Satan (nachash /naw·khawsh/) or
the Devil is the “accuser.” The Hebrew word for
“Adversary” is from the verb meaning “to lie in
wait, to oppose.” The Hebrew without the article
means “an adversary” or “an enemy.” With the article
it means “the Adversary” which is a proper name and
denotes the personal Satan (Job 1; 2; Zech. 3:12).
The Greek translation of Satan is “Devil.”
The personal identification of
Satan with the Devil is asserted in Revelation 12:9.
"And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent
of old who is called the devil and Satan, who
deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the
earth, and his angels were thrown down with him."
Satan is a fallen angel and is the leader of fallen
angels who deceive the world (Rev. 12:9). We live in
a day when men pay “attention to deceitful spirits
and doctrines of demons” (1 Tim. 4:1-2).
Satan is a created spirit who
fell and is opposed to God and seeks to destroy the
plans of God and leads his people into rebellion.
Only naturalistic theology could hold that it was a
mere snake referred to in myth or legend.
Although Satan asserts a great
influence and power at the present time, he is a
conquered foe. "And he laid hold of the dragon, the
serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and
bound him for a thousand years" (Revelation 20:2).
"And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the
lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the
false prophet are also; and they will be tormented
day and night forever and ever" (Revelation 20:10).
There is hope for every Christian because, "The God
of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet"
(Romans 16:20a).
In the fullness of time, God
will demonstrate to the world the bankruptcy of the
satanic deception and lie in Genesis 3:1-5. Satan is
still trying to use the same methods of deception on
men today.
Satan has clearly deceived the
post-Christian mind into thinking he does not exist,
or at least should not be taken seriously. He is
always casting doubt on God’s holy character, and
his goal is to be worshipped as God.
Modern society goes off in two
opposite directions. It is either obsessed with
Satan and sees him behind every rock, or completely
denies his existence all together.
Satan is the source of
spiritual darkness. "The god of this world has
blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they
might not see the light of the gospel of the glory
of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Corinthians
4:4). The power and dominion of Satan is real (Acts
26:18). The Bible does not teach dualism, however.
Satan and God are not co-eternal, or co-equal
powers. Satan’s kingdom had a definite beginning and
it will have a definite end. Satan and his evil
charades are under the sovereign permission of the
LORD God. Satan is not omnipresent; although he has
demonic spirits unleashed worldwide.
In Revelation 12:9 Satan is
described symbolically as the “dragon,” or the
“serpent.” No, he is not a man in a red suit with
horns and a pitchfork. This is an example of Satan’s
deceit.
Satan is the “father of lies,”
and he uses false teachers to deliver his deceptive
message to an unbelieving world. He uses deception
to deceive fallen humanity by “transforming himself
into an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:13-15). As an
angel of light he makes sin and evil more appealing
and attractive than it is in reality. Moreover, he
never tells his victims the tragic consequence of
following his enticements.
A vivid and practical
description of the activity of Satan in found in
Romans 1:18-32 and Galatians 5:19-21. Every day the
newspapers and prime time television give us a
constant barrage of his handiwork. Abortion,
homosexuality, homosexual marriages, extra marital
affairs, co-habitation, prostitution, euthanasia,
etc. are presented to the modern mind as perfectly
normal social options by spiritually depraved minds.
The selfish greed, self-ambition, diplomatic
deception and intrigue of the political powers and
world leaders are fully inspired of Satan. The “sons
of disobedience” obey him (Eph. 2:2).
Satan is only once said to have
entered into a person, i.e. Judas (Lk. 22:3;
Jn.13:27).
Satan has been evil from the
beginning. "The one who practices sin is of the
devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning.
The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy
the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8).
He is briefly mentioned in the
Old Testament as an adversary or wicked opponent,
but is a fully developed doctrine in the New
Testament. The recorded glimpses of Satan’s activity
in the Old reveals that he is in total opposition to
the LORD God and the best interest of mankind.
He first appears in Genesis as
“the serpent” who tempts Eve (3:1). He is
represented as an angel in Job ready to prosecute
the patriarch (1:6-12; 2:1-7; Zech. 3:1-2). In the
later Old Testament period, Satan appears as a
tempter in 1 Chronicles 21:1 and 2 Samuel 24:1.
Satan has access to God in
order to accuse mankind (Lk. 22:21; Jn. 12:31;
16:11). Jesus prays for His disciples and teaches
them to pray for deliverance (Matt. 6:13).
Although denied by some, the
references to the king of Babylon in Isaiah 14 and
Tyre in Ezekiel 28 are seen by many scholars as
referring to Satan. These kings in Isaiah 14:12-14
and Ezekiel 28:12-15 go far beyond any earthly ruler
because of the close connection between Satan and
the government of the satanic world system of which
both ancient Babylon and Tyre were an inseparable
part. Satan is portrayed as Lucifer and “the
Anointed Cherub.”
