Satan (Devil)

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Lucifer, the Fallen Angel by Gustave Dore

Satan (Hebrew: שָׂטָן, Greek: Σατάν)[1][2] is the devil who opposes God. The word devil in the Bible is διάβολος (diabolos) in Greek, which means an accuser, slanderer.[3][4][5][6] Satan appears in the Bible as one who has been sinning from the beginning;[7] he enticed angels in heaven to oppose God and repeats the same deeds on earth. He is an enemy of God, trying to afflict God’s people and get rid of God’s set times and laws (feasts of God).[8][9][10] In the end, he will start a great war and be tormented day and night in hell.

Advent of Satan

Originally, Satan attended the general assembly of the firstborn in heaven, but he enticed the angels of heaven to wage war against God. He was cast down to the earth with his followers,[5] and so were many heavenly angels who were enticed by him.[11][12]

Serpent in Eden

Through the history of the Garden of Eden, we can understand the angelic world where humans lived before the creation of the earth and this world where we live now. The serpent in Eden was a typical figure of Satan,[13] and it deceived Adam and Eve, the first man and woman created by God, and caused them to sin.[14] Being deceived by the serpent, Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which God had forbidden, and gave some to her husband, Adam, to eat.[15] God cursed the serpent and drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden.[16]

This history is recorded in the book of Genesis as an easy-to-understand explanation about what actually happened in heaven. Adam represents Jesus,[17] who was in the angelic world before the creation of the earth, and Eve represents the angels who were also in heaven and loved by Jesus.[18] As Adam had power to reign over the earth,[19] so Jesus Christ had power to reign over the whole universe.[20][21] Satan aimed at His sovereignty. Seizing the opportunity, he deceived the angels whom Jesus loved most and caused them to sin[15] so they would be driven out from heaven, just as he did to Eve. By doing so, Satan schemed that Jesus would come down to earth like the fallen angels.

Satan Was Expelled From Heaven

Illustration by Gustave Dore in Paradise Lost by John Milton, 1866

Satan tried to kill Jesus,[22] who came to save mankind, by accusing Him of all sins. He thought that he would win, but he didn’t know that all the sins would fall onto him. After Jesus took all the sins of mankind and died on the cross, He triumphed over death through His resurrection by handing all the sins over to Satan. Then, He expelled Satan to this sinful world.[23][24]

Satan’s Characteristics and Activities

Satan is the ruler of this world and the kingdom of the air, death, and darkness, who leads all souls to death, using lies and lawlessness as his primary weapons. He unites with fallen spirits, such as false prophets, false Christs, and beasts, for the work of darkness. Satan’s character and activities can be understood through many descriptions of him in the Bible.

Description of Satan (the Devil) (based on NIV)
Name Verse Name Verse
Enemy Mt 13:39 God of this age 2 Co 4:4
Adversary 1 Pe 5:8 (KJV) Ruler of the kingdom of the air Eph 2:2
One who leads the whole world astray Rev 12:9 Power of this dark world Eph 6:12
Tempter Mt 4:3 Great dragon Rev 12:3
Father of lies Jn 8:44 Ancient serpent Rev 12:9
Evil one Mt 13:19 Prince of demons Mt 9:34
Murderer from the beginning Jn 8:44 Beelzebub Mt 12:24, 27
Him who holds the power of death Heb 2:14 Belial[25] 2 Co 6:15
Prince of this world Jn 12:31

Enemy

Satan is the reality of the ancient serpent.[5] The serpent of Eden became an enemy of the woman (Eve), and the serpent’s offspring became enemies of the woman’s offspring.[26] As prophesied in the book of Genesis, Satan becomes an enemy of the woman’s offspring—those who obey the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. . . . Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring—those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Revelation 12:9, 17


Through God’s words, “He [woman’s offspring] will crush your [serpent’s] head, and you [serpent] will strike his [woman’s offspring’s[ heel,”[26] we can understand that the war between the saints and Satan will end with Satan’s defeat.

