“An Angel of Light”


BIBLE READING:2 Corinthians 11

The Bible does not typically portray practitioners of the occult and the demons behind them in a particularly gruesome way. We moderns have been conditioned to imagine Satan, his demons, and their human minions as dark beings of pure ugliness, with attributes of horror and death. We have swallowed this deception from our historical culture and from images presented by the media to entertain the masses and make millions of dollars.
While God's Word warns us against Satanic deceptions, it does not provide the standard horror movie images. It often does just the opposite, cautioning us with the fact that the Devil and his demons do their best to appear as appealing to our senses as they can. From what we see in Genesis 3, the serpent did not repulse Eve.  In her innocence he was quite convincing. In Ezekiel 28, the description of the king of Tyre, a type of Satan, lauds him as “the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty” (verse 12). It describes a creature whose beauty and magnificence turned his heart proud and corrupt (verse 17).
Demons do not always look like snakes, dragons, gargoyles, or goblins but can appear attractive to us when it suits them. If accosted by a ghoul, we would shrink in horror and flee. Demons, though, are all about deception.  Appearing good and beautiful is far more subversive. People are far more likely to trust a physically appealing person than an old hag or troll.
The phrase “angel of light,” means a pure and holy angel, light being the emblem of purity and holiness, just like all the angels in heaven. The idea is that Satan can appear to be an angel. What should we learn?
                (1) His power. He can assume such an aspect as he pleases.
(2) His art. He has six thousand years of experience in the practice of delusion.  None ever professed a more profound regard for the authority of God than Satan did when he tempted Jesus. If the prince of wickedness can appear to be an angel of light, why would we be surprised if who have the blackest hearts can appear to be most pious.
(3)  We should be on guard.  Try the spirits to see if they are of God.  Appeal to the Bible if we are ever in doubt about anything anyone is saying.
(4) Satan doesn't appear in his wickedness and it is for this reason that wicked people do not believe that there is such a being as Satan. Continually under his influence and “led captive by him at his will,” they do not see him or his chains that lead them.


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