Life doesn't happen in a vacuum. Events unfold and we see them in the physical world, but scripture clearly teaches things are also happening in the spiritual realm -- likely higher dimensions of reality we cannot see in this life.
One of the key features of the earthly and heavenly or spiritual realms is that there is a conflict in progress. Besides our own fallen sin nature, there is an Adversary, arrayed against God and the Angels of Heaven, and most definitely in opposition to mortal men. Without giving respect where it is not due, it is still important to learn about our Adversary to be aware of his methods and goals.
Satan's Origins and Fall
Ezekiel 28:11-15 The
word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, take up a lament
concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the
Sovereign Lord says:
“‘You
were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
You were in Eden, the
garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian,
chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli,
turquoise and beryl. Your
settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you
were created
they were prepared. 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.
You
were blameless in your ways from
the day you were created
until
wickedness was found in you. Through
your widespread trade (or: abundance
of traffic – meaning going about from person to person slandering)
you
were filled with violence,
and
you sinned. So
I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you,
guardian cherub,
from among the fiery stones.
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. 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. All the nations who
knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a horrible end and
will be no more. ’”
Lucifer's 5 "I will" statements
Here is an important theological teaching about pride, the greatest of sins, to alert us to the tendency as fallen creatures ourselves to make these same false statements from a deceived heart. A sidebar on symbolism: mountains in biblical texts when implied to be symbolic always refer to governments and positions of great authority.
Isaiah 14:12-14 How you have fallen
from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down
to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your
heart,
“I
will
ascend to the heavens;
I
will
raise my throne above the stars of God;
I
will
sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of
Mount Zaphon.
I
will
ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I
will
make myself like the Most High.”
But you are brought
down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.
Those who see you stare
at you, they ponder your fate:
“Is
this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble, the man
who made the world a wilderness, who overthrew its cities and would
not let his captives go home?”
Analysis of the 5 'I will' statements
Satan's
sin of pride had five very specific characteristics that are encoded in his 5 "I will" proclamations. Each of these statements had heresy and error and were sinful statements:
“I will Exalt my throne” – he strove to have dominion over the angelic hosts, deposing Michael of his role and usurping the hierarchy established by God
“I will Sit on the mount of assembly” - this meant to rule in the Millennial Kingdom and be the Messiah of Israel (in reference to Isaiah 2:2); again, usurping God's order and plan
Isaiah 2:2 In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s house will be established at the top of the mountains and will be raised above the hills. All nations will stream to it...
“I will Ascend
above the heights of the clouds” - referring to Shekinah Glory, he
wanted the glory reserved for God alone.
Exodus 16:10 As Aaron was speaking to the entire Israelite community, they turned toward the wilderness, and there in a cloud the Lord’s glory appeared.
“Like
the Most High” - he desired to be the possessor of creation, to have
authority and control as Elohim the Creator.
Six Fallacies about Satan
Satan will be exactly the last being thrown into the Lake of Fire. There is no hell where demons administer punishment to tormented souls. Forgiving C. S. Lewis for an amazing look at the sinister world of the demonic, "The Screwtape Letters" is entirely a fiction if not for the sound theological teachings served up as an allegory.
- He is not 'omnipresent' and must exist somewhere
- His first home was heaven as the guardian cherub of God's throne
- Now, he now lives in the “atmospheric heavens” of Earth (inter-dimensional) with his fallen angels (Ephesians 2:2)
- He is busy at work on Earth deceiving the nations and corrupting men (II Corinthians 2:11, 4:3-4, 11:13-15, 12:7; Revelation 2:9, 2:13, 2:24, 12:9, 16:12-16, 20:3, 20:7-10; Matthew 7:22-23; Thessalonians 2:18; II Thessalonians 2:8-11; I Timothy 4:1-3
2 - That he does not exist
personally, but rather is a "concept"
Probably in this 'modern' age, this is his most effective lie. Those who subscribe to evil actors as 'forces' tend to change their definitions of evil to suit their whims.
- Jesus believed in Satan (Mark 3:23-26; Luke 13:15-16; Matthew 4:10)
- Satan does “work” that Jesus came to destroy. A concept does not “create works” (I John 3:8)
- Satan sinned, then rebelled against God. A concept cannot sin.
