VI. Who is Satan?

            On Earth tyrants are commonplace.  They are found in the family setting, churches, corporations and governments.  The Bible tells of the greatest tyrant of all, a self-imposed dictator that arose to prominence in heaven, the most lofty angel in heaven whose name was “Lucifer.”  Through the art of deception he inaugurated a revolt against the Moral Law of GOD: the Ten Commandments: GOD’S Emblem of Love and Liberty: the Sacred Law given to govern and preserve life.  Because of this covert espionage against GOD he was given a new name, Satan (meaning Adversary). 

            Now comes the question: Who is Satan?  The Bible spells out every characteristic of his life.  He is the leader of a crusade against his own Creator.  Because of his rebellion “there was war in heaven.” Rev.12:7.  And after losing this battle for the supremacy of heaven he was cast out, along with his army of one-third of heavens angels that he deceived into following him (Rev.12:4,9).  He then carried his rebellion to the Earth, luring our Premier Parents, Adam and Eve, into joining his war against GOD, of which we today are drawn in by birthright, and would be therefore condemned to the same fate of destruction that is pending for the devil had not GOD stepped in to save His innocent children who did not give their consent to be born into a life surrounded with injustice, heartache and death. 

            The rest of the universe is free from Satan’s moldering influence, for the Earth is his only throne.  Jesus Christ called him, "the prince of this world." Jn.12:31.  And what is the result of his dominion and control over the natural forces of his realm?  He has most of the creatures at war against each other!  The Bible teaches that he has the power to create hurricanes, tornados, floods, earthquakes, thorns, poison ivy, mosquitoes, ticks, lice and disease.  All of these ravage the earth through his cruel manipulation of life.  All of the afflictions and atrocities of this world are the work of Satan, not The GOD of Heaven.  His liberties include the exercise of mind control over his victims, for his presence is hidden from human view; and through his weaponry of deception via the avenues of temptation and impulse, (including false visions and miracles given to men, women, and even children) he leads life to every form of degradation and false belief that we see today, hardening men in their sin, fear, and pride.  He exercises his rage against life through the creatures of earth to carry out every conceivable atrocity.  And the suffering of man is his supreme entertainment!  All sadistic glee has its origin in him.  No matter what despicable thing you can imagine it is being carried out every moment of every day via his jurisdiction to maximize life’s afflictions.  This is the system of government that has held sway since Satan seized the dominion of earth from Adam and Eve, and then claimed it as his own.  He is the quintessential tyrant. 

            Those who openly worship him, believing his promises for immortality, from his high-priests, witchdoctors, bankers, lawyers and musicians, Satan mocks their foolish trust because he knows full-well GOD’S prophecy of his own destruction in “the lake of fire” when the final day comes and the LORD turns the surface of the earth into a seething ocean of lava.  The cleansing of the Earth from sin’s contamination precedes GOD’S re-creation of the Earth into the pristine, beautiful environment it once was, free from the devil’s presence.  The prophecies are sure: “I [the LORD] will bring thee [Satan] to ashes on the earth…and never shalt thou be anymore.”  “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire.” Eze.28:18; Rev.20:10.

            How can Satan be so successful deceiving angels and men?  By concealing his true purpose.  He always cloaks his temptations in a façade of care and benefit, when treachery against GOD’S Holy Law is his true motive.  “From the beginning” (Jn.8:44) Satan determined to exalt himself as the ruler of life in the Universe, and he is willing to destroy all others who oppose his ascent, whether it be angels, or man, or the Creator Himself.  And this explains why we see the constant conflict between our cherished ideals and the “dog eat dog” manner of society.  Whenever you see ambitious men eager to exalt themselves, whether in business, politics or religion, and who use unethical standards to gain success, they are merely following the pattern set forth by Satan.  This is what lies at the heart of the Antichrist system of government; for it is the antithesis of GOD’S Utopian Government set forth “In the beginning.”  GOD established the government that says, Give of yourself for others no matter what it costs you; and only by this are they safe with you.  Satan's government strives to the opposite: Sacrifice others for yourself, no matter what it costs them.  As Satan concealed his true objectives before the angels of heaven (when the concept of war was first introduced), he conceals his chilling influences on earth.

1. What is the meaning of the name Lucifer?

Isaiah 14:12  How art thou fallen from heaven, 0 Lucifer, ______  _____  ______  ______________!" [or Day Star]

2. Was Lucifer perfect in holiness at the time of his birth?

Ezekiel 28:15-a  Thou was _____________ in ______  _______ from the day that thou was created.

The once noble Lucifer was given the most-lofty ministry of all the angelic host.  He was in fact GOD’S ‘third in command’ to lead the angelic hosts in ministering and in song

3. What was Lucifer's role in heaven?

Ezekiel 28:14  Thou art ______  ______________  __________  _______  _______________; 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.

            A ‘Cherub’ is an angel with four wings.