The apostle Paul reminds us of
these powerful evil forces in our world. “For our
struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against
the rulers, against the powers, against the world
forces of this darkness, against the spiritual
forces of wickedness in the heavenly places"
(Ephesians 6:12).
The very names and descriptions
used to describe Satan in the New Testament reveal
his evil character. Satan is called “Abaddon” (Rev.
9:11) or “Appollyon” (Rev. 9:11) meaning “the
destroyer.” He is the “Devil” (Matt. 4:1, 5; 25:41;
Jn. 6:70; 13:2; Eph. 4:27; 6:11; 1 Tim. 3:6, 7),
“the accuser of the brethren” (12:10; Ps. 109:6),
and our “adversary” (1 Peter 5:8). He is called
“Beelzebul” (Matt. 12:24; Mk. 3:22), and “Beliah” (2
Cor. 6:15). He is “the deceiver of the whole world”
(Rev. 2:9), “the great dragon” (12:9), “and an
enemy” (Matt. 13:28-29). He is the “evil one”
(13:19, 39; Jn. 17:5; 1 Jn. 2:13-14), “the father of
lies” and “liar” (Jn. 8:44), the “god of this world”
(2 Cor. 4:4), “murderer” (Jn. 8:44), “ruler of
demons” (Matt. 9:34; Mk. 3:22), “the prince of the
power of air” (Eph. 2:2), “the ruler of this world”
(Jn. 12:31; 14:30; 16:11), “the ancient serpent”
(Rev. 12:9), and “the tempter” (Matt. 4:3; 1 Thess.
3:5).
Satan is depicted as the ruler
of the host of evil angels (Matt. 25:41), and in
control of the world (Luke 4:6; Acts 26:18; 2 Cor.
4:54). He is in control of all who resist the gospel
of salvation by grace through faith in Christ (Rev.
2:9, 13). Unregenerate humanity is under his
powerful grip (Mark 4:15; John 8:44; Acts 13:10;
Isa. 42:12-17; 2 Cor. 4:3-4; Eph. 2:2; Col. 1:13).
The Antichrist and his
followers are under the control of Satan (2 Thess.
2:9; Rev. 13:2). “The whole world lies in the power
of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). His demons possess
human beings (Lk. 8:33).
He is the enemy of all
believers (1 Thess. 2:18). He “temps” believes
because of lack of self-control (1 Cor. 7:5). "Be of
sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the
devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking
someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8).
From the above designations it
is very clear that Satan is a great powerful enemy
and holds great dignity in the spirit world. He is
the ruler over a powerful well-organized kingdom of
evil, of which he is the clearly recognized leader.
His subjects have well-organized delegated
responsibilities in doing his evil work in the
universe. He has a vast empire of spirit-beings
(Matt. 25:41; Rev. 12:7; Eph. 6:12). These fallen
angels have given their allegiance to him (Rev.
12:4, 7, 9). He rules as “the leader of this world”
with a system of principles, values, goals, and
methods which are in total opposition to the LORD
God (2 Cor. 4:3-4; Eph. 2:2; Col. 1:13; 1 John
2:15-17).
The powerful influence of Satan
is seen in the fall of the human race. There he is
seen as “the Serpent” (Genesis 3). However, even
there his judgment was predicted in the promise of
the protoevangelium (v. 15), and this was
consummated at the cross (John 12:31-33; Col. 2:15).
Because Satan is only a
creature, his power is limited by the omnipotence of
God (Ezek. 28:11-16). He is not all powerful like
the LORD God.
At the present time he
continues to reign as usurper (2 Cor. 4:4), and
still works in tempting and accusing men (Rev.
12:10), he is a defeated foe because he will be cast
out from the heavenlies (vv. 7-12) as well as the
earth (5:1-19:16), and will be bound to the abyss
for a thousand years (20:1-3).
At the end of the thousand-year
reign of Christ, Satan will be released one last
time to lead his armies against God (Rev. 20:8-9).
This will result in his final eternal doom when he
is cast into the lake of fire (v. 10; Matt. 25:41).
Satan’s area of activity is
primarily the non-Christian world (Acts 26:18; cf. 2
Cor. 6:16).
He hates the Word of God
because it is the truth and is anxious to snatch it
away (Matt. 13:19).
He fiercely opposes the
servants of God in their ministry to God’s saints (1
Thess. 2:17-18).
If Satan cannot deceive you, he
will come with aggression like a “roaring lion
seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8), and
violent persecution of Christians (2 Tim. 3:11-13;
Rev. 12:13-17). He is described as “going to and fro
on the earth” searching for his next prey (Job 1:7;
2:2).