Adversary

The Fall of the Rebel Angels by Charles Le Brun, 1685

Satan fought against the Israelites, God’s chosen people, in the days of King David and in the days of Zechariah.[27][28] He also tried to harm God, who had come to this earth in the flesh and the lives of His saints. Around the time of His birth, Jesus was in danger of being killed due to the king’s order to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under. Jesus was also sold by Judas Iscariot, who Satan deceived, and He died on the cross.[29] The last remaining people of God are also persecuted by Satan.[30]

Deceiver

Satan accuses the saints with lies.[5][31] Satan’s first strategy to make Eve sin was a lie,[15] and Jesus called Satan “a liar, the father of lies.”[32] Just as Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, his servants, too, thoroughly disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.[33] Through the Parable of the Weeds,[34] Jesus prophesied that the sons of Satan would disguise themselves as the sons of the kingdom just as the weeds and the wheat look so similar that it is hard to distinguish between them. Apostle Paul wrote that the forces of Satan would appear and disturb the church and lead the saints to believe falsehood.


[U]ntil the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose . . . The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. . . . For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-12


After Jesus’ ascension, Satan settled in the church[35][36] and began to sow lawlessness. He changed the truths of the new covenant, which was Jesus’ teachings, one by one. Sunday worship came to be kept instead of the Sabbath, and the Passover was abolished at the Council of Nicaea. As the commemorative day of the Creator[37] and the commemorative day of the Redeemer[38][39][40] disappeared, the way to recognize the true God disappeared.[41] Even after his temporary victory, Satan continued to bring into the church doctrines and idols which are not found in the Bible, such as Christmas and Thanksgiving Day. Both in the past and today, he uses various tricks to prevent the saints from obeying the commandments of God.[42]

Tempter

The Temptation of Christ by Juan de Flandes, 1500

Satan tempts and deceives those who dwell on the earth in various ways. His main purpose is to turn people away from their faith in God.[43][44][45][18][46] His characteristics are recorded in the New Testament.

  • He denies God who has come in the flesh[47] or claims to be Christ so that people cannot recognize the true Christ.[48]
  • Through false Christs and false prophets, he performs signs, wonders, and miracles.[49][50]
  • He makes people follow the teachings of deceiving spirits and demons.[51]
  • He causes divisions in the church and makes the saints stumble.[52]
  • To corrupt the minds of the saints, he makes them love money or be dragged away by their evil desire.[53][54][55][56]
  • Besides, he uses all means, such as material and power, to deceive them.

Representative figures who were tempted by Satan are Job and Jesus. Job lost all of his possessions, his children, and his physical health. His wife told him to curse God and turn away, but Job kept his faith until the end and received many blessings from God. When Jesus prayed, fasting for forty days before starting to preach the gospel, He was tempted by Satan in three ways. Satan tempted Jesus, who had been fasting for forty days, with food, and tried to instigate Him to test God’s power, and tempted Him to worship him, saying that he would give Him the riches and glory of the world. Jesus overcame all the temptations with God’s words,[57][58][59] and through this, He taught us that the saints who believe in Jesus and follow Him must also overcome all temptations with God’s words.

The Final Great War Between the Saints and Satan

St Michael and the Devil by Raphael, 1504–1505

Satan wants all souls to be forsaken by God just as he is. Satan and the beast, who was given the power from him, took control of the church after Jesus’ ascension and oppressed the saints.[60][10][61] Jesus has come again to restore the lost truth of the new covenant.[62][63] In opposition to Him, Satan stirs nations to wage the final great war.[64][65]


Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. . . . The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse.

Revelation 19:19-21


The victory of this war will go to the armies in heaven who are with the rider on the horse.[66] The one who comes on a white horse represents Jesus,[67][68][69] the Lamb who comes in the flesh. The prophecy of Revelation 19 refers to Second Coming Jesus and His followers. The saints, who were defeated by Satan during the Dark Ages, can win the final battle because God comes in the flesh to restore the truth and helps them.

The Bible teaches that the saints should put on the full armor of God, come near to God, and resist Satan to win the great spiritual war.[70] It is because the nearer the kingdom of heaven is, the more frantically Satan prowls about like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.[71]


Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

Ephesians 6:10-20


The iniquities and lawlessness that Satan had sown separated God’s people from God,[72][73] so Christians must obey the truth, that is, God’s word,[74][75][76] not falsehood. Those who obey the commandments of men and stay away from God’s commandments are bound to belong to Satan.[77][78]

Satan’s End

Satan will be thrown into hell, the everlasting furnace.[79] That way, he will finally pay the price for his sins of accusing God’s people before God.


