What the Bible Has to Say About Satan
In the pride of your heart you say, “I am a god.”
Ezekiel 28:2
The word “Satan” is only mentioned three times in the Old Testament (see 1 Chronicles 21:1; Job 1:6-12; Zechariah 3:1-10). However, conservative scholars identify the serpent in Genesis 3 as Satan, or at least a beast that was possessed by Satan. Scripture says the serpent is “more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made” (Genesis 3:1). Satan’s designations as “tempter” (Matthew 4:3) and the “ancient serpent” (Revelation 12:9) refer back to the Genesis passage.
Biblical scholars have noted that the characteristics about the king of Tyre in Ezekiel 28 do not seem applicable to a mere human being. The king sees himself as being wise as a god (see verse 6) and wiser than Daniel (see verse 3). This proud person claims to be a god and sit on the throne of a god (see verse 2).
This is what the Lord had to say about him: “You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God. . . . 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. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. . . . So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you. . . . Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor” (verses 12-17).
The Church has understood this passage to be speaking about the fall of the king of Tyre and the fall of Satan. Ezekiel is making an historical as well as a cosmic point about Satan as a created angelic being. At one time Satan had a privileged position with God, but he fell due to his own rebellious choice. The full character of Satan’s evil nature is not fully developed in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament the term “Satan” occurs 36 times. Most references are preceded by the definite article “the” and refer to him as a personal devil. That means the devil is a personality who is crafty and deceptive, as opposed to an impersonal force. Orthodox Christianity has always professed to believe in a personal devil.
Satan holds a position of great influence in the spiritual world. He has personal access to the presence of God, a privilege that will be taken away from him in the future. “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” (Revelation 12:9). Satan is the ruler over a kingdom of evil that he executes with intelligent consistency. Because Satan is not omnipresent, he rules over the kingdom of darkness by delegating responsibility to “his angels” (see Matthew 25:41; Revelation 12:7).
Jesus said, “A time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks” (John 4:23). Our heavenly Father is seeking those who ascribe only to Him the divine attributes that only He possesses. They will know Christ from the Antichrist.
After the serpent deceived Eve, God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, ‘cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life’” (Genesis 3:14). What conclusions can you draw from that curse?
a few questions to ponder:
What caused the fall of the “king of Tyre” and Satan?
What point is Ezekiel making about Satan as a created angelic being?
What difference does it make to you to know that Satan is a personality as opposed to an impersonal force?
Why do you need to worship God in spirit and truth?
Neil T. Anderson is the founder of Freedom in Christ Ministries. He began the ministry in 1989 and continues to spread the message of freedom to this day.