Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
1 Peter 5:8
Apostles Peter and Paul warns us to be on our guard against the adversary, Satan. In the natural world, a
soldier must first identify the enemy before entering the battlefield. He must
study all available information on the enemy, his nature, and strategies.
The same is true in the spirit
world. You can only war effectively if you identify your enemy, understand his
nature, and recognize his strategies.
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 2 Corinthians 2:11
The evil forces against us are not clothed in flesh. They are spiritual hosts of wickedness.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 2 Corinthians 2:11
The evil forces against us are not clothed in flesh. They are spiritual hosts of wickedness.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12
The spiritual enemy is a powerful
force of evil known as Satan. God, in His word, lets us know of his origin, his original name; Lucifer, his former
position, how he fell from his former position, and of those that followed him when he fell. God also lets us know of the attributes of Satan's nature,
his sphere of activity, and his strategies.
Satan was originally created by God:
All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:3
All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:3
For by Him were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16
God does not create evil. Satan was
perfect when he was originally created by God, but was given a free will to
choose good or evil:
Thou was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created till iniquity was found in thee. Ezekiel 28:15
Thou was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created till iniquity was found in thee. Ezekiel 28:15
The Bible describes the original
position of Satan:
Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Ezekiel 28:12-17
When Satan was originally created, he was an angel of God. He was one of the Cherubim class of angels, holy, wise, beautiful, and perfect. He was the leader among the cherubs and is called a "guardian" or "covering" cherub. His name was originally Lucifer which means "light bearer"
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! Isaiah 14:12
He was adorned with precious stones set in gold
Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Ezekiel 28:13;
He was given a position on God's holy mountain and led in the worship of God
Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Ezekiel 28:14
Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Ezekiel 28:12-17
When Satan was originally created, he was an angel of God. He was one of the Cherubim class of angels, holy, wise, beautiful, and perfect. He was the leader among the cherubs and is called a "guardian" or "covering" cherub. His name was originally Lucifer which means "light bearer"
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! Isaiah 14:12
He was adorned with precious stones set in gold
Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Ezekiel 28:13;
He was given a position on God's holy mountain and led in the worship of God
Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Ezekiel 28:14
A brilliant, beautiful picture of
Satan in his original position is given in the Word of God. He is described as
a gem of precious stones. But a gem has no light of its own. It is not
beautiful in a dark room. Its beauty is in its ability to reflect light from
without.
When God created Lucifer, He made
him with a capacity to reflect the glory of God to a greater degree than any
other created being. God was the light that made Lucifer radiate beauty.
But Satan did not retain this
glorious position. The Bible describes his rebellion and fall:
How art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning. How art thou cut down to the ground which didst waken the nations. For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into Heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to Hell, to the sides of the pit. Isaiah 14:12-15
How art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning. How art thou cut down to the ground which didst waken the nations. For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into Heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to Hell, to the sides of the pit. Isaiah 14:12-15
Thine heart was lifted up because
of thy beauty, thou hadst corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness. Ezekiel 28:17
Satan's fall from his angelic
position occurred because of pride and rebellion demonstrated in five wrong
attitudes. Satan said:
I WILL ascend unto Heaven: He desired to occupy the abode of God, Heaven, desiring
equal recognition.
I WILL exalt my throne above the
angels (stars) of God: He not
only desired to occupy God's abode, but he also coveted His rule over the
angelic hosts.
I WILL sit also upon the mountain of
the congregation: This is the center of God's earthly rule. Satan desired to rule the earth
as well as the angels.
And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. Isaiah 2:2
And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. Isaiah 2:2
I WILL ascend above the heights of
the clouds: The clouds speak of the glory of
God. Satan wanted God's glory for himself. (The following verses document
clouds in relation to the glory of God:
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: Exodus 13:21;
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: Exodus 13:21;
Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. Exodus 40:34-38;
Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine? Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge? Job 37:15-16;
Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Matthew 26:64;
And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. Revelation 14:14- 16
I WILL be like the Most High: God has many names by which He is called. Why did Satan
choose this particular name? Could it be that he selected this title because it reflects God as
"possessor of Heaven and earth?"
Here are the terrible results of
Satan's sin:
ü
BANISHMENT FROM HEAVEN: Because of his rebellion, Satan was cast out of Heaven by
God:
. . . I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God...I will cast thee to the ground. . . (Ezekiel 28:16-17)
. . . I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God...I will cast thee to the ground. . . (Ezekiel 28:16-17)
ü CORRUPTION
OF CHARACTER: Lucifer, once created for God's glory, became Satan with a
character that opposed all God is and does.
ü PERVERSION
OF POWER: Satan's power was once used for God's glory. Now it is
turned to disruptive and destructive purposes. According to Isaiah 14, he
weakens the nations (verse 12), causes the earth and governments to tremble
(verse 16), and those taken as his prisoner have no relief (verse 17).
ü DESTINED
TO THE LAKE OF FIRE: Satan was destined to the lake of fire
Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. Isaiah 14:15
ü AFFECTED
OTHER ANGELS OF GOD: When Satan fell from Heaven he did not fall alone. A portion of the angelic host of Heaven who participated in his rebellion against God fell with him. This group of angels are now part of an evil force of demons.
And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. Revelation 12:4
ü ENTRANCE
OF SIN IN THE UNIVERSE: When Satan rebelled, sin entered the universe. As a result,
there were two actions God could have taken:
a. He could
have struck down Satan and caused him to cease to exist.
b. The other
action was the one which the Bible indicates God took. The claims of
Satan to superior power should have their complete trial on earth in the span
of eternity we call time.
When God created the first man and
woman, the trial on earth began. (Genesis 3)
The battle is still in progress on
earth. That is what spiritual warfare is all about. Satan is still seeking
power, position, and worship. But he is already a defeated foe. Jesus overcame the power of Satan through His
death and resurrection. The final destiny of Satan is already revealed in the
Bible. So where is he now?
Satan, in spirit form, is present in
the world:
And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. Job 1:7
And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. Job 1:7
Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8
Although Satan is present in the
world, he is not omnipresent, which means he cannot be every place in the world
at one time as God can. This is why he employs a host of demons to accomplish
his plans.
Satan has access to the presence of
God and operates on the earth, including the "air" or region above
the earth:
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the
course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the
spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. Ephesians 2:2
The activities of Satan can be summarized by noting that they are always directed against God, His plan, and His
people. He will attack us in the areas of worship of God, the Word of God, our Christian walk, and our work for God. However, the knowledge given us through the word of God, the power of His Holy Spirit and the authority given in the name of Jesus allows us to defeat every attempt of Satan.
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4
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