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Topical Study

SATAN

Satan is the most prominent and powerful of evil spirits and the archenemy of God and man (Job 1-2; Matthew 13:25, 38-39; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 4:4; Revelation 12:1-17). Though God originally created Satan in righteousness as "the anointed cherub who covers" (Ezekiel 28:12-15), Satan sinned through pride (Ezekiel 28:15-17; 1 Timothy 3:6). Consequently, sin entered the universe for the first time (cf. Genesis 3:1-5; John 8:44; 1 John 3:8) and God expelled Satan from his original position in heaven (Ezekiel 28:16). He retains great intelligence (Ezekiel 28:12, 17; 2 Corinthians 2:11) and power (Ephesians 6:10-12; Jude 9) and is widely represented through his demons (Ephesians 6:12; Revelation 12:7-9). Satan has become ruler over demonic spirits, i.e., evil angels who evidently also sinned and fell with him (Matthew 12:24; 25:41; Revelation 12:4-7). Satan rules the world and can influence believers, but only within the permissive will of God (Job 1-2, esp. 2:6; Luke 4:6; John 12:31; Acts 26:18; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 John 5:19). Christ judged Satan at the cross (John 12:31; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8; cf. Colossians 2:15), but the final execution of that judgment will occur when he is "thrown into the lake of fire," where he will remain forever (Revelation 20:10).

personality of:

personal attributes

♦ intelligence

• Matthew 4:6; 2 Corinthians 2:11; 11:3; Ephesians 6:11; Revelation 12:12

♦ will

• Isaiah 14:12-14; 2 Timothy 2:26

♦ emotion

• Revelation 12:12

♦ personal moral responsibility

• Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10 (cf. Ezekiel 28:15)

♦ personal address

• Job 1:7-8; 2:2-3; Zechariah 3:1-2; Matthew 4:1-11

personal names

♦ Satan

• Job 1:6; Zechariah 3:1-2; Matthew 4:10; Romans 16:20

♦ the devil

• Matthew 4:1; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:9 (cf. John 6:70)

♦ Beelzebul

• Matthew 12:24 (cf. 2 Kings 1:1-6, 16)

♦ Belial

• 2 Corinthians 6:15

personal titles

♦ "the tempter"

• Matthew 4:3; I Thessalonians 3:5

♦ "ruler of the demons"

• Matthew 12:24 (cf. v. 26)

♦ "ruler of this world"

• John 12:31

♦ "the evil one"

• Matthew 13:38; John 17:15; 1 John 5:19

♦ "god of this world"

• 2 Corinthians 4:4

♦ "prince of the power of the air"

• Ephesians 2:2. (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:12; Ephesians 2:2); Colossians 1:13; 1 John 4:4; Revelation 12:9-10

personal symbols

♦ "angel of light"

• 2 Corinthians 11:14

♦ "roaring lion"

• 1 Peter 5:8

♦ "great red dragon"

• Revelation 12:3 (cf. vv. 4, 7, 13, 17)

♦ "the serpent of old"

• Revelation 12:9 (cf. vv. 14-15; Genesis 3:1-5, 13-15; 2 Corinthians 11:3)

♦ personal pronouns

• Job 1:6-12; 2:2-6; Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:12-17; Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 22:31-32; Revelation 12:12-13

origin of:

♦ his creation:

• Ezekiel 28:12-17

♦ his fall:

• Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:15-17; 1 Timothy 3:6 (cf. Luke 10:18)

evil character of (see also personality of above):

♦ enemy:

• Matthew 13:25, 28, 39

♦ murderer:

• John 8:44 (cf. Genesis 2:17; 3:1-7, 19; Job 2:6; John 10:10; Hebrews 2:14)

♦ liar:

• John 8:44 (cf. Genesis 3:4)

♦ adversary:

• 1 Peter 5:8

♦ confirmed sinner:

• 1 John 3:8

♦ deceiver:

• 2 Corinthians 11:14-15; Revelation 20:3 (cf. Acts 13:8-10)

♦ schemer:

• 2 Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 6:11

♦ accuser:

• Revelation 12:10 (cf. Ephesians 6:10-12; Revelation 2:10, 13; 12:10); 13:1-18; 16:13-14, 16; 20:2-3

ability of:

♦ to use an animal:

• Genesis 3:1-5 (cf. Numbers 22:28-30)

♦ to physically afflict people:

• Job 1:12-2:13; Luke 13:11, 16; Acts 10:38; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 12:7

♦ to use natural forces:

• Job 1:16, 18-19

♦ to influence people:

