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I Existence of Satan
The primary witness to the reality and existence of Satan is not
experience or sensational stories but the testimony of Scripture. Both the Old Testament and New Testament affirm the reality and existence of Satan.
A The Old Testament
1 When Genesis 3 discusses the serpent, it is
recognized that the serpent was Satan and that the judgment pronounced (Gen. 3:15) must be a reference to him.
2 Satan is specifically mentioned in Job 2:1 as he
came to accuse Job before God. In 1 Chronicles 21:2 Satan led David to take a census of the Israelites.
3 In Zechariah 3:1-2 Satan is seen accusing the
nation before God.
4 Although Satan is not so-named in Isaiah 14:12-17
and Ezekiel 28:11-19, these passages are understood with good reason to refer to his original state and subsequent fall.
B The New Testament evidence for Satan’s existence is extensive.
1 Every New Testament writer and nineteen of the
books make reference to him (cf. Matt. 4:10; 12:26; Mark 1:13; 3:23, 26; 4:15; Luke 11:18; 22:3; John 13:27, etc.).
2 Christ Himself makes reference to Satan
twenty-five times. The fact of Satan’s existence finds ultimate support in the veracity of Christ’s words.
C Aside from prefall terms like Lucifer or cherub,
there are many names for Satan in bothTestaments that cumulatively establish his existence and evil character.
II Personality of Satan
A Satan exhibits attributes of personality.
1 Scripture mentions three major features of
personality when discussing Satan.
a. Satan reflects intellect in that he schemes
and is crafty in his work (Eph. 6:11). His work of deception22-14 indicates his ability to think and plan a course of action that will be successful in deceiving people (Rev. 12:9). His knowledge and facility with Scripture (in deception) further illustrates his intellect (Matt. 4:5-6).
b. Satan’semotion is seen in his desire to exalt
himself above the rule of God (Isa. 14:12-17); note the “I will’s”). Satan desires to trap new converts through their conceit (1 Tim. 3:6). Recognizing he has only a short time on
earth, Satan vents great wrath (Gk. thumon), “burning anger” (Rev. 12:12).
c. Satan demonstrated his will in attempting to
entice Christ to sin (Matt. 4:3) Satan’s will is most clearly reflected in his wish to be like God.
(Isa. 14:13-14).
B Satan exhibits actions of personality.
1 Satan speaks (Job 1:9-10),
2 tempts Christ (Matt. 4:3),
3 plans (Eph. 6:11),
4 and accuses believers (Rev. 12:10).
5 Above all, Satan is deceptive, scheming to defeat
Christians. His intent and opposition to believers is graphically portrayed in 1 Peter 5:8.
6 In his opposition he is as ferocious as a
lion, continually walking about with the intent of devouring someone.
7 He continually brings legal accusations against
Christians (Rev. 12:9-10).
8 He schemes (Gk. methodeia) against
Christians to make them fall (Eph. 6:11).
C All of these elements demonstrate that Satan is a person.
III Origin and Nature of Satan
A Satan’s original state.
1 Ezekiel 28:12-15 describes Satan prior to his fall.22-15
a. He enjoyed an exalted position in the presence of
God; the brilliance of heaven was his surrounding (28:13).
b. He was called the “anointed . . . covering
cherub” who enjoyed the position of highest honor before God (28:14, 16).
c. Isaiah refers to this supreme angel as
“star of the morning (kjv Lucifer; niv morningstar), son of the dawn” (14:12).
d. After he became God’s chief adversary (Heb. Satan)
he is never again called by any of these honorable titles. But in his prefall splendor he was filled with wisdom and beauty, and he was blameless (Ezek. 28:12, 15).
B Satan’s fall.
1 Satan’s fall is described in both Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14.
a.
Because of his sin Satan was cast from the presence of God (Ezek. 28:16).
b. The reason for Satan’s downfall was his pride;
his heart was lifted up because of his beauty, and his wisdom became corrupt (28:17). The statement indicates Satan must have had extraordinarily high rank that led to his pride.
c. Isaiah 14:12-14 further describes the sin
that led to his downfall. Five “I will’s” emphasize his sin (14:13-14). He desired to enter the very presence of God and establish his throne on God’s throne above the other angels. He
wanted to be like the “Most High.” For that reason God thrust him down out of heaven.
C Satan’s moral responsibility.
1 Satan is a morally responsible person,
accountable to God (Job 1:7). He does not have freedom in an unrestricted sense but is subordinate to and restricted by God.
IV Judgment of Satan
A Satan fell from his original exalted position.
1 As the anointed cherub Satan led a host of
angels, possibly one-third of all the angels, from heaven in his fall (Ezek. 28:16-17; Rev. 12:4).
B Satan’s ultimate defeat was pronounced in Eden.
1 God informed Satan that he would have a
minor victory (“you shall bruise him on the heel”), but Christ would have a major victory through the cross (“He shall bruise you on the head” Gen. 3:15).
C Satan was rendered powerless through the cross.
1 Christ partook of humanity, and through His
substitutionary death He defeated Satan, rendering him impotent in the believer’s life. Satan had the power of death over people but that power was broken through Christ (Heb. 2:14).
D Satan will be cast out of heaven during the Tribulation.
1 The casting out of heaven (Rev. 12:13) is an act
of judgment and probably refers to the stellar heavens, also known as the second heaven (not the presence of God).
E Satan will be bound in the pit for 1,000 years.
1 At the triumphant return of Christ, Satan is bound
for 1,000 years and shut up in the abyss, no longer able to deceive anyone on earth for the duration of the Millennium (Rev. 20:2-3).
F Satan will finally be cast into the lake of fire.
1 At the end of the Millennium Satan is
released whereupon he deceives many people, leads a rebellion against God, is defeated and finally cast into the lake of fire for eternity (Rev. 20:7-10).
TAKEN FROM THE MOODY HANDBOOK OF THEOLOGY
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