Fallen angels - Satan - Part 2

FALLEN ANGELS:SATAN

PART 2

Why should we bother learning about Satan or demons?

Satan is called our adversary or enemy.

1 Pet 5:8 (NIV) Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

He is a deceptive enemy.

2 Cor 11:14 (NIV) And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

You should know your enemy.

2 Cor 2:11 (NIV) in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

WHY BOTHER?

Our first piece of the armour of God is the “belt of truth”.

Eph 6:11-14 (NIV) Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes… Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…

So one of the means of taking “your stand against the devil’s schemes” is ensuring that you know the truth i.e. what the Bible teaches – not necessarily popular opinion, or what is taught from all pulpits.

THE TRUTH

Let’s look at the following points along with some common misconceptions about Satan:

His origin

His fall

His present role and abode

His names

His ultimate fate

OUTLINE

We saw that Satan was a “guardian cherub” or “cherub who covers” (Ezek 28:14). The exact same Hebrew word is used regarding the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant (Ex 25:20)

As the earthly tabernacle was patterned after the heavenly one (Heb 9:24), it’s possible that Satan was originally one of the two cherubim whose wings covered God’s mercy seat in heaven.

CHERUB WHO COVERS

Satan fell due to his pride. His pride was a result of being puffed up because of his beauty and splendour (Ezek 28:17). So he was driven from the presence of God (Ezek 28:16). The kingdoms of this world belong to Satan. He does not reside in hell. Even in this present age he and his angels still have access to heaven (Rev 12).

The idea that Satan was in charge of music in heaven as some assert draws support from a single Scripture (Ezek 28:13) and then only in the KJV or NKJV renderings which mentions tabrets/timbrels and pipes. It is more likely a reference to the precious stones in his makeup.

Despite that he does desire worship (Matt 4:8-9) and music is part of worship. Thus some music does glorify Satan, but it is the lyrics – not the music style or instruments that we should be looking at.

THE FALL OF SATAN

His names

In Biblical times a name represented the very character or destiny of a person.

E.g. 1: Nabal means “foolish” or “foolish man”.

1 Sam 25:25 (NIV) “May my lord pay no attention to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name--his name is Fool, and folly goes with him.”

E.g. 2: ‘Noah’ is derived from the Hebrew name ‘Noach’ meaning “rest, comfort”.

Gen 5:28-29 (NIV) When Lamech had lived 182 years, he had a son. He named him Noah and said, “He will comfort us in the labour and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the LORD has cursed.”

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Just as we learn much about God’s character by studying his titles, so we learn much about Satan by his titles.

As to his appearance:

Angel of light (2 Cor 11:14)

Morning Star (Isa 14:12)

Son of the dawn (Isa 14:12)

TITLES

As to his power:

Guardian cherub (Ezek 28:14)

Prince of this world (John 12:31, 14:30)

God of this world (2 Cor 4:4)

Prince of the power of the air (Eph 2:2)

Roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8)

The red dragon (Rev 12:9)

As to his character (these are clearly less complimentary):

The evil one (Matt 13:19)

Murderer (John 8:44)

Liar and Father of lies (John 8:44)

The tempter (Matt 4:3)

The enemy (Matt 13:39)

The deceiver of the whole world (Rev 12:9)

The serpent (Rev 12:9)

The spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience (Eph 2:2)

TITLES

Jesus said of Satan’s character:

John 8:44-46 (NIV) “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.”

He is a habitual sinner:

1 John 3:8 (ESV) … for the devil has been sinning from the beginning…

So we are dealing with a being who is awesome in appearance, very powerful – but malignant in nature.

HIS CHARACTER

Let’s consider some of his names (or those presumed to be alternate names).

Satan

Devil

Belial

Lucifer

Beelzebub

NAMES

Apollyon (Abaddon)

Antichrist

Mastema

Samael

Azazel

The Devil is one of the most common names used of Satan.

In the Septuagint the Hebrew ha-Satan in Job and Zechariah is translated by the Greek word diabolos (meaning slanderer ), the same word in the Greek New Testament from which the English word devil is derived. 1

“Satan” occurs more than 30 times in passages alongside diabolos, referring to the same person. E.g.

