The serpent seed doctrine is the false idea that Cain was the offspring of Eve and Satan, the serpent. There is a reference to that false idea in the Gospel of Philip, a non-canonical writing that is thought to have been written between 150 and 350 A.D.

There is no serpent seed doctrine in the Bible. Satan presented Eve with a temptation that involved fruit. Through Satan, sin entered the world. Thanks be to God for sending Jesus, his Son, to destroy the work of Satan (1 John 3:8).

The holy angels are those angels who did not join in with Satan (“the wicked foe”) and other angels in rebelling against God (2 Peter 2:4). The holy angels are “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation” (Hebrews 1:14). The holy angels carry out God’s command “to guard you in all your ways” (Psalm 91:11). The “holy angel” in Martin Luther’s prayers references any of the heavenly host whom God might choose to use to carry out his good and gracious will in our lives. Might God use a single angel on occasion? Yes. Might he use more than one angel on occasion? Yes.

The Bible does not state specifically that God has assigned a guardian angel to each Christian. While it would be comforting to know that God has matched one angel to us for life-time service and protection, it is even more comforting to know that God employs angels—plural—in his providential care of each Christian.

God’s gracious use of angels in our lives provides another reason for praising God. “Lord God, to you we all give praise; To you our joyful hymns we raise That angel hosts you did create Around your glorious throne to wait. But watchful is the angel band That follows Christ on ev’ry hand To guard his people where they go And break the counsel of the foe. O Lord, awaken songs of praise For angel hosts that guard our days; Teach us to serve you and adore As angels do forevermore.” (Christian Worship 196:1, 5-6)

In the Apostles’ Creed we confess about Jesus: “He descended into hell.” The scriptural basis for Jesus’ descent into hell is 1 Peter 3:18-20: “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.” Many also see Colossians 2:15 as alluding to Jesus’ descent into hell: “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

After Jesus’ body and soul were reunited in the grave and before he appeared to people on earth, the Lord descended into hell. By his descent into hell, Jesus declared his victory over Satan and the forces of evil. He did not go to hell to suffer for the sins of the world or to free people from a limbo. Jesus descended into hell to proclaim his victory.

Truthfulness is not a trait of Satan (John 8:44) and, quite frankly, one would not expect that trait from a member of the Church of Satan.

I don’t know what kind of relationship you have in mind with your second question. If it is marriage, I have difficulty imagining any kind of good relationship, like marriage, between a Christian and a member of the Church of Satan. Marriage is an intimate bond of husband and wife. The most important bond that can exist between them is that of the same faith: the Christian faith. When one of the spouses is actively supporting and following Satan, that person is going the opposite direction in life (and headed toward a different place in eternity) than his or her spouse.

Christians will want to warn Church of Satan members of the eternal fate of Satan and his followers (Revelation 20:10-15), share the saving gospel of Jesus Christ with them (Acts 4:12) and pray for them.

By his descent into hell (1 Peter 3:18-20), Jesus declared his victory over Satan and the forces of evil. He did not go to hell to suffer for the sins of the world or to free people from a limbo. Jesus descended into hell to proclaim his victory.

Satan’s rebellion against God took place between the events of Genesis 1 & 2 and Genesis 3.

The first two chapters of Genesis present the narrative of God creating a perfect world (Genesis 1:31). That perfect world included angels. Genesis 3 introduces us to Satan, who appeared in the form of a serpent (Revelation 20:2). All that can be said with certainty is that Satan sinned against God at some point after God created a perfect world.

What a joy to know that Jesus defeated Satan (1 John 3:8) and freed us from his power.

Negotiating with Satan is a losing proposition. Any worldly gain is meaningless if it means spending eternity with him in hell. “Resist the devil” (James 4:7) is the Bible’s instruction on our interaction with Satan.

If you are seeking something for life, go to God in prayer. He answers prayer with our best interests in mind. Recognize that Satan seeks only to devour and kill (1 Peter 5:8). Resist him with the armor God provides (Ephesians 6:10-17).

