I was watching television the other day and a 15 second commercial for a weekly show came on. It was for a show called “Lucifer”. Well it was quite the Holy Spirit moment, as Mike had been telling me about the talk at work in relation to this show and how the guys at works told him (Mike) should watch it… ‘it’s not what you think it is’… ‘it’s a really good show’… ‘lucifer is the devil, but he really wants to be a good guy’… etc.

In this 15-second blurb, lucifer speaks out and says ‘you need to know the truth’. Yes, you’re right… You DO need to know the truth. And with those words, here we are. I have seen so much lately of good being called evil and evil being called good. I feel compelled to speak the truth. I am going to try to keep on point… however please keep in mind that this is a huge subject. There is much Truth to be told.  You will find an article I wrote six months or so ago on this subject entitled The Truth of the Enemy on this blog at https://titus345.com/2017/10/04/the-truth-of-the-enemy/

Back to the television show… now the premise of this show according to IMDB.com is … “Based on characters created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg, this series follows Lucifer, the original fallen angel, who has become dissatisfied with his life in hell. After abandoning his throne and retiring to Los Angeles, Lucifer indulges in his favorite things (women, wine and song) — until a murder takes place outside of his upscale nightclub. For the first time in billions of years, the murder awakens something unfamiliar in Lucifer’s soul that is eerily similar to compassion and sympathy. Lucifer is faced with another surprise when he meets an intriguing homicide detective named Chloe, who appears to possess an inherent goodness — unlike the worst of humanity, to which he is accustomed. Suddenly, Lucifer starts to wonder if there is hope for his soul.” (PS I’ve read the last chapter – There is no hope for his soul)

In full disclosure, I have not watched, nor do I intend to watch, a single episode of this series. I am not writing this as a review of the show. I am writing this article as fair warning about The Truth of Deception… The Truth of the Liar.

So, let’s start at the beginning shall we. There are a good number of names found in the Bible that are associated with the great deceiver. There was some discussion at work with Michael was about satan’s name. Some said that satan and the devil are not the same entity. We can see here from scripture that satan was given many names.

According to Torrey’s New Topical Textbook, Titles and Names of the Devil and the associated Bible reference are:[1]

Abaddon – Revelation 9:11	Accuser of our brethren – Revelation 12:10
Adversary – 1 Peter 5:8 ;  Job 1	Angel of the bottomless pit – Revelation 9:11
Apollyon –  Revelation 9:11	Beelzebub – Matthew 12:24
Belial – 2 Corinthians 6:15	Crooked serpent – Isaiah 27:1
Dragon – Isaiah 27:1 ; Revelation 20:2	Enemy – Matthew 13:39
Evil spirit –  1 Samuel 16:14	Father of lies – John 8:44
Great red dragon – Revelation 12:3 ; 12:9	Leviathan – Isaiah 27:1
Liar – John 8:44	Lying spirit – 1 Kings 22:22
Murderer – John 8:44	Old serpent – Revelation 12:9 ; 20:2
Piercing serpent – Isaiah 27:1	Power of darkness – Colossians 1:13
Prince of this world  -John 14:30	Prince of the devils  – Matthew 12:24
Prince of the power of the air – Ephesians 2:2	Ruler of the darkness of this world – Eph6:12
satan – 1 Chronicles 21:1 ; Job 1:6	Serpent – Genesis 3:4 ; 3:16 ; 2 Corinthians 11:3
Spirit in children of disobedience – Eph 2:2	Tempter – Matthew 4:3 ; 1 Thessalonians 3:5
The God of this world – 2 Corinthians 4:4	Unclean spirit  -Matthew 12:43
Wicked-one – Matthew 13:19 Matthew 13:38	Lucifer, meaning morning star – Isaiah 14:12
Ruler of the demons – Matthew 12:24	Roaring lion – 1 Peter 5:8
Devil/Accuser -Matthew 4:1	The anointed cherub that covers – Ezekiel 28:14

Nowhere on this list do I see a single redeeming quality.  Nowhere do I see goodness, decency, integrity, holiness, repentant, truth, or light.

So where did satan come from? As for where did he come from, Reverend Billy Graham offers this explanation – “… unlike God, Satan hasn’t always existed, nor is he all-powerful and all-knowing the way God is. And someday, every power he does possess will be taken from him, and he will be cast forever “into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).

The Bible doesn’t answer all our questions about the devil, and we must be careful not to go beyond what God has told us in His Word. Nevertheless, the Bible indicates that originally Satan was one of the angels God created to serve Him.”[2]

We’ve heard that he is a fallen angel; the first reference of the fall of satan is found in the Old Testament Book of Isaiah chapter 14 verses 12-15 TLB

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground—mighty though you were against the nations of the world. For you said to yourself, “I will ascend to heaven and rule the angels. I will take the highest throne. I will preside on the Mount of Assembly far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.” But instead, you will be brought down to the pit of hell, down to its lowest depths.” and again in Ezekiel 28:12-19 “‘You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching. All the nations who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.’”

So what caused satan to be cast out of Heaven? Pride. He was expelled from Heaven by God because of pride.  An all-consuming, unbridled pride, that came from his lust to be equal to God instead of a servant of God. satan was the highest of all the angels, but he wasn’t satisfied with being an angel.  He had to be more. He most wanted to be God and rule the universe. At that revelation, God cast satan out of heaven as a fallen angel and with him went one third of all of the angels that with satan.

