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Tract 33
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Who was the first sinner and the first murderer?
"He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."--1 John 3:8.
"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."-- John 8:44.
Satan led our first parents into sin.
(Genesis 3:1-6 )
Satan was an important angel in heaven, originally named Lucifer, who fell because of pride.
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."--Revelation 12:9.
"And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."--Luke 10:18.
"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."--Proverbs 16:18.
"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!"--Isaiah 14:12.
He was created perfect, with free choice, but he chose to sin.
"Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee."--Ezekiel 28:15.
"Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee."--Ezekiel 28:17.
"By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire."--Ezekiel 28:16.
How can we resist Satan?
"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world."--1 Peter 5:6-9. (Matthew 4:4-10).
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded."--James 4:7-8. (Ephesians 6:16; 4:27).
Satan and his followers will be destroyed in the lake of fire.
"And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them."--Revelation 20:7-9. (Ezekiel 28:18-19; Hebrews 2:14; Matthew 25:41; Malachi 4:1).
Satan and his angels are working hard in these last days to deceive as many as possible.
"And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."--2 Thessalonians 2:10-12.
"And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant other seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."--Revelation 12:17.
"For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty."--Revelation 16:14. (Revelation 13:14; 20:1-2, 7-9).
There will be a great revival of Satanism and spiritism in the last days.
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils."--1 Timothy 4:1.
"And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men."--Revelation 13:13.
"Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved."--2 Thessalonians 2:9-10.
The Bible condemns spiritualism as sinful and dangerous.
"Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God."--Leviticus 19:31.
"When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God."--Deuteronomy 18:9-13.