“It was Satan telling me to do it.”

An Australian nurse pleaded guilty to the worst mass murder in New South Wales history. In 2011, he set fire in the nursing home he worked at—apparently to cover up his theft of drugs. The rapidly burning fire killed eleven residents and caused “grievous bodily harm” to eight others (9News, May 27, 2013). Questioned by police, he said, “It was Satan telling [me] to do it” (ibid.).

Most “experts” seek to explain hideous crimes from a purely physiological and psychological perspective, but Christians know that there is more going on behind the scenes. There is a real spirit world which includes a multitude of evil and bitter demons led by Satan the devil (Revelation 12:4, 9), “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2) and the “accuser of [the] brethren” (Revelation 12:10). Christ called Satan the “ruler of this world” and a “murderer” (John 14:30; 8:44). Demons can influence and possess human beings who don’t resist their influence (Luke 6:17-18; 22:3; Acts 5:16).

As the world turns further away from God, we will see more examples of Satan and his demons using yielding human beings as instruments of their crafty work. At Christ’s return, Satan will be banished and this evil influence eliminated (Revelation 20:1-3).  Jesus Christ will teach human beings how to achieve genuine peace of mind (Isaiah 26:3).

For more on this subject, see our article, “Is There a Real Devil?”