Satan (Lucifer) *Who is Satan (Lucifer)? The title given to the great adversary of God and all humans. Before the creation of the world Lucifer was God's most highly esteemed Angel. Then, due to selfish ambition, Satan rebelled against God and 1/3 of God's Angels followed after him. *Other common names and titles: Satan is also referred to as the "devil" which means slanderer or false accuser. He is also referred to as; "the tempter" in 1 Thessalonians 3:5; "Beelzebub" in Matthew 12:24; "the wicked one" in Matthew 13:19, 38; "the ruler of this world" in John 12:31; "the god of this age" in 2 Corinthians 4:4; "Belial" in 2 Corinthians 6:15; "the prince of the power of the air" in Ephesians 2:2; and "the accuser of our brethren" in Revelation 12:10. --- SATAN AND HIS KINGDOM And he is named "the devil" (1 Tim 3:6-7)-a word never used in the plural, and always, and only, of Satan himself. The Hebrew name Satan occurs in the New Testament thirty-five times interchangeably with the Greek diabolos (NT:1228), which is also used thirty-five times. The word diabolos signifies "separator and slanderer" (Blackstone), or "malignant accuser." Satan is the great separator, and he separates by slandering. He separated the race of man from God in Eden, and ever since he has been separating men from each other, with hatred, malice, envy and jealousy. (from The Fundamentals: A Testimony to the Truth, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft) --- *Satan in relation with God: In Job chapters 1 and 2 we learn a lot about Satan's relationship with God: 1. Job 1:6 when the Angels go before God "... and Satan also came with them." Obviously indicating that Satan can go up to God only when accompanied by other Angels. 2. Job 1:7 thru 11 we see that God and Satan have a conversation. 3. Job 1:12 Satan is given a limitation "... everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger. ..." 4. Job 2:3 further emphasizes God's responsibility even though it was Satan that did the evil deed "... though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason." 5. Finally there is the bottom line from Job after his wife tries to persuade him to rebel against God in Job 2:10 "... Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" *Satan's power and authority: In Job (primarily Job 1:8 - 2:10) we learn that Satan does nothing without God's permission and/or restrictions. With the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness for 40 days (Luke 4:1-13) Jesus refutes Satan at every corner. With that said, though, God's Word also gives us a picture of Satan's allowed realm in Ephesians 6:12 "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." The following are additional aspects of Satan: - John 12:31 "... prince of this world ..." - Matthew 13:38-39 "...The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil...." *Protection against Satan: As for us humans God's Word gives us 4 features that will keep Satan's power away from us: 1. Those of us that are Born again Christians can never be possessed by Satan since we have God in us [refer to "Demon Possession"]. 2. Secondly, as Born again Christians, we have a guardian Angel that looks over us [refer to "Angels"]. 3. Third, through the Apostle Paul, God assures us that we cannot be tempted beyond what we can handle (1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. ..."). 4. And, finally, if we are ever tempted, God will always give us a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13 "... But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."). --- SATAN AND HIS KINGDOM It cannot always be said that there is no mention of the Cross (and in his later workings, even of the Blood of Christ), in Satan's religious teaching, but it is the Cross as only an outward symbol without the inward power, for he knows that it is only the real acceptance of the death of Christ-or Cross of Christ-which saves from sin and delivers the soul from the power of Satan. (from The Fundamentals: A Testimony to the Truth, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft) --- *Bible References: Ezekiel 28:13-19 "You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold;on the day you were created they were prepared. 14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. 15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. 16 Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. 17 Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. 18 By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching. 19 All the nations who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.'" (from New International Version) Zechariah 3:1-2 "Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. 2 The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?" (from New International Version) Matthew 13:19 "When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path." (from New International Version) Matthew 13:37-39 "He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels." (from New International Version) Luke 10:18-20 "He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." (from New International Version) Luke 11:17-18 "Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub." (from New International Version) John 8:44 "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (from New International Version) John 12:31 "Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out." (from New International Version) John 14:30 "I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me," (from New International Version) John 16:11 "and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned." (from New International Version) Ephesians 2:1-2 "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient." (from New International Version) Ephesians 6:12 "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." (from New International Version) 1 Corinthians 15:24 "Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power." (from New International Version) 2 Corinthians 4:4 "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (from New International Version) Colossians 1:13-14 "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (from New International Version) 1 Thessalonians 3:5 "For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless." (from New International Version) 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12 "For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 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, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness." (from New International Version) 1 Tim 3:6-7 "He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap." (from New International Version) 1 John 3:8 "He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work." (from New International Version) 1 John 5:19 "We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one." (from New International Version) 1 Peter 5:8-9 "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." (from New International Version) Hebrews 2:14-15 "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil- 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." (from New International Version) Revelation 2:9 "I know your afflictions and your poverty-yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan." (from New International Version) Revelation 2:24 "Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you):" (from New International Version) Revelation 12:7-9 "And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 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." (from New International Version) Revelation 12:10 "Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down." (from New International Version) *Non-Biblical References: The media seems to always portray Satan as a red human figure with horns and a tail. This portrayal seems to make him seem more human than as an evil angelic being. *Overview: Lucifer was created by God, was God's highest in authority Cherubim Angel and yet rebelled against God and took 1/3 of God's created Angels with him in the rebellion. Lucifer, who then becomes Satan or the Devil, is cast down to earth with the third of his fallen angel fallers. The devil and his demons are the darkness while God is the light. They hate God and all humans. Their final destiny will be the eternal fiery pit of hell. *Additional Links: blank