Is the devil omnipresent?
FAQs (027) Question asked by Larry
No. The devil is not, and cannot be, everywhere at once (omnipresent).
This is just one of many attributes of God that satan does NOT share. It serves to emphasise that satan, the devil, is in no way comparable to, let along equal to, the one and only God.
The following may help to illustrate the point.
- In Job chapter 1 we are told that satan came into (v 6) and out of (v12) the
presence of God. Here at least is one place where satan is not always present.
- In Matthew's gospel chapter 4 verse 3 we are told the "tempter came to him"
[Jesus] at the start of his temptation, and in verse 11 "the devil left him" afterwards.
Therefore the devil had not been with Jesus immediately before or immediately
after his temptation.
- James also tells us that we are to "Resist the devil..." with the result that "...he will flee from you" (James 4 v 7). If he 'flees' (runs away) he cannot also be present.
However, these points need to be balanced by a word of WARNING. Having said that the devil is not always present could lead to the assumption that we don't have to be concerned about him when he does not seem to be around. Yet Paul warns us that satan "masquerades as an angel of light" (2 Cor 11 v 14); and we are not to "give the devil a foothold" (Eph 4 v 27); while Peter tells us to "be alert" with regard to the devil (1 Peter 5 v 8).
While satan is incapable of being everywhere at once our best policy is to be ready to encounter him and resist him at any time. It is for just this situation that Paul tells us to "put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes" (Eph 6 v 11). Finally, whereever satan may, or may not, be God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit have promised to be with us forever (Heb 13 v 5; Matt 28 v 20; John 14 v 16).
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