Ask anyone today to picture the devil, and you’ll often get a cartoonish image:
A little red man with horns, tail, goatee, and pitchfork.
He appears silly, almost playful—more like the mascot of Arizona State than an adversary to be feared.
But Scripture never describes Satan this way. Instead, it portrays him as something infinitely more sinister, cunning, and dangerous.
Peter, in his letter to persecuted believers, gives us a strikingly vivid image: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
No pitchfork. No horns. Instead, imagine a predator: stalking, watching, calculating each movement with dark patience.
Where do we get the term “devil”?
Devil comes from the Greek diabolos, meaning “slanderer” or “accuser.”
Scripture describes Satan as both the accuser of humanity and the enemy of God.
Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 reveal glimpses of Satan’s origins: once a glorious, high-ranking angel—beautiful, powerful, privileged—until pride twisted his heart. He desired God's throne for himself. Rebellion followed, leading him and his angels into exile from God’s presence.
Unable to dethrone the All-Powerful, Satan turned his hatred toward the creatures made in God’s image—us.
But questions naturally arise: Why would God create an angel He knew would fall?
Why allow Satan’s rebellion at all?
Scripture doesn’t offer simple answers here.
But consider this… If Jesus is the logos, the very embodiment of truth, then it would stand to reason that truth’s opposite would manifest itself somehow.
The light of truth is bound to cast a shadow of lies.
Perhaps, in part, the Devil is the embodiment of that shadow.
Jesus calls him “the father of lies” (John 8:44).
In Eden, he whispered subtle deception, twisting God’s Word, deceiving Eve into rebellion (Genesis 3:1-7).
In the wilderness, he tried unsuccessfully to deceive Jesus (Matthew 4).
Still today, he tempts us, sowing doubt, distortion, and disbelief.
He deceives, he accuses, and he persecutes. From ancient Rome’s arenas to today’s hostile regimes, Satan inspires persecution to intimidate, discourage, and silence those who faithfully follow Jesus (Revelation 2:10; 12:17)
POP CULTURE VS. THE BIBLE:
What does Satan actually look like? We know this much: he didn’t wear red spandex. Click here to see what we think he may look like 👇🏽🪽
Why such hatred?
Because humans are loved by God (John 3:16).
We bear His image. God has crowned humanity with honor and dignity (Psalm 8:5), redeeming us through His Son’s sacrifice.
Satan opposes God. Therefore, Satan opposes humanity.
Our true enemy isn't political opponents, vocal atheists, or hostile neighbors. Our battle is profoundly spiritual:
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities... against the spiritual forces of evil.” (Ephesians 6:12)
Knowing this, Peter’s counsel becomes even more urgent: be sober-minded, alert, awake.
We’re at war.
Don’t underestimate your adversary—but never overestimate him either.
In the end, the lion roaring now will be silenced forever, and our Savior will reign eternally.
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