Yes. 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 6 speak of God casting the devil and the other evil angels into hell.

In his wisdom, God permits the devil and his forces to roam the earth (Job 1:7; 1 Peter 5:8). The time is coming when the devil and his angels will be confined to hell forever (Revelation 20:10).

The Bible teaches us that Satan’s power is greater than ours (Ephesians 6:12) but less than God’s (Job 1:12; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8). What we want to keep in mind is that while Satan is an enemy of God and followers of God, Satan has allies to help him in his evil work.

One ally is the sinful world in which Christians live. Satan can use the allurement of earthly wealth (1 John 2:15-16) to try to lure Christians into abandoning their real spiritual wealth (Ephesians 1:7). Satan can also use people in this world to oppose God and godliness (Luke 22:3; Acts 5:3).

Another ally of Satan is the sinful nature that lives within each person (Romans 8:7; Galatians 5:17, 19-21).

All this information means that Satan or his evil angels can tempt Christians. Satan can work through other people to tempt Christians. Satan can work with the sinful natures of Christians to tempt them.

This is not a hopeless situation though. Not at all. In the place of all people, Jesus Christ withstood every temptation of Satan (Matthew 4:1-11; Hebrews 4:15). By his holy life, innocent death and glorious resurrection, Jesus has crushed the power of Satan (Hebrews 2:14). Satan has lost the battle. God gives Christians powerful weapons to defeat Satan in the daily skirmishes of life (Ephesians 6:10-17).

I encourage you to look up the Bible verses that are included in this response. Since you also described yourself as someone who “doesn’t know very much about Christianity,” you would benefit from looking at another website from our church body – “What About Jesus?” There are many good resources there for you. God bless you and your study of his word.

Your reference to Lucifer might have Isaiah 14:12-15 in mind. 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 6 speak of God casting the devil and the other evil angels into hell.

In his wisdom, God permits the devil and his forces to roam the earth (Job 1:7; 1 Peter 5:8). The time is coming when the devil and his angels will be confined to hell forever (Revelation 20:10).

Satan has to abide by God’s rules in that he is under God’s control. Satan’s interactions with God, described in Job 1 and 2, demonstrate that he cannot do whatever he wants to do. Satan can do only what God, in his wisdom, allows.

Revelation 20:3 provides more detail on God’s control of Satan in the “short time” before the Last Day. Revelation 20:10 previews what finally awaits Satan.

Praying to the devil is playing with fire (no pun intended). Satan is a formidable enemy, far surpassing our own natural strength (Ephesians 6:12). For that reason, the Bible instructs us to “Resist the devil” (James 4:7). Praying to Satan is not resisting him. Praying to Satan could certainly lead to a falling away from Jesus and an eternal association with Satan in hell.

I would strongly encourage you to reject your friend’s invitation to pray to Satan. Do also warn your friend about this dangerous activity. If you want to say anything to the devil, I would encourage you to say what Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan!” (Matthew 4:10)

Not knowing the context of your questions, I am wondering if the account from Luke 11:14-28 may have shaped them. Historically, that section of the Bible has served as the gospel lesson for the third Sunday in Lent.

Proceeding with that assumption, Luke 11:14-28 describes how the Lord healed a man who was demon possessed and did not have the ability to speak. Reactions from the people who witnessed the miracle varied. Some Pharisees present (Matthew 12:24) said about Jesus, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons” (Luke 11:15).

How could those people utter such an outrageous statement? Keep in mind that people are naturally blind to the truths of Scripture (1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13). In addition, Satan blinds people to the truth about Jesus Christ. Calling him “the god of this age,” the ruler of this age, the apostle Paul explained that “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

If people like you and I can confess Jesus Christ as our Savior, it is only because of the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts (1 Corinthians 12:3). The Holy Spirit opens eyes (Acts 26:18) to see that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, the promised Savior.

