Give the Devil His Due 1

Give The Devil His Due

Chapter 1

The Word “Devil” require to be given, paid, or done. 3. That
which law or custom requires, as toll, trib-
Give the devil his “due” is an old say- ute, fees of office.
ing. I don't know whether the young peo-
ple of today have heard it or not. So, the word “due” is an Old English
Whenever anything went wrong, whether word meaning something which is owed or
it was an accident, or if some person fell earned. If you give someone his earned
into sin or error, other people commenting wages, you give him that which is “due.” If
on the occurrence would say: “One must you give someone credit or blame for
give the devil his due.” The implication something happening, then you are giving
was that the devil was behind every bad them their “due.” If we are to consider the
occurrence. devil responsible for some things, and we
make a statement which indicates that he
The use of the word “due” probably is at fault or to blame, we are acknowledg-
seems strange, especially to young people, ing his responsibility and we are “giving
but Webster's 1828 Dictionary gives the the devil his due.” Many things are
following definitions: blamed upon the devil by many people.
1. That which is owed. 2. That which There is even a comedian on television
office, rank, station, social relations, or who says: “The devil made me do it!”
established rules of right or decorum whenever he does something wrong.

1

“Due” discovered what the wicked servant had
done, he had this to say:
To begin with, let's read a few passages Then his lord (or master), after that
in the Bible where the word “due” is used. he had called him, said unto him, O
We'll begin in Deuteronomy: thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all
The priests the Levites, and all the that debt, because thou desirest me:
tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor Shouldest not thou also have had
inheritance with Israel: they shall eat compassion on thy fellowservant, even
the offerings of the Lord made by fire, as I had pity on thee?” And his lord
and his inheritance. Therefore shall was wroth, and delivered him to the
they have no inheritance among their tormentors, till he should pay all that
brethren: the Lord is their inheri- was due unto him.
tance, as he hath said unto them. And
this shall be the priest's due from the Matthew 18:32-34
people, from them that offer a sacri- In Luke 23 is the story of Jesus' cruci-
fice, whether it be ox or sheep; and fixion and we read of the thief on the cross
they shall give unto the priest the in verse 39:
shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the And one of the malefactors which
maw. were hanged railed on him, saying, If
thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
Deuteronomy 18:1-3 But the other answering rebuked him,
The things that were to be given to the saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing
priests were called their “due.” They had thou art in the same condemnation?
no income from any other source, and And we indeed justly; for we receive
owned no property. the due reward of our deeds: but this
Give unto the Lord, ye kindreds of the man (Jesus) hath done nothing amiss.
people, give unto the Lord glory and
strength. Give unto the Lord the glory Luke 23:39-41
due unto his name: bring an offering, One thief admitted that he was receiv-
and come before him: worship the ing death, which he had earned.
Lord in the beauty of holiness. Therefore, he was getting that which was
due him. Jesus, on the other hand, did not
1 Chronicles 16:28-29 deserve the death penalty because He had
Glory is something owed unto God and done nothing wrong.
you are to give God that which is “due.” In 1 Corinthians, 7:3, husbands are
Withhold not good from them to whom told to pay “due benevolence” to their
it is due, when it is in the power of wives. The wife has something which is
thine hand to do it. owed to her. It is “due” benevolence.
By now I think you can understand
Proverbs 3:27 what the word “due” means. Now, let's go
In Matthew, chapter 18, Jesus is telling further into the Scriptures to see if it is
the parable of the wicked servant whose possible that we sometimes give more
debt was forgiven him by his master. The “due”to “the devil”than he has coming, or
servant then refused to forgive another has earned.
servant who owed him. When the master

2

Three Views Of The Devil that it certainly can't be Christians.
Perhaps, a little story will illustrate how
There are generally three beliefs or professing Christians can give “the Devil”
teachings about this so-called creature more “due”than they should.
called, “the Devil.” First of all, the modern
church teaches that the devil is some sort Some of you may have heard the story
of a living being, perhaps not immortal, of Michael O'Leary. He had lived a life of
but at least very long-lived since he has drinking and carousing, and, finally, he
existed for several thousand years. To was taken quite ill. He thought he was
some extent he must be omnipresent, dying and called for the services of a
because church people all over the world priest. The priest came, and after talking
claim that they are being tempted or with Mike for awhile, he finally told Mike
affected by him — all at the same time. to make a pledge that if he survived this
The churches credit him with having the situation he would turn from his wicked
primary function of thwarting the purpose ways and live a life of service to mankind.
of God. Thus, they say that “the Devil” Mike did make that pledge but the priest
influences men to evil thoughts and acts. had a little further idea — he said to
The church tells us that we should resist Mike: “Mike, you've lived a sinful life and
the Devil and call on God for help in doing you're nigh unto death. Certainly, you've
so. However, the modern churches usually been in the service of the devil for many
admit by their teaching that “the Devil” years. Don't you think that you should
comes out ahead in most of his efforts. speak out and boldly-renounce the devil?
Tell him to be gone from you and that you
There is another teaching which states never want to see or hear from him
that there is neither a God nor a “Devil” again.” Mike looked up at the priest from
and that it is all superstition. Some who his bed and said: “Well, faith and begora,
believe this are professing atheists and Father, you've just admitted I'm in a terri-
evolutionists. They claim that man is the ble bad state. Do you think it makes
highest order in creation and that there any.sense I should risk antagonizing any-
are no thoughts or things above man. one at this time?”