Rev 12:9-10 (NIV) The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan…

1 http:// en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Satan

DEVIL

In the gospels Satan, the devil and the wicked one are used interchangeably.

Mark 4:14-15 (NIV) … Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.

Luke 8:12 (NIV) … the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts…

Matt 13:19 (NKJV) “… the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart…

DEVIL

Devil literally means “slanderer”. In the Greek NT the word translated “slanderers” or “malicious gossips” (e.g. 1 Tim 3:11) is “diabolous” - the root of the English word “devil” (also the source of “diabolical”).

A slanderer is someone who maligns the reputation of others. Satan is called this because he slanders both God and humanity e.g. in the Garden of Eden, he slandered God’s character – implying that he had ulterior motives in forbidding the fruit to be eaten. 1

So when we accuse and slander others we emulate Satan.

1 Gen 3:4-5 (ESV) But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

DEVIL

Some mistakenly identify the Antichrist with Satan. But in Revelation:

Satan is the dragon or beast from the sky (Rev 12:9)

The Antichrist is the beast from the sea

The false prophet is the beast from the earth

While the Antichrist is not Satan – he receives his power from Satan (the dragon).

Rev 13:1-2 (NIV) The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name… The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.

THE ANTICHRIST

Apollyon is the Greek name for the Hebrew “Abaddon” both of which mean “the Destroyer” (Rev 9:11).

In the Hebrew Bible, Abaddon was used as a reference to the bottomless pit, often appearing alongside Sheol - the realm of the dead.

Psalm 88:11 (ESV) Is your steadfast love declared in the grave [Sheol], or your faithfulness in Abaddon? [cf. Job 26:6, 1 Job 28:22, 2 Job 31:12, 3 Prov 15:11, 4 Prov 27:20 5]

1 Job 26:6 (ESV) Sheol is naked before God, and Abaddon has no covering. 2 Job 28:22 (ESV) Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumour of it with our ears.’ 3 Job 31:12 (ESV) for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase. 4 Prov 15:11 (ESV) Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD; how much more the hearts of the children of man! 5 Prov 27:20 (ESV) Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man.

APOLLYON

In Revelation, Apollyon is “the angel of the bottomless pit” so those who identify him with Satan are mistaken – as Satan currently is at liberty and roams the earth (1 Pet 5:8).

As Apollyon is revealed in Revelation 9 as the leader of the angels at present bound in the Abyss, he is most properly identified as Samyaza (of the Book of Enoch) an angel who led the Watcher rebellion of Genesis 6.

There is a possible link between Apollyon and the Antichrist. This was the view of the famous Protestant commentator Matthew Henry and one put forward in my book “Profile of the Antichrist” (including an identification with the Greco-Roman god Apollo).

Most agree that Isaiah 14:12 refers to the fall of Satan, but the KJV uses the title “Lucifer” in this passage:

Isaiah 14:12 (KJV) How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer [Heb: heylel], son of the morning! …

The Hebrew word translated as “Lucifer” is “heylel” and literally means “shining one”, “morning star” or “light bearer”. Thus modern English translations render it:

(NIV) How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star , son of the dawn…

(NASB) How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning , son of the dawn…

(Young’s Literal Translation) How hast thou fallen from the heavens, O shining one , son of the dawn!...

LUCIFER

Some KJV-Only supporters make the ridiculous claim that other English versions suggest that Jesus and Satan are one and the same (and thus Satan is responsible for inspiring these translations). This is because Jesus calls himself the “morning star” in Revelation.

Rev 22:16 (KJV) “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”

Firstly “morning star” is not a title used exclusively of Jesus – even in the KJV. It is also used of angels.

Job 38:7 (KJV) When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

LUCIFER

Secondly the original 1611 edition of the KJV has a marginal note for the words “O Lucifer” which reads “Or, O daystarre”

The marginal note in the 1672 edition of the KJV says “for the morning star that goeth before the sun is called Lucifer”.

LUCIFER

Thirdly, it was the Vulgate that was responsible for the widespread use of the word Lucifer as a name. The Vulgate was produced by Jerome (c. 347-420) by translating from Greek and Hebrew manuscripts into Latin. It was the scriptures used by the Catholic Church for 1000 years.

