Introduction to Satan

In subsequent pages we will learn much about Satan: his ways, how he works deception on the whole world, his role as the accuser, his vicious, murderous nature, his role as God's servant, his power, his weaknesses, and his drive to survive even after he has been condemned to eternal suffering by God in his own created pit of hell. Although Satan has been limited by God in what he can and cannot do we must not forget that he is very real and very dangerous to both the believer in Christ and to all inhabitants of the earth. After Christ's resurrection, Satan became a defeated foe and his outcome made certain (see Revelation 20:1-10). However to this day he rages in anger seeking who he may devour. 1 Peter 5:5 says: "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour". Satan is not the enemy of God he is the enemy of man.

Satan's Activity Throughout History

Some think that Satan was inert during the years comprising the Old Testament and only made his appearance fully known at the time of Christ. Nothing could be further from the truth. Satan was at work from the inception of the matters recorded in the Old Testament. He was at work in every nation on the earth from the beginning. Every nation that worshipped pagan gods and was at odds with Israel was ruled/inspired by Satan. This began with the Sumerians (the first civilization) to Babylon, Egypt, Chaldea, Philistines, Persians, Greeks/Macedonians, Rome, The Roman Church, to name just a few. John wrote in the First Century a verse of scripture that could easily be applied throughout history: "Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father;" (1 John 2:22-23). Since the entire Old Testament wrote of Christ this scripture applies both to the New and Old Testaments. Christ said to the religious leaders of the day: "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life" (John 5:39-40). The entire Old Testament was written about Christ the Savior and Messiah who was to do away with sin and would banish Satan forever.

Scriptural Definitions of Satan

There are two scriptures in the Bible which clearly define Satan. In Isaiah 14:12-17, which began as a taunt against the King of Babylon, he speaks of Satan showing the close tie between Babylon and Satan. He starts the taunt referring directly to the King of Babylon then mid-way through he changes and begins speaking of Satan directly. By doing this he is not distinguishing one from the other showing that God saw Babylon and Satan as one in the same (a subject that will be discussed in detail below). Isaiah speaks prophetically of Satan: "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. How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, [Heb Helel; i.e. shining one] son of the dawn! 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."' (Is 14:12-17). In the end Satan is shown to be no more than a man.

The "Mount of Assembly" probably refers to Mt. Sinai where God had all the Israelites assemble as Moses received the Laws of God. It also may be an allusion to a probable Babylonian legend relating to the dwelling of the pagan gods (cf. Jb. 37:22; Ezk. 28:13f.) In pagan mythology the uttermost part of the north was the home of the false gods. What are "the recesses of the north", mentioned by Isaiah (above)? The Babylonian empire attacked Israel from the north. However, the operative word "north", as used in Isaiah 14, is "saphon", pronounced "saw-fone" and indicates generally the direction north. However, the word is derived from "sapan" (Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible, Volume 4, page 451) which means a hidden or dark place, gloomy and unknown, to hide, hidden, secretly, secret place, lurk, private, the hidden ones and laid up (Strongs, 6828, 6845). In other words, Isaiah tells us that Satan wanted to set up his own rule and kingdom, in order to receive adoration and worship, like God, and to call the shots, like God. But he wanted to (or had to) do it as far away from God as he could. The "recesses of the north" is the hidden, "dark", gloomy and secret place, away from the "light" of God. In the light of God everything is laid open and bare, and nothing is hidden from His sight (Hebrews 4:13).

Satan in Ezekiel

In Ezekiel 28:12-19 the prophet also spoke about Satan while rebuking the King of Tyre, who he considered one and the same as Satan: "You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, Was in you. On the day that you were created They were prepared. You were the anointed cherub who covers, [guards] And I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire. You were blameless in your ways From the day you were created Until unrighteousness was found in you...You were internally filled with violence, And you sinned; Therefore I have cast you as profane From the mountain of God. And I have destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I put you before kings, That they may see you. By the multitude of your iniquities...You profaned your sanctuaries. Therefore I have brought fire from the midst of you; It has consumed you, And I have turned you to ashes on the earth In the eyes of all who see you. All who know you among the peoples Are appalled at you; You have become terrified And you will cease to be forever.". Satan was brought down by pride the enemy of humanity as well.

Satan's Influence on Nations

All of the nations of the earth were Satanically possessed and/or influenced by Satan. These were polytheistic nations, with many gods, worshipping things of the earth and the physical heavens. Many of the nations were astrologers and worshipped the heavenly bodies. This was by design. God constantly differentiated Israel from all other nations. Israel was His favored nation. He told Israel in Deuteronomy the following: "And beware not to lift up your eyes to heaven and see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, and be drawn away and worship them and serve them, those which the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven" (Deut 4:15-19). What He was saying was that He had allotted to the other nations to be soothsayers, stargazers and astrologers but that Israel was not to adopt these practices. He said the heavens were reserved for the godless: "Those which the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven". Israel was to worship the one true God as soothsayers and astrologers could easily be led astray since Satan ruled all occult practices.

Conclusion

Thus is an overview of Satan from God's perspective written centuries before Christ. It is obvious from the words that Satan had an influence far before the time of Christ.