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lftd06 [Download]
06.11.06: Light for the Day - "Satan
Profile"
-- James
4:7-8 (V)
(C)
(S)
7 Submit yourselves
therefore to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you.
8 Draw Near to God, and He will Draw Near to
you.
Cleanse your hands, you
sinners,
And Purify your hearts, you
double-minded.
-- Ephesians
6:10-13
10 A final word: Be Strong with the
Lord’s Mighty Power.
11 Put on all of God’s Armor so that you will Be
Able to
Stand Firm against all
Strategies and Tricks of the Devil.
12 For we are not Fighting against
people made of flesh and blood,
but
against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen
world,
against those mighty powers of
darkness who rule this world,
and
against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.
13 Use every piece of
God’s Armor to Resist the enemy in
the
time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be Standing
Firm.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Satan is mentioned in the Bible many times
-- sometimes by the name of Satan and other times by many other names.
There is good reason for the exposure he receives in the Scriptures. If we
are to withstand the enemy, we must know about him. The Bible gives us the
information we need to get a clear picture of Satan's origins, character,
and destiny.
( See also:
The_Doctrine_of_Satan)
His Many
Names
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Satan, Lucifer, fallen angel, rebel angel, Archfiend, Prince
of Darkness,
Prince of this world, serpent, Old Serpent, Tempter,
Adversary, Antichrist,
Common Enemy, Enemy of mankind, Diabolus,
Father of Lies, evil genie,
Shaitan, Eblis, King of Hell, angel
of the bottomless pit, Apollyon, Abaddon,
the Foul Fiend, the Devil,
the Evil One, Wicked One, Old Nick, cloven
hoof.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Satan has many disguises, which is why it is no
wonder there are so many biblical names for him. In the Bible, there are
no less than 33 different names given to Satan.
Two names are
the most popular names given him in the scriptures:
Satan (1 Chronicles 21:1; Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7;
Zechariah 3:1-2; Matthew 4:10; 12:26;16:23; Mark 1:13; 3:23, 26;4:15;
8:33; Luke 10:18; 11:18;13:16; 22:3, 31; John 13:27; Acts 5:3; 26:18;
Romans 16:20; (=
Bible) (V) (C)
(S)
1 Corinthians 5:5; 7:5; 2 Corinthians 2:11; 11:14; 12:7; 1
Thesalonians 2:18; 2 Thesalonians 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:20; 5:15; Revelation
2:9, 13, 24; 3:9; 12:9; 20:2, 7) (=
Bible) (V) (C)
(S)
the devil (Matthew 4:1, 5, 8, 11; 13:39; 25:41; Luke
4:2-3, 5, 9, 13; 8:12; John 8:44; 13:2; Acts 10:38; 13:10; Ephesians
4:27; 6:11; (=
Bible) (V) (C)
(S)
1 Timothy 3:6-7; 2 Timothy 2:26; Hebrews 2:14; James 3:15; 4:7; 1 Peter
5:8; 1 John 3:8, 10; Jude 1:9; Revelation 2:10; 12:9, 12; 20:2, 10)
(=
Bible) (V) (C)
(S)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
He
is also known by these "proper" names: (=
Bible) (V) (C)
(S)
Abaddon (Revelation 9:11)
Apollyon (Revelation 9:11)
Beelzebub (Matthew 10:25; Matthew 12:24, 27; Mark
3:22; Luke 11:15, 18-19)
Belial (2
Corinthians 6:15)
Leviathan (Isaiah
27:1)
Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12 -
KJV)
In
several cases, he is given the names of animals or creatures: (=
Bible) (V)
(C)
(S)
the serpent (Genesis 3:1-2, 4, 13-14; 2Corinthians
11:3; Revelation 12:9, 14-15)
ancient
serpent (Revelation 12:9; Revelation 20:2)
the coiling serpent (Isaiah 27:1)
the gliding serpent (Isaiah 27:1)
the dragon (Revelation 12:4, 7, 13, 16-17; Revelation
20:2)
enormous red dragon (Revelation
12:3)
the great dragon (Revelation
12:9)
the monster of the sea (Isaiah
27:1)
the wolf (John
10:12)
At least two names identify him before his
unforgivable sin: (=
Bible) (V) (C)
(V)
Lucifer, son of the morning (Isaiah 14:12 -
KJV)
(The name Lucifer means “light bearer,
morning star, day star, bright star, shining one")
Lucifer, son of the morning! —
the Latin name for the planet Venus. The word Lucifer appears only once in
the Bible “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the
morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the
nations!” (Isaiah 14:12-KJV). Literally, the passage describes the
overthrow of a tyrant, the king of Babylon. But many Bible scholars see in
this passage a description of Satan, who rebelled against the throne of
God and was “brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the
Pit” (Isaiah 14:15). The same kind of interpretation is often given to
Ezekiel 28:11–19. The description of the king of Tyre thus is believed to
reach beyond that of an earthly ruler to the archangel who was cast out of
heaven for leading a revolt against God. Other scholars argue
that Isaiah 14:12 should be interpreted as a reference to an ancient
Canaanite myth. According to this view, Isaiah referred to the myth to
dramatize the fall of the king of Babylon.