The third teaching about the devil People usually get a chuckle out of
involves a pantheon of religions (usually that. However, many Christians (like
other than Christian), all over the world, Mike) pay so much “due” to “the Devil”
which pay so much”due” to “the Devil”that they spend more time worrying about
they become Devil Worshippers. He has what “the Devil” might do to them, to
become their god. They pay homage and their family or to other people, than they
“due” to him to the extent that he has do about what God is doing, or, perhaps,
usurped God's place in their religion. even what they should do. We will see, as
Although some claim to recognize God as we go along, that some people (like Mike)
the more powerful one, they seem to think give “the Devil” a little more “due”than he
that since God is benevolent and merciful, has coming.
and “the Devil” is malevolent or evil, they
had better worship and placate “the New Testament Description
Devil” so they will come out ahead. of The Devil

You probably think that the pagans Let's see what's said about “the Devil”
are the ones who worship “the Devil,” and in the New Testament. In chapter four of

3

Ephesians, Paul is exhorting the believers Paul then lists the various parts of
to good behavior: that armor which are: the Word and the
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, Spirit and, of course, God's help and pro-
beseech you that ye walk worthy of the tection. All of these are needed in order to
vocation wherewith ye are called, withstand the wiles of the devil.

Ephesians 4:1 Here is an interesting passage in 2
Paul then gives some examples of what Timothy:
the believers should do: And the servant of the Lord must not
Wherefore putting away lying, speak strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt
every man truth with his neighbour: to teach, patient, In meekness
for we are members one of another. Be instructing those that oppose them-
ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun selves; if God peradventure will give
go down upon your wrath: Neither them repentance to the acknowledg-
give place to the devil. Let him that ing of the truth; And that they may
stole steal no more: but rather let him recover themselves out of the snare of
labour, working with his hands the the devil, who are taken captive by
thing which is good, that he may have him at his will.
to give to him that needeth.
2 Timothy 2:24-26
Ephesians 4:25-28 The margin in my Bible says that
Included in the exhortations of doing “taken captive” could read, “who are taken
good and turning away from evil was, alive.” The inference is that they are cap-
“give no place to the devil.” tives of the devil while they are alive and
Chapter six of Ephesians is that great it has something to do with the devil's
chapter concerning the whole armor of will. However, the person can recover or
God: take themselves away from this if God
gives them the power to acknowledge the
truth.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the The second chapter of Hebrews
Lord, and in the power of his might. explains what Jesus' death accomplished:
Put on the whole armour of God, that Forasmuch then as the children are
ye may be able to stand against the partakers of flesh and blood, he also
wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not himself likewise took part of the same;
against flesh and blood, but against that through death he might desfroy
principalities, against powers, him that had the power of death, that
against the rulers of the darkness of is, the devil; And deliver them who
this world, against spiritual wicked- through fear of death were all their
ness in high places. Wherefore (or lifetime subject to bondage.
because of that) take unto you the
whole armour of God, that ye may be Hebrews 2:14-15
able to withstand in the evil day, and So the devil has “the power of death.”
having done all, to stand. By the way, each New Testament writer
mentions the devil, but not necessarily in
Ephesians 6:10-13 all of their epistles. Paul does not mention

4

“the devil” in Romans, 2 Corinthians, love one another. Not as Cain, who
Philemon or Titus. Otherwise, “the devil” was of that wicked one, and slew his
is mentioned in every one of the letters in brother.
the New Testament.
John 3:11-12

