In previous chapters you learned of a great invisible war that is in progress in the spirit world. You studied the spiritual forces of good engaged in this warfare. These include God the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, and the angels.
This chapter introduces your spiritual enemy, a powerful force of evil known as Satan. You will learn of his origin, his former position, how he fell from his former position, and of those he took with him when he fell. You will learn the attributes of his nature, his sphere of activity, and receive an introduction to his strategies. In the following two chapters you will continue this study of the spiritual forces of evil as you learn about demons, the world, and the flesh.
In warfare in the natural world, a soldier must first identify the enemy before entering the battlefield. He must study all available information on the enemy, his nature, and strategies. This is why military forces spend much time gathering intelligence information on the enemy.
The same is true in the spirit world. You can only war effectively if you identify your enemy, understand his nature, and recognize his strategies. As you have learned, the evil forces you face are not clothed in flesh. They are spiritual hosts of wickedness.
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, 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:
1. 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)
2. CORRUPTION OF CHARACTER:
Lucifer, once created for God's glory, became Satan with a character that opposed all God is and does.
3. 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).
4. DESTINED TO THE LAKE OF FIRE:
Satan was destined to the lake of fire (Isaiah 14:15).
5. 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.
6. ENTRANCE OF SIN IN THE UNIVERSE:
When Satan rebelled, sin entered the universe. As a result, there were two actions God could have taken:
1. 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.
2. 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) Accuser of the Brethren:
Adversary:
Angel of bottomless pit:
Angel of light:
Apollyon (Greek word for destroyer): Beelzebub:
Belial: Deceiver: Destroyer:
Revelation 9:11 Revelation 12:10
I Peter 5:8 Revelation 9:11
II Corinthians 11:4 Revelation 9;11 Matthew 12:24; Luke 11:15; Mark 3:22
II Corinthians 6:15 Revelation 12:9; 20:3 Revelation 9:11;
I Corinthians 10:10
Devil: (Means slanderer) Dragon:
Enemy:
Evil One:
God of this world: King of Tyrus: Liar, father of lies: Murderer:
Prince of the devils:
Prince of this world:
Prince of the power of the air: Satan: (means adversary, opposer) Serpent:
Tempter:
Roaring Lion:
Ruler of darkness:
Spirit that works in the children of disobedience:
I Peter 5:8; Matthew 4:1 Revelation 12:3 Matthew 13:39
I John 5:19
II Corinthians 4:4 Ezekiel 28:12-15
John 8:44
John 8:44
Matthew 12:24
John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11 Ephesians 2:2
John 13:27
Revelation 12:9;
II Corinthians 1:3
Matthew 4:3; I Thessalonians 3:5 I Peter 5:8
Ephesians 6:12
Ephesians 2:2
You can recognize the power of Satan from his attributes and names. Because he is a deceptive, powerful enemy the Bible warns:
Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. (I Peter 5:8)
Neither give place to the devil. (Ephesians 4:27) SATAN IS NOT...
Unlike God, Satan is not omniscient (knowing all things). If Satan could foresee the future he never would have allowed Jesus to die on the cross. He would have known that the death of Jesus would overthrow his power and provide a way of escape from the bondage of sin for all mankind.
Satan is not omnipotent (all powerful). Jesus said the power of God within you is greater than the power of Satan. For those who believe in Jesus, Satan is already a defeated foe (John 12:31). He is strong only to those who yield to him. His power is limited by the power of God (Job 1:10-12) and he is only able to overcome a believer as they yield control to him.
Because Satan is not omnipresent (present everywhere) he dispatches a host of demons throughout the earth to do his will and accomplish his purposes. You will learn more about them in the following chapter.
TACTICAL MANEUVERS
Study the Biblical record of the words of Satan. His words serve as a further introduction to his strategies: Genesis 3:1,4,5; Job 1:7-12; Job 2:1-6; Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13.
In studying this lesson on Satan, have you identified areas in which the enemy is active in your life? Has he deceived you and lied to you? Has he subtly crept into your life to destroy and rob you of joy, peace, or your Christian testimony? It is important to determine this, because areas in which Satan is operative in your life are battlefields in which you will apply the strategies you will learn in this course.
Satan is an exact opposite of the Holy Spirit. to Himself. Satan is committed to draw men
The Spirit was sent by God to draw men away from God.
Holy Spirit
Spirit of truth True
Life giving Holy
Like a dove
Our helper
Gives utterance Advocate
Stronger than Satan
Jesus said Satan...
-Is an enemy:
-Is the wicked one:
-Is the prince of this world:
-Is a liar and the father of lies:
-Is a murderer:
-Fell from Heaven:
-Has a kingdom:
-Sows tares among the wheat: -Snatches the Word from hearers: -Bound a woman for eighteen years: -Desired to have Peter:
-Has angels:
-Is prepared for eternal fire:
Satan
Spirit of Error A liar
A murderer Evil
Like a serpent Our adversary Makes men dumb Slanderer
Strong armed man
References
I John 4:6
John 14:17; 8:44
I Corinthians 15:45; John 8:44 Romans 1:4; Matthew 6:13 Matthew 3:16; Revelation 12:9 Romans 8:26; I Peter 5:8
Acts 2:4; Mark 9:17
John 14:16; Job 1:9-11
Luke 11:21-22
Matthew 13:39 Matthew 13:38 John 12:31; 14:30 John 8:44
John 8:44
Luke 10:18
Matthew 12:26
Matthew 13:38-39
Matthew 13:19; Mark 4:15; Luke 13:16 Luke 13:16
Luke 22:31
Matthew 25:41
Matthew 25:41
In studying this lesson on Satan, have you identified areas in which the enemy is active in your life? Has he deceived you and lied to you? Has he subtly crept into your life to destroy and rob you of joy, peace, or your Christian testimony? It is important to determine this, because areas in which Satan is operative in your life are battlefields in which you will apply the strategies you will learn in this course.
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