With all the multiplied evil we hear of, reprove and endlessly discuss, we need to have an accurate answer as to what is really going on under the surface and behind the scenes. What, or who, is at the very root of it all?

The Bible says Satan is the prince of this world. He tirelessly operates in vile association with an unspeakably wicked undercover spiritual army. Ephesians 6:11-12 says,

“Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Satan, the wicked one, was once known as Lucifer, a high ranking, anointed, beautiful heavenly being. Precious jewels and fine music were divinely programmed in the essence of his being. His habitation was in the glorious mountain of God until pride and ambition defiled him and he became an agent of lawlessness. He rebelled against Almighty God, defiled His sanctuary and was cast out into the atmosphere of earth (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Luke 10:18).

Satan’s treachery against God and the human race is the world’s oldest conspiracy which continues to this day. He continues his multilevel strategies of deceit, defilement and destruction against God’s most treasured creation—the human race.

He was there along with his lies in the Garden of Eden. Eve was deceived and Adam went along with her disobedience, resulting in sin being marked upon the very DNA of mankind. Man’s experience of the glory of God and intimate communion with Him was tragically exchanged for spiritual–and eventually physical–death, shame, manmade religion, blame, murder and grief which are now manifesting worldwide more than ever (Genesis 3).

Throughout history great leaders and ordinary people became generally allied with the rebellious schemes of the devil. Nimrod (Genesis 10:8-10; 11:1-9), led a cooperative effort to build the Tower of Babel, a monumental exclamation of human and demonic pride in ambitious rebellion against the Creator. Satan motivated Pharaoh (Exodus 1& 2) and centuries later Hitler, to attempt to destroy the Jewish people, through whom the Redeemer would come. Satan motivated Judean King Herod to snuff out the life of the baby born to be the true King of the Jews, the promised Seed of the Woman prophesied in Genesis 3:15 that would one day bruise the head of the serpent.

Throughout His time on earth, Satan contended with Him through a multitude of temptations, as well as physical and spiritual attacks. Jesus defined our archenemy as the prince of this world, a thief and a liar, one whose goal is to steal, kill and destroy us and all that is good (John 8:44; 10:10).

When Jesus died on the cross, the archfiend of darkness thought he had won his greatest victory ever. Mankind, originally created in the likeness and image of God (Genesis 1:26-27), would now be his prize possession to tempt, take over and torment forever in order to taunt the Almighty for his expulsion from glory. He stirred up politicians, religious leaders and crowds to cry for and carry out Christ’s crucifixion.

However, the devil’s strategy was 100% unsuccessful. Unknowingly, he was playing right into the perfect plan of God for redeeming the human race.

What Satan believed to be his greatest victory, was, in fact, his greatest defeat! The cross of Christ, His resurrection and ascension to the right hand of the Father effectively made it possible for the works of the devil to be destroyed in the hearts and lives of those who put their full trust in Jesus (I John 3:8). Now, all those who fully trust in Jesus Christ have been given God’s authority, strength, spiritual weapons and spiritual armor to stand victoriously against the devil (Luke 10:19-20; II Corinthians 10:3-6; Ephesians 6:10-18).

The good news is the world’s oldest conspiracy has been eternally superseded by God’s wise, gracious and sovereign plan! Even though our enemy often comes across as an angel of light (II Corinthians 11:13-15) and many attempt to live religiously with a mixture of his lies and God’s truth, his final doom is sealed. Behind Satan’s pretty mask of piety is an unspeakably vicious tyrant. All his past and present day deceitful schemes in and through nations, governments, media, churches and human hearts will one day be absolutely exposed and thoroughly crushed by the mighty Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ! And the archenemy of mankind, along with all those who have been tricked into following him to the end, will be judged righteously and cast into the lake of fire forever (Revelation 20:10-15).

In the meantime, it’s a mean time! We are engaged in a great spiritual war. This ferocious conflict has many invisible and visible manifestations. If we are ignorant of it, we lose now and forever. It is a war fought, lost and won internally, battle by battle, in our hearts and minds. Loss here is evidenced in our world by unrighteous attitudes and actions of all kinds. Victory here is expressed in righteous attitudes and actions of all kinds.

Even is the midst of the world’s oldest conspiracy, there is great victory we can all have, enjoy and share because of our Mighty Conqueror, the King of Kings, the Lord Jesus Christ!