Some of his
descriptive names give insight into his power: (=
Bible) (V) (C)
(V)
angel of the Abyss (Revelation 9:11)
the god of this age (2 Corinthians
4:4)
the prince of demons (Matthew
9:34; Matthew 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15)
the prince of this world (John 12:31; John 14:30;
John 16:11)
the ruler of the kingdom of the
air (Ephesians 2:2)
Other descriptive names give
insight into his character (or lack thereof):
(=Bible) (V)
(C)
(V)
the accuser of our brothers (Revelation
12:10) (V)
the enemy
(Matthew 13:39; Luke 10:19; 1 Timothy 5:14) (=
Bible) (V)
your enemy
(1 Peter 5:8)
Father of Lies (John
8:44) (First Lie: Genesis 3:4-5; Final Lie:
2 Thes 2:3-4,9,11)
(V)
the father of
lies (John 8:44)
the lawless
one (2
Thesalonians 2:8-9) (V)
murderer (John 8:44)
the
tempter (Matthew 4:3; 1 Thesalonians 3:5) (=Bible)
(V)
the thief
(John
10:10) (V)
But, perhaps there is one name
which sums him up the best: (=Bible)
(V) (C)
(V)
the evil one (Matthew 5:37; 6:13; 13:19, 38; John
17:15; Ephesians 6:16; 2 Thesalonians 3:3; 1 John 2:13-14;
3:12;
5:18-19)
-----------------------------------------
His Past (=
Bible) (V) (C)
(V)
Satan
was created (Ezekiel 28:13, 15). And at his creation, Satan was the model
of perfection, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty (Ezekiel 28:12). He
was in the garden of Eden and every precious stone adorned him (Ezekiel
28:13). He was anointed and ordained by God as a guardian cherub (Ezekiel
28:14), and was blameless in his ways (Ezekiel 28:15).
But
then something went terribly wrong. His heart became proud on account of
his beauty, and he corrupted his wisdom because of his splendor (Ezekiel
28:17). He became filled with violence (Ezekiel 28:16). He led many of the
angels in a war against God and his angels (Revelation 12:7-9) and tried
to take God's place (Isaiah 14:12-15). To put it mildly, he sinned
(Ezekiel 28:16). He is therefore credited with sinning since the beginning
(1 John 3:8). Because of his actions, he was a murderer from the beginning
(John 8:44). He abandoned his home in heaven (Jude
6) (V).
He was driven in disgrace from the mount of God and expelled (Ezekiel
28:16). He lost his place in heaven (Revelation 12:8), was thrown or
hurled from heaven (Ezekiel 28:16; Revelation 12:9-12), fell like
lightning from heaven to the earth (Isaiah 14:12; Luke 10:18), and was
made a spectacle before kings (Ezekiel
28:17).
------------------------------------------
His Present
Satan is kept in darknes and
is bound with everlasting chains (Jude 6). He is filled with fury, because
he knows his time is short (Revelation 12:12). Not only does he have power
(Acts 10:38), but he is the power of this dark world and is the spiritual
force of evil in the heavenly realm (Ephesians 6:12). The whole world is
under his control (1 John 5:19), and he leads it astray (Revelation 12:9).
