A. Satanology is the study of Satan, and it logically follows the study of Angeles, for Satan was once a member of that heavenly angelic host.

I. Let us consider, in the first place, the position and power of Satan.

A. Was Satan, like Jehovah, without beginning?

1. The answer to this question is unequivocally, "No". Satan was not from the beginning.

2. To illustrate, Nehemiah wrote: "Thou art Jehovah the God, even thou alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are thereon..." (Neh. 9: 6.)

3. Paul, when writing of Christ, said that Christ "is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him; and he is before all things, and in him all things consist." (Col. 1: 15-17.)

B. We should observe from these readings that:

1. God is self-existent-that is, he is "the always existing God."

2. God is--i.e. God is now--and the past and future are as the present.

3. God is not dependent for his existence upon anything outside himself.

4. God’s existence is, therefore, grounded in his nature.

5. God made the heavens and the earth.

6. In God and Christ were all things created; therefore.

7. There is no order of creation throughout the heavens and in the earth which was not brought forth be the Godhead

C. Satan, therefore, was necessarily of God’s order and power of creation.

1. Satan has no power with which to seriously challenge the power of Jehovah, God.

2. In short, Jehovah is omnipotent--an all--powerful God.

3. There is absolutely no possibility that Satan can, with his limited power, slip up on or overcome God Almighty.

II. Let us consider, in the second place, the origin of evil.

A. Did Jehovah create evil? Did he create or make Satan evil?

1. The one answer to these questions is emphatically, "No!" God did not create evil, nor did he make or cause Satan to be evil.

2. James wrote, for instance, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man: but each man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed." (James 1: 13-14.)

3. The impatient prophet, Habakkuk, confessed that "Thou (Jehovah) that are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and that canst not look on perverseness," or iniquity. (Habakkuk 1: 13.)

4. Isaiah saw a vision how that the seraphim cried one to another: "Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory." (Isaiah 6: 1-3.)

5. Isaiah wrote: "Jehovah of hosts is exalted in justice, and God the Holy One is sanctified in righteousness." (Isaiah 5: 16.)

6. The Psalmist wrote: "Exalt ye Jehovah our God, and worship at his holy hill, for Jehovah our God is holy." (Psalm 99: 9.)

7. The Hebrew writer stated that "it is impossible for God to lie." (Hebrews 6: 18.)

8. The apostle John wrote: "And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce unto you that God is light, and in him no darkness at all." (I John 1: 5.)

9. In another place John wrote: "He that doeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. To this end was the son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." (I John 3: 8.)

10. The apostle Peter wrote: "Like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living; because it is written, ye shall be holy; for I am holy." (I John 1: 15-16.)

11. These passages emphatically teach.

a. That God did not create evil.

b. That God is not the originator of evil.

c. That God cannot be tempted with evil.

d. That God tempts no man with evil.

e. That God is perfectly and absolutely holy and righteous.

f. That God is light and in him is no darkness.

g. And, that we should be holy as God is holy.

12. We may be assured, therefore, that God did not create or originate evil.

13. Further, we may be assured that God did not make Satan, or cause him to be evil spirit that he is today.

 

B. Someone will ask, however: "Does not the Bible say that God created evil."

1. The answer is, "Yes!" Isaiah, speaking for Jehovah, wrote: I am Jehovah, and there is none else. I form light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil; I am Jehovah who doeth all these things." (Isaiah 45: 7.)

2. The prophet Amos asked: "Shall the trumpet be blown in a city, and the people not be afraid? Shall evil befall a city and Jehovah hath not done it"? (Amos 3: 6.)

3. What is the explanation of these verses?

4. The answer lies in the fact that the term "evil" not only contemplates criminal and moral evil, but it also contemplates afflictions and punishments, which are neither criminal nor immoral.

5. To illustrate: when Job’s wife proposed that he curse God and die, he said: "Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" (Job 2:10.) Job meant, shall we not receive punishment from Jehovah, as well as good.

