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Writer's pictureEdward D. Andrews
Sep 218 min read

Is Satan a Myth or a Sinister Reality According to Scripture?

The Origin of Evil: A Historical Inquiry


The concept of evil and its origin has perplexed humanity for millennia. Throughout history, different cultures have tried to explain the source of malevolent forces that seem to operate beyond human control. For example, early human societies recognized destructive powers in nature and, as James Hastings states in A Dictionary of the Bible, they instinctively attributed such forces to personal deities or spirits. The ancient Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans each developed unique beliefs surrounding evil, with deities and spirits that represented both benign and destructive forces. For instance, the Babylonians worshiped Nergal, a violent god of the underworld, while the Egyptians feared Set, who embodied chaos and disorder. These ancient civilizations interpreted evil as something external, often appeasing deities and spirits through rituals and magic incantations to avoid suffering.


However, these mythological explanations often lacked clarity or consistency. The Greco-Roman world, for example, did not conceive of a singular devil or evil being as modern religious thought does. Rather, their beliefs revolved around dualistic principles, such as Empedocles' Love and Discord or Plato's two opposing “Souls,” one causing good and the other evil. Zoroastrianism, on the other hand, introduced a more structured dualism between good and evil, with Ahura Mazda representing good and Ahriman embodying evil. This dualistic worldview profoundly influenced other religious systems, including Judaism, as the Encyclopaedia Judaica notes. By the last centuries before the Common Era, Jewish thought had assimilated some of these foreign ideas, leading to the portrayal of evil forces, like Satan, as having almost equal standing to God in opposition.



The Biblical Account of Satan's Origin


Despite the confusion and mythological explanations that pervaded human thought, the Bible presents a clear, consistent, and rational account of the origin of Satan and evil. Scripture teaches that Jehovah’s works are perfect, and He did not create a malevolent being such as Satan from the outset. Rather, Satan, like all of Jehovah's intelligent creatures, was created perfect and was endowed with free will. Deuteronomy 32:4 states, “The Rock, perfect is his activity, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness, with whom there is no injustice; righteous and upright is he.” This verse affirms that God’s creation was without flaw, including the spirit being who would later become Satan.


However, the Bible shows that this perfect spirit being deviated from righteousness by deliberate choice. James 1:14-15 explains how sin develops from unchecked desire, ultimately leading to spiritual death. Satan, originally perfect in his ways, allowed sinful desires to grow, much like the “king of Tyre,” who is described in Ezekiel 28:15 as being “faultless in [his] ways from the day [he was] created until unrighteousness was found in [him].” This poetic description offers insight into how a perfect creature could become corrupt through its own choices.


In John 8:44, Jesus provides further clarity by stating that the devil “did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him.” This indicates that Satan, once aligned with truth, chose to abandon it, not because of external forces but due to his own rebellious will. Satan’s rebellion is ultimately an issue of pride and dissatisfaction with Jehovah’s sovereignty.



The Role of Satan in Human History


The biblical account shows that Satan became an active adversary to God’s rule when he instigated the rebellion of the first human couple, Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:1-5 details how Satan, through a serpent, subtly questioned Jehovah’s right to rule, suggesting that Jehovah was withholding something valuable from Adam and Eve. By undermining Jehovah’s sovereignty, Satan led humanity into sin, resulting in the eventual death of Adam and Eve and the inheritance of sin and death for their descendants (Genesis 3:6-19; Romans 5:12). Thus, the Bible identifies Satan as the root cause of human suffering.


Satan’s influence did not stop with the first human pair. Sometime before the global flood of Noah’s day, other angels followed Satan in his rebellion. Genesis 6:1-4 describes how these angels materialized in human form to engage in immoral relationships with women. This act of rebellion further demonstrated the corrupting influence of Satan, leading to widespread wickedness on the earth. After the Flood, these angels were restrained by Jehovah, as Jude 6 notes that they “did not keep their original position but forsook their proper dwelling place.” These fallen angels, now demons, continue to work alongside Satan, influencing humanity’s moral decay and violence.



Confused Christian Theology


In the early days of Christianity, some leaders had ideas that weren’t directly found in the Bible. For example, Irenaeus, a Christian thinker from the second century, suggested that God saved people by paying Satan to let them go free. Later, Origen in the third century added to this idea by saying that the devil had a legal right to claim humans and that Jesus’ death was like a ransom paid to the devil. This view was shared by many church leaders for about a thousand years. However, by the 12th century, theologians like Anselm and Abelard changed this belief, explaining that Jesus’ sacrifice was made to God, not Satan.


