Satanology: Part Six (Destiny of Satan)

Destiny of Satan

· Loosening of the leash

° It seems as if the Lord lets Satan have his complete way on the earth during the tribulation period. Satan begins to deceive the world into following his directly controlled servants: the Antichrist and the false prophet (a duplicate of the trinity??).

° Revelation 13

· First attempt

° During the rise of the complete world system of Satan during the Tribulation, Satan gathers about one-third of the angels with him to overthrow heaven. But he was defeated by Michael and the other angels. He was ultimately defeated by the blood of Christ. It was at this defeat that Satan was permanently kicked out of heaven and restrained to earth. This probably took place at the midpoint of the tribulation, because Satan then pursues to destroy the nation of Israel.

° Revelation 12

· Second attempt

° At the end of the Tribulation period, Satan will gather all the world forces with him at the battle of Armageddon. It is here that they will meet with Christ’s return with His army. Satan’s army will be defeated and sent to the Lake of Fire, but he will be bound and thrown into the Abyss.

° Revelation 16:12-16; 19:17-21:3

· Final attempt

° After have been bound for 1000 years, Satan will be released. He will take this opportunity to deceive many and gather yet another army to oppose God. At the battle of Gog and Magog he will again be defeated, and this time the Devil himself is also thrown into the Lake of Fire to reside for eternity.

° Revelation 20:7-11 and Matthew 25:41

Satanology: Part Five (Defeating Satan)

Defeating Satan

· In our constant, everyday battle with Satan, we need to follow God and His Word if we are to defeat Satan. We need to rely on God through faith and prayer. We need to study His word to determine what is truth and what’s not (for it was by Scripture that Jesus refuted Satan at His temptation). We need to guard our lives and make sure they match what the Scriptures say. Lastly we need to strengthen each other by wholesome Christian fellowship, edification, and forgiveness.

· II Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 4:27; 6:13-18; I Timothy 3:7; II Timothy 2:26; James 4:7; I Peter 5:8

Satanology: Part Four (Interaction of Satan)

Interaction of Satan

· With God

° God the Father

· Although Satan is now the ruler of the earth with his mind set on opposing God, we see from Scripture that Satan is still under the sovereign authority of God. Satan is not God’s coequal. Satan has to approach the throne of God and give a report on his actions. He has great powers, but they are only as great to the extent God gives him permission to express them. Even with Satan’s mindset to be contrary to God, God uses him to do His will.

· Job 1:6-2:7; II Samuel 24:1 and I Chronicles 21:1;

II Corinthians 12:7 and Galatians 4:12-15; Luke 22:1-6; John 13:2,3,21-30; I Corinthians 5:5 and I Timothy 1:20.

° God the Son

· It was Satan who caused Judas to betray Christ to his death, but it was definitely the will of God for Christ to suffer death. It is through Christ’s death (which required the incarnation) by which the power of Satan over death and over the individual is broken. This is why Satan tried tempting Christ to take a “short-cut” which would not require His death. Peter was called “Satan” for not wanting Christ to suffer death!

· Genesis 3:15; Matthew 16:23; Luke 22:1-6; John 13:2,3,21-30; Hebrews 2:14; I John 3:8-10.

° God the Holy Spirit

· Satan opposes the work of the Holy Spirit through his interaction with people, which will be discussed next point.

·With people

° Unbelievers

· If one is not a believer, he is at the mercy of the Devil. Unbelievers are considered the children of the Devil. He controls us through the world’s systems and our sinful, fleshly lusts. His primary goal is to keep the Word of God from getting to the unregenerate heart either through opposition to spreading it, or by blinding the individual from truth.

· Matthew 4:15; Luke 8:12; John 8:44; Acts 13:10; 26:18; Ephesians 2:1-3; I Thessalonians 2:18; I John 3:8-10.

° Believers

· Satan is also opposes God through His people. Satan can, and will, oppress believers through physical pain and suffering (not all physical aliments are from Satan). He tries to make shipwreck of believer’s testimonies and lives by causing us to fall into sin. Satan is the author and dispenser of false doctrine. He tempts believers to go against the Word of God and follow our own desires, and he accuses believers before God the Father. God can use Satan’s oppression to chastise disobedient brothers; but ultimately, God will use His saints to crush Satan.

· Genesis 3:15; Zechariah 3:1; Matthew 13:39; Luke 13:16; Acts 5:3; Romans 16:20; I Corinthians 5:5; 7:5; II Corinthians 12:7; Ephesians 4:27; 6:11-12; I Timothy 1:20; 3:7; 5:15; II Timothy 2:26; James 3:15; I Peter 5:8; I John 3:8-10; Revelation 2:9-10; 3:20-25.

Satanology: Part Three (Attributes of Satan)

Attributes of Satan

· His person

°As previously discussed, he was created to be a guardian Cherub (angel), but now he is the ruler of this world and everything in opposition to God. Although losing some glory from his moral fall, he still is an angelic spirit being with authority and incredible power even over weather and disease. He is the head of the demonic hosts, along with this world’s evil systems. Satan can directly control (possession) and indirectly control (through our fleshly desires) individuals; he can also control groups of people and even entire governments.

° Genesis 3:15; Job 2:13-19; Ezekiel 28:14**; Matthew 25:41; Mark 3:23-26; 9:34; 12:24; John 12:31; 13:2,27; II Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2; 6:11-12; II Thessalonians 2:9; Jude 9 and

Revelation 2:9-10; 12:7-9

· His character

° Satan’s character is like his person: anything that opposes God. Everything he does to oppose God is out of his pride and rebellion against God. Satan is a deceiver. He makes himself appear as the “Angel of Light.” He twists God’s word and God’s work. He is a liar, false accuser, murderer, slanderer, tempter, destroyer, and malicious.

° Genesis 3:4,13; Job 1:9-10; Matthew 4:1,6; Mark 1:12; Luke 4:2,9; John 8:44; Acts 13:10; II Corinthians 11:14; II Thessalonians 2:3-4,9; I Timothy 3:6; I Peter 5:8;

Satanology: Part Two (Satan’s Origin)

Satan’s origin
(Satan’s origin is not clear in Scripture. The following points are our speculation based on two ambiguous passages. Our points are a practical attempt to fill in holes and remain consistent with the more clear descriptions of Satan found elsewhere. Outside these two passages we believe there are no explicit Scripture describing his origin.)
• His glory
 He was originally created as a specimen of wisdom, beauty, and perfection.He was in direct contact with God’s throne and God’s glory as a guardian Cherub.
 Isaiah 14:12* and Ezekiel 28:13-15**
• His rebellion
 He became proud and obsessed with himself, so much so that he was determined to overthrow the throne of God, and establish himself in God’s place.
 Isaiah 14:13-14* and Ezekiel 28:15-17**
• His fall
 Because of Satan’s rebellion, he lost his glorious position. He no longer has the same kind of direct access to God’s throne. His primary residence is now the earth although he still has some access to heaven. Despite being overthrown, he will not be disbanded from heaven completely and his destruction consummated until later.
 Job 1:6; 2:1-2,7; and Luke 10:18

Satanology: Part One (introduction)

Introduction
·Contrary to some people’s opinion, Satan exists, and he is very, very, very real, very immanent, and very powerful. Due to all the scripture references found on him, it would be beneficial to understand the character and workings of Satan, so that we don’t fall into his craftiness and perversion.