6. Solomon wrote: "A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself, but the simple pass on, and suffer for it." (Prov. 22: 3.)

a. The meaning of this statement from Solomon is that the prudent man sees public calamity approaching, and he uses all lawful means to secure himself.

b. Evil here is put for dangers and calamities.

7. Thus God creates evil only in the sense that he brings punishment or calamity upon those who do evil.

8. In no sense, therefore, has God created criminal or moral evil.

9. In no sense has God provoked or brought about criminal or moral evil in any angel or man.

C. If God did not create evil, how then may we account for the existence of Satan and the prevalence of sin?

1. The answer lies in the fact that God created a host of angels.

2. To illustrate, Paul wrote: "For I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." (Eph. 3: 14-15.)

a. Observe, God has a family.

b. Observe further that a part of God’s family is in heaven, and part is on earth.

c. God’s family in heaven must necessarily consist of angels--of created beings or spirits.

3. Angels are spirit beings. They do not possess any of the physical characteristics of man, else they could not inhabit heaven because "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God." (I Cor. 15: 50.)

4. Paul wrote the Colossians of thrones, dominions, principalities and powers, and by these he must have spoken of the organizations among the good angels.

a. He said: "Who (Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities, or powers; all things have been created through him and unto him; and he is before all things, and in him all things consist." (Col. 1: 15-17.)

b. The "invisible things of heaven" were, or are, angels.

c. The angels were created as a company, as individuals, and not as a race.

5. God asked Job: "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched the line upon it? Where are the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the foundation thereof: when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (Job 38: 4-7.)

a. Observe that the "sons of God" shouted for joy when God laid the foundations of the earth.

b. Adam was not created until the sixth day of creation.

c. Who, then, were these "sons of God" who rejoiced when the foundation of the earth was laid?

d. They were, without doubt, the angels of heaven.

6. Satan who appeared on the scene when Adam and Eve were created was an angel--a spirit being--but he was then an evil angel.

7. Satan had led a rebellion in heaven, and he and those angels who joined with him were cast out and sown from heaven.

III. Let us consider, in the third place, the case of Satan’s rebellion against Jehovah. Why did Satan rebel? How many we account for his sin--for his fall?

A. One pertinent factor is that Satan, prior to his fall, was Lucifer, "the son of the morning."

1. He was an archangel.

2. He was a ruler of angels.

3. This great angel was created above all angels to be a defender of the throne of God.

B. Another pertinent factor is that Lucifer, "the son of the morning", was a free moral agent, as were all the other angels.

1. Had angels been created otherwise, they would have been mere robots and thus unable to serve as the ministers of God’s providence.

2. To illustrate how that angels were under law, David wrote: "Bless Jehovah, ye his angels, that are mighty in strength, that fulfill his word, hearkening unto the voice of his word, Bless Jehovah all ye hosts, ye ministers of his that do his pleasure." (Psalm 103: 21.)

3. Jude wrote: "And the angels that kept not their principality but left their proper habitation, he hath kept in everlasting bonds under darkness into the judgment of the great day." (Jude 6.)

4. Peter wrote: "God spared not angels when they sinned, but cast them down to hell, and committed them to pits of darkness to be preserved unto judgment." (II Peter 2: 4.)

5. Angels, therefore, were the recipients of God’s greatest gift--the gift of free moral choice.

C. A third pertinent factor is that the great angel Lucifer was the first angelic being to commit sin.

1. The sin of Lucifer is difficult to comprehend.

a. The sin of Adam and Eve is more understandable.

b. With spirit life housed in animal life--as the case with Adam and Eve--man has a predisposition to sin, as well as a predisposition to conscience, worship, and humility.

c. Then too, fall of man is more understandable since he was so adversely influenced by Satan.

2. Lucifer’s sin was pride.

a. To confirm this fact, Paul, when giving the qualifications of elders, said: "Not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil." (I Tim. 3: 6.)

