18th August 2026 Question box

OK, for question box: there are so many questions, that I’m going to try to do two this week, but with shorter answers. And these two questions are related.

The first one is:

“Why do we attribute so much evil to the person of Satan, and not the more general Satan or satans?”

This question is picking up on the fact that it is possible to describe the general principle of evil, as well as a personal being named Satan, as well evil spiritual beings that work for Satan. So, for example, the general principle: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21), and Satan as a personal being: “For we wanted to come to you—but Satan blocked our way…” (1 Thessalonians 2:18). There are also spiritual forces which follow Satan, Jesus spoke about: “…the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matthew 25:41) But the question is right in saying that the New Testamant refers to the second one, Satan as a personal being, more often than that other two.

And I think the reason is as simple as this: we often sum up an action, as the action of the leader. We might hear: “Trump attacked Iran.” Trump wasn’t flying the jets, but we know it that means. Or we might hear: “Albanese promises to build submarines.” Again he’s not going to build them himself… but he’s in some way responsible. In the same way, we understand that Satan doesn’t work alone. I think the point the bible makes is that opposition to God and his people is not random, its intentional and organised.

Which leads us into the next question…

This next question, comes from the book of Revelation, and that famous passage about the mark of the beast. Here’s what the questioner asks:

“This question is from Revelation 13:11-18. It stood out to me because it seems that the second beast performs signs on behalf of the first beast. I was curious as to whether there is some deeper significance, as this seems to be a darker imitation of the relationship between Jesus and the Father.”

Yes, I think that the questioner has picked up on something here. Satan is described in the book of Revelation as someone who tries to set himself up in the place of God, as a kind of counterfeit God, a false Messiah. As Revelation 13:11 says: “[The beast] had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon.” His impact on the world is profoundly destructive, according to the passage: He deceives, he kills, he oppresses. The next passage, Revelation 14 begins with these words: “Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb.” What does he do? He purchases a people for himself, and makes them agents of joy and truth!

Where the book of Revelation goes after this is, toward a final confrontation between Jesus Christ, and the false Christ.
And yet suddenly, before the battle gets going… the opposition is captured and judged, and Jesus the lamb who was slain rules forever. And this means we look forward to a future with no more evil, no more Satan, and no more of his forces. And so the bible teaches us to be alert, but not alarmed by Satan and the evil he does in this world. He is trying to deceive us. But the final victory belongs to Jesus Christ.

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This question was originally answered by Andrew Vines in our evening service on 31 May 2026. I’ll aim to post another question and answer next week. You can read about how our question box works here.