James had this to say about “the There are a number of ministers in the
devil”: United States who preach that the devil,
Submit yourselves therefore to God. in the guise of a serpent or some other
Resist the devil, and he will flee from creature, actually seduced Eve in the
you. Draw nigh to God, and he will Garden of Eden and produced Cain. They
draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, say that verse twelve proves that Cain
ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye was. fathered by “that wicked one” be-
double minded. cause it says: “Not as Cain, who was of
that wicked one, and slew his brother.”
James 4:7-8 Well, we, also, have another verse in that
James exhorts Christians to live right same passage, written by the same man
and come to God. He, also, says that if you (or actually by God) which says:
resist the devil, he will flee from you. He that committeth sin is of the devil;
I Peter, chapter five, contains a rather for the devil sinneth from the be-
scary passage concerning the devil: ginning.
Humble yourselves therefore under
the mighty hand of God, that he may 1 John 3:8
exalt you in due time. Casting all your If we were to take this verse in the
care upon him; for he careth for you. same manner we would have to say that
Be sober, be vigilant; because your the devil has fathered all the rest of us
adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, because, as we are told in Romans:
walketh about, seeking whom he may . . . There is none righteous, no, not
devour: Whom resist stedfast in the one:
faith, knowing that the same afflic-
tions are accomplished in your Romans 3:10
brethren that are in the world. Also:
For all have sinned, and come short of
1 Peter 5:6-9 the glory of God;
I wonder how many small children
have heard ministers preach that sermon Romans 3:23
and then wonder if “the Devil” is out there Even John, himself, wrote:
in the dark eating people. Peter says the If we say that we have no sin, we
devil “walks about.” deceive ourselves, and the truth is not
In 1 John, chapter three, the devil is in us. If we confess our sins, he is
mentioned, and, also, someone else called faithful and just to forgive us our
“that wicked one.” sins, and to cleanse us from all
For this is the message that ye heard unrighteousness. If we say that we
from the beginning, that we should have not sinned, we make him a liar,
and his word is not in us.

1 John 1:8-10

5

If we take these verses in the same way The “devil” can and will put some
that some take 1 John 3:12, then when Christians in prison.
John says “he that committeth sin is of
the devil,” that means we are all “children In Revelation 20, we have what
of the devil” - ie. we were fathered by the appears to be two ends to the devil. One
devil. end seems to be temporary and the other
is permanent, or at least something
Whether Cain was or was not actually rather drastic happens.
fathered by “that wicked one” is not And I saw an angel come down from
important to our study right now. In any heaven, having the key of the bot-
case, we have proven that the devil and tomless pit and a great chain in his
sin are very closely related. Also, sin and hand. And he laid hold on the dragon,
man, apparently, are inseparable because that old serpent, which is the Devil,
we've just read that all have sinned, and Satan, and bound him a thou-
therefore, we are all sinners. In physics, sand years.
we learned that things equal to the same
thing are equal to each other. The devil is Revelation 20:1-2
connected to sin, and we are sinners. So, And when the thousand years are
we're pretty close to the devil, at least part expired, Satan shall be loosed out of
of the time. his prison, And shall go out to deceive
the nations which are in the four
Jesus is directly connected with the quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog,
destruction of whatever it is that the devil to gather them together to battle: the
does. Jesus destroys the works of the number of whom is as the sand of the
devil, as John tells us: sea. And they went up on the breadth
For this purpose the Son of God was of the earth, and compassed the camp
manifested, that he might destroy the of the saints about, and the beloved
works of the devil. city: and fire came down from God out
of heaven, and devoured them. And
1 John 3:8 the devil that deceived them was cast
into the lake of fire and brimstone,
Which Is It — Fallen Angel or where the beast and the false prophet
Nations & Kings? are, and shall be tormented day and
night for ever and ever.
The devil is, also, mentioned several
times in the Book of Revelation. The word Revelation 20:7-10
“devil” comes from the Greek word, “dia- Here, the devil is leading some sort of
bolos.” In Revelation chapter 2, Jesus, in a great force of people as the sand of the
talking to the church at Ephesus, says: sea. Their nations are called Gog and
Fear none of those things which thou Magog and they are coming against the
shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall saints. Then the devil is cast into the lake
cast some of you into prison, that ye of fire. Some people say that this is either
may be tried; and ye shall have tribu- the end of the devil, or else he is going to
lation ten days: be thou faithful unto be in that lake of fire in pain and torture
death, and I will give thee a crown of for ever and ever. The word “tormented” in
life. this passage is the same word that Jesus
used when He said that the servant was
Revelation 2:10