Satan is the tempter (Matt.
4:3; 1 Thess. 3:5) who leads people into the slavery
of sin. Christians especially are the target of his
temptations. He will do anything to destroy their
testimony (Rev. 2:10; Luke 22:31).
Satan’s power and authority is
limited because the Divine Restrainer limits Satan’s
efforts on the earth at the present time. When the
Restrainer is removed Satan will have one last
outburst of evil in the end of time before he is
bound and cast into the lake of fire with his angels
(2 Thess. 2:7-8; Rev. 20:3, 7). God uses Satan as an
instrument of chastisement and correction, but it is
always within restrictions God places on him (Lk.
22:31-32; 1 Cor. 5:5; 1 Tim. 1:20).
Satan can still cause physical
illness, but only when permitted by God. Paul’s
“thorn in the flesh” is a “messenger of Satan” sent
to bruise him (2 Cor. 12:7), and individuals can be
delivered over to him for chastening (1 Cor. 5:5; 1
Tim. 1:20), but even that can be for the believer’s
good.
Nothing, not even Satan, can
separate the child of God from the love of God (Rom.
8:38, 39; 1 Jn 4:4; Jn. 10:28). Moreover, the
believer is assured of the final victory over the
evil work of Satan. We are promised “the God of
peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Rom.
16:20). We are eternally secure in the redeeming
power of Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:31-39; 1 Jn. 5:18).
“Resist the devil and he will
flee from you” (James 4:7; 1 Pet. 5:8-9; Eph.
6:10-17). The Christian has power to overcome Satan
because Jesus Christ went to the cross, died in full
payment for the penalty of our sins, and rose from
the dead. We must never give the devil an
opportunity (Eph. 4:25-27). “Put on the whole armor
of God” (Eph. 6:13-17; 1 Jn. 2:20-21, 26-27).
Moreover, there is cleansing for the believer in the
blood of Jesus when he does sin (1 Jn. 1:8-10;
2:1-2; Heb. 7:25; Rev. 12:11). The ultimate defeat
of Satan is the “blood of the Lamb” through His
death on the cross (Rev. 12:11).
The Bible is clear in warning
that people will “abandon the faith and follow
deceiving spirits and doctrines taught by demons” (1
Tim. 4:1). False teachers whose minds have been
captured by Satan use the media to pedal their evil
influence on society. Satan’s “demons” render
obedient and wholehearted submission to his rule
(Matt. 12:28, 29; Acts 10:38).
Satan is the ultimate power
behind the Antichrist and the false prophet who
deceives humanity all over the world with his false
religion (Rev. 13:14). Satan inspires false prophets
and teachers in their “revelations.” These false
teachers are the very spirit of the Antichrist (1
Jn. 2:18).
Satan’s method is deception. He
uses the weakness and depravity of men to entice
them to sin (1 Cor. 7:5; Jn. 2:15-17; 4:4). As the
deceiver he is constantly throwing his net to take
men captive (1 Tim. 3:6-7; 2 Tim. 2:26). Satan never
tells the whole truth. His allurements are always
filled with half-truths and “white” lies (2 Cor.
11:13-15).
Those who give themselves over
to evil become the agents of Satan and his servants
to persuade people to do evil as children of the
devil (Jn. 6:70; 8:44; Acts 13:10; 2 Cor. 11:13-15).
The lure of false teaching is
that it is presented as truth, even though it is
mixed with a lot of errors and half-truths. It is a
message of deception. An excellent example is found
in the modern writings such as Da Vinci Code. A
little truth mixed with distorted half-truths and
outright error goes a long way when the media
becomes the vehicle of communication. Readers and
listeners do not take time to check out the accuracy
of the historical data and interpretation of it.
Satan is not the half-brother
of Jesus! Don’t be lured by false teachers into this
greatest of all deceptions of Satan.
How tragic that the modern mind
has become so deceived that it thinks it has evolved
to the place where it needs a “new revelation” from
God or a better way of interpreting His Word to
establish the truth. People are tricked into
believing they need The Book of Mormon because God’s
true Word is not complete. The “angel of light” so
deceives the modern man that truth is no longer the
truth. History has to be rewritten to conform to our
half-truths mixed with a little of demonic truths.
Satan’s oldest trick is to
deceive the self-actualized mind into believing it
is the center of the universe. Satan will feed the
“ego needs” of our sick society and give a false
sense of security. But it is pure demonic deception.
It all began in the Garden when Satan called the
LORD God a liar and told Eve she could become like
God. (It sounds so much like a modern cult that
teaches the members of their society they can become
gods and go off and populate a new planet in the
universe). Satan feeds the ego of proud spiritually
deceived cult leaders. Satan fills the spiritual
darkness with religious arrogance. One pastor said
recently that Satan hooks the modern mind with
arrogant pride and reels it in with ignorance of
Biblical truths.