And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Revelation 20:10


As the Bible teaches, “A man is a slave to whatever has mastered him,”[80] those who are mastered by Satan will enter the furnace, following their master.[81]

Related videos

  • Sermon: An Enemy Did This

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Strong's #7854 - שָׂטָן". StudyLight.
  2. ↑ "Strong's #4566 - Σατᾶν". StudyLight.
  3. ↑ Satan, Britannica
  4. ↑ "1228. diabolos". Bible Hub.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Revelation 12:9–10".
  6. ↑ 1225. diaballó, Bible Hub
  7. ↑ "1 John 3:8".
  8. ↑ "Matthew 13:39".
  9. ↑ "Daniel 7:25".
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Revelation 13:4–7".
  11. ↑ "Isaiah 14:4–15".
  12. ↑ "Ezekiel 28:11–17".
  13. ↑ "Revelation 12:9".
  14. ↑ "Genesis 2:15–17".
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "Genesis 3:1–6".
  16. ↑ "Genesis 3:22–24".
  17. ↑ "Romans 5:14–21".
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "2 Corinthians 11:2–3".
  19. ↑ "Genesis 1:28".
  20. ↑ "Ephesians 1:10".
  21. ↑ "Colossians 1:15–16".
  22. ↑ "Luke 19:10".
  23. ↑ "John 12:31-33".
  24. ↑ "Hebrews 2:14-15".
  25. ↑ A Basic Bible Dictionary, pg. 17, Canterbury Press, 2004
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Genesis 3:14–15".
  27. ↑ "1 Chronicles 21:1".
  28. ↑ "Zechariah 3:1".
  29. ↑ "John 13:2".
  30. ↑ "Revelation 12:13–17".
  31. ↑ accuser, Merriam-Webster Dictionary
  32. ↑ "John 8:44".
  33. ↑ "2 Corinthians 11:13–15".
  34. ↑ "Matthew 13:24–30, 36-43".
  35. ↑ "Revelation 2:12–13".
  36. ↑ "2 Thessalonians 2:4".
  37. ↑ "Exodus 31:13".
  38. ↑ "Exodus 12:11–14".
  39. ↑ "2 Kings 23:1–7".
  40. ↑ "2 Kings 23:21–25".
  41. ↑ "2 Corinthians 4:3–6".
  42. ↑ "Deuteronomy 13:5".
  43. ↑ "1 Thessalonians 3:5".
  44. ↑ "Revelation 13:14".
  45. ↑ "Revelation 20:10".
  46. ↑ "1 John 3:7-8".
  47. ↑ "2 John 1:7".
  48. ↑ "Matthew 24:5".
  49. ↑ "Matthew 24:24".
  50. ↑ "Revelation 19:20".
  51. ↑ "1 Timothy 4:1–3".
  52. ↑ "Romans 16:17–18".
  53. ↑ "1 Timothy 6:10".
  54. ↑ "2 Peter 2:14–18".
  55. ↑ "James 1:14".
  56. ↑ "1 Corinthians 6:8–10".
  57. ↑ "Matthew 4:1–11".
  58. ↑ "Mark 1:13".
  59. ↑ "Luke 4:2–13".
  60. ↑ "Revelation 13:2–7, 18".
  61. ↑ "Daniel 8:9–12".
  62. ↑ "Micah 4:1–2".
  63. ↑ "Hebrews 9:28".
  64. ↑ "Psalms 2:1–12".
  65. ↑ "Isaiah 41:2–8".
  66. ↑ "Revelation 17:14".
  67. ↑ "Isaiah 31:3".
  68. ↑ "Revelation 19:11–16".
  69. ↑ "Revelation 17:14".
  70. ↑ "James 4:7".
  71. ↑ "1 Peter 5:8".
  72. ↑ "Isaiah 59:1–2".
  73. ↑ "1 John 3:2-4".
  74. ↑ "Ephesians 4:25–27".
  75. ↑ "2 Timothy 2:25–26".
  76. ↑ "John 17:17".
  77. ↑ "1 John 2:3-4".
  78. ↑ "1 John 5:19".
  79. ↑ "Revelation 20:1–3".
  80. ↑ "2 Peter 2:19".
  81. ↑ "Matthew 25:31–46".
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