6

delivered unto the tormentors until he woman, and the earth opened her
would pay “all that was due.” It is a Greek mouth, and swallowed up the flood
word that literally means “jailer” or which the dragon cast out of his
“someone who holds.” Wherever the devil mouth. And the dragon was wroth
is being held in this lake of fire, most peo- with the woman, and went to make
ple would hope that would mean the end war with the remnant of her seed,
of him and the trouble he has, allegedly- which keep the commandments of
caused upon the earth. But, the word God, and have the testimony of Jesus
“devil” sometimes stands for something Christ.
other than what is commonly-thought; for
instance, a person, an angel, or a minor Revelation 12:12-17
god. This last verse is sometimes identified
with the serpent who had beguiled Eve in
In chapter twelve of Revelation we chapter three of Genesis. God said to the
read: serpent:

And there was war in heaven: Michael And I will put enmity between thee
and his angels fought against the and the woman, and between thy seed
dragon; and the dragon fought and and her seed; it shall bruise thy head,
his angels, And prevailed not; neither and thou shalt bruise his heel.
was their place found any more in
heaven. And the great dragon was Genesis 3:15
cast out, that old serpent, called the This seems to fit what we just read in
Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the verse seventeen of Revelation 12 — “the
whole world: he was cast out into the dragon was wroth with the woman, and
earth, and his angels were cast out went to make war with the remnant of her
with him. seed.” Let's read a little more of the
description of that serpent, devil, or drag-
Revelation 12:7-9 on in Revelation:
Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye And there appeared a great wonder in
that dwell in them. Woe to the in- heaven; a woman clothed with the
habitants of the earth and of the sea! sun, and the moon under her feet, and
for the devil is come down unto you, upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
having great wrath, because he And she being with child cried, tra-
knoweth that he hath but a short vailing in birth, and pained to be
time. And when the dragon saw that delivered. And there appeared anoth-
he was cast unto the earth, he perse- er wonder in heaven; and behold a
cuted the woman which brought forth great red dragon, having seven heads
the man child. And to the woman were and ten horns, and seven crowns upon
given two wings of a great eagle, that his heads. And his tail drew the third
she might fly into the wilderness, into part of the stars of heaven, and did
her place, where she is nourished for cast them to the earth: and the drag-
a time, and times, and half a time, on stood before the woman which was
from the face of the serpent. And the ready to be delivered, for to devour
serpent cast out of his mouth water as her child as soon as it was born. And
a flood after the woman, that he she brought forth a man child, who
might cause her to be carried away of was to rule all nations with a rod of
the flood. And the earth helped the

7

8

iron: and her child was caught up Here is a beast which has seven heads
unto God, and to his throne. And the and ten horns and ten crowns. The dragon
woman fled into the wilderness, where [the devil or the serpent] gives this beast
she hath a place prepared of God, authority.
that they should feed her there a thou- And I saw one of his heads as it were
sand two hundred and threescore wounded to death; and his deadly
days. wound was healed: and all the world
wondered after the beast. And they
(Revelation 12:1-6 worshipped the dragon [the serpent or
Then comes the verse I mentioned ear- the devil] which gave power unto the
lier: beast: and they worshipped the beast,
And there was war in heaven: Michael saying, Who is like unto the beast?
and his angels fought against the Who is able to make war with him?
dragon; and the dragon fought and And there was given unto him a
his angels, mouth speaking great things and
blasphemies; and power was given
Revelation 12:7 unto him to continue forty and two
What dragon? The dragon with seven months. And he opened his mouth in
heads and ten horns and seven crowns on blasphemy against God, to blaspheme
his heads. The dragon which is called “the his name, and his tabernacle, and
serpent” in Revelation 12:13. Some say them that dwell in heaven. And it was
this makes reference to Genesis 3:15. given unto him to make war with the
They say it is the same serpent. However, saints, and to overcome them: and
here it is described as a creature with power was given him over all kin-
seven heads, ten horns and seven crowns dreds, and tongues, and nations.
on his heads. In all of the other epistles
which mention the devil you will find no Revelation 13:3-7
description that would fit Revelation 12. We've seen that the first dragon made
The beast has seven heads and ten war with the saints. Now, here is another
horns and seven crowns on his heads. Do beast who's power comes from that drag-
those numbers and words mean anything on.
to you? Let's find out what the next chap- I'll describe this strange beast a little
ter of Revelation says: more later. The discription leads us
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, where? To Revelation 17. Remember,
and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, we're still talking about the devil. Here is
having seven heads and ten horns, a creature called “the devil,”which has
and upon his horns ten crowns, and become a dragon who, now, has heads and
upon his heads the name of blasphe- horns and fights the saints.
my. And the beast which I saw was And there came one of the seven
like unto a leopard, and his feet were angels which had the seven vials, and
as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as talked with me, saying unto me, Come
the mouth of a lion: and the dragon hither; I will shew unto thee the judg-
gave him his power, and his seat, and ment of the great whore that sitteth
great authority. . upon many waters: With whom the
kings of the earth have committed for-
Revelation 13:1-2

