Satan

updated 06-30-2010

Already in the third chapter of the bible Satan comes into the spot light as the serpent. But it is not until the last book of the bible, that we know for sure, that this first serpent was actually Satan himself:

Rev 12:9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

In this verse we also learn, that Satan has angels (also known as demons, because they serve Satan). But where does Satan come from? Lets read some more from the bible:

Isa 14:12 How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star (Lucifer KJV), son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! Isa 14:13 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. Isa 14:14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;I will make myself like the Most High.” Isa 14:15 But you are brought down to the grave,to the depths of the pit.

The LORD says: “ ‘You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. Eze 28:13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl.
Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared.

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Music
The last part of Eze 28:13 can be translated differently: the workmanship of thy tabrets (tambourines) and of thy pipes (flutes) was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 
The KJV renders above translation and the ASB points out in footnotes that settings and mountings can be translated tambourines and flutes. This makes a huge difference for our understanding. Knowing, that music was given first to Lucifer who is now Satan, makes it clear, that he is the master of music on earth and uses music for his purposes. A close look (ear) at today's music with above knowledge in mind allows us to better see and understand what music does in our soul (emotions) and how music can bring us closer to God or to destruction, depending on who the source is.
I personally have believed for some years, that music is a gift from God to us for one single purpose only and that is to worship HIM. If a song does not express the worship of God in tune and lyric, there is only one other source where that music can come from and only one other being who is than worshiped - Satan.
Today's often black T-shirts with skulls and dragons featured on it often go along with devil worship. Unfortunately this is much unknown among the listening audience and the bearers of those T-shirts.
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The LORD says: “ Eze 28:14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones.
Eze 28:15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. Eze 28:16 Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God,
and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Eze 28:17 Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth;

Lk 10:18 He (Jesus) replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven."
2Co 11:14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

Now we know, that Satan was once the most beautiful angel in heaven. But because he wanted to be God, he was kicked out of heaven and is now active on earth, doing only bad things. Here is a list from Scripture of what Satan is doing:

1Ch 21:1 Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.
Zec 3:1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.
Rev 12:10b For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 
Lk 8:12 (also Mk 4:15) Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
Jn 13:27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. “What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him.
Lk 13:16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”
Jn 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Jn 10:10a The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
Ac 5:3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?
1Th 2:18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan stopped us.
2Th 2:9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders,
Ac 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
Ac 13:10 “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?
Heb 2:14b him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—

Now we know that Satan is:

• an accuser of believers
• a thief
• a deceiver
• a constant liar
• a murderer
• he has partial or full control over some of us
• a tempter
• a counterfeit
• makes people sick
• is the enemy of everything that is right
• holds the power of death

There is just not anything good, according to God's standard, found in Satan. He even tried to take control of Jesus, when he tempted Him in the desert as we can read in Mt 4 and Lk 4.
The good news is, that Satan can not do everything he wants to do. Satan is limited as we can read in the beginning of the book of Job.
In the New Testament Jesus lets Peter know: (Lk 22:31) “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.

So, is it only God, who decides what Satan can do to us? No, the bible tells us, that there is quite a bit, that we can and should do:

EPH 4:26 BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, EPH 4:27 and do not give the devil an opportunity. This is the first example, that shows how we can open a door for the devil to enter our lives and mislead us. According to God's word, we are supposed to live on short term accounts in our relationships with other people. That means, that any offense that might occur during the day we need to apologize for or at least bring it in prayer before God and ask for forgiveness - either for our own wrong doing or the other persons wrong doing.

1Pe 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
It starts with being alert and recognizing when satan shows up in our lives to mislead us. Meditating on God's Word gives us the knowledge we need for this process. 
2Ti 2:26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
And even if we should fall into satan's trap, which has happened to all of us before, we know, that we can ask God to forgive us and repent (turn into the opposite direction).
AC 26:18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’

Eventually in this process we get better on being alert and disciplined, avoid satan's pitfalls by being more obedient to God's commandments and decrees.
Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
We can not resist satan in our own strength. This is for sure. Only through living our lives in God's way, can we resist the devil. And the devil knows that. He knows how strong we are in Christ and where our weaknesses are.
1Co 7:5 Do not deprive each other (in a marital relationship) except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Because of our weakness God has given us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us and give us strength, if we allow Him to do so.

Jesus is much stronger than satan and will put and end to the devil one day.
Heb 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—
Ro 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. 
Mt 25:41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
The eternal fire, also known as hell, is the final place for satan and his followers. His followers are the ones satan has deceived and mislead to do what he says.1Ti 5:15 Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan. Even among believers people are found, that at first glance look like true followers of God, but are not. Rev 2:9b I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

Only by closely sticking to God's Word, the bible, can we avoid Satan's wrong way and uncover his lies and also his followers. And contrary to what many will say, there is no middle ground or gray area in between the two as Jesus explains:
Mt 12:30 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.

greek satanas = hostile opponents
hebrew satan = accuser, slanderer, God opposing spirit

greek (diabolos) devil only used in NewTestament = slanderer, wicked person, devil