As we read about satan, we see that he is often portrayed as cartoon character, a little man in a red suit with horns carrying a trident shaped pitchfork. It is no doubt that people question satan’s capabilities, his abilities to wreak havoc people lives. But satan does exist, he is not some cute character, his existence is not based on silly fantasy. His existence is well documented in the same book that narrates Jesus’ life and death – the Bible. See Genesis 3:1-16, Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11.

When satan was cast out of Heaven, he was removed along with one-third of the angels in Heaven that also rebelled against God. Christian’s believe satan is leader of the fallen angels (demons). These demons are timeless and still exist in the invisible spirit realm; they are able to affect our physical world. While these fallen angels rebelled and were cast out by God, they are still ultimately under His control.

As we read about Jesus’ Ministry we see that even He personally faced temptation from the devil (Matthew 4:1-11), cast out demons possessing people (Luke 8:27-33), and defeated satan and his legion of demon angels through a single selfless atoning act of His death on the Cross. The followers of Jesus Christ need not fear satan’s limited power (Hebrew 2:14-15). However, we must be knowledgeable about his strategy, schemes, deception, and lies in order to recognize and resist his tactics in the ongoing spiritual warfare battle between good and evil.

Throughout history, the character of satan has been easily recognized because it is the exact opposite of God’s character and attributes. If we are not relying on the Biblical truths of God, we can easily fall into the deception of who satan is and what his endgame is. We can easily be deceived. We can fall into error. This battle that has been raging since the beginning of time for the soul of the Believer is just that… a battle. It is a war. It is a war for your very eternity.  We cannot plead ignorance.

There are those that choose to deny satan’s existence under the premise that “If I don’t acknowledge him, then he will leave me alone”. I get it, I really do. No one wants to think that there is an entity that want to kill, steal and destroy you and everything you are. However, to ignore him is foolishness, in 1 Peter5:8 we are admonished to “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” In Job 1:7 we read “The LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.””

Then there are those that choose to willingly follow and worship satan. They desire the darkness of evil and abhor the light – the light that reveals sin. (John 3:19; 2 Corinthians 11:14-15). Sadly, until they acknowledge the lie of satan, their eternity will be very scary and very sad. (Read The Truth of Heaven and Hell at – https://titus345.com/2017/10/20/the-truth-of-heaven-and-hell/)

There are also those that unknowingly elevate satan. They do this in a variety of actions -some conscious choices, and some unconscious choices… made out of ignorance of the Truth of the Liar. How does that happen… let’s start with the seven deadly sins. (more about these in an upcoming article)

Lust – to have an intense desire or need: “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28).

Gluttony – excess in eating and drinking: “for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags” (Proverbs 23:21). 

Greed – excessive or reprehensible acquisitiveness: “Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more” (Ephesians 4:19). 

Laziness – disinclined to activity or exertion: not energetic or vigorous: “The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway” (Proverbs 15:19). 

Wrath – strong vengeful anger or indignation: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1) 

Envy – painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage: “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:1-2). 

Pride – quality or state of being proud – inordinate self esteem: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).

What are the seven detestable sins according to the Bible?
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers” (Proverbs 6:16-19). [3]

I won’t go into it at this time about the sins that we as a population have allowed… abortion/murder of millions of unborn babies, homosexuality, illicit drugs now legal, pornography, rampant alcoholism, mind-altering substances, polygamy,  pedophilia, human trafficking,  anti-Christian bigotry, genocide, Antisemitism, self-mutilation, the lists goes on and on…  I’m sure you can add your own list. Each list starts when we call evil… good and acceptable

However it happens, whether, ignoring his existence, consciously choosing to follow him, or choosing to be ignorant of his ploys, this all pleases the devil. He wants us denying, fearing, obeying, or worshiping him. Unless we follow the truthful source, the Bible, he’ll deceive us (Ephesians 6:10-11).

So how are we duped by satan into believing that up is down and white is black and yes is no and good is bad and bad is good? We are duped by this liar, this deceiver, because of our lack of Biblical knowledge and discernment and by our free will. We choose to sit back when we do see events unfolding that we know to be immoral and against the will of God. We are duped when we willingly open our eyes and minds to a television show about the devil and allow it to fill our ears and thoughts and call it good. We are duped by the master manipulator when we choose to continue to allow the lies of hell to invade our minds, thoughts, dreams, and conversations. When we choose to kick open the doors and invite him in to take up residence with us.

We are drawn in by him by our choice. No one forces you to follow him. You made a choice to slide down that slippery slope. You may say that you didn’t choose to follow satan… you believe in God. I will tell you right now, that God and satan cannot occupy the same person. Perhaps you have chosen unwittingly to subscribe to his evil ways. It doesn’t have to stay that way. You have the choice to not allow him in, and if he is in, you have the choice to kick him out of your life, your home, your family, your children, your spouse, your heart, your mind, your dreams, and your desires.  You have the choice to say no. And when you say NO MORE, he must flee. You have the choice to not follow him into hell for all eternity. You have the choice.

If you have never invited Jesus Christ to come into your life, if you have never repented of your sins and asked for forgiveness from Jesus, I would invite you to go to https://titus345.com/do-you-know-jesus/, there you will find what you heart is longing for. 

 

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[1] https://www.biblestudytools.com/concordances/torreys-topical-textbook/titles-and-names-of-the-devil.html ; https://www.allaboutgod.com/names-of-satan-faq.htm

[2] https://billygraham.org/answer/where-did-satan-come-from/

[3] https://www.allaboutgod.com/what-are-the-seven-deadly-sins-faq.htm

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