I hope this response addresses the intent of your questions.

In addressing Satan’s abilities, let’s start with his inabilities. As an angel, the devil is not omnipresent. Only God the Creator is (Psalm 139:7-10). Much as the human soul, housed in a body, can occupy only one space at one time, so the devil, a spirit being, can occupy only one space at one time.

Yet, as a spirit being without a body, the devil is able to move from one space to another faster than human beings can. And move he does. Job 1:7 and Job 2:2 describe the devil “roaming throughout the earth.” 1 Peter 5:8 states that the devil “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Roaming and prowling describe the devil’s non-stop activity as he moves from person to person, seeking to destroy them.

With this kind of activity, Satan and his helpers could hear our conversations. Then, again, keep in mind that Satan is not all-knowing as God is. Satan cannot read hearts and minds. Only God can do that (1 Kings 8:39). Satan operates by what he observes and hears.

It is good to be aware of Satan’s power and limitations. Here is something else to keep in mind: we want to recognize that the devil has an accomplice inside each person. The sinful nature, passed on from generation to generation, is hostile toward God (Romans 8:7). The sinful nature hates anything good and godly and desires to do the devil’s bidding (Galatians 5:19-21). So while the devil is not personally present in the life of a Christian 24/7, his ally, the sinful nature, is.

With spiritual enemies like these, what is a Christian to do? “Put on the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:13) and launch a counter-offensive. That is not a foolhardy course of action. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7) is God’s instruction and promise. More than that, we combat our sinful nature through daily contrition and repentance, and we build up the new self through God’s gospel in Word and sacrament (Ephesians 4:22-24).

Can the devil tempt a Christian? Certainly (1 Peter 5:8). Can the devil use a Christian to tempt someone else? Certainly. There is an ally of Satan inside each Christian; it is the sinful nature (Romans 7:15-25).

These are reasons why the Bible instructs us to “resist the devil” (James 4:7). Thanks be to God that Jesus Christ successfully completed his mission of conquering the devil (1 John 3:8) and that he equips us to be successful in our daily skirmishes with the devil (Ephesians 6:10-17).

Because God is all-powerful, he certainly could have prevented the fall of the angels and the subsequent fall of Adam and Eve. God does not explain why he did not prevent those falls—nor is he obligated to do so (Romans 11:33-36).

After the devil led Adam and Eve into sin, God promised a Savior (Genesis 3:15). That Savior would crush Satan one day. By his holy life, sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, Jesus did crush Satan. The devil’s final defeat will take place on the Last Day, when he will be confined to hell forever (Revelation 20:10).

Until the Last Day, Satan retains power and influence as allowed by God (Job 1:12; 2:6). Because of his power and influence, the devil has the title “the prince of this world.” (John 12:31). As mentioned previously, the day will come when that “prince” will be crushed completely and be unable to bother God’s people anymore.

Until that time, God’s people recognize the power and evil intent of Satan (1 Peter 5:8), and they use the spiritual weapons God has given them to be successful in warding off the old evil foe (Ephesians 6:10-18; James 4:7).

There is no possibility of redemption for Satan and all the evil angels. Jude 6 explains: “And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.”

Revelation 20:10 describes that judgment: “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Jesus also spoke of that judgment in Matthew 25:41.

God banished Satan and all the evil angels to hell after they rebelled against him (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6). In his wisdom, God allows the fallen angels and their leader to roam the earth (Job 1:7; 2:2; 1 Peter 5:8). In his wisdom, God allowed Satan to tempt Eve in the Garden of Eden—as you noted.

In the Bible, God does not explain his actions, nor does he need to (Romans 11:33-36). What the Bible does teach is that God controls Satan’s activities (Revelation 20:3), and the day is coming when Satan and all the evil angels will be confined to hell forever (Revelation 20:10). That ultimate confinement will take place because Jesus successfully carried out his mission of destroying the devil’s work (1 John 3:8).