• Matthew 16:21-23; John 13:2; Acts 5:3; 1 Corinthians 7:5

♦ to possess men:

• Luke 22:3

♦ to oppress people:

• Acts 10:38

♦ to use demonic spirits:

• Ephesians 6:10-12 (e.g., Mark 5:1-20)

♦ to exercise supernatural power:

• 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 13:12-15; 16:13-14 (cf. Exodus 7:10-8:7)

♦ to entice people to follow him:

• 1 Timothy 5:15 (cf. 2 Timothy 2:26)

♦ to inflict death:

• Hebrews 2:14 (cf. Job 2:6; Matthew 10:28)

♦ to rule over evil angels:

• Revelation 12:7-9

work of:

in relation to God

♦ contradicts God's word

• Genesis 3:4-5

♦ seeks to be worshiped like God

• Matthew 4:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, 9

♦ counterfeits God's workers

• 2 Corinthians 11:14-15

♦ opposes God's work

• I Thessalonians 2:18

♦ may fulfill God's providential purposes

• 1 Timothy 1:20

♦ disputes with God's angels

• Jude 9

in relation to Christ

♦ constantly opposes Him

• Genesis 3:15 (cf. Matthew 16:21-23); 1 John 3:8

♦ sought to destroy Him

• Matthew 2:16; John 7:1; 8:40-41, 44; Revelation 12:1-6

♦ tempted Him

• Matthew 4:1-11

♦ worked through Judas to betray Him

• Luke 22:3-6; 47-48

♦ in relation to Israel

• Zechariah 3:1-2; Revelation 12:1-17

in relation to believers

♦ tempts them

• Genesis 3:1-5; 1 Chronicles 21:1; Acts 5:3; 1 Corinthians 7:5

♦ seeks to destroy them

• Job 1:12-19; 2:4-13; 1 Peter 5:8 (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:5)

♦ accuses them

• Zechariah 3:1-5; Revelation 12:10-11

♦ sows tares among them

• Matthew 13:25-30, 38-39

♦ schemes against them

• 2 Corinthians 2:11

♦ wages spiritual warfare against them

• Ephesians 6:10-12 (cf. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5); 1 Peter 5:8

♦ hinders their work

• I Thessalonians 2:18

♦ incites persecution against them

• Revelation 2:10

in relation to unbelievers

♦ snatches God's word from them

• Matthew 13:19

♦ serves as their father

• John 8:44; Acts 13:10; 1 John 3:8, 10

♦ uses them to hinder the gospel

• Acts 13:8-10

♦ holds them captive

• Acts 26:18; Colossians 1:13

♦ spiritually blinds them

• 2 Corinthians 4:4

♦ works in them through his spirit

• Ephesians 2:2

♦ uses them to oppose God's work and workers

• Revelation 2:13

♦ in relation to the world and its nations

• Isaiah 14:12; Luke 4:5-7; John 12:31; Revelation 16:13-14, 16; 20:3

things associated with:

♦ schemes of:

• 2 Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 6:11

♦ servants of:

• 2 Corinthians 11:14-15

♦ snare of:

• 1 Timothy 3:7; 2 Timothy 2:26

♦ synagogue of:

• Revelation 2:9; 3:9

♦ throne of:

• Revelation 2:13

♦ dwelling of:

• Revelation 2:13

♦ deep things of:

• Revelation 2:24

judgment of:

♦ stated:

• 1 Timothy 3:6

♦ initiated:

• Ezekiel 28:16 (cf. Luke 10:18)

♦ predicted:

• Genesis 3:15

♦ wrought through Christ's work:

• John 12:31; 16:11; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8 (cf. Romans 16:20; Colossians 2:15)

continued in stages

♦ thrown down to earth (during the tribulation period)

• Revelation 12:7-9, 13

♦ imprisoned during the millennium

• Revelation 20:2

♦ finalized in the lake of fire

• Revelation 20:10

defense against:

♦ divine provision:

• Job 1:12; 2:6, 10; Zechariah 3:1-2; Luke 22:31-32; John 12:31; 16:11; 17:15; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9; Ephesians 6:10-17; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; James 4:6-7; 1 John 4:4; Jude 8-9; Revelation 12:5-17 (cf. Luke 4:1-13; 1 Corinthians 5:5)

♦ believer's response:

• Matthew 6:13 (cf. 26:41); 2 Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 4:27; 5:18; 6:10-17; James 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:8-9; 1 John 4:4; Jude 8-9; Revelation 2:10; 12:10-11 (cf. Isaiah 26:3)

This topic is from the Lockman Foundation.

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