3. Isaiah, when delivering a burden against Babylon and against the king of Babylon, represented the king of Babylon as being a personification of Satan. He asked:

a. "How art thou fallen from heaven, O day-star, son of the morning!"

b. "How art thou cut down to the ground, that didst lay low the nations!"

c. Then Isaiah charged, "And thou saidst in thy heart.

1) "I will ascend into heaven."

2) "I will exalt my throne above the stars of God."

3) "I will sit upon the mount of congregation, in the uttermost parts of the north;" (Isaiah 14: 12-14.)

4) Certainly all of this could not have been true of the king of Babylon, but the pride of the king of Babylon personified the pride of Satan.

4. Ezekiel, when delivering a burden against Tyre and the king of Tyre, also represented the king of Tyre as being a personification, of Satan. From Ezekiel’s personification, we read concerning Satan.

a. "Thy heart is lifted up." (Ezek. 28: 2.)

b. "Thou hast said, I am God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas." (Verse 2.)

c. "Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty." (Verse 12.)

d. "Thou wast in Eden, the garden of God." (Verse 13.)

e. "Thou wast the anointed cherub that covereth." (Verse 14.)

f. "Thou wast upon the holy mountain of God." (Verse 14.)

g. "Thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire." (Verse 14.)

h. "Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till unrighteousness was found in thee." (Verse 15.)

i. "Thy heart was lifted up because of thy beauty." (Verse 17.)

j. "Thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness. (Verse 17.)

k. Again, all these statements could not have been true of the king of Tyre. He, therefore, personified the spirit of Satan.

5. The apostle John wrote: "And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven fallen upon the earth: And there was given to him the key of the pit of the abyss." (Rev. 9: 1.)

a. That which John saw was the downfall of one of the rulers of the Roman Empire.

b. John, here, describes his fall as the personification of the fall of Satan.

6. With a review of these passages, who can doubt that Satan’s sin was pride-selfishness.

 

IV. Let us consider, in the fourth place, the matter of why God allowed sin to enter heaven.

A. If God is all-righteous and all-powerful, why did he not create angels so that they could not-would not-sin?

1. The answer lies in the fact that God created angels in his own image.

a. Angels were created as "ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation." (Heb. 1: 14.)

b. That the angels were the off-spring of God is denoted by the fact that they were called the "sons of God." (Job 38: 4-7.)

2. When creating angels in his own image, God necessarily created them as intelligent free moral agents.

3. In fact, God could not create angels in his own image and after his own nature without their being free moral agents.

a. This is to say that angels had the freedom of choice-the freedom to fear and serve God, and the freedom to refuse to fear and serve God.

b. Without intellect and freedom of absolute choice, angels could not be holy as God is holy. In the absence of free will there can be no true holiness.

4. Through the means of intellect and the freedom of choice, sin entered heaven.

B. But, says one, why did God not create angels so that they would not-could not sin?

1. In such a case angels would have been creatures of the spiritual world comparable to the creatures of the animal world which are controlled by mere brute instinct.

2. Such spirit creatures, if they had been so created, would have been unable to give glory to God and dedication to the principles of righteousness.

3. What parents would choose children without sufficient intelligence and will to disobey?

4. God is Spirit-the very epitome of holiness.

a. This means that God is a social being, and he naturally seeks the fellowship of kindred spirits, but kindred spirits are of necessity spirits characterized by holiness.

b. And there can be no holiness in the absence of free will.

c. Jesus said: "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." (Matt. 5: 8.)

d. God cannot fully enter into fellowship with moral beings unless they are holy.

C. But, says another, Why did God not destroy Satan when he sinned? Why let sinners continue to exist and influence others to sin?

1. The answer here lies in God’s nature-his eternal nature which he has passed on to angels as well as men.

2. There will never be a time when the spirits or angels-the evil as well as the good-will cease to exist.

3. Punishments and prescribed limits have been passed upon evil spirits, and the more will be passed upon them, but they will always exist.

