Gota Question?	Who is Satan? Complete Listing of Topics/Questions I. Name: Satan is a Hebrew word meaning adversary or accuser, to indicate his opposition to God and to all things pertaining to God, especially God's people. The New Testament equivalent is Diabolos (devil) which also means accuser. II. He is an angelic being, and "the Prince of devils" (leader of the fallen angels). "depart from me ...into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" Mt 25:41 "...God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell" 2Pe 2:4 "angels that abandoned their first estate" Jude 6 The implication is that the angels had a probationary period similar to Man in Eden, where some angels passed and some failed. III. As the "god of this world" 2Co 4:4, and the "spirit that works in the children of this world", he holds mastery over the fallen human race as well. Paul describes such people as those who must "escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will". Jesus told the Pharisees "you belong to your father the Devil" II. Old Testament references: Satan is specifically referenced in only three places in the Old Testament:1Ch 21:1, Zech 3:1-2, Job 1 & 2. 1. 1Ch 21:1 As a tempter: "Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census." Here we see Satan involved in his primary activity, tempting man to sin. He is equated with the serpent of Gen 3 in Rev 12:9, who first tempted man to sin, and is referred to as "the tempter" in Matt 4:3, 1Th 3:5. The Biblical idea of tempting is putting to the test, either for the benevolent purpose of proving and improving one's quality 1Pe 1:6-7, Ja 1:12, or for the malicious purpose of exposing one's weakness. Satan tests God's people only with evil intent, by manipulating circumstances (always within the limits that God allows Jb 1:12, 1Co 10:13), and prompting them to abandon or violate God's will. 2. Zech 3:1-2 As an accuser: "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." Here we see Satan in his role as accuser. In this passage the implication is that he is accusing Joshua of being unworthy to stand before God because of his sin, which is typified by his filthy garments (see v 3 & 4). In contrast to the Holy Spirit who convict us of sin with the intent of producing repentance and faith, Satan, called the accuser of the brethren cf. Rev 12:10b, accuses of sin with the intent of discouraging, disparaging, and destroying hope in God's mercy. 3. Job 1 & 2. We learn several things about Satan from this passage of Scripture. a. He is under authority. Satan is not sovereign. He cannot do anything without God's permission. b. His sphere of influence, "roaming the earth and going back and forth in it." When he is referred to in the New Testament as "prince of this world", "god of this world", and "prince of the power of the air", it does not mean that he rules independently of God in the earthly realm, but that this is his sphere of influence. Everyone who ever lived on the earth, including Jesus Christ, has experienced his influence in the form of temptation. c. His evil intent: "Stretch out your hand and he will surely curse you to your face". III. Other terms for the Devil: A. "Murderer" Jn 8:44, "destroyer" Rev 9:11, "roaring lion seeking someone to devour" 1Pe 5:8. All these terms show the intent of Satan, his objective, which is not so much to destroy the body, but to see the soul destroyed, experience the second death, i.e. eternal damnation. B. "Liar", "Father of lies", "Deceiver", "transformed into an angel of light", "the schemes (means trick or deceptive maneuver) of the devil", "the devil's trap". All these terms show the means which Satan employs to carry out his objective, his chief mode of operations. His power lies in his ability to deceive. This is why our weapons against Satan are not physical, but spiritual; the belt of truth, the shield of Faith to quench the fiery darts of unbelief, and the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, which contains God's truth, and by which Jesus effectively resisted Satan in the wilderness ("It is written..." Mt 4:4,7) IV. His Defeat. Jesus' express purpose in coming to earth was "that he might destroy the works of the devil" I Jn 3:8. Jesus defeated Satan specifically through his death Jn 12:31, 16:11, Heb 2:14. As ambassadors for Christ, we share in the vanquishing of Satan's kingdom, by proclaiming the gospel, the purpose of which is (in Jesus' words to Paul) "to open their eyes (the spiritual eyes of the unregenerate, who have been blinded by Satan), and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and a place with those who are sanctified by faith in me" Acts 26:18 Grace Valley Christian Center	My WhataGod  Free Christian Email  Online Testimonies  Prayer Requests  Question & Answers  Bible Verse Search  Bible Word Search  Crossword Puzzles  Bible Trivia  Kids Bible Trivia  Christian Jokes  Christian Chat  Free Stuff  Heavenly Poetry  Search Our Site  Preacher's Link  Our Mission  Contact Us
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