4. What happened to lead Lucifer to abandon the most-

     blessed ministry among all created beings?

Ezekiel 28:15-b  Thou was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou was created, till _______________ was found in thee.

         The root of iniquity is selfishness, pride and envy.  But the fruit of his iniquity was vanity: taking glory to himself for the talents and loveliness endowed to him by His Creator.  The very gifts GOD gave to inspire gratefulness were used to foster pride and arrogance.

5. What titles are given to Lucifer since his mutiny?

Revelation 12:9  And the _________  __________ was cast out, that ______  ______________, called the __________, and __________, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

6. Who is behind all suffering and hardship on earth?

Job 1:9-12  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth Thy hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse Thee to Thy face. (v.12) And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, ____ that he hath is in ____ power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

         A most important lesson is drawn from these words.  While GOD’S all-sovereign power is acknowledged by the devil, it is readily seen that GOD does not bear the blame for the hoards of atrocities carried out against the dignity of life by Satan.  In every child that has been born Satan has used every means to remove the desire for godliness that GOD included into our emotional constitution.  Satan covertly works to destroy the lives of all godliness in men while mockingly acknowledging the sovereign authority of GOD.  In essence, he uses his freewill to deny others their freewill.  This is why religious and secular history is a history of tyranny, crime & injustice.

Luke 13:11-17  And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.  And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.  And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.  And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.  The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? (v.16) And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, _______  ________  _______  __________, lo, these _____________  _______, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?  And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.  

7. Why does Satan take his vengeance on man?

Revelation 12:10-12  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our GOD day and night. And they overcame him by ______  __________  ____  ______  _________, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (v.12) Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that _____  _______  ______  ____  ___________  _________.

Leviticus 16:7-9,21 And he [Aaron] shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. (v.21) And Aaron shall lay both his hand upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the __________ of the children of Israel, and all their ______________ in all their _____, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness.

            This passage describing the atonement for sin is a prophecy of the time when all the sins of GOD’S people will be placed on the head of the “murderer from the beginning,” Satan (Jn.8:44).  He must bear the punishment for the sins of GOD’S people.  This is one reason why he leads all men to stand condemned in sin before GOD.  Without repentance they must bear the punishment for the sins they chose of their own freewill to commit.  And as for the scapegoat being let go in the wilderness, this prophecy is precisely fulfilled in Revelation 20: “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit [same meaning as the Hebrew, “without form and void” (Gen.1:2; Jer.4:23): in other words, a lifeless Earth] and a great chain in his hand.  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.  This is the first resurrection.”  Rev.20:1-5.

            In these words we see another reason for Satan’s wrath against man.  The saints will be given what Satan coveted all along: to sit on the throne of GOD (Isa.14:13).

8. Who are Satan’s special targets of hatred and

     destruction?

Revelation 12:17  And the dragon was wroth with ______  ____________ [the Church of Christ (Jer.6:2)], and went to make war with ______  _______________ of her seed [a small number within the church (Matt.20:16; I Pet.4:18)], which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus.

         This sums up Satan’s supreme objective: to eradicate from the face of the Earth “the saints…that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev.14:12.  The devils temptations are much more fierce in those who strive to honor Christ.  These demon angels also more fiercely tempt individuals who hold positions of authority in government, education and law, whose authority oversees the lives of others.  History is littered with the deaths of tens of millions of people through the decisions of one evil man, as it is written, “one sinner destroyed much good.” Eccl.9:18.  

         The demons purposely gang up on policemen and church ministers to corrupt their sense of justice, which explains why they have the worst record of honoring bank loan contracts in all of life’s trades (bank loan officers will confirm this).  Those who are called to hold a higher standard are the greatest victims of Satan’s temptations, while he leads others (who are not subject to these fierce temptations) to take glory to themselves for not having the same struggles in their character, as if they are somehow more righteous.  (This, by the way, is atheism’s leading argument against Christianity.)

         Vast numbers of professing Christians are likewise guilty of this self-righteous pride leading to sin.  The point is: Satan doesn’t care which Law of GOD trips us up—Anyone will do.  The apostle James was clear: “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.  For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.  So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.  For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” Ja.2:11-13.    

         And concerning those who live in the lap of luxury, Satan generally leaves them alone to live out their unrepentant lives, as David wrote in the Psalms: “For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.” Ps73:3-7.  Satan will generally leave the common man alone, seeing that GOD has no Presence in their lives and therefore stands void of Christ’s convincing love and power.  But should they take on the convictions of conscience to obey the call of GOD in their lives, Satan’s personal assaults suddenly appear to jeopardize their lives and the lives of those they love.  This is the war for the souls of men.