4. To illustrate, the apostle John recorded the word of an angel as follows: "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are also the beasts and the false prophets; and they have been tormented day and night forever and ever." (Rev. 20: 10.)

5. Regarding any man that worshipped the beast, an angel said: "He also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the lamb: and the smoke of their torment goeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day and night. (Rev. 14: 10-11.)

V. Let us consider, in the fifth place, the matter of Satan’s appearance in heaven, particularly in light of the fact that "he goes to and fro in the earth, and walks up and down in it," according to (Job 1: 6-7; 2: 1-2.)

A. Before rising specific questions relative to this matter, we should review the principle of An.thro.po’.mor.phism.

1. An.thro.po’.mor.phism is an interpretation of what is not human or personal in terms of human or personal characteristic.

2. To illustrate the principle, Isaiah wrote of Jehovah and asked: "Who hath measured the waters (the oceans and seas) in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountain in scales, and the hills in a balance?" (Isaiah 40: 12.)

3. Isaiah was saying that these very things, God has done; but of course Isaiah was speaking an.thro.po’.mor.phi.cal.ly. We must ever be aware of this principle which appears many times in the Bible, particularly in the Psalms and the prophets of the Old Testament.

B. Now, to the pertinent question at hand: "Have Satan and the other evil angels that joined him in his rebellion been actually cast down? The answer is "Yes". Consider the following:

1. Jude 6 reads: "And angels that kept not their own principality, but left their proper habitation, he hath kept in everlasting bonds under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."

2. II Peter 2: 4 states: "God spared not angels when they sinned, but cast them down to hell, and committed them to pits of darkness to be reserved unto judgment."

3. The matter of angels being cast down, and being in everlasting bonds does not preclude, however, that those evil angels are necessarily in an abyss, or space below the earth.

4. From a purely physical point of view-the earth having rotundity-how could there be an abyss below the earth? In a late issue of National Geographic, one author wrote of the dark north.

5. For further consideration, Satan is called the prince of the air.

6. Paul wrote: "and you did he make alive, when you were dead through your trespasses and sins, wherein ye once walked according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience." (Eph. 2: 1-2.)

7. Certainly, if Satan and the evil angels were cast into the range of the heaven between the heaven of heavens and the earth world, they would thereby be cast out and down from the heaven where God is.

8. The "bonds" of the evil angels may very well be the bonds of reprobation-not literal bonds, certainly. The "darkness" into which the evil angels were cast may very well be the darkness of implacable envy, hatred, rebellion, and despair.

C. Now to the specific point or question, "Do Satan and the evil angels have access to heaven, or at least to an appearance before Jehovah?"

1. The answer is emphatically, "Yes". Satan has access to heaven; and further, some of the evil angels seem to have access to heaven.

2. To illustrate, (Job 1: 6-7) reads: "Now it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan also came among them. And Jehovah said unto Satan, Whence Comest thou? Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."

3. Then Jehovah asked: "Hast thou considered my servant Job? For there is none like him in all the earth, a perfect and upright man, one that feareth God and turneth away from evil."

4. Satan replied: "Doth Job fear God for nought? Hath not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house?...but put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will renounce thee to thy face."

5. "And Jehovah said unto Satan, Behold all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand."

6. Some observations are in order:

a. By the expression "sons of God", the angels of God are meant.

b. Thus the indication is that at fixed times angels-at least certain ones-come before God.

c. Such a concept would comport with the fact that angels are often sent out on distant missions.

d. They probably met before the Almighty to pay homage and to give an account of their missions.

e. One thing is certain: Satan appeared in the midst.

f. He, therefore, had and has access to heaven and the great white throne.

g. Another instance which points up the fact that Satan has access to the throne in heaven is the case of Simon Peter. Jesus said: "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat: But I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not; and do thou, when once thou hast turned again, establish thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, with thee I am ready to go both to prison and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, until thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me." (Luke 22: 31-34.)

