The last book of the Bible talks about a serpent so large that he is called a "dragon". This dragon is finally defeated, and mankind is finally reconciled with its Creator.

A serpent or a dragon is certainly symbolic. However, as is the case with symbols, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. What is interesting is that some will personify the Holy Spirit without justification, but they will say that the Devil is just a symbol and not real. On the one hand, we have a power compared to wind, fire and water that is only personified in a few places, but on the other hand is a true being that is always symbolized as either a person or a beast (a being). Yet, there are some who will dogmatically attribute personhood in reverse of the evidence!

The Bible actually doesn't dwell much on Satan. The reasons are pretty simple. First of all, there is no point in giving Satan more credit than he is due. In fact, he is quite capable of claiming his own misdeeds in a proud fashion. Second, the Bible is mainly the story of the relationship between human beings and their Creator. God is the central acting agent throughout the Bible. Satan is the ultimate rebel, and as such is a warning of just how perverse mankind could become without limitations and restraints. Thirdly, Satan is not the sole cause of sin and evil in this world. Satan may be the author of sin, but he only speeds man's depravity. Human beings are responsible for their own sins.

Yet, he is shown to be a real person. The first 2 chapters of the Book of Job are some of the longest discourses involving Satan. Here, Satan is shown to be The Accuser. He levels charges that Job will curse God to His face. However, God shows Satan to be wrong. Yet, one of the main points in these 2 chapters is that Satan has to have permission to act. God is sovereign and in control. Not even Satan can act without His knowledge and permitting him to exercise his freewill. In the Book of Job, we see Satan speaking and acting in a very

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