THE ENEMY: SATAN
Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. (I Peter 5:8)
THE ORIGIN OF SATAN
Satan was originally created by God:
All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that
was made. (John 1:3)
For by Him were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in earth,
visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities,
or powers; all things were created by Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:16)
God does not create evil. Satan was perfect when he was originally created by God, but was
given a free will to choose good or evil:
Thou was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created till
iniquity was found in thee. (Ezekiel 28:15)
THE FORMER POSITION OF SATAN
The Bible describes the original position of Satan in Ezekiel 28:12-17. Read this passage in your
Bible before proceeding with this lesson. When Satan was originally created, he was an angel of
God. He was one of the Cherubim class of angels, holy, wise, and beautiful, and perfect. He
was the leader among the cherubs and is called a "guardian" or "covering" cherub. His name was
originally Lucifer which means "light bearer" (Isaiah 14:12). He was decked with precious
stones set in gold (Ezekiel 28:13; Exodus 28:15-11). He was given a position on God's holy
mountain and apparently led in worship (Ezekiel 28:13).
What a brilliant, beautiful picture of Satan in his original position is given in the Word of God.
He is described as a gem of precious stones. But a gem has no light of its own. It is not beautiful
in a dark room. Its beauty is in its ability to reflect light from without.
When God created Lucifer, He made him with a capacity to reflect the glory of God to a greater
degree than any other created being. God was the light that made Lucifer radiate beauty.
THE FALL OF SATAN
But Satan did not retain this glorious position. The Bible describes his rebellion and fall:
How art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning. How art
thou cut down to the ground which didst waken the nations.
For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into Heaven, I will exalt my
throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the
congregation in the sides of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.
Yet thou shalt be brought down to Hell, to the sides of the pit.
(Isaiah 14:12-15)
Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hadst corrupted thy
wisdom by reason of thy brightness. (Ezekiel 28:17)
Satan's fall from his angelic position occurred because of pride and rebellion demonstrated in
five wrong attitudes. Satan said:
I WILL ascend unto Heaven: He desired to occupy the abode of God, Heaven, desiring equal
recognition.
I WILL exalt my throne above the angels (stars) of God: He not only desired to occupy God's
abode, but he also coveted His rule over the angelic hosts.
I WILL sit also upon the mountain of the congregation: According to Isaiah 2:2 and Psalms
48:2, this is the center of God's earthly rule. Satan desired to rule the earth as well as the angels.
I WILL ascend above the heights of the clouds: The clouds speak of the glory of God. Satan
wanted God's glory for himself. (The following verses document clouds in relation to the glory
of God: Exodus 13:21; 40-28-34; Job 37-15-16; Matthew 26:64; Revelation 14:14- 16).
I WILL be like the Most High: As we learned in Chapter Three of this course, God has many
names by which He is called. Why did Satan choose this particular name? He selected this
title because it reflects God as "possessor of Heaven and earth."
RESULTS OF SATAN'S SIN
Here are the terrible results of Satan's sin:
- BANISHMENT FROM HEAVEN:
Because of his rebellion, Satan was cast out of Heaven by God:
...I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God...I will cast thee to
the ground... (Ezekiel 28:16-17) - CORRUPTION OF CHARACTER:
Lucifer, once created for God's glory, became Satan with a character that opposed all God is and
does. - PERVERSION OF POWER:
Satan's power was once used for God's glory. Now it is turned to disruptive and destructive
purposes. According to Isaiah 14 he weakens the nations (verse 12), causes the earth and
governments to tremble (verse 16), and those taken as his prisoner have no relief (verse 17). - DESTINED TO THE LAKE OF FIRE:
Satan was destined to the lake of fire (Isaiah 14:15). - AFFECTED OTHER ANGELS OF GOD:
When Satan fell from Heaven he did not fall alone. He took with him a portion of the angelic
host of Heaven who participated in his rebellion against God. This group of angels are now part
of an evil force of demons which you will study about in the next chapter. - ENTRANCE OF SIN IN THE UNIVERSE:
When Satan rebelled, sin entered the universe. As a result, there were two actions God could
have taken: - He could have struck down Satan and killed him. But if God had brought
down the first enemy in this way, there would always have been the possibility of
another rebellion. The history of Heaven would have been clouded with similar
disasters. - The other action open to God was the one which the Bible indicates He took.
