Lesson for January 8, 2025
The Doctrine of Angelology
Lesson 2
Satan
His Names
Satan has many names in the Bible, which give us further insight into his personality and purpose. Here are some examples:
- Lucifer – means star of the morning – Isaiah 14:12
- Satan – means adversary – Matthew 16:23; Acts 5:3
- Devil – means accuser or slanderer – Matthew 4:1-11; John 8:44;I Corinthians 7:5; I John 3:8
- Apollyon – means destroyer – Revelation 9:11
- Serpent – means a venomous creature – Genesis 3:1; II Corinthians 11:3
- Dragon – means a mythical monster – Revelation 12:7-9
- Prince of this world – means authority or leader – John 14:30, 16:11
- Prince of the power of the air – means ruler of world in which we live – Ephesians 2:2
- The god of this world – means the ruler of this world system – II Corinthians 4:4
- The evil one – means evil in character – Matthew 13:19; I John 3:12, 5:19
- Adversary – means opponent – Zechariah 3:1; I Peter 5:8
- Tempter – means one who tempts – I Thessalonians 3:5
- Ruler of this world – means the ruler of this world system – John 12:31
- Beelzebul – means ruler of demons – Matthew 12:24
- Man of sin – means man of lawlessness – II Thessalonians 2:4
His Purpose
Satan’s ultimate purpose is clearly stated in Isaiah 14. His purpose has not changed. His rebellion against God in eternity past began with what is called “The Five I Wills of Satan.” Isaiah 14:12-15, “How you have fallen from heaven, you star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who defeated the nations! But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ Nevertheless, you will be brought down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit.”
Satan’s arrogance was exhibited when he said he would ascend into Heaven and take over the throne of God and replace God. Inappropriate ambition was shown when Satan said he would raise his throne above the stars (angels) of God and rule over all the angels. Power lust was exposed when Satan said he would sit in the mount of the assembly, meaning he wanted to be worshipped as God. Ego lust was expressed when Satan said he would ascend above the heights of the clouds and displace God as the Sovereign of the universe, usurping God’s authority. Power madness was demonstrated when Satan said he would be like the Most-High, wanting to counterfeit God in every aspect.
Since Satan has been unable to replace God, he attacks the human race in an attempt to discredit God’s sentencing of him and his followers to the Lake of Fire. His methods are deceit, trickery, lying, cheating, and human good, which are all designed to keep unbelievers from believing in Christ. We must remember that Satan is the ruler of the world system and that he commands a large army of fallen angels to do his bidding. I Corinthians 4:3-4, “And even if our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they will not see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God.”
Satan is a master at infiltrating governments, religions, education, entertainment, literature, business, the media, art, and marriage. His method regarding believers is much the same as with unbelievers, but his greatest weapon against believers is countering the truth. Satan’s infiltration of religion has allowed him to use it to counterfeit the truth so that a person will not believe the simple message of the Gospel. Adding human works to faith is how Satan and his “ministers of righteousness” deceive the masses. II Corinthians 11:13-15, “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore, it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.”
A person who believes human works are necessary for salvation has been duped by Satan’s lies. Remember, Satan is the father of lies! John 8:44, “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.”
In much the same way that Satan attacks unbelievers, he also attacks believers. The difference is that Satan is attempting to keep believers from living the Christian life. Believers who fail to live their spiritual lives make poor witnesses for God during Satan’s appeal trial. I Peter 5:8-9, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. So, resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world.”
Satan also knows how to use believers who are in a state of reversionism to negatively influence believers who are living their spiritual lives. II Timothy 3:1-7, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form (counterfeit) of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these. For among them are those who slip into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Satan also accuses believers of wrongdoing before God, attempting to discredit their witness for the Prosecution (God) during his appeal trial. Revelation 12:10, “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God, day and night.’”
Satan’s Limitations
Satan is not equal to God!!! This means he is NOT omnipresent (everywhere present), omnipotent (all-powerful), nor omniscient (all-knowing). Satan can do nothing beyond the permissive will of God. Job 1:12, 2:6, “Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not reach out and put your hand on him.’ So the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life.’”
Even though Satan is limited in what he is allowed to do, he is much more powerful than any human being. And in God’s infinite wisdom, what He allows Satan to do is within His divine plan in order to resolve the Angelic Conflict.
Remember, it was Satan who was allowed to tempt Jesus to violate His deity. (Matthew 4:1-11) It was also Satan who was permitted to instigate the crowd to shout “crucify Him, crucify Him,” referring to Jesus. God has given Satan ample opportunity to prove God’s sentence to the Lake of Fire was unfair. Satan has not and will not success in his quest to overthrow God. His fate was sealed at the Cross!! Revelation 20:10, “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the Lake of Fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”