1) Observe that Satan had desired to have Peter in his power, no doubt as he once had in prior centuries requested to have Job in his power.

2) Observe further that Christ had made supplication for Peter.

3) The implication is that Satan appeared personally before God with his request.

4) Paul enjoined "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Eph. 6: 12.)

5) This passage declares that evil powers are in some phase of heavenly spheres.

4. "Why". We may now ask, "does Satan have access to the throne of God?"

a. The answer to this question lies in the principle of God’s justice-in fact his system of justice.

b. As a just God who is dedicated to all the principles of justice, he allows even Satan his day in court-his day to bring accusations against the saints of God.

c. In the Psalms, we read: "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne." (Psalm 97: 2.)

d. While Satan’s accusations against certain saints at times may be true, his accusations are so often false that his common name is the Slanderer.

1) Satan is "the accuser of the brethren." He "accuseth them before our God day and night." (Rev. 12: 10.)

2) Peter wrote: "Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (I Peter 5: 8.)

e. Though Satan is the accuser of the saints, Jesus Christ is their advocate-their defender.

1) To illustrate, John wrote: "My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." (I John 2: 1.)

2) An advocate is one who pleads the cause of another: Specifically, an advocate is one who pleads the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court.

3) God’s people should have a very deep appreciation for their advocate.

 

VI. Let us consider, in the sixth place, the matter of why God allowed sin to enter the universe?

A. One aspect of the answer to this question of why God allowed sin to enter the universe is the fact that, as in the case of angels, God created man in his own likeness, and thus as a free moral agent.

1. God’s ultimate purpose is to have a holy people.

a. An obvious fact is that God cannot fully enter into fellowship with moral beings unless they are holy.

b. Further, God’s people can be confirmed in true holiness-only by trials, hardships, and sufferings.

c. Still further, God’s people can be holy only if they are absolutely free.

d. The very idea and definition of holiness is that it must be based on a free and voluntary choice of that which is right in preference to that which is evil and wrong.

2. God has created man, therefore, as a free moral agent in the absolute sense.

a. If someone asks, "Why did God make man in the first place?", the answer lies in God’s own inherent social character.

b. Why do a man and wife desire to have offspring?

c. May not a couple’s desire for children be derived from the very nature of the heavenly Father?

d. After all, man is more like God in inherent qualities than he is unlike him.

e. Man is the offspring of God. He has been created in the Image of God, and he is characterized, therefore, by the attributes of intelligence, emotion, volition, and conscience.

B. Another aspect of the answer to the question of why that God allowed sin to enter the universe is that when man was created a free moral agent, he had the power to choose to do evil as well as the power to choose to do good.

1. The great scheme of redemption designed by the almighty God contemplated human responsibility based on complete freedom of will.

2. God has supplied all his people in all ages with all-sufficient motives, warnings, and punishments to encourage them to choose the right and to reject the evil.

3. Sin entered the universe, therefore, not by the act of God, but rather by the sin of man.

 

C. A second aspect of the answer to the question of why God allowed sin to enter the universe is that God in his infinite plan and mercy saw fit to avoid a knowledge of anything which would be in any way incompatible with the freedom of the human will and the system of government devised by him for man.

1. Some brethren, when affirming the all-knowing character of God, come dangerously close to their agreeing with the basic tenents of Calvinism.

a. To say that God knows everything from the beginning, including every move and step that each individual will take, every deed that he will do, and every sin that he will commit is probably to say too much.

b. This is not a matter of limiting the power of God; rather, it is a recognition of the plan and design of God for the formation of a holy people-a people characterized by holiness with whom he can have full and complete fellowship.

1) Do we limit the power of God when we say that God does not perform miracles as in the healing of the sick, in the restoring of sight to the blind, and in restoring the limbs of the maimed?

2) God has all the power that he ever had, but his plan for man does not call for miracles in this period of his redemptive plan.

c. As a means of avoiding the pitfalls of Calvinism, some say there are certain things that God does not choose to know.