In Latin, the use of “lucifer” is ancient. It was the term used to refer to the planet Venus when it appeared as a star in the morning.

In Isaiah 14:12 Jerome correctly translated the Hebrew word “heylel” as “lucifer”, the Latin word meaning “light bearer”. (Note that “lucifer” is lower case.)

Isaiah 14:12 (Vulgate) quomodo cecidisti de caelo lucifer qui mane oriebaris corruisti in terram qui vulnerabas gentes

LUCIFER

As many felt the passage in Isaiah 14 referred to Satan’s fall, over time the word “lucifer” became used as a proper name for Satan before his fall. So the name “Lucifer” in the KJV rendering of Isaiah 14:12 is a transliteration (a new word derived from a foreign word), but not from the original Hebrew text, but instead from the Latin Vulgate.

But Jerome didn’t only use “lucifer” to refer to Satan but used it often in the Vulgate. Here is just one example where it is used in a positive context:

2 Pet 1:19 (Vulgate) … loco donec dies inlucescat et lucifer oriatur in cordibus vestris

2 Pet 1:19 (KJV) … until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts

LUCIFER

The Jewish Virtual Library says that from the amoraic period [200-500 AD] onward Samael 1 was the major name of Satan in Judaism. 2 Samael means “the venomous god” or “the blind god”. In Deuteronomy Rabbah (a Midrash) he is called “Samael the wicked, the head of all the devils.” 3

According to Wikipedia, Samael “is an important archangel in Talmudic and post-Talmudic lore, a figure who is the accuser (Ha-Satan), seducer, and destroyer… He is considered in Talmudic texts to be a member of the heavenly host (with often grim and destructive duties)… Other sources have him explicitly as a fallen angel, who rebelled against God and engineered the fall of Adam and Eve.” 4

1 Not to be confused with Samuel 2 https:// www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/ samael 3 Deuteronomy Rabbah 11 4 https:// en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Samael

SAMAEL

Furthermore in Judaism “while Satan describes his function as an accuser, Samael is considered to be his proper name”. 1

The similar structure of the name Sama-el to the elect angels like Micha-el, Gabri-el, Rapha-el and Uri-el (all containing the name of God - El) reinforces the idea that this indeed was Satan’s name before his fall.

Samael is also “commander of two million angels such as the chief of other destroying angels”. 1

1 https:// en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Samael

SAMAEL

One of Samael’s greatest roles in Jewish lore is that of the main archangel of death. 1 The Targum Jonathan identifies Samael as both the Angel of Death and the serpent from Eden.

And the woman beheld Samael, the angel of death, and was afraid; yet she knew that the tree was good to eat… And she took of its fruit, and did eat… 2

Interestingly the Bible says:

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil (Heb 2:14, ESV).

1 https:// en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Samael 2 Targum Jonathan on Genesis 3:6

SAMAEL

“Belial” is a Hebrew term which means “worthless” but which became personified as the devil in Jewish and Christian texts.

2 Cor 6:15 (NIV) What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

The idiom “sons of Belial” appears 15 times in the KJV to indicate sinful people. The term is normally rendered as “worthless people” (or something similar) in most versions. These “sons of Belial” were simply wicked men. The list includes idolaters (Deut 13:13), the sexually deviant and murderous men of Gibeah (Judg 19:22, 20:13), the adulterous sons of Eli (1 Sam 2:12) and the stingy Nabal (1 Sam 25:17).

BELIAL

The author of the War Scroll (found with the Dead Sea Scrolls) provides a vivid description of the escalating battle between good and evil, eventually climaxing with the triumph of good. The book gives detailed instructions for a ritualized battle, which has Michael leading the “sons of light” against the “sons of darkness” led by Belial.

The War Scroll predicts a final battle between Michael and Belial with Michael triumphing. This is similar to what we read in Rev 12 regarding the end-time battle in heaven between Michael with his angels and Satan with his angels.

BELIAL

Baalzabul was a deity worshipped by the Philistines.

2 Kings 1:2-3 (NIV) Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, “Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury.” But the angel of the

BEELZEBUB

Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Go up and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?’

While Baalzabul means “lord of the manor”, Beelzebub appears to be a play on the name and means “Lord of Flies” or “Lord of Dung.” Thus it is the contemptuous name given by the Hebrews to the Philistine god.

