The Origin and Mission of Satan — Understanding Our Greatest Adversary

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth… for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

— John 8:44

The Reality of the Adversary

The Devil is not a myth, a metaphor, or a mere figure of speech. He is real, personal, and powerful. Jesus Himself declared that Satan was “a murderer from the beginning,” utterly devoid of truth. Yet, despite the clarity of Scripture, the world increasingly treats the devil as fiction—a relic of superstition.

The Bible teaches that Satan is not eternal like God. Only God has existed from everlasting to everlasting. “For by him were all things created… visible and invisible” (Colossians 1:16–17). Satan is part of that invisible creation, originally made good as one of the heavenly host.

Created Good — Fallen by Pride

The angels were created by God as immortal beings, but not as eternal ones. Psalm 148:2,5 affirms that God “commanded, and they were created.” They were made to glorify their Creator, not to rival Him.

At the end of the creation week, God declared everything He had made to be “very good” (Genesis 1:31). At that moment, there was no evil, rebellion, or sin in the universe. Satan—then an angel—was part of that original perfection.

But Scripture tells us that some angels sinned: “God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell…” (2 Peter 2:4). Jude 6 adds that they “kept not their first estate.” This rebellion, led by Satan, marked the first act of pride in creation.

Paul warns elders not to be “lifted up with pride” lest they fall “into the condemnation of the devil” (1 Timothy 3:6). Pride is always the root of rebellion—both in heaven and on earth. Satan desired equality with God, refused his appointed place, and fell from glory. His defiance turned him from angel to adversary.

No Plan of Redemption

When Satan fell, he sealed his own fate. Hebrews 2:16 says Christ did not take upon Himself the nature of angels but “the seed of Abraham.” Humanity was offered redemption; fallen angels were not.

Why no second chance for them? Perhaps because they rebelled without temptation and from a position of heavenly knowledge. Whatever the reason, their doom is fixed. Revelation 20:10 declares, “The devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire… and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”

Unable to defeat God, Satan turned his rage toward the crown of God’s creation—man, who bears the image of God.

Satan’s Strategy in the Garden

From the very beginning, Satan’s tactics have centered on deception and disorder. In Genesis 3, he used a serpent to tempt Eve, undermining both divine order and divine truth. God had established a structure: man as the spiritual head, woman as his helper, and both given dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:26; 1 Corinthians 11:3).

Satan reversed that order—using an animal to tempt the woman while the man stood silent. The result was sin, shame, and separation from God.

Satan’s method hasn’t changed. He still attacks God’s order today—undermining the home, devaluing human life, and redefining truth. He whispers the same lies: “Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1). He plants doubt in hearts, twists Scripture, and convinces people that God’s commands are restrictive rather than protective.

Modern Echoes of an Ancient Lie

Satan’s voice still echoes through the philosophies of our age. He says:

• “There is no God.” (Psalm 14:1)

• “There is no truth.” (John 18:38)

• “There is no judgment.” (2 Peter 3:4)

Just as he told Eve, “You shall not surely die,” he now tells the world, “There are no consequences.” But the wages of sin remain the same: death (Romans 6:23).

The God of This World

Paul calls Satan “the god of this world” who blinds the minds of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4). Jesus called him “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31). Yet his power is limited—granted only by God’s permission.

In Job’s story, Satan could afflict only within the boundaries God allowed (Job 1:12). Even his freedom serves a divine purpose: testing and refining the faith of God’s people. “The trial of your faith… might be found unto praise and honor” (1 Peter 1:7).

Though his reach is great, his reign is temporary. Every temptation he launches, every deception he spins, ultimately fails before those anchored in God’s Word.

Standing Against the Enemy

Satan’s mission is clear—to deceive, destroy, and devour. But God has not left His people defenseless.

“Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”— Ephesians 6:11

Truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, and the Word of God are our armor. Prayer is our lifeline. Together, they form an unbreakable defense. Satan cannot withstand the believer who is armed with Scripture and strengthened by prayer.

Conclusion

Satan’s origin reveals pride. His mission reveals hatred. But his end will reveal justice.

He is powerful, but not omnipotent. He is cunning, but not wise. He is real—but already defeated.

Christ triumphed over him at the cross, making a public spectacle of his power (Colossians 2:15). The battle continues, but the victory has already been won.

So we stand firm—not in fear, but in faith. For the One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4).