I don’t believe you are wrong in suggesting that possibility—and that’s all it is, a possibility.  The Bible reminds us that “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).  Satan is an enemy whose power exceeds our own.  His goal is to destroy faith in people who believe and keep others in unbelief (2 Corinthians 4:4).  There is no telling what Satan might attempt to do to carry out his goals.

Thankfully we are dealing with a defeated enemy, one whose head has been crushed (Genesis 3:15).  Jesus Christ shared in our humanity “so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14).  By his holy life, death and resurrection Jesus has destroyed Satan, and it is only a matter of time before he is put out of commission entirely (Revelation 20:10).  Until that time, Christians like you and I carry out God’s instruction:  “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11).  We do that trusting in God’s promise:  “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

Before proving scripturally that hell is forever, it’s wise to make sure your friend knows where you agree with him. When he says God is love, and that God loves all and desires all people be saved, he is correctly summarizing 1 John 4:16, John 3:16 and 1 Tim. 2:4. We not only agree that Jesus died for the world’s sins (1 John 2:2), we even proclaim that God declared the entire world not guilty in Jesus (Rom. 5:18).

But while your friend is correctly sharing some scriptural truths, he is, perhaps unknowingly, omitting others.

Your friend isn’t alone. Many Christians feel that God’s reputation as a gracious God is forfeited if we don’t modify the historic confession that hell is conscious, eternal suffering for everyone who dies in unbelief.

Our task, however, is not to make God sound palatable to cultural sensibilities. Yes, Scripture is clear that Jesus is Savior of all and that he also desires the salvation of those who do not acknowledge him. His tears for the unbelievers in Jerusalem were genuine (Luke 19:41).

Yet Jesus talks about hell more forcefully, frequently, and fully than anyone. He tells us that the broad and busy superhighway is the one leading to hell not heaven (Matt. 7:13). It is Jesus who vividly portrays the conscious, eternal suffering of the damned as he tells us about the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19f).

It is also Jesus who coins the most common description of hell: the place where there is “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 8:12, 13:42, 13:50, 22:13, 24:51, 25:30). If we inquire how long this “weeping and gnashing of teeth” continues, he tells us in Matthew 25. After Jesus pronounces judgment on the sheep and goats (believers and unbelievers), he announces that the unbelievers “will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life” (Matthew 25:46). We can no more argue biblically against the eternity of hell than the eternity of heaven.

To explain the doctrine of hell you need to point people to the passages in the Bible that speak about hell. It is described as a place of torment that will never end, prepared for the devil and his angels. There unbelievers will spend eternity. (Isaiah 64:24, Matthew 3:12, Matthew 13:42, Matthew 25:41, Matthew 5:29-30, 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9, Jude 7, 2 Peter 2:4, Luke 16:19-31, Mark 9:43-48).

Unless people understand the law, which reveals the depths of human sinfulness and God’s righteous wrath over sin, they will have difficulty grasping a place of eternal punishment. You might want to review what God says in Romans 1:18,19 and Romans 3:9-20. Make sure also to remember God’s salvation, his plan of deliverance through faith in his Son, Jesus, whom he offered up as a sacrifice of atonement for our sins—and not only for ours but for the sins of the whole world (Romans 3:21-28, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, 1 John 2:2). If a person understands the depths of his sinfulness and the punishment he deserves, he will more readily grasp the depths of God’s love in offering his Son for our salvation. A proper understanding of the law and the gospel is important for a correct understanding of hell and heaven.

There is so much we don’t know about the spirit world of angels and demons and how it all works. All we can do is look at what Scripture reveals to us.

It is true that Satan does not have the ability to read our thoughts the way God does. He is not all-knowing. However, it is clear from Scripture that he is able to tempt us, which includes entering our minds and affecting our thought processes. Scripture warns us to avoid sinful thoughts, words, actions, and emotions so that we do not give the devil a foothold (Ephesians 4:27). 2 Corinthians 4:4 mentions that he is able to blind the minds of unbelievers.