Beelzebub was considered to be the “prince of demons (Matt 12:24, Luke 11:15). Jesus seemingly equates Beelzebub with Satan (unless Beelzebub is prince of demons but subordinate to Satan).

Matt 12:24-26 (NIV) But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined… If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself…”

BEELZEBUB

Mastema is an angel in the Book of Jubilees who “carries out punishments for God, as well as tempting humans and testing their faith. 1 Mastema’s actions and name seem to indicate that he is Satan, the “Adversary”.

He first appears in the literature of the Second Temple Period as a personification of the Hebrew word mastemah (meaning “hatred”, “hostility”, “enmity” or “persecution”). 1

In the Zadokite Fragments and the Dead Sea Scrolls, he is the angel of disaster, the father of all evil… He is said to have become a fallen angel.” 1

Beliar, mentioned twice in Jubilees, is likely to be identical with Mastema in this work. 1

1 https:// en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Mastema

MASTEMA

The name Mastema is possibly derived from the Hebrew, “mastim”, the hiphil participle of “satam” which Strong’s (#7852) defines as “to bear a grudge or cherish animosity against”. The word is equivalent to Satan (adversary).

In the Book of Jubilees, Mastema is subservient to God and Yahweh grants him authority over a group of demons. He and his spirits tempt men to sin and if they do, he accuses them before the throne of God. If they resist the temptation, the process acts as a development and strengthening of men’s character. This seems similar to the function of Satan in the Book of Job.

MASTEMA

E.g. Jubilees has Mastema urging God to test the piety of Abraham (as Satan did with Job) by demanding Isaac as a sacrifice.

Then Prince Mastema came and said before God: “Abraham does indeed love his son Isaac and finds him more pleasing than anyone else. Tell him to offer him as a sacrifice on an altar. Than you will see whether he performs this order and will know whether he is faithful in everything through which you test him.” 1

1 Jubilees 17:16

MASTEMA

Does the devil have goat horns and features?

The Bible associates Satan with a serpent and a dragon (constrictor snake), not with a goat or faun. This is probably a result of an identification of Satan with the satyrs (goat demons) of Leviticus 17:7 or the Greek goat god Pan.

The goat-horned and cloven-hoofed Greek god of nature, Pan had pointed ears and a goatee beard, as the devil is often depicted. Pan is often represented as a satyr, half-goat and half man — playing the “pan” flute. In Jesus’ day there was a shrine to Pan, called Banias, located on the slopes of Mount Hermon.

PAN

Satyrs were demons with he-goat’s form, or feet.

Lev 17:7 (ESV) So they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to goat demons [Heb: sa’iyr], after whom they whore…

2 Chron 11:15 (NASB) He set up priests of his own for the high places, for the satyrs [Heb: sa’iyr]…

The KJV renders the Hebrew word sa’iyr as “devils”.

Strong’s Concordance says of the word :

devil, goat, hairy, kid, rough, satyr

from sa’ar; shaggy; as noun, a he-goat; by analogy, a faun -- devil, goat, hairy, kid, rough, satyr.

SATYRS

In Targum Jonathan to Leviticus - an ancient Rabbinical commentary - the identification between Satan and a goat is also made.

And to the children of Israel spoke he, saying: Take for yourselves a kid of the goats, because Satana resembles him … and offer him for a sin offering… 1

1 Targum Jonathan to Leviticus 9:3

SATYRS

The image of Baphomet (another goat deity) is often used as a modern representation of Satan. In the 14th century the Knights Templar were falsely accused by French King Philip IV of worshipping Baphomet. It is quite likely that Baphomet, similar to the Old French word Mahomet, originally actually referred to Mohammed. (The earliest known use of the word is a letter written in 1098 by a French crusader who described the their enemies in the Holy Land as “calling upon Baphometh” prior to battle.)

In 1854 the French ceremonial magician Elphias Levi reinvented Baphomet as a figure he termed the Sabbatic Goat, seemingly drawing inspiration from Pan and the Devil card in the Marseille Tarot (i.e. cards often used for divination). Levi’s Baphomet was layer adopted by Aleister Crowley in his Gnostic Mass.

