The devil has one general goal for you, your family and friends -- "to devour":
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Pet 5:8)
The preventatives cited are clear and twofold: (1) We must be self-controlled. (2) We must be alert to his clever schemes.
Do NOT give the devil an opportunity to tempt you or lead you away from God:
And do not give the devil a foothold. (Eph 4:27)
Satan tempted the Lord Jesus by quoting Scripture which mentioned angels:
"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' " (Mat 4:6)
The devil can quote Scripture! This is a disturbing but important truth to know about our chief, spiritual adversary! To make matters even worse, false teachers can do the same! Therefore, we must make sure Scripture is not used out of context. To do this we must consider the verses before and after the verse in question. Also, when trying to arrive at the proper interpretation of Scripture, we must consider all verses on any given subject.
Satan can transform himself into looking like an angel from God:
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. (2 Cor 11:14)
This shows that the devil can disguise his appearance to appear as an angel of God. This explains alleged visions in Mormonism, Catholicism and Seven-Day Adventism. The crux of the message found in these visions contradict, the other visions found in these other groups! In other words, the visions in Mormonism contradict visions in Catholicism which also contradicts the visions in Seven-Day Adventism. Since God does not change (Mal. 3:6; Jam. 1:17), it is impossible for the source of these visions to be God, especially since they have an unscriptural message!
If even an angel from heaven would declare a salvation message different from that found in Scripture, that angel is not only wrong but accursed for doing so:
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! (Gal 1:8)
Dear reader, don't believe any plan of salvation that varies from the message found in Scripture, even if an angel named Moroni allegedly came to a person named Joseph Smith, Jr. or a personage claiming to be Mary appeared and declares that she is "the way" to God, as occurred at Fatima, Portugal. Scripture clearly declares Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). Since Jesus is Mary can't be.
Satan's Final End Is Everlasting Torment:
And the devil, which deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Rev 20:10)
Eternal fire beyond the grave was prepared for "the devil and his angels":
Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. (Mat 25:41)
The same fire that will claim the devil and his angels will also torment people who die in a spiritually lost condition. Dear reader, do not be deceived: There is no reincarnation! The ultimate authority on all spiritual matters, Lord Jesus, taught a judgment and an afterlife in either the kingdom of heaven or eternal fire, but not reincarnation. Also, there is no Purgatory or annihilation of the wicked, according to Jesus. He taught there are only two roads, two gates, two destinies and two groups of people.
Because there are false teachers, deceitful spirits, visions and dreams from the devil, miracles performed by demons, etc. we are advised to do the following:
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)
Test everything. Hold on to the good. (1 Th 5:21)
Our standard is the Word of God, which is used for testing all teachings (2 Tim. 3:16,17). It is in the Bible alone that we can be made "wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 3:15).
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