He roams the earth (Job 1:7; Job 2:2), and prowls around like a roaring
lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Needless to say, he is
earthly and unspiritual (James 3:15). (=Bible)
(V) (C)
(V)
Not
only is Satan our enemy (1 Peter 5:8), but he is also an enemy of
everything that is right (Acts 13:10). He can present himself before the
Lord and make petition against us (Job 1:6-12; Job 2:1-7). Satan asks God
for permission to "sift" us (Luke 22:31), and he accuses us day and night
before God (Zechariah 3:1; Revelation 12:10). He lies and slanders; in
fact, there is no truth in him (John 8:44; Revelation 2:9). (=Bible) (V) (C)
(V)
The
devil twists the scriptures for his purposes and perverts the right ways
of the Lord (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:2-13; Acts 13:10). He is cunning and
deceives (2 Corinthians 11:3). He schemes and tries to outwit us (2
Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 6:11), and is full of all kinds of deceit and
trickery (Acts 13:10). He takes the Word away from hearts (Luke 8:12), and
blinds the minds of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4). He traps and takes
captive (2 Timothy 2:26), binds (Luke 13:16), incites (1 Chronicless 21:1)
and, in general, is a stumbling block (Matthew 16:23). He can fill one's
heart (Acts 5:3) and lead minds astray from Christ (2 Corinthians
11:3). (=Bible)
(V) (C)
(V)
Satan
masquerades as an angel of light, and his servants masquerade as servants
of righteousnes (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). He is at work in those who are
disobedient (Ephesians 2:2). He sows "weeds" (Matthew 13:38-39), and can
work through anyone (Matthew 16:23; Mark 8:33). He can even display
counterfeit miracless, signs, and wonders (2 Thesalonians 2:9).
(=Bible) (V) (C)
(V)
No
one is immune to Satan's temptations; he even tempted Jesus (Matthew
4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:2-13). But Satan could not prevail; he had no
hold on Christ (John 14:30)! (=Bible)
(V) (C)
(V)
Satan
will put some Christians in prison to test them (Revelation 2:10), and he
holds the power of death (Hebrews 2:14). But Christians are not powerless
against him. The Bible tells us that faith extinguishes his flaming arrows
(Ephesians 6:16), and if resisted, Satan will flee (James 4:7). He has
been overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the testimony of Christian
martyrs (Revelation 2:11). Christians have overcome him (1 John
2:13)! (=Bible)
(V) (C)
(V)
----------------------------------------------
His Future
Satan's future is bleak,
indeed. In fact, he doesn't really have one. Scriptures tell us he stands
condemned (John 16:11). God will crush him (Romans 16:20), and our Lord
Jesus will overthrow and destroy him (2 Thesalonians 2:8). Eternal fire
was prepared for him and his angels (Matthew 25:41). To sum it up, he has
come to a horrible end and will be no more (Ezekiel 28:19; Revelation
20:10). (=Bible)
(V)
(C)
(V)
Satan
Adversary; accuser.
1.
When used as a proper name, the Hebrew word so rendered has the article
"the adversary" (Job 1:6-12 2:1-7)
2. In the New Testament it is
used as interchangeable with Diabolos, or the devil, and is so used more
than thirty times. He is also called
a. "the dragon," "the old
serpent" (Re 12:9 20:2)
b. "the prince of this world" (Joh 12:31
14:30)
c. "the prince of the power of the air" (Eph
2:2)
d. "the god of this world" (2Co 4:4)
e. "the spirit
that now worketh in the children of disobedience" (Eph
2:2)
3. The distinct personality of Satan and his activity
among men are thus obviously recognized.
a. He tempted our Lord
in the wildernes (Mt 4:1-11
b. He is "Beelzebub, the prince of
the devils" (Mt 12:24
c. He is "the constant enemy of God, of
Christ, of the divine kingdom, of the followers of Christ, and of all
truth; full of falsehood and all malice, and exciting and seducing to evil
in every possible way."