Perhaps the height of Satanic
deception is the way he feeds the depraved ego and
leads it to think man can know what no one else
knows. The secret societies and Gnostic types of
modern mystery religions are messengers of the
angels of light. They have even deceived modern
Christian leaders. Modern day self-conceit has found
its fulfillment in self-centered self-deceit.
Self-deception always leads to
spiritual darkness and more deception. Watch out
when someone comes in and says, “I have a fresh new
revelation from God,” or “God told me . . .” The
apostle John made it very clear that our
responsibility is to “test the spirits to see
whether they are from God.” “Don’t believe every
spirit” (1 John 4:1).
False teachers accept false
teachings as truth, organize it, defend it,
categorize it, systematize it and proclaim it as
God’s truth to a lost blind and spiritually deceived
world.
Examine the life of any
cult-leader and you quickly see a self-centered,
spiritually deceived, demonic-inspired person living
in spiritual darkness and depravity. Spiritually
deceived teachers teach heretical doctrines that are
infatuated with their evil errors and their ego
leads others into spiritual darkness. Their hearts
become hardened in the process (Eph. 4:18).
The New Testament makes it very
clear the certain defeat of Satan even though he
continues his evil acts against God’s people for the
present age. However, at the final judgment his fate
will be sealed and his activity terminated (Rev.
12-20).
Before the final victory is
over, Satan will give power to “the man of
lawlessness” (2 Thess. 2:3-12; Rev. 13:4, 17). Satan
inspired a powerful outburst of demonic activity
during the life and ministry of Jesus (Acts 10:38).
At the close of this age and the great tribulation
Satan will unleash another massive, one last chance
with an outburst of demonic activity against God
(Rev. 9:1-11; 18:2). The Antichrist will rage wildly
against God’s people.
However, as we stated at the
beginning of this study, Satan is a defeated foe.
Jesus Christ rejected Satan’s offer in Matthew
4:8-10 and through His vicarious, substitutionary
death and resurrection broke the power of Satan.
Death is no longer in Satan’s power (Heb. 2:14-15;
Jn. 8:44; 12:31; 16:11; Rev. 1:18; 1 Cor. 15:25-28,
50-58; 1 Jn. 3:8; Col. 1:13; Col. 2:14-15; Heb.
2:14-15).
Let us never forget that Satan
is limited in his authority and power. He is more
powerful than human beings, but he is not co-equal
with the LORD, not divine, not omnipotent,
omniscient, or omnipresent. He is not God, and he
never will be. Satan is neither eternal, nor
self-existent. He is a created being, originally
good, who rebelled against his Creator (Jn. 8:44;
Ezek. 28:11-19; Isa. 14:12-14).
Jesus saw the final overthrow
of Satan (Luke 10:18), and declared “the eternal
fire” has been prepared for the devil and his angels
(Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:1-14). Satan and all those who
follow him will share the same fate in the eternal
punishment with everyone he deceived.
Genesis 3:1-5; Revelation
12:9-17; 20:1-14; Job 1; 2; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2
Corinthians 4:3-4; 11:13-15; Romans 1:18-32;
Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Peter 5:8; James 4:7; 1 Peter
5:8-9; 1 John 2:20-21, 26-27; 4:1; Ephesians 6:13-17
1. Satan is powerful, but he is
not all-powerful. He is limited in his power and
authority. He is not equal to the LORD God (Job 1;
2).
2. We have an Adversary and
enemy who is against all that the LORD God stands
for in this life and eternity (Genesis 3:1-5; 1
Peter 5:8).
3. "Submit therefore to God.
Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James
4:7). That is God's guaranteed means of deliverance.
The Christian has the power to overcome Satan
because Jesus went to the cross and died as our
substitute and rose from the dead (James 4:1-17;
Ephesians 6:10-20; 2 Timothy 4:17).
4. The final defeat of Satan is
guaranteed by the blood of the Lamb and His
resurrection. We are on the Victor's side. "The God
of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet"
(Revelation 20:1-15).
5. Nothing, not even Satan, can
separate the child of God from the love of God
(Romans 8:31-39).
Anyone is free to use this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold under any circumstances whatsoever without the author's written consent.
Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
Bible word studies for sermon preparation, messages, devotions and personal Bible studies with abiding principles and practical applications.
Reports on what God is doing through Bible believing evangelical Christians in Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, India and Ecuador. Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you" (John 15:7).
Study the master theme of the Bible with these prophecies and types in the Old Testament of the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Free Sermons and Bible studies indexed by Scripture reference and doctrinal studies .
