The Person And Career Of Satan
THE PERSON AND CAREER OF SATAN
Names and Designations. Our English name “Satan” is a transliteration of the Hebrew !j'f', which means “enemy.” The verbal form !j;f' means “to oppose.” It is interesting to note that the first Biblical use of this word describes the angel of the Lord: But God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him. (Numbers 22:22).
Another example of where !j'f' refers to someone other than Satan is in the account of those who rose up in opposition to the reign of Solomon.
Then the LORD raised up an adversary to Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; he was of the royal line in Edom. (1 Kings 11:14).
There are several other designations and titles for Satan. He is called most often in the New Testament o` dia,boloj (ho diabolos), “the slanderer” or “the schemer.” This term was often used in the Septuagint to translate !j'f',, not only when it referred to the supernatural enemy of God, but even when it spoke of a normal adversary. Other titles for Satan include: The tempter (Matthew 4:3).
Beelzebul (Matthew 12:24). The evil one (Matthew 13:19). The father of lies (John 8:44). The ruler of this world (John 12:31).
Belial (2 Corinthians 6:15). The prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). The adversary (1 Peter 5:8).
Abaddon and Apollyon, both of which mean “destroyer” (Revelation 9:11).
Deceiver of the whole world (Revelation 12:9). The Great Dragon (Revelation 12:9).
Accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10). The Fall of Satan. The prophet Ezekiel gives a series of lamentations over the ancient city of Tyre and against its leadership. In the midst of one of these lamentations, he begins to speak of the “king of Tyre” in a way that seems to go beyond the identity of a mere mortal.
12 Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, “Thus says the Lord God,
‘You had the seal of perfection,
Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God;
Every precious stone was your covering:
The ruby, the topaz, and the diamond;
The beryl, the onyx, and the jasper;
The lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald;
And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets,
Was in you.
On the day that you were created
They were prepared.
14 You were the anointed cherub who covers,
And I placed you there.
You were on the holy mountain of God;
You walked in the midst of the stones of fire.
15 You were blameless in your ways
From the day you were created,
Until unrighteousness was found in you.
16 By the abundance of your trade
You were internally filled with violence,
And you sinned;
Therefore I have cast you as profane
From the mountain of God.
And I have destroyed you, O covering cherub,
From the midst of the stones of fire.
17 Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty;
You corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor.
I cast you to the ground; I put you before kings,
That they may see you.
18 By the multitude of your iniquities,
In the unrighteousness of your trade,
You profaned your sanctuaries.
Therefore I have brought fire from the midst of you;
It has consumed you,
And I have turned you to ashes on the earth In the eyes of all who see you.
19 All who know you among the peoples
Are appalled at you;
You have become terrified,
And you will be no more.” (Ezekiel 28:12-19). This is part of a larger oracle against the city of Tyre. The earlier part of this chapter speaks out against the “Prince of Tyre.” Now the address changes. These verses are directed against the "King" of Tyre. He is the real power behind the throne. There are some things said of this person that lead some Bible scholars to believe that this is a reference to Satan.
He was in Eden, the garden of God (Ezekiel 28:13).
He was created (Ezekiel 28:13).
He was the anointed cherub (Ezekiel 28:14).
He was on the holy mountain of God (Ezekiel 28:14). This description seems to go beyond the realm of mortal man. Though some scholars would see this description as mere Semitic poetry describing an exalted monarch, it seems to me that there is meant to be a greater understanding and that the one in view is Satan himself.
3. Satan in Eden.
Satan is not mentioned by name in the Pentateuch. However, we can see him behind the scenes in the early chapters of Genesis. We read of the temptation by the serpent in Genesis 3:1-24 and we can note that one of the titles given to Satan is that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan (Revelation 12:9).