9

nication, and the inhabitants of the were not written in the book of life
earth have been made drunk with the from the foundation of the world,
wine of her fornication. So he carried when they behold the beast that was,
me away in the spirit into the wilder- and is not, and yet is.
ness: and I saw a woman sit upon a
scarlet coloured beast, full of names Revelation 17:7-8
of blasphemy, having seven heads and The angel says that the world won't
ten horns. understand what they're seeing; they'll
wonder when they see this.
Revelation 17:1-3 And here is the mind which hath wis-
Here is a woman sitting upon a beast dom. The seven heads are seven moun-
which has seven heads and ten horns; and tains, on which the woman sitteth.
in verse five, we find out the woman's And there are seven kings: five are
name: fallen, and one is, and the other is not
...a mystery: Babylon The Great, the yet come; and when he cometh, he
mother of harlots and abominations must continue a short space.
of the earth. And I saw the woman
drunken with the blood of the saints, Revelation 17:9-10
and with the blood of the martyrs of The seven heads are identified as
Jesus: and when I saw her, I won- seven kings:
dered with great admiration. And the beast that was, and is not,
even he is the eighth, and is of the
Revelation 17:5-6 seven, and goeth into perdition. And
So far, we have a dragon (called the the ten horns which thou sawest are
serpent or the devil) making war with the ten kings, which have received no
remnant of this woman's seed. We, also, kingdom as yet; but receive power as
have a beast making war with the saints. kings one hour with the beast.
The beast and the dragon both have seven
heads and ten horns; although, one of Revelation 17:11-12
them has seven crowns and one has ten. This dragon which is called, in previ-
Now, we have the same kind of a beast ous chapters, “the serpent” and “the devil”
with seven heads and ten horns; only in is being described as nations, great pow-
this case, there is a woman riding on it ers, or kings. Then, in verse 18, the angel
and the woman is making war with the tells John what the woman is:
saints. The angel describes what John is . . .that great city, which reigneth over
seeing: the kings of the earth.
And the angel said unto me,
Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will Revelation 17:18
tell thee the mystery of the woman, I am not going to go into great detail
and of the beast that carrieth her, here to describe what Mystery Babylon is
which hath the seven heads and ten — I have covered that subject in other ser-
horns. The beast that thou sawest mons. However, I did want to quote as
was, and is not; and shall ascend out much as I have to show you that we have
of the bottomless pit, and go into something called, “the devil” (in the epis-
perdition: and they that dwell on the tles), which simply does not match that
earth shall wonder, whose names which is called “the devil” in another part
of the Scriptures.

10

Let's review what we have learned so Just as you were about to decide who
far. In Ephesians 4, we read that and what the devil was, we read chapters
Christians were to quit giving place to the 12, 13 and 17 of Revelation and discovered
devil. In Ephesians 6, we were told we that something called in one place “the
need the whole armor of God to withstand devil” is a dragon that has seven heads
the wiles of the devil. In 2 Timothy 2, it and ten horns. This dragon is a beast, like
says God can help Christians who have a leopard, that has feet like a bear and a
been taken captive (or taken alive) by the mouth like a lion and he makes war
devil to recover themselves. In Hebrews 2, against the saints. This can't be under-
we found that the devil had the power of stood if the devil is what the churches
death, but Jesus' death destroyed the believe he is. The dragon is a beast with
power of the devil. In James 4, we were horns, and the horns are called kings. In
told the devil will flee if you resist him. In Revelation 17, we found that the dragon is
1 Peter 5, the devil walks about as a lion ridden by a woman dressed in red. The
devouring people. In 1 John 3:8, we find angel said that the woman ruled over all
that all who have sinned are of the devil the kings of the earth. This would make
and that Jesus was manifested that He sense; since this dragon was the one with
might destroy the works of the devil. horns, which represented kings.
Then, in Revelation 2, the church at Suddenly, here in Revelation, this quasi-
Ephesus was told that the devil can put immortal fallen angel turned into nations
Christians in prison. In Revelation 20, the and kings right before our eyes.
devil seems to have come to a temporary
end, then later is freed, gathers people in All I have accomplished so far in this
nations to a battle and then he is cast into study is to convince you that, perhaps,
a lake of fire. Whether you think that is a there is something about “the devil” that
temporary or permanent death is not we may not have understood in the past.
important at the moment.
_______________

11