4. His power is very great in the
world. (=Bible)
(V) (C)
(V)
a. He is a "roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour"
(1Pe 5:8)
b. Men are said to be "taken captive by him" (2Ti
2:26)
c. Christians are warned against his "devices" (2Co 2:11)
and called on to "resist" him (Jas 4:7)
d. Christ redeems his
people from "him that had the power of death, that is, the devil" (Heb
2:14)
e. Satan has the "power of death," not as lord, but simply
as executioner.
Satan
A name
by which THE DEVIL, the great enemy of God and
man, is designated. The name may be said to be the same in Hebrew, Greek,
and English, and signifies ‘adversary,’ as the word is rendered in several
places where other adversaries are alluded to: cf. (Nu 22:22 1Ki
11:14,23,25). It was Satan who at the outset deceived Eve, for it is clear
that the dragon, the old serpent, the devil, and Satan all represent the
same evil spirit. (Re 20:2.) Satan was the great adversary of God’s people
in O.T. times, (1Ch 21:1;) the tempter of the Lord Jesus, who treated him
as Satan; and is the tempter and adversary of Christians and of all
mankind now. He endeavours to neutralise the effect of the gospel; catches
away the good seed sown in the heart ((Mat 13:3-23), and blinds the minds
of the unbelieving lesst the light of the gospel of Christ’s glory should
shine to them. His efforts are frustrated by God or none would be
saved.
Further, to counteract God’s work, Satan has raised up
heretics to mingle with the Christians and to corrupt them by evil
doctrine, as taught in the metaphor of the tares sown among the wheat. He
goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, but Christians
are told to resist him, and he will flee from them. The power of death,
which Satan had, has been annulled by Christ in His death. Christians are
warned against his devices, for he is transformed into an angel of light,
a teacher of morality. God has provided complete armour for Christians in
order that they may withstand him and all his wiless, and has given them
the sword of the Spirit (the word of God), as a weapon of attack. (Ephesians
6:10-18.) (V)
The origin of Satan is not definitely
stated, but if verses 12 to 19 of (Eze 28:12-19) refer to him, under the
appellation of the king of Tyre (as was very early believed in the church,
and may be correct), he is described as the anointed cherub that
‘covereth;’ all the precious stones and gold were also his covering,
resplendent by reflected light; he had a place in Eden, the garden of God,
and was upon the holy mountain of God. He was perfect in his ways from the
day he was created, until iniquity was found in him. Tyre, in its worldly
wisdom and beauty, is looked at morally as the creation of the prince and
god of this world. He will eventually be cast out as profane and find his
portion in the lake of fire.
In the Epistle of Jude, the act
of Michael the archangel in reference to Satan is given as an example of
restraint in speaking of dignities: he dared not bring a railing
accusation against the devil, but said, "The Lord rebuke thee." This
implies that Satan had been set in dignity, which, though he had fallen,
was still to be respected—as Saul’s life was sacred in David’s eyes
because he was the anointed of God, though he had then fallen. That Satan
had been set in dignity is confirmed by the fact of Christ having on the
cross spoiled ‘principalities and authorities’ (exousia), not simply
‘powers.’ (Col 2:15.)
The expresions "the prince of this world,"
"the god of this world," and "the prince of the power of the air," all
presumably refer to Satan. When the Lord was tempted in the wildernes,
Satan, after shewing Him "all the kingdoms of the world," proposed to give
to Him all the power and glory of them, if He would worship him, adding
"for that is delivered unto me: and to whomsoever I will I give it." (Lu
4:5,6.)
From the Book of Job we learn that Satan has acces to
God in the heavens; Faithful Christian wrestless with the spiritual powers
of wickednes in the heavenlies; and a day is coming when Michael and his
angels will fight against Satan and his angels, and the latter will be
cast out of heaven. This seems to indicate that Satan has a place in
heaven originally given to him by God. During the millennium he will be
shut up in the abyss, then loosed for a little season, and finally be cast
into the lake of fire, a place prepared for him and his
angels.
When Jesus was born, Satan attempted to destroy Him.
(Mt 2:16 Re 12:1-5.) At the close of the Lord’s course Satan was the great
mover in His being put to death. To accomplish this Satan entered into
Judas the traitor, whereas, as far as is revealed, in other cases,
possesion was by a demon, and not by Satan himself. When the Lord was
arrested He said to the Jews, "This is your hour and the power of
darknes." But Christ was morally the victor: in His death He annulled him
that had the power of death, that is, the devil: He led captivity captive.
