ANGELOLOGY PT 2 Satan
8 Characteristics of Satan s Personhood
1. Intellect
He is crafty. 2 Cor 11:3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
He has schemes. Eph 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
He has thought-out plans. 2 Cor 2:11so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
He converses intelligently. Job 1-2 Matt 4:1-9
2. Emotion
He desires things 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 speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
3. Will
He exercises the power of choice. Satan chose to afflict Job. Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7
Rulers influenced by him reflect his selfish choice. Isaiah 14:13-14 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.
He chose to tempt Jesus Matthew 4:3-11
Satan will choose to fight with Michael. Revelation 12:7
Satan will choose to lead a rebellion against Christ Revelation 20:7-9
4. He was Created
Colossians 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.
Ezekiel 28:15 You were blameless in your ways From the day you were created Until unrighteousness was found in you.
5. He is a spirit and leads other spirit beings (demons)
Ephesians 2:2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
Matthew 25:41 Then He will also say to those on His left, Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;
6. Extraordinary mobility
Job 1:7 The Lord said to Satan, From where do you come? Then Satan answered the Lord and said, From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.
1 Peter 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
7. He has access to heaven and earth Job 1-2
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 brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.
8. He will be judged for his actions
Hell fire has been prepared for Satan and his angels Then He will also say to those on His left, Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt 25:4)
Satan was judged at the cross John 16:11 "and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged."
Names and Actions
King? Abaddon? Angel of the bottomless pit? Apollyon? Revelation 9:11 They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon.
Lucifer a name for Satan? Isaiah 14:12-14 How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened 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.
נ פ ל ת מ ש מ י ם ה יל ל Hebrew: Latin Vulgate: cecidisti de caelo lucifer KJV: fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, NAS: fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, ESV: fallen from heaven, O Day Star,
2 Peter 1:19 So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.
Greek: ἕως οὗ ἡμέρα διαυγάσῃ καὶ φωσφόρος ἀνατείλῃ ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν Latin Vulgate: loco donec dies inlucescat et lucifer oriatur in cordibus vestris KJV:...until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts NASB/ESV:...until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts
Does Ezekiel 28:11-19 refer to Satan?
Does Satan read minds?
No, Satan is created and does not have divine omniscience. He was wrong about Job s motives. Job 1-2 He did not know Jesus thoughts in the temptation. Matthew 4 He is never said to read humans minds or know all things
Can Christians bind Satan?
Can Christians bind Satan? Matthew 18:18 Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;
Matthew 12:29 Or how can anyone enter the strong man s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. Revelation 20:1-2 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;
Does Satan rule over hell?
Satan s Strategy
"Satan's chief activity in the lives of Christians is to cause them to think contrary to God's Word and thus act disobediently to God's will." (686) "This is Satan's Master-piece...; if he can but keep them from believing the truth, he is sure to keep them from obeying it." (Thomas Watson)
1. Satan will attempt to distort or deny the truth of God s Word.
2. Satan will try to discredit the testimony of God s people
3. Satan will seek to depress or destroy the believer s enthusiasm for God s work
4. Satan will aim to dilute the effectiveness of God s people.