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The Reality of SatanThe denial of Satan's reality usually takes the form of considering the idea of a Satan as the personification of evil but not actually a being who has his own separate existence. The idea of "Satan" as a person developed more in New Testament times, and this necessitated, we are told, reinterpretations of the "legends" of the Old Testament, since, it is claimed, they do not contain the idea of a distinctive demonic figure.
If one accepts the Scriptures as revelation from God, rather than merely a record of man's thoughts about God, then the reality of Satan cannot be denied. Satan did not evolve as a personal being; he existed and acted from the earliest to the last books of God's revelation. Seven books of the Old Testament teach his reality (Genesis, I Chronicles, Job, Psalm, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah). Every writer of the New Testament affirmed his reality and activity. Christ's teaching also assumes and affirms Satan's existence and activity. In twenty-five of the twenty-nine passages in the Gospels that speak of Satan, our Lord is speaking. In some of those passages there can be no question of Christ's accommodating His teaching to the crowd's supposed ignorance's or faulty concepts of Satan due to Persian dualism. Notice especially passages like Matthew 31:39; Luke 10:18; and Luke 11:18.
Like the angels, satan is said to possess the traits of personality. He shows intelligence (II Cor. 11:3); he exhibits emotions (Rev. 12:17, anger; Luke 22:31, desire); he demonstrates that he has a will (Isa. 14:12-14; II Tim. 2:26).
Satan is referred to as a person in both Old and New Testaments (Job 1; Matt. 4:1-12). Notice that the information in this latter passage (the temptation of Christ) had to come from the Lord; thus He, by using personal pronouns, attributes personally to Satan.
If Satan were merely a personification that people have devised to express their ideas of evil, then such a personification could scarcely be held morally responsible for his actions, in reality, there is no being who can be held accountable. But Satan is held accountable by the Lord (Matt. 25:41), and this passage reminds us that to deny the reality of Satan requires denying the veracity of Christ's words.
Assuming that Ezekiel 28:11-19 refers to Satan (to be discussed later), that passage clearly states that Satan was created (v.15). This means that he does not possess attributes that belong to God alone, like omnipresence, omnipotence, and omniscience. Though a mighty being, he has creaturely limitations. And a creature he must be accountable to his Creator.
Satan belongs to the order of angels called cherubim (Ezek. 28:14). Apparently he was the highest created angel (v. 12). Evidently this was the reason Michael, the archangel, did not dispute with Satan about the body of Moses (Jude 9). Satan may be called the archangel of all the evil angels. Even in his present, fallen state, he retains a great deal of power (though under the permission of God). Thus he is called the god of this world and the prince of the power of the air (II Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2).
The number and variety of names given to Satan further support the reality of his existence. Satan (used about fifty-two times) from the Hebrew, Satan, means adversary or opposer (Zech. 3:1; Matt. 4:10; Rev. 12:9; 20:2). Devil (used about thirty-five times) from the Greek, diabolos, means slanderer (Matt. 4:1; Eph. 4:27; Rev. 12:9; 20:2). John records him as the evil one (John 17:15; I John 5:18-19). His evil character, indicated in this title, pervades the entire world, which is under his control. Yet the believer cannot ultimately be possessed by Satan. A serpent was the way Satan first appeared to mankind (Gen. 3:1). This characterization sticks with Satan in the New Testament as well (II Cor. 11:3; Rev. 12:9) and indicates his guile and craftiness. Satan is also depicted as a great red dragon (Rev. 12:3, 7, 9). This emphasizes his fierce nature, especially in conflict. Note that the dragon has a tail; thus our Halloween caricatures of Satan are not far off! An illustration: an older student, when asked by a younger student what kind of a teacher so-and-so is, might reply, "Oh, he's a bear!" The meaning is clear: that teacher is hard. Satan is a dragon. The meaning is clear: he is ferocious in his attacks against believers. One of Satan's activities is to be the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10). He does this unceasingly---day and night. Of what does he accuse us? Of sins we commit. And, of course, he has an air tight case, for believers do sin, and any sin could undo our salvation. However, our Lord, our Advocate, defends us on the sloe basis that all our sins were paid for by His death (I John 2:1-2). Some, probably unconsciously, make a distinction between sins that could undo our salvation and those that would not do so---"little" sins. But any sin is enough to cause us to lose our salvation were it not for the constant intercession of our Lord that thwarts the constant accusations of our adversary, Satan. Satan is also the tempter (Matt. 4:3; I Thess. 3:5). This has been his work from his first encounter with human beings (Gen. 3:1). His temptation to Eve was to accept the counterfeit plan he offered that did not involve the restriction of not eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. His temptation of Christ was to have the glory that was due Him without the suffering of the cross. He tempted Ananias to lie in not disclosing the full amount of money his sale of land had brought (Acts 5:32). He tempts believers with immorality (I Cor. 7:5). Satan's position over this world is seen in several titles given to him. He is the "ruler of this world" (John 12:31). He is the "god of this world" (II Cor. 4:4). He is the "prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2) and "the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience" (v. 2). He also deceives the whole world (Rev. 12:9; 20:3). He resides in the air (equivalent to "the heavenly places" in Eph. 6:12) and rules this cosmos as well as this age. the cosmos is that organized framework of things in which mankind lives and moves and that opposes God by eliminating and counterfeiting Him. The age (of which Satan is god) means "all that floating mass of thoughts, opinions, maxims, speculations, hopes, impulses, aims, aspirations, at anytime current in the world, which it may be impossible to seize and accurately define, but which constitute a most real and effective power, being the moral, or immoral, atmosphere which at every moment of our lives we inhale, again inevitable to exhale---all this is included in the aion, which is . . . the subtle informing spirit of the cosmos, or world of men who are living alienated apart from God." That kind of rule over the world and atmosphere in which we live is awesome and fearful. Thankfully, greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world (I John 4.4). The name Beelzebul designates Satan as the chief of the demons (Luke 11:15). When Jesus' enemies alleged that He was possessed by Beelzebul, they made themselves guilty of the worst kind of blasphemy. Paul uses Belial as a name for Satan in II Corinthians 6:15. The word means worthlessness or wickedness and aptly describes Satan's character. The various names and designations for Satan not only affirm the reality of his existence but also reveal his many-faceted character and aspects of his work. A name often reveals something about the person's background ("Scotty") or looks ("Red") or characteristics ("Lover") or activities ("Gopher"). So with Satan: his background (adversary, accuser, tempter), looks (dragon, serpent), characteristics (liar, murderer, ruler), and activities (accuser, tempter). He is a powerful, intelligent, clever creature, and we must never forget or underestimate the reality of our enemy. 1. See T. H. Gaster, "Satan," in The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible (New York: Abingdon, 1976), 4:224-28.2. R. C. Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament (London: Kegan Paul, 1886), 218.3. Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology (Chicago: Moody Press, C. C. Ryrie, 1999), 157-160. |
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