SEEK 41 – Satan, the Snake and Hell
Question: Is hell or Satan real – if so, why did God create them? Why did God create the snake in the garden?
Bible Reading: Revelation 20
Text: “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)
To answer the first part of your question simply. Yes, hell and Satan are real. If they were not then the Bible would be lying and none of it would make any sense.
This question is tied with the many other questions we ask on suffering (ASK 14, SEEK 4), evil, the Devil (SEEK 29) and Hell (ASK 18). We ask these questions because they are really important. The relationship between good and evil, God and the Devil, heaven and hell is vital to our understanding and well-being.
Why is that? Let’s let Richard Dawkins explain – “The universe that we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, , no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but pitiless indifference.” (River out of Eden) If there is no God. If there is no design. If there is no evil and no good then we are left with a universe in which evil things happen, except they are not evil – because there is no evil. It’s just blind, pitiless indifference. Isn’t that a horrible world to live in – we could even call it hellish – except we are told there is no hell.
If you take away hell and the Devil, you still have to deal with pain, suffering and yes – evil.
Which is exactly what the Bible does.
Can I suggest that you read through the book of Revelation? It is a difficult book (perhaps get Nancy Guthrie’s Blessed to help) but it really does show how the cosmic battle between God and Satan plays out on the earth. It is far more realistic and real than the hopeless pitiless indifference of Dawkins.
Or take Colossians which explains first of all that Christ is the one who is in charge of all creation and that he is the one who holds everything together. That creation is disrupted by the Devil and poisoned by evil. Which is why Jesus taught us to pray – ‘deliver us from evil’. He did so when he ‘disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross“ (Colossians 2:15).
It is foolish not to believe in the Devil. It is also foolish to be obsessed by him. CS Lewis in The Screwtape letters explains “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.” (The Screwtape Letters p.8)
I have known people who blame everything bad that either happens to them, or is done by them, on the devil. Like the child who argued that she ate all the ice cream in the fridge because ‘the devil made me do it’! That is not biblical. We still have human responsibility and are not just pawns in a game between God and the Devil.
Remember that God and the Devil are not equal. God is not created. The Devil is. He is a created angel who has fallen and gone against his Creator. He seeks to destroy the Creation which is why he came in the form of a snake to deceive and disrupt that which God called ‘very good’. Why did God create him? The simple answer is for the same reason that he created us – to glorify and enjoy him. Remember that God did not create the devil evil – but he did give him the opportunity to turn away and that is where evil comes from.
And yet still God is in control. And out of the great darkness brought on the earth comes an even greater good to overcome it. In order to choose and love God freely, we had to have a choice. In the providence and mercy of God, the rebellion of Satan, resulted in the fall of humanity, and ultimately the re-creation that comes through the life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Even the worst actions of the Devil are turned for good by our Almighty Lord.
Consider: Satan is real. Hell is real. It was made for him – not for you. All evil will be contained there for all eternity. Where would you rather be? With Christ in heaven or with the Devil in hell? It should not be a difficult choice!
Further Reading:
Fear Not – What the Bible has to say about Angels, Demons, the Occult and Satan- Simon Van Bruchem.
How Could a Loving God Send Anyone to Hell? – Benjamin M. Skaug
Prayer: O Lord, we bless you that you have defeated the Dragon; that your truth exposes and destroys the lies of the Father of Lies; that the Serpent who deceived is on a chain, and will soon be able to deceive no more. Deliver us from the Evil One – and enable us to live for your glory and in your light and truth, Amen.
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