You also refer to Judas Iscariot. Luke 22:3 states that “Satan entered Judas” and that “the devil prompted him to betray Jesus” (John 13:2). It adds, “As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him” (John 13:27).  With Judas it does not appear as though Satan actually possessed him but rather that the devil exerted a destructive influence on his heart and mind. This would indicate that Satan can “get into our mind” and affect us in ways that we do not understand. He is a fallen angel and as such has powers that are far superior to our own as human beings. At the same time, he is only a fallen angel and no match for God.

You also talk about the devil tempting us in our areas of weakness. The devil knows our pet sins and where we are most vulnerable. He knows this not because he is all-knowing, but because he has spent a lot of time studying us. He has observed which sins we struggle against. When he tempts us, he will try to take advantage of our weaknesses.

To help balance this discussion, it is important to remember that God also knows us. He knows everything about us. But unlike the devil, God uses this knowledge to help us not hurt us. He knows where we are weak, and he seeks to strengthen us. He knows what we need–a Savior–and has provided for that need in his Son. He reminds us that he defeated the devil through Jesus’ life and death. Because of Christ, God assures us that nothing can separate us from his love. Not even demons (Romans 8:38).

I don’t believe you are wrong in suggesting that possibility—and that’s all it is, a possibility.  The Bible reminds us that “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).  Satan is an enemy whose power exceeds our own.  His goal is to destroy faith in people who believe and keep others in unbelief (2 Corinthians 4:4).  There is no telling what Satan might attempt to do to carry out his goals.

Thankfully we are dealing with a defeated enemy, one whose head has been crushed (Genesis 3:15).  Jesus Christ shared in our humanity “so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14).  By his holy life, death and resurrection Jesus has destroyed Satan, and it is only a matter of time before he is put out of commission entirely (Revelation 20:10).  Until that time, Christians like you and I carry out God’s instruction:  “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11).  We do that trusting in God’s promise:  “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

Have you ever seen the Loch Ness Monster? How about Sasquatch or Big Foot? These are only a few of the imaginary creatures we hear about. Their “sightings” make front page news in the tabloids.

There is a city in Northern Wisconsin that calls itself “The Home of the Hodag.” According to Eugene Sheperd, who supposedly discovered the hodag in 1893, it has “the head of a frog, the grinning face of a giant elephant, thick short legs set off by huge claws, the back of a dinosaur, and a long tail with spears at the end.” It’s a popular creature in the area. Even the local high school has the hodag as its mascot.

Some people see Satan as a fictional creature. He’s the little red man with horns and a pitchfork. Or he’s the ghost-like figure that can scare the bejeebers out of you in a movie like “Exorcist.” Or that handsome looking guy that is portrayed in the TV series, “Reaper.”

Isn’t it interesting that even a guy like Anton LaVey didn’t believe Satan was real. The late Lavey was the leading Satanist in recent times. He even worshipped Satan! Yet he didn’t believe he was a real person. Only a negative power source that stood for all that is evil.

So who is Satan? Or what is he? A monster? A mascot? A movie star? Satan may be all of these, but one thing he isn’t is imaginary. Satan is real. And he is a personal being—not with flesh and bones but a spiritual “being.” That might sound complex, but really it’s quite simple.

The Bible calls Satan a fallen angel. At first there were only good angels. God gave them a choice to serve him or serve themselves. Some of them rebelled against God and decided to serve themselves. Satan was a leader of this group and he led a large number of angels in a rebellion against God. The good angels stayed with God, continue to serve God, and enjoy God’s blessings. Satan and the evil angels rejected God, hate him with a passion, and serve themselves. (See 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 6)

As an evil angel, Satan is pretty powerful, but not nearly as powerful as God. Jesus is proof of that. He took on the devil in one-on-one combat and it wasn’t even close. It turned out just as God said it would. Satan bruised the heal of Jesus, but got his head crushed in the process. That’s what the cross did.