BAPHOMET

The original goat pentagram (right) first appeared in the book La Clef de la Magie Noire by French occultist Stanislas de Guaita, in 1897.

The Sigil of Baphomet, (the goat within an inverted pentagram) has been adopted as the official insignia for Anton LaVey’s modern Church of Satan (first appearing on the cover of The Satanic Mass LP in 1968 and later on the cover of The Satanic Bible in 1969).

BAPHOMET

In the Day of Atonement rituals, older English Bible versions (e.g. KJV) translate the Hebrew phrase la-azazel as “a scapegoat”, but in most modern English Bibles it is rendered as a proper name “Azazel”.

Lev 16:7-10 (ESV) Then he shall take the two goats [Heb root: sa’iyr] and set them before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for Azazel. And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the Lord and use it as a sin offering, but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.

AZAZEL

But the Book of 1 Enoch identifies Azazel as one of the leaders of the fallen Watcher angels (i.e. not Satan) responsible for introducing humans to forbidden knowledge (including weapons of war).

God commands the archangel Raphael to “bind Azazel hand and foot and cast him into the darkness: and make an opening in the desert… and cast him therein. And place upon him rough and jagged rocks, and cover him with darkness, and let him abide there forever… And on the day of the great judgement he shall be cast into the fire.” (Enoch 10:4-6).

Thus Azazel was seen as a demon of the desert. Later Origen would incorrectly equate Azazel with Satan (Contra Celsum, Book VI, ch 43).

AZAZEL

The original Hebrew word “satan” is a noun meaning “accuser” or “adversary”. It is used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to ordinary human adversaries, as well as to a specific supernatural entity.

The word is derived from a verb meaning primarily “to obstruct, oppose” as it is found in Numbers 22:22, 1 Samuel 29:4, Psalms 109:6. 1

When it is used without the definite article (simply satan), the word can refer to any accuser, but when it is used with the definite article (ha-satan), it usually refers specifically to the heavenly accuser: the satan. 1

1 https:// en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Satan

HA-SATAN

Ha-satan with the definite article occurs 13 times in the Masoretic Text, in two books of the Hebrew Bible: Job 1–2 (10×) and Zechariah 3:1–2 (3×). Satan without the definite article is used in 10 instances, of which two (Ps 109:6, 1 Chron 21:14 ) are translated diabolos in the Septuagint (LXX) and “Satan” in the KJV:

Psalm 109:6 (Brenton Septuagint Translation) Set thou a sinner against him; and let the devil stand at his right hand.

(KJV) “… and let Satan (ve-satan) stand at his right hand”

(ESV) “…let an accuser stand at his right hand.”

HA-SATAN

The first occurrence of the word “satan” in the Hebrew Bible in reference to a supernatural figure comes from Numbers 22:22, which describes the angel of God confronting Balaam on his donkey:

SATAN

Num 22:22 (ESV) But God’s [Elohim] anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD [Yahweh] took his stand in the way as his adversary [le-satan].

But in the Book of Job, it always has the definite article “ha-satan” (the satan) and is considered to be a clear reference to Satan. In the Divine Council Satan assumes a role of prosecutor. He accuses Job of serving God out of selfish motives - simply because he enjoyed prosperity and good health.

Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. [Job 1:6 9-10, NIV]

HA-SATAN

In Zechariah it also appears as “ha-satan” where Satan now accuses the high priest Joshua before God.

Zech 3:1-2 (NIV) Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan (ha-satan) standing at his right side to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan (ha-satan)! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”

HA-SATAN

There is another interesting usage in the Old Testament. In 2 Samuel 24:1 it says that “the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and it incited David against them to say, “Go, number Israel and Judah.” (NASB)

Other translations (NIV, ESV, KJV) say “he” (the Lord) did the inciting. The reason for the differences in translation is that, in the Hebrew, there is no subject for the verb incited and it is supplied by translators to read better in English.

But the equivalent passage in 1 Chronicles says that “Satan (satan) rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel” (1 Chron 21:1).

So the question is – who incited David, was it God or Satan?

SATAN

As “satan” lacks the definite article in 1 Chron 21:1 the literal rendering is actually “And there standeth up an adversary against Israel…” (Young’s Literal Translation).