         In summation, there is a struggle in our conscience between what we know to do and what we actually carry out in our actions.  And to live up to one’s conscience as led by the Holy Spirit (Who brings the Presence of Jesus Christ into the life of the believer with His Word, His faith, His hope, and His love), this is the supreme joy one can receive in this present world.  And although we enter the battleground of self-denial to honor the great sacrifice of GOD for our redemption, the sense of victory Christ gives to the human heart is truly the most invigorating incentive and compelling power to do His work among men.  As with any muscle, exercise gives strength and coordination.  But cowardice rules the hearts of most men: even in the church.  And Christ’s words are clear: “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” Matt.10:38. 

         Satan meticulously perverts the judgment of our leaders.  And although their decisions are made and assurances given, this is no proof of their being the best decisions, let alone truthful assurances.  The frailty of human character, in all its variants seen in the Bible record is being paraded as virtue today.  This is why our only safety is to allow GOD’S Word, united with the Holy Spirit, to lead us, as well as guard our blindside, as it is written, “for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward.” Isa.52:12.   

9. How does Satan execute his wrath upon mankind?

John 8:44  [Said Jesus,] Ye [church leaders of Israel] are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father _____  _______  _____.  He was ____  _________________ from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is ____  ________, and the father of it.

Job 1:14-22  And there came a messenger unto Job and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: And the ______________ [a group of men under the power of Satan’s temptations] fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have _________  ______  _____________ with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. (v.16) While he was yet speaking, there came also, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath ___________  _____ the _________, and the ____________, and _______________  ________; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: (v.19) And, behold, there came a __________  _________ [tornado] from the wilderness, and smote the four comers of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Job 2:4-8  And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh and he will curse you to your face. (v.6) And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, _____  ____  ____  __________  ________; but save his life. (v.7) So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and ___________ Job with ________  __________ from the sole of his foot unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.

10. Can Satan heal disease if he so chooses?

John 5:14  After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was _____________ of ____________________ disease he had.

         It needs to be said here that this supernatural demonstration of healing was in competition with the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, and was used of Satan to lead people away from Christ and His message of salvation.  Satan used a diversion to conceal Christ's ministry to gain the allegiance of the people.  As a result, the weaker men, women and children waiting by the pool were trampled under foot by the stronger individuals every time the “angel” “troubled the water.”  Nearly all who remained at the pool of Bethesda were not healed.  Hopeless and tormented many would die on its banks.  

But the healing of Jesus Christ was not partial!  Nor did it ever show favoritism as it is written: “When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all that were sick.” “And great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all.” Matt. 8:16; 12:15.  It is the desire of GOD to heal all, not just the one.  But He never forces His will on anyone.  And sadly, most are living their lives in the raging currents of doubt and unbelief.  Even in Christ’s day there were those who refused His power to heal, as it is written: “And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” Matt.13:58.

11. Can Satan bless individuals, nations, and religions with

      prosperity to serve his purposes?

Luke 4:5-8  And the devil taking Him [Jesus] up into an high mountain, shewed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. (v.6) And the devil said unto Him, All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and _____  ___________________  ____  ______ to give it. If Thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind Me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.

Jeremiah 44:15-18  Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying, As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee. (v.17) But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for ________  _____  _____  __________  _____  ____________, ______  ________  ______, ______  ______  _____  ________.  But since we left off to bum incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.

Psalm 73:3-17  For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (v.4) For there are ____  ________ in their death: but _______  ______________  ____  ________.  (v.5) They are _____ in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. (v.6) Therefore __________  _______________  _______ about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. (v.7) Their eyes stand out with fatness: _______  _______  _______  _______  __________  __________  ________.  They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. Therefore his people return thither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? (v.12) Behold, _________  ______  ______  __________, ______  ___________  _____ ______  ___________; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of Thy children. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

Revelation 18:1-5  And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. (v.3) For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, ______  ______  ______________  ____  ______  __________  _____  __________  ________  ____________  _____  _______________  _____  ______  ___________________.  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and GOD hath remembered her iniquities.

12. Why does GOD allow Satan to continue his work of 

       suffering and destruction among men?

II Peter 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, _____  ___________  ________  ______  ___________  ___________, but that all should come to repentance.

         GOD has always worked within His eternal gift of a freewill.  Liberty of conscience is the one gift next to life that guarantees the eternal happiness of all created life.  It has always been Satan’s work to overrule this liberty through intimidation, cruelty and duress. 

Mark 5:5 And always, night and day, he [a man possessed by demon angels] was in the mountains, and in the tombs, ___________, and ____________  ____________  ________  ____________.

        This man, who had no strength of will to deliver himself from the power of demon angels ruling his words and actions, was kept alive by Satan to the sole purpose of hurting the lives of others through fear and injury.  The suffering and defacement of the divine image in man is the devil’s cruel purpose: ever working to mar the tranquility, dignity and joy that GOD established “In the beginning.”  

Zechariah 3:1-5  And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, ______  ___________  ______________  _____  ______  ___________  _________  _____  ___________  ______.  And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?  Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.  And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.  And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.