- Numerous biblical references to Satan's will, intellect, emotions (Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28)
3 - Good and evil are
“dualistic” making him equal to God and necessary for “good” to
exist
This lie is his finest blasphemy. His struggle since the beginning of history has been his desire to take what is not rightfully his - to be viewed as the most high.
- Satan was created perfect (Ezekiel 28:11)
- He chose to sin (Isaiah 14:12-14)
4 - That he causes all the sins of
the world directly
Ironically Satan would probably like to take credit for this, but it is not true. Much, if not most, of the sin in the world originates directly from the rebellious minds and wills of people.
- Satan is and was the first sinner (I John 3:8)
- He did cause the fall of man (Genesis 3:1-8, II Cor 11:3; I Tim 2:14)
- He sets snares for believers (I Timothy 3:7; II Timothy 2:26)
- However, man sins of his own volition and chooses to not to resist temptation
5 - That he is all powerful and
cannot be resisted
Certainly this is a lie he wants to believe but it is false. Only God is all powerful.
- With prayer and preparation, he can be resisted (Ephesians 6:10-18; James 4:7; I Peter 5:8-9)
- The Lord's Prayer indicates we can be delivered from the 'Evil One” (Matthew 6:13)
6 - That his influence is limited
and can be ignored
It is very dangerous to fall into the trap of believing this. While Christians are secure in our salvation, forces are at work that can damage your faith, you walk with God, your witness, your relationship with family and loved ones because you did not put on the spiritual armor every day.
Ephesians 6:11-12 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics[g] of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.
- He is the ruler of this world (age) II Corinthians 4:4
- He exerts influence over nations (Dan 10:13, 20; Matthew 4:8-9)
- He will introduce the Anti-Christ, the world ruler (Rev 13:2,4)
- He will lead mankind to revolt against God (Rev 16:12-14; Rev 20:7-10)
Six characteristics of Satan
- He is extremely intelligent – he is described as “crafty” (II Corinthians 11:3), able to fool nearly the entire world
- He is emotional – he exhibits pride, and anger (Revelation 12:12)
- He has power and influence – the control over the kingdoms of the world (Luke 4:5-7, Ephesians 2:2; II Timothy 2:26, II Corinthians 4:4)
- He is malevolent – seeking to harm God, and destroy us (John 8:44, I Peter 5:8, Revelation 9:11; Luke 13:16; Acts 10:38)
- He is totally corrupt and evil – referred to as “the Evil One” by Christ Himself (John 17:15, Matthew 6:13, I John 3:8)
- He is very busy. (II Corinthians 2:11, 4:3-4, 11:13-15, 12:7; Revelation 2:9, 2:13, 2:24, 12:9, 16:12-16, 20:3, 20:7-10; Matthew 7:22-23; Thessalonians 2:18; II Thessalonians 2:8-11; I Timothy 4:1-3)
Six activities of Satan
- Prince of the World (John 12:31, II Corinthians 4:4)
- Accuser of individuals and Israel ( Revelation 12:10, Zechariah 3:1-2, Job 2:4-5)
- Deceiver (II Cor 11:14, Rev 12:9, Rev 13:11-15, John 8:44)
- Tempter (Matt 4:3, I Thess 3:5)
- Destroyer/Murderer – (John 8:44, I Peter 5:8, Rev 9:11)
- Adversary of God (Jude 9, I John 3:10-12, Genesis 3:15)
Satan's Certain Demise
- Christ came to destroy Satan's works (I John 3:8) The one 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.
- Satan was judged by Christ's work on the cross (Luke 10:18; John 12:31, 16:11; Colossians 2:14-15; Hebrews 2:14-15)
- Satan will be judged further in the middle of the Great Tribulation, having all access to heaven removed, and being cast out of the 'atmospheric heavens' and to Earth. (Revelation 12:7-12)
- Satan will be cast into the abyss after the Great Tribulation (Revelation 20:1-3)
- Satan will then be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment (possibly by the Church, with his fallen angels, as Paul states we will judge angels in Romans 16:20 and I Corinthians 6:2-3).
- He will then spend eternity in the Lake of Fire (Matthew 25:41 and Revelation 20:10).
This is our duty; now having wisdom about the Adversary and his methods and plans.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
_____________________
Scripture citations are from: Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) © 2009 Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville TN or New King James Version®. (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson
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