1) The statement is true in a sense, but it is not really adequate.

2) The statement would seem to infer that, like as a teacher might pull down a shade over her window so that she could not actually witness the quarrels and fights of her students outside, God pulls down the shade to his window of knowledge so that he will not know.

d. God’s plan for man is that he shall be placed under responsibility coupled with absolute free choice.

1) Thus whatever is necessary to maintain the principle of the free will of man is a part of God’s purpose and plan.

2) Such would not be a limitation of God’s foreknowledge, rather, it would be that God had the wisdom and power to avoid any foreknowledge of everything incompatible with his purpose for man, including the system of government designed for man as well as for the freedom of the human will.

3) God knows some things with absolute certainty, but he knows other things contingently.

a) Those things of absolute certainty are things that must be in order of time, place, and form.

b) Those things of a contingent nature are matters poised by Jehovah and left to the free will of man to tilt the scales of righteousness.

e. To illustrate the principle of God’s contingent knowledge.

1) God sent Isaiah to Hezekiah to say; "Set thy house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live," but Hezekiah repented, and God added fifteen years to his life. (Isaiah 38: 1.)

2) God dispatched Elijah to Tishbite to the wicked king, Ahab to announce that Ahab and his entire house would be destroyed, but Ahab repented and Jehovah said; "Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days; but in his son’s day will I bring the evil upon his house." (I Kings 21: 17-29.)

 

D. A third aspect of the answer to the question of why God allowed sin to enter the universe is that God in his infinite wisdom did avoid a foreknowledge of certain matters as a means of freedom of the human will.

1. To illustrate this fact, observe this reading: "And God saw the wickedness of men was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually, and it repented the Lord that he had made man upon the earth, and it grieved him at heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth." (Gen. 6: 5-7.)

a. Now, was this statement mere pretense?

b. Did God know before he created man that this would be the out come?

c. If so, why should God be surprised?

d. Why would he grieve so over a result which he well knew before he created man?

e. The case is that God did not know, before the creation of man, just how wicked he would be all because such foreknowledge would have been incompatible with the free agency and responsibility of man.

2. We should beware that we meddle not with the infinite free-agency provided for by God Almighty.

a. When God says that he knows a thing, we should believe him, and

b. Conversely, when God say that he does not know a thing, we should believe him.

3. When Abraham offered his son Isaac upon the alter for a burnt offering, the angel of the Lord staid his hand and said: "Now I know that thou fearest God." May not Satan have proffered that Abraham would curse God?

4. In Genesis 18: 20, Jehovah said: "Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which has come up to me; and if not I will know." (Gen. 18: 20-21.)

a. This passage indicates that there were things concerning Sodom and Gomorrah which God knew only contingently.

b. The passage also indicated that God chooses to operate through angels to gain certain knowledge.

c. Such would certainly comport with God’s having a host of elect angels.

d. Such an operation would allow for the activity of angels.

e. What fair thinking father would want to rear a family of children who would remain in the home with no activity or responsibility of any kind to perform.

VII. Let us now return to further considerations of Satan-especially his character, his power, and his work.

A. Respecting the character of Satan, the various names applied to him reflect his character.

1. While there are some forty names or terms designated to Satan, three of the more prominent ones will suffice for now.

a. The name "Satan" means one who opposes-an adversary.

b. The name "Devil" means one who slanders and accuses.

c. The name or designation "tempter" means one who seeks to lure men into sin.

2. The names and designations of Satan not only reveal his character but also the methods of his operation.

3. Satan cannot attack God directly, thus he employs various methods to attack man, God’s master creation.

 

B. Respecting the power of Satan, while Satan has great power in a measure, his power is very definitely limited.

1. Satan and his angels are finite creatures, and they can do nothing outside the realm of their free moral agency.

a. Satan has great knowledge, but he is not omniscient.

b. Satan has vast power, but he is not omnipotent.

c. Satan has a wide area of circulation, but he is not omnipresent.