The amazing thing is that Jesus crushed all our sins in the process. Like Satan, the bad things we do are real. Yet the cross is also real. And that is where Christ defeated Satan and won real life, real hope, real forgiveness.

You ask important questions.  Satan is a formidable enemy (Ephesians 6:12).  By his powerful resurrection from the dead, Jesus crushed Satan’s head, just as Scripture had prophesied (Genesis 3:15).  Satan has been defeated.  “He knows that his time is short” (Revelation 12:12) until he is put out of commission once and for all (Revelation 20:10).  Until that time, Satan’s mission is to try to fill hell with as many souls as possible.

While the Bible does describe Satan, a fallen angel, as having powers and abilities greater than ours, it does not give us many specifics.  Beyond demon possession, which your questions do not address, we know that Satan “entered into” Judas (John 13:27).  The apostle Paul wrote of Satan that “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4).  Satan certainly knows our weaknesses and can use that knowledge to his advantage in ways we can only imagine.

In your first question you mention our sinful natures.  That is an area of our lives that certainly deserves attention.  It is so easy for Christians (and the televangelists you mentioned) to blame Satan for all their sins and troubles.  I sometimes get the impression that people think that locking up Satan somewhere right now would eliminate their struggles with sin.  That kind of thinking fails to realize how thoroughly corrupt the sinful nature is.  The sinful nature is an ally of Satan.  It is hostile toward God (Romans 8:7).  It is the place where evil thoughts originate (Matthew 15:19).  It wants nothing to do with God or godliness.  It continually wars against our new self (Romans 7:18-25).

The sinful nature is an enemy that needs our continual attention.  Recall what our Catechism says:  “Baptism means that the old Adam in us should be drowned by daily contrition and repentance, and that all its evil deeds and desires be put to death.”  We do that by putting off the sinful nature, rejecting its temptations and confessing our sins when we give in to temptation (Colossians 2:11-12; Romans 6:2, 3, 6, 12, 13).  At the same time, we build up the new self through the use of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Christians long for the day when they no longer fight against the ungodly trio:  the devil, the world and our sinful flesh.  That day is when our earthly lives come to an end.  Until then, we “fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:12).

The concept of making a deal with the devil or selling one’s soul to Satan in exchange for something is rooted in secular literature and folktales, but has no Bible basis. Johann Wolfgang Goethe’s fictional Dr. Faustus made such a deal with the devil. Other fictional stories are based on that premise, notably short stories by Washington Irving, (The Devil and Tom Walker) and Stephen Vincent Benet (The Devil and Daniel Webster). To repeat, the Bible has no example of a person “selling his soul” to Satan, and Scripture never implies that making a bargain with the devil is possible.

At the heart of such a concept is some truth and lots of error. The truth part takes Satan seriously. He is powerful, deceptive, and constantly seeking to lead people away from revealed truth of Scripture and saving faith in Jesus Christ. The error in all this forgets that the devil is really not an independent agent and warden of hell; he is an inmate in hell and subject to God’s authority and will. Those who do evil and choose to despise Christ and God’s gracious will for their faith and faith-life end up joining Satan in opposition to God and will forfeit divine blessings as they receive expressions of God’s just judgment just as Satan does and will continue to do. The devil doesn’t ultimately cause all this; they do, tragically and unnecessarily. This is their own fault. They really sold their soul to wickedness and forfeited divine blessing.

General word of wisdom: Neither underestimate nor overestimate the power and deceptive nature of the devil. Be alert to his working yet never forget he is already defeated and not an independent agent who enjoys freedom to work evil. And never neglect or underestimate the power and comfort of the gospel of Jesus Christ for ourselves and the world!

