Does the Devil or Satan exist? Where did he come from?

Why did Jesus refer to the Devil as the “prince of this world”?—John 12:31

Why does a loving and all-powerful God allow the Devil to influence men and their affairs?

The FREE 29-page booklet Your Adversary the Devil presents the Bible’s answer to these questions.

Prior to his fall, the Devil was the angel “Lucifer, son of the morning.” (Isa. 14:12) He was created and remained perfect until iniquity was found in him. (Ezek. 28:15) His iniquity was pride, which led to his ambition to “be like the Most High” [God].—Isa.14:13,14

Satan’s ambition led him to tell the first lie — that Adam and Eve would not surely die if they ate the fruit of the forbidden tree. (Gen. 3:4,5) Through this lie, Satan usurped authority over man, and since that time he has used lies and violence to maintain his hold over the human family. He is the father of lies and a "murderer [of the human family] from the beginning."—John 8:44

The Scriptures promise Satan’s hold over mankind will be broken. First, he will be bound for 1,000 years in Christ’s kingdom so he can deceive the nations no more. (Rev. 20:1-3) Thereafter, the Devil will be released for a little season to test mankind a final time, and then he will be destroyed in the lake of fire.—Rev. 20:7-10