There are two realities in the world today. One we see and participate in; the other we cannot normally see, but it is quite as real. The unseen world includes angels and demons. God sends angels to help and defend His children. Angels also are in constant battle with demons. This is part of what we call spiritual warfare. The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

     Unfortunately, most people today do not accept the fact of the unseen world. They are so deceived by the devil that they dismiss the idea of angels, demons, Satan, and even God. The majority of people today probably do not really believe that heaven and God exist. They certainly prefer not to believe in hell. But as someone once wisely said, “Not believing in something does not make it go away.” Why do so many of our people no longer believe in God as evidenced by the decadence in which they choose to live? It is also evident in the extensive lack of church attendance. Satan has blinded and deceived them mainly through use of their pride.

     The easiest people to blind seem to be intellectuals. Our universities are full of them. Most intellectuals are very atheistic. Sadder still is the fact that Satan uses these professors to lead astray so many of our young people. Some of them become professors and the cycle continues. Paul described these intellectuals as, “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7).

     Many people pride themselves as being “free thinkers.” But are they really free? Actually, they unknowingly are in bondage to Satan. Jesus said, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

     The rich man in hell that Jesus told us about had not been a believer on earth, and he realized that his brothers still living were in the same sad spiritual condition as he had been in. So he asked Abraham to send someone to warn them. He suggested that if someone returned from the dead to warn them they would believe. But Abraham told him that if they did not hear Moses and the prophets, neither would they believe though one rose from death (Luke 16:31).

     Jesus Himself rose from the dead after burial following His crucifixion. And He was seen by over 500 people before He ascended back into heaven. But people still did not believe in or accept the Lord. Most people who have lived since then have not. Most don’t today.

     Luke 16:28 reminds us that hell is real and a place of literal torment. Read the story in Luke 16:19-31. It is profitable reading. Many people mistakenly believe that Satan is in hell today. He will be, but not yet. 1 Peter 5:8 explains, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

     Satan is part of this unseen world. He was the most perfect and most beautiful angel; but, the Bible tells us that pride was found in him. In fact, Satan wanted to be God. So God kicked him out of heaven. Jesus said in Luke 10:18, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” God hates the kind of pride that makes people feel better than others. We must remember that the lowest person on earth was created by Almighty God and is His image bearer.