Revelation chapter 13 speaks of two beasts. There is a beast that John saw “coming out of the sea” (verse 1) and a beast that the apostle saw “coming out of the earth” (verse 11).  Lutheran commentators have seen the first beast representing secular governments that are anti-Christian in nature, being in league with Satan.  Lutheran commentators have understood the second beast to represent the great Antichrist, the “man of lawlessness” of 2 Thessalonians chapter 2.

How do we recognize these beasts, you wonder?  Jesus said that we recognize false prophets “by their fruit” (Matthew 7:15-20).  We will recognize anti-Christian governments and the Antichrist by what they say and do.  And that presupposes that we know what the Bible says, doesn’t it?  We need to know the Bible so that we can recognize truth and error.

And when we recognize error and false teaching, we reject that.  We cling to the truths of God’s word, knowing that God always speaks the truth (Numbers 23:19).  More than clinging to God’s word, we use that same word as our weapon against Satan and his allies.  I’m reminded of the great Reformation hymn:  “Though devils all the world should fill, All eager to devour us, We tremble not, we fear no ill; They shall not overpow’r us.  This world’s prince may still Scowl fierce as he will, He can harm us none.  He’s judged; the deed is done!  One little word can fell him.” (CW 200:3).  As the apostle James wrote:  “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

The Bible describes hell as real.  Rather than being a geographical location that people can point to, theologians refer to hell as a “somewhere.”  It is where people are forsaken by God and punished for their sins forever.

With no disrespect to your question by any means, the words of Chrysostom in the fourth century come to mind:  “Let us not so much labor to know where hell is—as how to escape it.”  And that we do know.  On the cross of Calvary Jesus Christ suffered what amounts to hell:  he was abandoned and forsaken by his heavenly Father, punished for the sins of the world (Matthew 27:46).  Through Spirit-worked faith in Jesus, forgiveness of sins is ours and heaven—not hell—is our eternal home.

It is good that your friend is receiving the kind of help you described.  Hopefully he is seeing a Christian therapist who can offer biblical guidance.  And hopefully the church he is attending is rock-solid in its teachings, and its pastor can provide counseling as he is able.

What you can do is remind your friend about Satan’s limitations and God’s power.  God alone has power over a person’s soul (Matthew 10:28).  Satan is not free to do as he pleases.  The opening chapters of the book of Job make that clear.  With his word God has given us a powerful weapon (Ephesians 6:17) to combat the devil (James 4:7).

Continue to point your friend to the Bible so he can replace his feelings with the objective truths that God has revealed.  You and I won’t be able to change your friend’s feelings, but God can.  You can remind your friend that what God says is true, regardless of his feelings.

You are certainly doing the right thing by encouraging him to remember the truths of his baptism.  The meaning of baptism is God saying, “I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1).  Keep praying for your friend.  God bless all your efforts to restore the joy of salvation for your friend (Psalm 51:12).

Demons are real (Luke 8:26-33). We know from Job’s life (cf. chapters 1 and 2 of the book of Job) and the apostle Paul’s life (2 Corinthians 12:7) that Satan and the rest of the fallen angels can, under God’s control, create problems in the lives of Christians.

Demon possession is a complex subject. It can be useful to differentiate between spiritual possession and physical possession. Judas is someone who exemplifies spiritual possession. Physical possession is the kind that Jesus often encountered during his earthly ministry when he cast demons out of people (e.g., Mark 9:14-27).

Scripture explains to us that Satan is furiously going about his fiendish work because he recognizes the time is rapidly approaching (Revelation 12:12) when he will be confined to hell forever and be tormented forever (Matthew 25:41, 46; Revelation 20:10).

In the Bible God gives us this instruction and promise: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Martin Luther illustrated his confidence in that promise in the great Reformation hymn: “Though devils all the world should fill, All eager to devour us, We tremble not, we fear no ill; They shall not overpow’r us. This world’s prince may still Scowl fierce as he will, He can harm us none. He’s judged; the deed is done! One little word can fell him” (Christian Worship 200:3).

