The most important text about the origin and fall of the devil is undoubtedly the twelfth chapter of the Book of Revelation. There we read about a rebellion in the heavenly world, which turns out to have devastating consequences for all of God’s creation:

Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. (Rev. 12:7–9)

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From these verses, we can draw several important conclusions related to evil in this world:

Secondly, that the devil is an angel, who in turn has a large number of angels whom he call his own and who are thus in some way connected to him. 

Thirdly, that the devil had a high rank in the heavenly world, as the archangel Michael was required to go into battle to defeat him.

Fourthly, that after this the devil could not keep his place in heaven, but was instead cast down to earth – to great detriment of us who live here. As it is proclaimed further down in the same chapter: ‘Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short’ (Rev 12:12).

Each of these truths are of importance to anyone who wants to understand the Bible’s revelation about evil, and throughout the history of the Church, they have been central to the Christian teaching. Belief in an evil power has been self-evident for God’s people in virtually all parts of the Christian church.

The biblical worldview

At the same time, it is well known that the recognition of an evil power is provocative in a materialistic Western context. This has been the case ever since the breakthrough of liberal theology, and if a secularised European tends to regard belief in God as an expression of superstition, this is nothing compared to how he or she regards belief in the devil. For many Europeans today, recognizing a personal evil power is synonymous with being mentally disturbed.

[destacate]The words about the devil in the Book of Revelation are not an isolated phenomenon[/destacate]However, one need only watch a news program on television to see how much evil is rampant here on earth. And as soon as we venture outside our own corner of the world, it becomes apparent that belief in an evil power – not least in the form of demons or evil spirits – is considerably more widespread than our Western non-belief. 

If we are Christians and believe in God’s word, it is enough to read the four Gospels to see that Jesus himself regarded the devil as very real indeed. Yes, as someone we are all called to fight and, if necessary, cast out: ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons …’ (Mark 16:15–17).

The words about the devil in the Book of Revelation are therefore not an isolated phenomenon. Rather, we can see it as a central aspect of the worldview that the Biblical authors provide us with – something that helps us to understand the world in which we live.

Manifestations of evil

In what ways can we see that the devil is at work? We have already touched on two of the most obvious examples: He is behind much of sin and evil in this world. ‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy,’ says Jesus (John 10:10), and that is how we should expect to see his traces in general life. 

To this we must add personal attacks against ourselves. In the Gospels as well as in Acts, we see this in the form of possessions or – more accurately – various forms of demonisation. That is, situations where an evil spirit either takes up residence in, or strongly influences, an individual. In many Christian traditions we also talk of the experience of ‘temptation,’ referring to thoughts and feelings that in various ways seek to steal our joy, peace, and assurance of salvation. This is a phenomenon that sometimes, though certainly not always, originates with our spiritual enemy.

[destacate]Sin, the world and the devil work together in a kind of unholy alliance, where it is not always clear where one begins and the other takes over [/destacate]But beyond these fundamental, and sometimes quite spectacular, manifestations of evil, God's word tells us that we encounter the devil in a variety of phenomena. This is partly because sin, the world and the devil work together in a kind of unholy alliance, where it is not always clear where one begins and the other takes over. 

Partly, this is also because ideologies and religions can have demonic elements. As expressed in Paul’s famous words: ‘For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms’ (Ephesians 6:12).

Another fundamental truth is that there is a battle going on for every human soul. ‘The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God,’ writes Paul (2 Cor 4:4). Even in the Book of Revelation, we get a hint of this reality. The devil, writes John, is triumphed over ‘by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their [our brothers and sisters] testimony’ (Rev 12:11). In other words, the enemy is defeated by the power of Jesus’ death on the cross, but this victory must also be received personally – through our own testimony of Jesus as Saviour (cf. Rom 10:9–10).

Equipped for a life according to God’s will

Every Christian’s calling therefore includes, as the old baptismal formula expresses it, ‘renouncing the devil and all his works.’ But it also includes practicing spiritual discernment. ‘Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light,’ writes Paul (2 Cor 11:14). And Jesus urges us to beware of – and expose – the false prophets who ‘come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves’ (Matt 7:15).

[destacate] The devil’s actions are insidious – but also remarkably predictable. It is all about what the New Testament refers to as the works of the flesh[/destacate]In short: In order not to become part of our enemy’s agenda in this world, we need to get to know our Saviour and His Word well enough to identify the false copies of the devil. But we also need to know our enemy well enough to be able to say, as the apostle did, ‘For we are not unaware of his schemes’ (2 Cor. 2:11).

The truth is that the devil’s actions are, in a sense, insidious – but also remarkably predictable. It is all about what the New Testament refers to as the works of the flesh: ‘sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like’ (Gal 5:19–21).

So let’s not be naive. Let's embrace the biblical worldview, and let’s be ready for a life according to God’s will – fully aware that evil is personal and real, but at the same time defeated in the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ!

Olof Edsinger, General Secretary of the Swedish Evangelical Alliance. Author of the book Dangerous to the Enemy: A book about the spiritual battle – and how it can be won (Word of Life Publishing: 2026).

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