Satan, Demons, and Angels Systematic Theology: 12.21.11 Names of Satan NAME MEANING CITATION Satan Adversary Matt. 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, Be gone, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve. Devil Slanderer Matt. 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Evil One Intrinsically Evil John 17:15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. Great Red Dragon Destructive Creature Rev. 12:3,7-9 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 12:7-9 7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Serpent of old Deceiver in Eden Revelation 12:9 ibid Abaddon Destruction Revelation 9:11 They have 1
as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon. Apollyon Destroyer Revelation 9:11 ibid Adversary Opponent 1 Peter 5:8 Be soberminded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Beelzebub Lord of the fly Matthew 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons. *Unpardonable sin Belial son of Belial God of this world Ruler of this world Worthless (Beliar) *Mt. 5:13 it is henceforth good for nothing but to be thrown out and trodden under foot of men. Controls philosophy of the world Rules in world system? Q# I thought God was the *Only used here for Satan 2 Cor. 6:14-16a Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; 2 Cor. 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. *Satan blinds people to the cross John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world; now 2
Prince of the power of the air Ruler? = Counter Factuals of Creaturely Freedom will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. Control of unbelievers Ephesians 2:1-5 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved Enemy Opponent Matthew 13:28 He said to them, An enemy has done this. So the servants said to him, Then do you want us to go and gather them? *Parable of the Sower = Satan plants lost people in the church among the saved Tempter Solicits people to sin Matthew 4:3-4 And the tempter came and said to him, If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread. 4 But he answered, It is written, Man shall not live by 3
Murderer Leads people to eternal death bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Liar Perverts the truth John 8:44 ibid Accuser Opposes the believer before God 1) Where did Satan come from? Wrong views: a. Manicheaism b. Dualism Revelation 12:10 And 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 has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. Q# Why would God create Satan? = God did not make Satan Satan, God created Satan as a beautiful angelic creature who, like all moral beings, has the ability to reject or follow God. Alvin Plantinga: In section 8 Plantinga argues that such propositions are the following: (35) It was not within God s power to create a world containing moral good but no moral evil.= MEMORIZE (36) God creates a world containing moral good. i) The value of free will: it is an intrinsic good ii) The consequences of free will: it allows moral evil to exist Creatures that are capable of moral good are also capable of moral evil. 4
*God could prevent moral evil by preventing moral good. He could create a natural world without human beings. There would be no moral evil in that world. The reason would be obvious: the absence of evil is precipitated by the absence of humans. *Quote from Plantinga on p.30. = A world of sinners is better than a world without humans. To misuse free will is better than to have never had it at all. 1 2) Where did demons come from? 2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; Jude 6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day Demons were once angels who sinned and rebelled against God. Same for Satan. Everything has a source and every bad thing that is now bad was once good. When did this happen? = We don t know. Scripture doesn t say exactly but it must have occurred between the time when God completed the creation and pronounced it all very good, and the temptation and fall of the humans (Gen. 3). 2 3) Is demonic possession real? If so, how does it happen? a. Yes, it is real. b. Can a Christian be demon possessed? No, but they can t be influenced by the enemy. c. How do you cast out a demon? = Prayer & fasting 4) Where did angels come from? a. The name means messenger. b. Created Psalm 148:2,5 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts!... Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created. Colossians 1:16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or power or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. c. What are they? 1. Spirits (fallen angels) Matt. 8:16 2. Not flesh & blood Eph. 6:12 3. They do not marry (hence, not physical) Matt. 22:30 4. Not cute, but deadly 185,000 Assyrians 5. Not to be worshipped Hebrews 1:5-2:9 1 The Logical Argument from Evil: The Free Will Defense (P ss. 4-8) God & Evil, Dr. Welty. 2 Erickson, 471. 5
6. Appearance is varied but always terrifying 7. Extremely powerful d. What do they do? 1. Continually praise & glorify God Rev. 5:11-12 2. Reveal & communicate God s message to humans Gabriel to Zechariah (Luke 1:13-20). 3. Protect believers from harm Peter from prison (Acts 12:6-11). 4. Watch our lives 1 Cor. 4:9; 1 Tim. 5:21 5. At death, transport us to heaven Luke 16:22 (Lazarus to Abraham s bosom). 6. Will return with Christ Matt. 25:31 Q# Do angels appear today? = Dr. Joe s angel story in Brazil Action points (Erickson) 1. It is a comfort to know that there are powerful, unseen agents to help us in our time of need 2 Kings 6:17 Elisha open his eyes 2. Angels serve as an excellent example of worship = unwavering passion 3. Sobering/scary fact that angels actually fell and they were close to God 1 Cor. 10:12 be careful that you don t fall! 4. Knowledge about how Satan works allows us to be prepared for his attacks & to guard against fear or obsession of Satan. 5. Satan is limited, & can be resisted, & God is Sovereign Closing AGI: Revelation 12:13 6