Have any others than the human family sinned?

“God spared not the angels that sinned.” 2 Peter 2:4.

What is the one led the angels to sin called?

“Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matthew 25:41.

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

What was Satan’s condition when created?

“Thou were perfect in thy ways from the day that thou was created, till iniquity was found in thee.” Ezekiel 28:15.

Note – Under the figure of the king of Tyrus the prophet Ezekiel describes him thus: “Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering… the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so; thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.” Ezekiel 28: 12-14.

Thus, it was evident that Satan was a high and exalted angel before he fell a masterpiece of wisdom and beauty. The reference to his “tabrets” and “pipes” probably means that he led the angelic host in song. In the earthy sanctuary, the covering cherubim overshadowed the mercy seat. (Exodus 25:16-22; Hebrews 9:3-5; Psalms 99:1.)

Cause of Satan’s Fall

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

“Thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” Isaiah 14:13,14. “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.” Ezekiel 28:17.

What does Solomon say precedes destruction and a fall?

“Pride goeth before destruction, and 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 art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!” Isaiah 14:12.

Why was Satan cast from his high position?

“Thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.” Ezekiel 28:16.

Satan Cast Out

How is the conflict elsewhere described?

“And there was war in heaven: Michael [Christ] and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:7-9.

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

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

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

“God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.” 2 Peter 2:4.

Satan Since The Fall

What has been the character of Satan since the fall?

“The devil sinneth from the beginning.” 1 John 3:8.

Was the devil ever in the truth?

“He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.” 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 it.” Verse 44.

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

“Thou shalt surely die.” Genesis 2:17.

What did Satan say to Eve through the serpent?

“Ye shall 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 our first parents to commit sin; as “the wages of sin is death,” by it, also, he caused their death, and so became, 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 shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone.” Revelation 21:8. (See also Revelation 21:27; 22:15.)

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

“By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin”; “by one man’s disobedience many were made sinner’s.” Romans 5:12, 19. “The whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1 John 5:19. “In Adam all die.” 1 Corinthians 15:22.

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

“He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan.” Mark 1:13. See also Matthew 4:1-11.)

How severely was Christ during His earthy life tempted of Satan?

“[He was] touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15.

What has the church suffered since the days of Christ?

“And the dragon [Satan] saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman [the church].” Revelation 12:13.

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

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

“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:17.

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

“And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he …deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast.” Revelation 13:11-14.

Note – This, we understand, refers to spiritualistic manifestations and miracles to be wrought to fasten men in error and deception.

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

“They are the spirits of devils, working miracles which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Revelation 16:14.

Satan’s Millennium And Doom

For how long is Satan to be bound at the Second Advent?

“An angel… laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:1,2.

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

“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle.” Revelation 20: 7,8.

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

What is the final fate of Satan and his host?

“They…compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.” Revelation 20:9.

Personal Defeat Or Victory

How are Christians warned against Satan’s hatred?

“Be sober, be vigilant; because the adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist steadfast in the faith.” 1 Peter 5:8,9. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7.

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

“Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie: that they might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12.

Why did Christ partake of our nature?

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had 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.

Recap:

Sin originated in the heart of Lucifer, one of heaven’s most exalted beings. Through seductive influence and traitorous insinuations, he enticed 1/3 of the heavenly host to join his rebellion against God.

Confined to the prison house of this desolate and depopulated old world at the end of time, Satan has a thousand years in which to contemplate the ruinous results of his rebellion against the government of God. Satan and his evil host will churn with extreme anxiety over the redemptive phase of God’s justice that will be coming.