Misunderstood Bible Passages

The Real Devil A Biblical Exploration

Chapter 5 An Examination Of The Specific Bible Passages Which Mention The Devil And Satan

Preface: Misunderstood Bible Passages

In discussion with other believers about the devil and satan we often fail to have clear in our own mind what a disputed passage does mean, as well as knowing how to show what it does not mean. The fundamental reasoning behind this study is that we are correct in interpreting the devil as referring to sin and sinful tendencies, but that sin must be manifested through something; one cannot have abstract diabolism, it must always be manifested in a person or system of things. It is for this reason that the devil is personified; because sin (the devil) cannot exist in the abstract, it can only be found within the human heart and person.

In some passages, notably in Revelation, the devil refers to sin manifested through a political system, notably that of the Roman empire. This study reasons that sin was particularly manifested through the Jewish system and thinking of the first century. The Jewish system was the greatest 'satan' or adversary to the early church. Because the extent of this seems to be largely unrecognized, this aspect has been highly emphasized, although in no way should this sidetrack us from recognizing that the fundamental reference of the devil is to sin, albeit through various manifestations. Judas provides a neat example; he was influenced by ‘Satan’ to betray Christ. This has reference to his own carnal desires, e.g. for money, but also to his being influenced by the Jewish satan, the aims of the Jewish world of the first century with its desire for an immediate Messianic Kingdom.

As you consider these Bible passages, think of presenting those who believe in the orthodox idea of the devil the following question: ‘Can you give me a brief Biblical history of the devil, according to your interpretation of Bible passages? The response is highly contradictory. According to ‘orthodox’ reasoning, the answer has to be something like this.
a) The devil was an angel in heaven who was thrown out into the garden of Eden. He was thrown to earth in Gen. 1.
b) He is supposed to have come to earth and married in Gen 6.
c) At the time of Job he is said to have had access to both heaven and earth.
d) By the time of Is. 14 he is thrown out of heaven onto earth.
e) In Zech. 3 he is in heaven again.
f) He is on earth in Mt. 4.
g) He is “cast out” at the time of Jesus’ death, according to the popular view of “the prince of this world” being “cast out” at that time.
h) There is a prophecy of the devil being ‘cast out’ in Rev. 12.
i) The devil is “chained” in Rev. 20, but he and his angels were chained in Genesis, according to the common view of Jude 6. If he was bound with ‘eternal chains’ then, how is he chained up again in Rev. 20?

All this is contradictory- moreover, Heb. 2:14 states that the Lord Jesus "destroyed" the devil at the time of His death. And if the devil was cast out of Heaven in Eden, how come he appears to talk with God so freely in Heaven itself afterwards? Quite simply, the orthodox story just doesn't add up. It's literalism taken to a ridiculous extent- for various political and social reasons.

5-2 The Serpent In Eden Genesis 3:4-5

5-3 Sons Of God And Daughters Of Men Genesis 6: 2-4

5-4 Job’s Satan Job 1:6

5-4-1 The Satan In Job: A Fellow Worshipper?

5-4-2 Job's Satan: An Angel-Satan?

5-5 Lucifer King Of Babylon Isaiah 14: 12-14

5-6 The Anointed Cherub Ezekiel 28: 13-15

5-7 Zechariah 3

5-8 The Temptation Of Jesus Matthew 4: 1-11

5-8-1 Jesus In The Wilderness: A Study In The Language And Nature Of Temptation

5-8-2 The Wilderness Temptations: A Window Into The Mind Of Jesus

5-9 Unclean Spirits Matthew 12: 43-45