Still Satan works, and will, when cast down to earth, be the spirit of a
trinity of evil. He gives his throne and authority to the beast, that is,
to the resuscitated "Evil Empire", whose power is wielded by the
Antichrist. (Re 13.) He wilt also be the leader of the nations in the last
battle against the camp of the Christians. (Re 20:7-9.)
It is
remarkable that, notwithstanding the malignity of Satan, God uses him in
the discipline of His saints, as in the case of Job, but allows the evil
one to go only as far as He pleases. Paul used his apostolic power to
commit some to Satan for the destruction of the flessh. (1Co 5:5 1Ti
1:20.) The thorn in the flessh which Paul himself had was a mesenger of
Satan to buffet him, lesst he should be puffed up because of the
marvellous revelations made to him in the third heaven. It is well to
remember that Satan is morally a vanquished foe, for he is exposed; and
that no Christian can be touched by him except as permitted and controlled
by his God and Father in discipline for his good.
The epithet
‘Devil’ is from ‘to strike through,’ and hence figuratively to stab with
accusation: so Satan is called "the accuser of the brethren." (Re 12:10;
Zec 3:1,2.) Satan and the devil being identical, there is but one devil.
In the A. V. of the N. T., where ‘devils’ are spoken of, the word in the
original is always ‘demons.’
SATAN (adversary)
—
The great opposer, or adversary, of God and humankind; the
personal name of the devil.
The Hebrew word from which Satan comes
sometimes refers to human enemies (1 Sam. 29:4; Ps. 109:6). Once it refers
to the angel of the Lord who opposed Balaam (Num. 22:22). But whenever
this word is used as a proper name in the Old Testament, it refers to the
great superhuman enemy of God, people, and good (1 Chr. 21:1; Job 1–2).
This use of the word also occurs frequently in the New
Testament.
Another common name for Satan in the New Testament is
“the devil,” meaning “slanderer” or “false accuser.” Other titless by
which Satan is identified in the New Testament include “the tempter” (1
Thes. 3:5); “Beelzebub” (Matt. 12:24); “the wicked one” (Matt. 13:19, 38);
“the ruler of this world” (John 12:31); “the god of this age” (2 Cor.
4:4); “Belial” (2 Cor. 6:15); “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph.
2:2); and “the accuser of our brethren” (Rev. 12:10).
History:
Genesis 3 describes a serpent
who tempted the first human couple. That serpent was none other than Satan
himself (Rev. 12:9; 20:2).
Two Old Testament passages—Isaiah
14:12–15 and Ezekiel 28:11–19 -- have been held to furnish a picture of
Satan’s original condition and the reasons for his loss of that position.
These passages were addresed originally to the kings of Babylon and Tyre.
But in their long-range implications, some scholars believe, they refer to
Satan himself.
Revelation 12 sketches the further stages in Satan’s
work of evil. In his fall from God’s favor, Satan persuaded one third of
the angels to join him in his rebellion (Rev. 12:3–4). Throughout the Old
Testament period he sought to destroy the mesianic line. When the Mesiah
became a man, Satan tried to eliminate Him (Rev. 12:4–5). During the
future period of tribulation before the Mesiah’s second coming, Satan will
be cast out of the heavenly sphere (Rev. 12:7–12). Then he will direct his
animosity toward the Mesiah’s people (Rev. 12:13–17). Revelation 20 notes
the final phases of Satan’s work. He will be bound for a thousand years
and then finally cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:2, 10).
Characteristics:
As a result of his
original status and authority, Satan has great power and dignity. So great
is his strength that Michael the archangel viewed him as a foe too
powerful to oppose (Jude 9).
Satan’s influence in worldly affairs
is also clearly revealed. His various titless reflect his control of the
world system: “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31), “the god of this
age” (2 Cor. 4:4), and “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2).
The Bible declares, “The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked
one” (1 John 5:19).