Rabbinic legend has it that the serpent originally walked erect and that it was not until God's curse on this animal in Genesis 3:14 that it was reduced to moving upon its belly as it does today. The unusual aspect about the serpent was that it manifested the ability to speak to the woman. This brings us to a dilemma. Snakes cannot talk. The most likely resolve to this issue is to view Satan himself as the speaking power behind the serpent. Such a phenomenon is not unknown to the Scriptures. Satan is regularly seen working through intermediate agencies. He uses his demons and he uses human agents, either through possession or through indirect manipulation. The use of animals is seen in Matthew 8:28-32 where Jesus casts demons out of two men and permits them to enter into a herd of pigs.
4. The Satanic Conflict.
Genesis 3:1-24 introduces a cosmic conflict between the followers of Satan and One who is described as the Seed of the woman.
14 And the LORD God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
Cursed are you more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly shall you go,
And dust shall you eat
All the days of your life;
15 And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.” (Genesis 3:14-15). This conflict is ordained between the seed of the serpent and the Seed of the woman. Just as the woman had been involved in the transgression, so also now she would be involved in the redemption. As through her came sin, so also through her would come the Savior. But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law (Galatians 4:4). The “seed of the woman” anticipates the coming of One who would be born, not of the seed of a man, but exclusively through a woman. This promise finds its eventual fulfillment in the One who was born of a virgin and apart from the seed of a man. At the same time, Jesus was a man of flesh and blood so that He could live and die as a man and pay in His own body the penalty for the sins of men.
Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil (Hebrews 2:14). The defeat of Satan is accomplished in two parts. First, Christ defeated Satan when He died for sins upon the cross and then rose in victory from the grave.
...having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. (Colossians 2:14-15). The rulers and authorities that Jesus disarmed through His death were not the Roman or Jewish officials. This is speaking of spiritual rulers and authorities. Satan's defeat came through the death of Christ. What appeared to be a defeat for the Seed of the woman was instead the way to victory over the serpent and his seed.
Seed of the Serpent|Seed of the Woman|
Satan|Jesus Christ|
Fatally bruised for all eternity|Temporarily bruised upon the cross|
Pictured by a bruise to the head|Pictured by a bruise to the heel| The picture is of a man who stomps upon the head of a snake, being bitten on his foot in the process. He wins the conflict over the serpent, but only at the cost of great pain. This was fulfilled upon the cross when Jesus defeated Satan by undoing that which he had accomplished in the garden. At the same time, the ultimate and final defeat of Satan is still in the future. Paul tells us that the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet (Romans 16:20). Just as the snake is destroyed by striking him on the head, that most vulnerable part of his body, so Jesus Christ will neutralize Satan.
5. The Continuing Conflict: Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8).
Though Satan was defeated upon the cross, there is an element of the conflict that still continues today. Like a lion that has been mortally wounded, he is still able to cause great damage. The good news is that he can be resisted. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. (1 Peter 5:9).
Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7). The devil is pictured as a hungry, roaring lion in search of a meal. The good news is that we worship the God who is able to close the mouths of hungry, roaring lions.
One of the lessons we learn from the book of Job is that Satan can do nothing unless he receives permission from the throne of heaven. God is sovereign over all creation and even Satan cannot ultimately resist His will.
You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4). Our victory is found in the person of Christ. Because He has won the victory in His victorious resurrection, so we enjoy the status of victors in the Satanic conflict. At the same time, there continues a spiritual struggle. 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). Our battle in this ongoing conflict is of a spiritual nature. When it degenerates into flesh and blood, it is because we have lost sight of the true nature of the conflict. The real battle is found in a spiritual realm for spiritual goals -- the very souls of men. Just as the conflict is of a spiritual nature, so also the weapons of our warfare are of a spiritual nature. Your loins girded with truth (Ephesians 6:14). The breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14). Your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15). The shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16). The helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17). The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). Of course, we also need to be aware of the Satanic strategy. Satan does not show up with a pitchfork and a red union suit. He tries to pass himself off as a counterfeit of the truth. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
Much of what passes under the guise of human religion today has the prince of darkness at its center.