2. Satan bound a daughter of Abraham for eighteen years.

a. Luke 13: 15-16 reads: "But the Lord answered him, and said, Ye hypocrites, doth not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound, lo, these eighteen years, to have been loosed from this bond on the day of the Sabbath?"

b. Acts 10: 38 reads: "God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."

3. Satan entered Judas and prompted him to betray the Son of God. John 13: 2 reads: "And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him."

4. Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel. (I Chron. 21: 1.)

a. David apparently was led by Satan to number Israel with a view to a military aggression against nations.

b. God was sorely grieved against David, and through an angel he smote seventy thousand.

 

C. Respecting the evil works of Satan, they are manifold:

1. He is the author of sin. (John 8: 44.)

(John 8:44 NKJV) "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

2. He tempts man to sin. (Matt. 4: 1.)

(Mat 4:1 NKJV) Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

3. He lays snares for men. (II Tim. 2: 26.)

(2 Tim 2:26 NKJV) and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

4. He takes the word of God out of the hearts of men. (Matt. 13: 9.)

(Mat 13:9 NKJV) "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

5. He puts wicked purposes into the hearts of men. (Eph. 4: 27.)

(Eph 4:27 NKJV) nor give place to the devil.

6. He blinds men to the light of the glorious gospel. (II Cor. 4: 4.)

(2 Cor 4:4 NKJV) whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

7. He harasses righteous men. (II Cor. 12: 7.)

(2 Cor 12:7 NKJV) And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

8. He accuses men before God. (Rev. 12: 10.)

(Rev 12:10 NKJV) Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

9. He sows tares among God’s people. (Matt. 13: 38-39.)

(Mat 13:38 NKJV) "The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.

(Mat 13:39 NKJV) "The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.

10. He resists God’s servants. (Dan 10: 13; Zech. 3: 1.)

(Dan 10:13 NKJV) "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.

(Zep 3:1 NKJV) Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, To the oppressing city!

11. He hinders God’s servants. (I Thess. 2: 18.)

(1 Th 2:18 NKJV) Therefore we wanted to come to you; even I, Paul, time and again; but Satan hindered us.

12. He sifts God’s servants. (Luke 22: 31.)

(Luke 22:31 NKJV) And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.

13. He enters into men. (John 13: 3.)

(John 13:3 NKJV) Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,

14. He gives power to the lawless ones. (II Cor. 2: 10-11.)

(2 Cor 2:10 NKJV) Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,

(2 Cor 2:11 NKJV) lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

15. He holds the world under his evil influence. (I John 5: 19.)

(John 5:19 NKJV) Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.

D. Respecting the Christian’s attitude toward Satan, he should claim his redemptive rights. Revelation 12: 11 reads: "And they overcome him because of the blood of the lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death."

1. The Christian must employ his full equipment of warfare against Satan. Ephesians 6: 12-18 reads: "For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints."

2. The Christian must exercise strict self-control. Ephesians 4: 27 reads: "Neither give place to the devil."

3. The Christian must exercise vigilance. I Peter 5: 8 reads: "Be sober, be watchful: Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

4. The Christian must resist Satan. James 4: 7 reads: "Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

VIII. Conclusion

A. One pertinent closing observation is that Satan holds the unenviable title of chief of all sinners.

1. He is the original sinner.

2. He was wrought the most injury of all sinners.

3. He has practiced sin longer that any other.

4. He sinned against the greatest light, even given.

5. Only God can compute the extent and hideous character of Satan’s sinfulness.

 

B. Another pertinent closing observation is that a probationary period, consisting of free moral agency, was necessary for angels just as a probationary period of free moral agency is necessary for man.

C. A third pertinent closing observation is that Satan and his angels will always exist but they will be cast into a lake of fire to suffer forever and ever.

(notes from class with Dr. Rex Turner Sr.)