But most English versions render it as a proper name “Satan” and it seems as if this was how it was understood. In the Septuagint it is rendered:

1 Chron 21:1 (Brenton LXX) And the devil stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.

Thus it appears that we have a similar scenario to what we see in the Book of Job. Satan requests permission to test David and God simply grants it. So God inciting David (2 Sam 24:1) is only true in the sense that God permitted the temptation.

SATAN

In the New Testament, “Satan” was used by Jesus and others (Peter, John and Paul) as a proper name.

In line with his former title, now proper name, he still “accuses” believers “before our God day and night” (Rev 12:10).

But we have Jesus as our advocate before God.

1 John 2:1 (ESV) My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Rom 8:34 (ESV) who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us

SATAN

Even while on earth, Jesus acted as our advocate.

Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. [Luke 22:31-32, ESV]

OUR ADVOCATE

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. [John 17:15, NIV]

A priest represents the people to God. This is the role Jesus fulfils now as our High Priest and intercessor.

Heb 7:25-26 (NIV) Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.

Jesus is an effective defender and advocate because - having experienced life as a man, he is sympathetic to our cause.

Heb 4:15 (ESV) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

OUR ADVOCATE

We have seen that Satan has multiple names and titles some of which indicate his power, others his character.

But Jesus has a name that is superior to that of the angels.

Heb 1:4 (NIV) So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

A GREATER NAME

Phil 2:9-11 (NIV) Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

A GREATER NAME

His ultimate fate

After the fall when God judges Adam and Eve he immediately follows with a promise of the redemption of mankind by the Seed of the Woman.

Yet God’s curse of the Serpent leaves no room for his redemption.

Throughout the Bible, the judgment of God often seeks to bring about restoration. The language is something like, “return to me and I will return to you” (Zech 1:3).

And yet, it appears that God makes no similar offer for the restoration of Satan and his cohorts. There is no atonement for angels.

Heb 2:16 (ESV) For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.

REDEMPTION

Why was Satan not shown grace? We can only speculate.

Angels have greater knowledge than man. The Bible implies that the severity of God’s judgment varies according to how much knowledge you possess (Luke 12:48).

Man was tempted to sin; Satan sinned of his own accord.

Adam was ashamed of his sin and hid from God’s presence. Satan is proud and unrepentant. Likewise unrepentant men have no redemption. After his future expulsion from heaven, Satan remains unrepentant and during the Tribulation “is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short” (Rev 12:12).

REDEMPTION

When the celestial woman in Revelation 12 (Israel) is under threat from the dragon (Satan), Michael leads his angels in battle against Satan and his angels. He is permanently evicted from heaven and cast down to the earth – along with his angels.

Rev 12:7-9 (NIV) And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 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.

CAST OUT OF HEAVEN

After the Tribulation he is bound by an angel in the Abyss for 1000 years.

Rev 20:1-3 (NIV) And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

This is similar to the fate of the former Watchers of Genesis 6 who were bound by an angel in the Abyss for over 4000 years (until their release in Revelation 9).

BOUND IN ABYSS

Satan is not reformed by his incarceration. He remains unrepentant and immediately returns to his old habits. After one more failed rebellion and incitement of the nations, he is thrown into the lake of fire.

Rev 20:7-10 (NIV) When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations … and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

LAKE OF FIRE

Our accuser before God will be forever silenced and our advocate Jesus the Messiah will prevail.

Rom 16:20 (NIV) The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

Rev 12:9-10 (NIV) 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. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.”

VICTORY

Because they have common character traits, unbelievers show by their actions that do not belong to God, but to Satan:

1 John 3:8 (ESV) Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning…

Cain is an example of this:

1 John 3:12 (NIV) Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother…

So are those who were plotting to kill Jesus:

John 8:44-46 (NIV) “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning…”

WHO IS YOUR FATHER?

You need to ask yourself “Who is my father?”

1 John 3:7-8 (NIV) Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil…

You cannot sit on the fence. Jesus said, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Matt 12:30, NIV).

1 Kings 18:21 (NIV) Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”

WHO IS YOUR FATHER?

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Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations are taken from the NIV: THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB: New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. ( Lockman.org)

Scripture quotations are taken from the ESV: Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.