Question: The idea of Satan is a silly concept. Think about it: God created His own enemy to fight him. And now, can’t destroy him? ~R.S.

Answer: Thank you for the challenge and for the opportunity to clarify. The situation you describe would be absurd, but that’s not what the Bible reveals about the conflict between God and Satan.

First, God did not create His own enemy or enemies. Yes, He created all things, including the angels. But they were not created to be His enemies but subjects of His love. God is love, and He loves the world (cf. 1 John 4:8; John 3:16).

Second, when God created the angels, they were good. Whatever He creates is good:

“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed” (Genesis 1:31a).

Third, God created the angel Lucifer with free will. He could choose between good and evil. Lucifer decided to do evil. He evidently became unsatisfied with his station in life and lusted for more power. In a passage that many commentators understand as describing Satan, we are told that he wanted to be like God:

You said to yourself, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will set up my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of the gods’ assembly, in the remotest parts of the North. I will ascend above the highest clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” (Isaiah 14:13-14).

That began a prolonged conflict that some refer to as the “angelic conflict” because Satan’s rebellion grew to include other angels. Paul refers to Satan as “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Satan’s ambition to be God will one day be expressed by a coming ruler, whom Christians call the Antichrist, who will declare himself to be god:

He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

So, there is an ongoing war between God and Satan—one that Satan began.

Fourth, God can and will destroy Satan. But not yet. It is a mistake to think that since God has not yet destroyed Satan, He must not be able to. On the contrary, the devil will be defeated. But that will happen in God’s timing at the last judgment. We have already been told what will happen:

The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever (Revelation 20:10).

In short, I don’t find the concept of Satan to be silly at all. When I look at all the evil in the world—the horrendous, diabolical evil—it is clear to me that Satan exists and is very active. The good news is that Jesus is working, too. His job? To destroy the devil’s works (1 John 3:8).

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