I encourage you to speak to your pastor about your situation. He can provide biblical guidance and suggest other resources that may be helpful.

In a cemetery in my hometown, there is a monument with two statements and a question. The question is: “Why did a good God create a bad devil?”

It is a bad question because God did not create a “bad devil.” God created all things, including the angels, during the six days of creation. The Bible does not tell us on which day God created the angels. At the end of God’s creating work, he pronounced everything he had made, including the angels, as “very good” (Genesis 1:31). At some point after that—and prior to the temptation in the Garden of Eden—Satan and other angels rebelled against God and were cast into hell (2 Peter 2:4).

The Bible describes hell as being “prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). That same Bible verse speaks of hell as the place to which unbelievers will be sentenced forever.

Your question underscores the urgency of spreading the life-saving gospel of Jesus Christ so that, instead of experiencing hell, people may enjoy eternal life with God in heaven (Matthew 25:34).

Your question takes us back to the Garden of Eden. After sin shattered the perfection of Eden, God promised a Savior (Genesis 3:15). We will need to recognize the setting and the language to understand that Satan is still a powerful tempter today.

God spoke the words of Genesis 3:15 to Satan, but he spoke them for the benefit of Adam and Eve and all their descendants. God announced that there would be animosity between his children and those on the side of Satan—whether they are fallen angels or people.

God then revealed that one of Adam and Eve’s offspring, the promised Messiah, would crush Satan’s head. Keep in mind that Satan is a spirit being, having no body of flesh and bones. In Eden, he assumed the form of a serpent. With no physical head to be crushed, God’s promise spoke of a crushing blow to the power of Satan.

Jesus delivered such a blow when he rose triumphantly from the dead and then descended into hell to prove to Satan who had won the battle (1 Peter 3:18-20).

What we can say from Scripture is that Satan is a defeated enemy of God at this point. He still has the ability to tempt people today, and he seeks to do just that (1 Peter 5:8-9). God, in his wisdom, before the end of time will allow Satan to have more freedom to do his evil work (Revelation 20:3). But finally, on Judgment Day, Satan’s power will be crushed completely and he will not be able to tempt people anymore (Revelation 20:10).

In summary, God promised that a Savior would crush the devil “in respect to his head” (a literal translation). Jesus came into the world to “destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8). Jesus dealt Satan a crushing blow when he resisted his temptations, died for the sins of the world and then rose to life victoriously. Jesus will put Satan out of commission on the last day.

I will explore your question a little more in a future “Light for our path” column in Forward in Christ.

You are correct in noting that Moses, in Genesis, does not specifically identify the serpent as Satan. Other parts of Scripture provide clear identification of the creature who spoke to Eve.

John 8:44 – “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Revelation 12:9 – “The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”

Revelation 20:1-2 – “And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.”

What is clear in Genesis is that the woman’s seed would crush the head of serpent (3:15). Jesus Christ did exactly that by destroying the devil’s work (1 John 3:8).

The following Bible references are often associated with “degrees of torment” or punishment in hell: Matthew 10:15, 11:22, Luke 12:47-48; and, Romans 2:11-12.

Without putting a timeline on the origin of hell, the Bible simply tells us that at the end of God’s creating work, he pronounced everything he had made as “very good” (Genesis 1:31). At some point after that, and prior to the temptation in the Garden of Eden, Satan and other angels rebelled against God and were cast into hell (2 Peter 2:4). Jesus explained that hell was “prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).

Don’t expect Satan to tell the truth. His native language is lying (John 8:44). I would not expect to recognize Satan either—on the street or elsewhere. He “masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).

Satan is the arch-enemy of our faith. How thankful we can be that Jesus successfully completed his mission of destroying the devil’s work (1 John 3:8). How thankful we can be that God has equipped us with his powerful word that we can resist the devil in the everyday temptations of life (James 4:7).