Origin, History, and Destiny of Satan

Have any others than the human family sinned?

“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment.” 2 Peter 2:4.

What is the one who led the angels to sin called?

“Then he will say to those who are on his left. ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matthew 25:41.

Note – He is also called “the great dragon,” “that old serpent,” “Satan,” “Lucifer.”  “Lamb-like beast.” (Revelation 12:9; Isaiah 14:12.)

What was Satan condition when created?

“You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.” Ezekiel 28:15.  

Note – Under the figure of the king of Tyrus the prophet Ezekiel describes him as follows: ‘You were the model of perfection full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 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.“

Ezekiel 28:12-14.

Thus it is evident that Satan was a high and exalted angel before he fell, a masterpiece of wisdom and beauty. Lucifer, or son of the dawn led the angelic host in song. In the earthly sanctuary the covering cherubim overshadowed the mercy seat. (Exodus 25:16-22; Hebrews 9:3-5; Psalm 99:1.)

Cause of Satan’s Fall

What unholy, ambitious spirit led to Satan’s fall?

“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. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” Isaiah 14: 13,14. “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; I made a spectacle of you before kings.” Ezekiel 28:17.   

What does Solomon say precedes destruction and a fall?

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18. 

Under the figure of the king of Babylon, how does the prophet Isaiah describe Satan’s fall?

“How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! Isaiah 14:12.

Why was Satan cast from his high position?

“You were filled with violence, and you sinned.” Ezekiel 28:16. 

Satan Cast Out

How is the conflict elsewhere described?

“And there was war in heaven. Michael/Jesus and his angels fought against the Satan/ 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 lead the whole world astray.” Revelation 12:7-9.

In what terms did Christ refer to Satan’s fall?

“I saw Satan fall as lightening from heaven.” Luke 10:18.

In what figurative terms did Peter describe the fate of the rebellious angels?

“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in gloomy dungeons, to be held for judgment.” 2 Peter 2:4.

Satan Since The Fall

What has been the character of Satan since his fall?

“He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”

1 John 3:8.

Was he ever in the truth?

“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.” John 8:44. 

Note – This implies that Satan, once in the truth, did not remain there.

What besides a murderer did Christ say Satan is?

“”He is a liar, and the father of lies.” Verse 44.

What did God tell Adam and Eve would be the result if they transgressed by partaking of the forbidden fruit?

“You will surely die.” Genesis 2:17. 

What did Satan say to Eve through the serpent?

“You will not surely die.” Genesis 3:4. 

Note – This, as far as the record shows, was the first lie – a direct denial of the word of God. By persuading Eve to accept and believe it, Satan led the first parents to commit sin; and, as “the wages of sin is death,” by it, also, he caused their death, and so, in reality, the first murderer. A lie therefore is a twin brother to murder, and one of the most hateful things to God, the God of truth.  (See Proverbs 6:16-19; 12:19.) “All liars will have their part in the lake of burning sulfur and brimstone.” Revelation 21:8. (See also Revelation 21:27; 22:15.)

What has been the result of sin’s entrance into the world?

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.” Romans 5:12.  “And the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” 1 John 5:19.  “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22. 

When Christ came to redeem man, what did Satan do?

“And he was in the desert forty days being tempted by the Satan.” Mark 1:13. (See Matthew 4: 1-11.)

How severely was Christ tempted during His earthly life on Earth?

“But we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin.” Hebrews 4:15.

What has the church suffered since the days of Christ?

“When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.” Revelation 12:13. [Pursued the woman – church.]

Note – Untold millions of the people of God have been put to death under pagan and papal persecution, all of which has been instigated by Satan.

Is the remnant church to feel his wrath, and why?

“Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring – those who obey God’s commandments and hold the testimony of Jesus.”

Verse 17.

Through what agency will Satan cause deception in the last days?

“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.”

Revelation 13: 11-14.   

Note – This, we understand, refers to spiritualistic manifestations and miracles that will deceive men to turn them from God and cause them to take the mark of the beast. This will happen during the fifth trumpet where Satan will masquerade as Jesus and try to deceive the whole world except for God’s saints.

What will influence the nations to gather for the battle of the day of God?

“They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.”

Revelation 16:14.     

Satan’s Millennium and Doom

How long is Satan to be bound at the Second Advent?

“He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:2.

What is to take place at the close of the thousand years?

“When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and he will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth – Gog and Magog – to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand of the seashore.” Verses 7,8. 

Note – Satan’s evil career began in rebellion against God in heaven, and the ends in rebellion against Christ on earth.

What is the final fate of Satan and his host?

“They marched across the breadth of earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them.” Verse 9.  

Personal Defeat or Victory

How are Christians warned against Satan’s hatred?

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8,9. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7.

Why will men be allowed to fall under the delusion of Satan?

“And in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they might believe the lie and so be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12.  

Why did Christ partake of our nature?

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humility so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is the devil.”

Hebrews 2:14.  

What was Christ’s weapon against Satan?

The Word of God. “It is written.” (See Matthew 4: 4-10.)

Note – The Word of God is the “sword of the Spirit.” (Ephesians 6:17.) If Christ met and vanquished the enemy with this, so also may we. 

Origin, History, and Destiny of Satan

Sin originated in the heart of Lucifer, one of heaven’s most exalted beings. Through seductive influence and traitorous insinuations, he enticed one-third
of the angelic host in heaven to join his rebellion against God.

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