Medieval Superstitions


During the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church didn’t talk much about Satan, but in 1215, the Fourth Lateran Council declared that Satan and demons were originally good creations by God but became evil on their own. People in the Middle Ages believed that Satan was responsible for many bad things, like unexplained illnesses, sudden deaths, or poor harvests. This fear led to widespread paranoia about witchcraft. From the 13th to the 17th century, many people in Europe and North America were accused of being witches and were often executed based on rumors or false accusations. Both the Church’s Inquisition and local courts participated in these witch hunts, and torture was commonly used to force confessions. It is estimated that about 300,000 women were killed for witchcraft during this time. This tragic period raises the question of whether Satan influenced both the victims and the people who persecuted them.



Current Belief or Disbelief


In the 18th century, during the Enlightenment, people began to think more rationally and started to see the idea of the devil as a myth from the Middle Ages. The Roman Catholic Church responded by reaffirming its belief in Satan during the First Vatican Council in 1869-70 and again in a more cautious way during the Second Vatican Council in 1962-65. Today, while the Catholic Church officially believes in angels and demons, many Christians choose not to believe that evil in the world is caused by the devil. Modern Christian thinkers often see the stories about Satan in the Bible as symbolic, representing the idea of evil rather than a real being. Similarly, many liberal Protestant groups do not believe in a personal devil. This shift shows a balance between traditional church teachings and modern ways of thinking.



Satan’s Influence in the Present World


Satan’s authority over the current world system is evident in numerous passages of Scripture. The apostle John makes it clear that “the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19). This statement highlights the extent to which Satan exercises control over human institutions, ideologies, and systems. As “the ruler of the authority of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), Satan uses his demonic forces to shape the thoughts, desires, and actions of individuals who are alienated from God. This spiritual warfare, though often unseen, manifests itself in the increasing violence, corruption, and immorality that dominate the world.


The apostle Paul also warned that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), meaning that he often works in deceptive ways, making his influence appear attractive or even righteous. His tactics are subtle, aimed at leading people away from the truth of Jehovah’s Word. For this reason, Christians are encouraged to remain vigilant, not being ignorant of Satan’s designs (2 Corinthians 2:11).


Although Satan and his demons wield great power, they are limited by Jehovah’s sovereignty and ultimate purpose. Even the demons recognized Jesus’ authority during his earthly ministry, as shown when they begged him not to send them into the abyss (Luke 8:31). These accounts demonstrate that while Satan exercises control for a time, his reign is temporary, and he remains subject to Jehovah’s judgment.



The Final Judgment of Satan


The Bible provides hope that Satan’s influence will not last indefinitely. Fulfilled Bible prophecy indicates that Satan’s time is limited. Revelation 12:7-12 describes a war in heaven in which Satan and his demons are cast down to the earth, intensifying their activity because they know they have only “a short period of time.” This prophecy aligns with the increase in global turmoil and wickedness we see today, signaling that Satan’s end is near.


Revelation 20:1-3 foretells the ultimate fate of Satan, describing how he will be bound for a thousand years, no longer able to deceive the nations. Following this period, Satan will be released for a final time before being permanently destroyed in the lake of fire, as noted in Revelation 20:10. The destruction of Satan and his demons will mark the end of all evil, bringing about the fulfillment of Jehovah’s promise of a new world in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13). In this new world, God’s will shall be done “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10), and humanity will finally be free from the influence of Satan and his demons.



Satan’s Reality: A Biblical Perspective


Unlike the mythological and philosophical constructs of evil offered by ancient civilizations and modern-day secularism, the Bible provides a coherent and consistent explanation for the existence of Satan and evil. Far from being an abstract concept or an allegorical figure, Satan is a real, malevolent being who operates in opposition to Jehovah’s purpose. His rebellion introduced sin and suffering into the world, and his influence continues to shape much of the wickedness seen today.


Yet, despite his temporary power, the Bible assures us that Satan’s reign will come to an end. Jehovah’s sovereignty will be vindicated, and His righteous rule will extend over the entire earth, erasing all traces of evil. As Revelation 21:1-4 promises, in the new world, “death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” In this way, the Bible offers both a reason for the existence of evil and a hope for its ultimate removal.


About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220 books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).


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