Is Satan a real being? You bet he is! He is not only real but he also has a goal, and that goal is to get all of God's creation to worship only him and to steal as many people away from God as possible.

Satan, as you probably know, started out as "Lucifer" (meaning "Light"). He was the most beautiful of God's angels, adorned in gold pendants and precious stones that were prepared the day he was created (Ezekiel 28:13).

Ezekiel 28 points out that Lucifer was a created being who is not eternal, but limited and finite. In 2 Corinthians 11:14, Paul describes him as "an angel of light".

2 Corinthians 11:14 There is nothing surprising in that, for the Adversary himself masquerades as an angel of light...

Lucifer lived in the Garden of Eden, on the holy mountain of God (Ezekiel 28:13). ADONAI said through the Prophet Ezekiel:

Ezekiel 28: 14 You were a keruv (cherub), protecting a large region; I placed you on God's holy mountain. You walked back and forth among stones of fire. 15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you.

The cherubim were one of the highest orders of the angels and it was over this class of angels that Lucifer was given authority. He clearly had favor with God.

Later Ezekiel remarks, "You defiled your sanctuaries" (Ezekiel 28:18). Lucifer corrupted his wisdom for the sake of his splendor. And worst of all, he coveted five things:

Isaiah 14: 13 You thought to yourself, 'I will scale the heavens, I will raise my throne above God's stars. I will sit on the Mount of Assembly far away in the north. I will rise past the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High.'

Lucifer wanted to move God completely off His throne. He wanted God's position. Apparently he was not happy just being in charge of the cherubim; he wanted sole authority over all the angels and the entire universe without submitting himself to the authority of the Creator.

He was no longer happy to be a reflection of his Creator; he wanted to be the Creator. Of the 150 references to clouds in the Bible, over 100 of them are related to the presence and glory of God. Lucifer was saying he was going to take to himself a greater glory than the glory of God. He wanted to be responsible to no one but himself and to gain total independence. "I will make myself like the Most High."

Ezekiel 28: 16 "When your commerce grew, you became filled with violence; and in this way you sinned. Therefore I have thrown you out, defiled, from the mountain of God; I have destroyed you, protecting keruv, from among the stones of fire. 17 Your heart grew proud because of your beauty, you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. But I have thrown you on the ground; before kings I have made you a spectacle. 18 By your many crimes in dishonest trading, you have profaned your sanctuaries, therefore I brought forth fire from within you, and it has devoured you; I reduced you into ashes on the ground in the sight of all who can see you. All who know you among the peoples will be aghast at you. You are an object of terror, and you will cease to exist'."

Lucifer's proud heart was the reason for his fall, and the Bible tells us that he did fall, taking some of the angels with him in the process (Rev. 12:7-12). Some believe that his fall to earth took place at Yeshua's resurrection or ascension. The Bible tells us that Messiah was victorious, and that the devil is not a symbol or legend; he is very real. He is an angel turned into a devil through pride. And pride is still a very real temptation that faces us persistently - for Lucifer is seeking to gain followers.

Revelation 12: 7 Next there was a battle in heaven - Mikha'el (Michael) and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But it was not strong enough to win, so that there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 The great dragon was thrown out, that ancient serpent ("the shining one"), also known as the Devil and Satan [the Adversary], the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, "Now have come God's victory, power and kingship, and the authority of his Messiah; because the Accuser of our brothers, who accuses them day and night before God, has been thrown out!

How did all this happen? Did God know the pride that would captivate the heart of Lucifer when He created him? Of course! God knew because He is omniscient. Could God have prevented it? Yes, because He is omnipotent! So, why didn't He? And how could a perfect, holy being "fall"?

Since Lucifer had no sinful world to lure him, no tempter, or innate sinful nature, how could the first unholy thoughts arise in an angelic being? The only probable answer is that Lucifer, like us humans, was created with the freedom to choose! God gave angels and people the choice of good or evil.

Does this mean God is not in control? On the contrary! God is the Creator and He is now, and always will be, in control. Yeshua - God Incarnate - has complete power over Lucifer/Satan. He defeated Satan on the cross by offering Himself as the Final Sin Sacrifice on our behalf!

One day Satan will be bound and tossed into the bottomless so he can no longer deceive the nations. After the thousand year millenial reign of Messiah Yeshua, he will be loosed out of his prison for a short while where he will once again go forth to deceive the nations. But then the devil who deceived the world will be cast into the lake of fire where the Antichrist and false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever (Revelation 20:1-3, 7-10).

Until that day, those who belong to Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ) will be engaged in the ongoing battle for our souls. Our weapons are the Word of God, and being ever vigilant to resist him and his demons as they are constantly on the prowl.