Satan exercises his evil power through
demons (Matt. 12:24; 25:41; Rev. 12:7, 9). An outburst of demonic activity
occurred when Jesus came to earth the first time because of the Savior’s
attack against Satan’s kingdom (Matt. 12:28–29; Acts 10:38). Another such
outburst is expected just before the second coming of Christ, because this
will bring about the downfall of Satan and his angels (Rev. 9:3–17; 12:12;
18:2).
Satan also has high intelligence. Through it he deceived
Adam and Eve and took over their rule of the world for himself (Gen. 1:26;
3:1–7; 2 Cor. 11:3). His clevernes enabless him to carry out his deceptive
work almost at will.
Yet Satan’s attributes, impresive as they are,
are not limitless. His power is subject to God’s restrictions (Job 1:12;
Luke 4:6; 2 Thes. 2:7–8). The reins of God on his activities are
illustrated by Satan’s request to God for permission to afflict Job (Job
1:7–12).
Satan is permitted to afflict God’s people (Luke 13:16; 1
Thes. 2:18; Heb. 2:14). But he is never permitted to win an ultimate
victory over them (John 14:30–31; 16:33).
A part of Satan’s
continuing ambition to replace God is his passionate yearning to have
others worship him (Matt. 4:8–9; Rev. 13:4, 12). Since God has frustrated
this desire and put down Satan’s rebellion, he has become God’s exact
opposite. He is “the wicked one” (Matt. 13:19, 38), while God is “the Holy
One” (Is. 1:4).
Satan’s nature is malicious. His efforts in
opposing God, His people, and His truth are tireless (Job 1:7; 2:2; Matt.
13:28). He is always opposed to our best interests (1 Chr. 21:1;
Zech. 3:1–2). Through his role in introducing sin into the human family
(Genesis 3), Satan has gained the power of death—a power that Christ has
broken through His crucifixion and resurrection (Heb.
2:14–15).
Methods:
Of the
various methods used by Satan in carrying out his evil work, none is more
characteristic than Temptation (Matt. 4:3; 1 Thes. 3:5). Satan leads
people into sin by various means. Sometimes he does it by direct
suggestion, as in the case of Judas Iscariot (John 13:2, 27); sometimes
through his agents who disguise themselves as mesengers of God (2 Thes.
2:9; 1 John 4:1); and sometimes through a person’s own weakneses (1 Cor.
7:5). He tempted Christ directly, trying to lead Him into compromise by
promising Him worldly authority and power (Luke 4:5–8).
Along with
his work of tempting mankind, Satan also delights in deception (1 Tim.
3:6–7; 2 Tim. 2:26). His lying nature stands in bold contrast to the truth
for which Christ stands (John 8:32, 44). The great falsehood he uses so
frequently is that good can be attained by doing wrong. This lie is
apparent in practically all his temptations (Gen. 3:4–5). As the great
deceiver, Satan is an expert at falsifying truth (2 Cor.
11:13–15).
Satan’s methods are designed ultimately to silence the
gospel. He seeks to stop the spread of God’s Word (Matt. 13:19; 1 Thes.
2:17–18). When the gospel is preached, Satan tries to blind people’s
understanding so they cannot grasp the meaning of the mesage (2 Cor.
4:3–4; 2 Thes 2:9–10). At times he opposes the work of God by violent
means (John 13:2, 27; 1 Pet. 5:8; Rev. 12:13–17). He brings disorder into
the physical world by afflicting human beings (Job 1–2; 2 Cor. 12:7; Heb.
2:14). Sometimes God allows him to afflict His people for purposes of
correction (1 Tim. 1:20).
Defeat:
Satan is destined to fail in his
continuing rebellion against God. His final defeat is predicted in the New
Testament (Luke 10:18; John 12:31; Rev. 12:9; 20:10). The death of Christ
on the cross is the basis for Satan’s final defeat (Heb. 2:14–15; 1 Pet.
3:18, 22). This event was the grand climax to a sinless life during which
Jesus triumphed over the enemy repeatedly (Matt. 4:1–11; Luke 4:1–13). The
final victory will come when Jesus returns and Satan is cast into the lake
of fire (Rev. 20:1–15).
