I need some clarification about the bible. anyone?

Answering #3 first, people need translators since rare is the person who can find, much less read original scripts of the Bible in the languages of the times the books were written. That being the case, your question #1 is answered to the contrary of what you said. IT IS "the culture or language of the time" that not only requires the translators but also gives those translators the knowledge necessary to determine whether something is written metaphorically or literally. And finally, to answer your #2, no matter what the devil knows, there is so very little he can change since it's man's free will, a God given gift, that calls-the-shots on how "the game plays out". God Bless you.