Satan

Since we covered Angels in our last posting, I want to discuss the one angel everyone knows; Lucifer or Satan. Just as with angels in general, there are myths and misconceived ideas with Satan. This posting with deal with some and show what the Bible has to say about this angel.

Myth #1: Satan has horns, beard, and pointy tail and carries a pitch fork. Where did we get this idea? In Rome and Greece, Pan is a goat-footed god with horns. Now, this pan inspires panic and erotic indulgence. Early Christianity adopted this figure, especially his cloven hooves and horns to depict the Satanic. According to Ezekiel 28:17 (“Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty;”), Satan is a beautiful being and not how artist of old has painted him.

Myth #2: Satan is equal to Jesus Christ. This idea comes from the new age ideal of the Yin/Yang; where good and evil co-exist. The Jehovah Witness doctrine says that God had two sons; Jesus and Lucifer. They give Satan equal footing with Jesus. The reality is that Satan is an angel who was created by God (Col. 1:16 “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him.”).

Since we covered a couple of the myths regarding Satan, let’s see what the Bible says about him.

The Bible does tell of his origin in Ezekiel 28 (presented as the King of Tyre). There are some phrases that show what or how he was before he fell from grace due to pride. “The anointed cherub (guardian of God’s throne) that covers.” “Was on the Holy mountain of God.” “Perfect in his ways from the day he was created until sin was found.” “Heart lifted up because of his beauty.” Isaiah 14:12-20 gives us further details on his fall; his attempt at being like God. Some key phrases are; “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.” “I will sit upon the mount of the congregation.” “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.” “I will be like the Most high God.”

The Bible shows us the character of Satan. He is proud or conceited (1 Timothy 3:6 “. . . or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.”). Satan is powerful (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.”). He is wicked (1 John 2:13 “. . . I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. . .”). Satan is a liar (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.”). Finally, he is deceitful (Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.”).

One of the traits of Satan is that he is powerful. Satan can hinder God’s work; he hindered Paul (1 Thessalonians 2:18 “For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan stopped us.”), and Joshua the high priest (Zechariah 3:1 “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.”). Satan maybe powerful but he is still subject to God; he has to get permission from God to afflict any child of God (Job1:12; 2:4-7). Because of the cross, we Christians can oppose Satan; we can resist him (James 4:7 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”). Ephesians 6:11-16 shows us that God has given us armor to go against Satan and his power. Because of the power of the cross and what Christ did, we Christians will be victorious against Satan (Revelation 12:11 “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony;”).

Satan is not all-knowing like God but he does know the Bible so he knows how it will all end for him. God told him in Genesis 3:15 that he will be crushed by Jesus Christ. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, He destroyed Satan’s works (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.”). According to Revelation 20:10 (And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.), Satan will be separated from the God who created him and spend all eternity in the lake of fire.

My hope in this posting is for the Christian to know for sure what the Bible says regarding Satan. That we do not need fear him because we are protected in Jesus Christ.