The claims of Satan to superior power should have their complete trial on earth in
the span of eternity we call time.
When God created the first man and woman, the trial on earth began. You can read the story of
the temptation of Adam and Eve by Satan and their fall into sin in Genesis chapter 3. You will
study more about this when you analyze the strategies of Satan later in this course.
The battle is still in progress on earth. That is what spiritual warfare is all about. Satan is still
seeking power, position, and worship. But as you will learn later in this course, he is already a
defeated foe. Jesus overcame the power of Satan through His death and resurrection. The final
destiny of Satan is already revealed in the Bible.
WHERE IS SATAN?
Satan, in spirit form, is present in the world:
And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered
the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up
and down in it. (Job 1:7)
Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. (I Peter 5:8)
Although Satan is present in the world, he is not omnipresent, which means he cannot be every
place in the world at one time as God can. This is why he employs a host of demons to
accomplish his plans.
SATAN'S ACTIVITIES
Satan has access to the presence of God and operates on the earth, including the "air" or region
above the earth:
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before
the Lord, and Satan came also among them.
And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered
the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up
and down in it. (Job 1:6-7)
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in
the children of disobedience. (Ephesians 2:2)
We may summarize the activities of Satan by noting that they are always directed against God,
His plan, and His people. He will attack you in the areas of worship of God, the Word of God,
your Christian walk, and your work for God. More specific activities of Satan will be dealt with
in detail in later lessons.
THE ATTRIBUTES OF SATAN
As you have already learned, Satan is a spirit, but he also has attributes of a real personality. The
Bible teaches that he is:
INTELLIGENT AND SUBTLE:
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his
subtility, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in
Christ.
(II Corinthians 11:3)
EMOTIONAL:
And the dragon was wroth with the woman... (Revelation 12:17)
SELF-WILLED:
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are
taken captive by him at his will. (II Timothy 2:26)
POWERFUL:
...Prince of the power of the air... (Ephesians 2:2)
DECEITFUL:
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11)
FIERCE AND CRUEL:
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. (I Peter 5:8)
DECEPTIVE:
And no marvel: For Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
(II Corinthians 11:14)
THE NAMES OF SATAN
The Bible gives many names for Satan which reveal more about his nature and activities. As you
previously learned, Satan was originally called the "anointed cherub" and "Lucifer" before his
rebellion. Other names for Satan are:
Abaddon: (Hebrew word for a destroying angel) Revelation 9:11
Accuser of the Brethren: Revelation 12:10
Adversary: I Peter 5:8
Angel of bottomless pit: Revelation 9:11
Angel of light: II Corinthians 11:4
Apollyon (Greek word for destroyer): Revelation 9;11
Beelzebub: Matthew 12:24; Luke 11:15; Mark
3:22
Belial: II Corinthians 6:15
Deceiver: Revelation 12:9; 20:3
Destroyer: Revelation 9:11; I Corinthians 10:10
Devil: (Means slanderer) I Peter 5:8; Matthew 4:1
Dragon: Revelation 12:3
Enemy: Matthew 13:39
Evil One: I John 5:19
God of this world: II Corinthians 4:4
King of Tyrus: Ezekiel 28:12-15
Liar, father of lies: John 8:44
Murderer: John 8:44
Prince of the devils: Matthew 12:24
Prince of this world: John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11
Prince of the power of the air: Ephesians 2:2
Satan: (means adversary, opposer) John 13:27
Serpent: Revelation 12:9; II Corinthians 1:3;
Tempter: Matthew 4:3; I Thessalonians 3:5
Roaring Lion: I Peter 5:8
Ruler of darkness: Ephesians 6:12
Spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience: Ephesians 2:2