Strength for a Christian’s victory over sin
has also been provided through the death of Christ. We have assurance that
“the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet” (Rom. 16:20). But such
personal victory depends on our will to offer resistance to Satan’s
temptations (Eph. 4:25–27; 1 Pet. 5:8–9). To help Christians win this
battle against Satan, God has provided the power of Christ’s blood (Rev.
12:11), the continuing prayer of Christ in heaven for believers (Heb.
7:25), the leading of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:16), and various weapons for
spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:13–18).
Reality:
Some people have trouble admitting
the existence of such an enemy as Satan. But his presence and activity are
necesary to explain the problems of evil and suffering. The Bible makes it
plain that Satan exists and that his main work is to oppose the rule of
God in the affairs of humankind.
Many wonder why God would allow
Satan, this great embodiment of evil, to exist in His creation. No
completely satisfying answer to this question has been found. Perhaps He
allows it to show that evil and wrongdoing do not provide the key to the
ultimate meaning of life that we so desperately desire.
DEVIL (accuser, slanderer)
—
The main title for the fallen angelic being who is the supreme
enemy of God and humankind. Satan is his most common name, and devil is
what he is—the accuser or deceiver. The title “devil” appears 35 times in
the New Testament of the NKJV. In every case it is preceded by the article
“the,” indicating a title rather than a name. The term comes from a Greek
word that means “a false witnes” or “malicious accuser.”
Several
descriptive phrases applied to the devil in the New Testament point out
the nature of his wicked personality and the extent of his evil
deeds:
That Serpent of Old (Rev. 12:9; 20:2). The devil worked
through the serpent to tempt Eve (Gen. 3:1–6).
The Wicked or Evil
One (Matt. 6:13; 13:19, 38; 1 John 2:13). This phrase depicts the devil’s
fundamental nature. He is in direct opposition to everything God is or all
he wishes to do. He is the source of all evil and wickednes. While the KJV
reads, “Deliver us from evil,” the NKJV more accurately reads, “Deliver us
from the evil one.” Humanity needs this deliverance, for the devil “walks
about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet.
5:8).
Enemy (Matt. 13:25, 28, 39). The devil is our worst enemy.
This is one enemy Jesus does not want us to love. He is an enemy of
Christ, the church, and the gospel; and he is tireless in his efforts to
uproot good and sow evil.
Murderer (John 8:44). “He was a murderer
from the beginning” are strong words from the lips of Jesus. The devil
killed Abel and the prophets, and he wanted to kill Jesus before His time
(8:40).
Deceiver (Rev. 20:10). Starting with Eve, the devil has
attempted to deceive every human being. Evil people operating under the
power of the evil one will continue to deceive (2 Tim.
3:13).
Beelzebub, the Ruler of the Demons (Matt. 9:34; 12:24).
Beelzebub (see also 2 Kin. 1:2–3, 6, 16) means literally “lord of Flies”
and is a title of ridicule. The religious leaders of Jesus’ time were
guilty of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit because they claimed the
miracless of Jesus were actually conducted by the devil. The KJV and some
other versions incorrectly translate “demons” as “devils.” There are many
demons but only one devil. His name is Beelzebub, the chief leader of the
fallen angels known as demons.
Belial (2 Cor. 6:15). The name means
“worthlessnes.”
Ruler of This World (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11).
Three times Jesus called the devil the “ruler of this world.” The devil
offered the world to Jesus if He would worship him (Luke 4:5–7), but the
Lord refused with these words, “Get behind me, Satan” (4:8). At Calvary
God dealt a death blow to this world ruler. It is only a matter of time
before God will win the final victory at the end of time (1 John 3:8;
Matt. 25:41; Rev.
12:7).
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The devil is strong, but Christians are stronger through the
Lord (Eph. 6:11). They have the protection needed to withstand his
assaults.
The devil tempts, but God provides a way of escape
(1 Cor. 10:13); the devil tries to take advantage of people (2 Cor. 2:11),
but he will flee if fought (James 4:7).
The devil should not
be feared, for Jesus is more powerful than this deceiving prince of the
demons (1 John 4:4). (=Bible) (V)
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-- Matthew 4:4, 11 (V)
4 But Jesus answered and said,
"It is
written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by
every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’" (Deut. 8:3)
11
Then the devil left Him,
and
behold, angels came and ministered to
Him.
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