The Devil

The Devil in the Bible is an adversary whom believers are commanded to resist: James says to submit to God, resist the devil, and that he will flee (James 4:7). First Peter calls the devil an opponent who walks like a roaring lion seeking someone to swallow (1 Peter 5:8).

The name is found in at least 37 verses across 5 books. In Revelation, the great dragon is identified as “the ancient serpent called the devil and Satan,” who deceives the whole world and is thrown down to the earth with his angels (Revelation 12:9). The dragon fights against Michael and his angels (Revelation 12:7), gives power, a throne, and great authority to the wild animal (Revelation 13:2), and makes war with those described as keeping God’s commandments and holding the testimony of Jesus (Revelation 12:17).

First John says that the devil has been sinning from the beginning and that the Son of God was revealed to destroy the devil’s works (1 John 3:8). Jude records a dispute involving the devil, Michael, and the body of Moses (Jude 1:9). Revelation later says that the devil who deceives is thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur (Revelation 20:10).