The Reality of the Spiritual Realm

Who is Satan and what is his purpose? The following questions describe the nature of this formidable enemy and his relationship to the children of God.

1. What does the Bible tell us about Satan?

He replied, `I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.' (Luke 10:18 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. (Rev 12:7-9, NIV)

Each of these verses explains that the previous position of Satan was in heaven. As a result of his battle with the good angels -- Michael and the others who worshipped God -- Satan lost this place. He lost the battle and was cast out of heaven. The various terms used for Satan are indicative of his nature:

• dragon (Rev. 13:2)
• great dragon (Rev. 12:9)
• ancient serpent (Rev. 20:2)
• devil (Matt. 4:1)
• one "who leads the whole world astray" (Rev. 12:9)

He is evil. His powers are strong as indicated by the fierce battle waged against the angels. Yet his powers are ultimately no match for God's army. The implication of these verses is that Satan is one angry devil with many angry friends now roaming the earth. This is very unsettling but the reality of it is clear.

2. What are the names used for Satan in the Bible?

Satan: Mark 4:15

Dragon: Rev. 12:4

Devil: Matt. 4:1

Great Dragon, Ancient Serpent, Devil, Satan: Rev. 12:9

Beelzebub: Matt. 12:24

Prince of Demons: Matt. 12:24

Belial: 2 Cor 6:15

Lion: 2 Tim 4:17, 1 Pet. 5:8

Serpent: Gen. 3:1, Job 26:13, 2 Cor. 11:3

Leviathan: Isa. 27:1

Ruler of the kingdom of the air: Eph. 2:2

Accuser: Rev. 12:10

Tempter: 1 Thess. 3:5

Enemy: Matt. 13:39, Luke 10:19, 1 Pet. 5:8

Abbadon/Apollyon--Destroyer: Rev. 9:11

Prince of this world: John 12:31

God of this age: 2 Cor. 4:4

3. What are Satan's goals?

Through a series of five "I will" statements, we see clearly what pride and jealousy drove Satan to do:

I will ascend to heaven (v13):

This passage is prophesied about the king of Babylon. It has a dual fulfillment in the pride of Satan who desires to become greater than Almighty God. This "I will" relates to Satan's desire to exalt himself. He thinks he can do this in his own power. Proverbs 29:23 says, "A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor" (NIV). God is all-powerful and sovereign. He alone is exalted above the heavens. Only through His power do we have life: He enables life, He sustains life, and He ends life. No one can really exalt himself except in his own mind. But God does promise to exalt those who love Him. So exaltation requires humility -- the realization that God is God and I am not! Satan's pride is revealed in this "I will" of self-exaltation.

I will raise my throne above the stars of God (v13):

All it takes for two people to have a good fight is for one to start comparing one to the other. How many childish fights have been started with the words, "My bike is better than your bike!" This is the essence of the second "I will" concerning Satan. He desires to have a greater throne than God. His foolish pride says that he must have a bigger, better throne. His jealous envy of God's power and sovereignty insist on a more exalted status than the Most High God. While such a thing is impossible for a believer to imagine, Satan apparently has genuine designs on just this. He desires the glory that belongs to God alone (Isa 42:8,48:11). He desires to tear down anything God has said, created, or done (1 Chron 21:1; Job 1:9-11,2:4-5; Matt 4:1-11; Mark 4:15; Luke 22:31; and more) because in it God is glorified (Psalm 19:1,24:7-10,29:9; Isa 43:7; and many more).

I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain (v13):

According to Babylonian myths, the "gods" assembled on a distant mountain called the "Mount of the Congregation (KJV)" or the "Mount of Assembly" (NIV). Here, Satan makes the claim of divinity saying "I WILL sit enthroned on the mount of assembly..." (Isa 14:13, emphasis mine). In fact, Satan claims he will sit on the utmost heights of this alleged mountain. Perhaps he is saying the mountain of the "gods" will itself be his throne. What audacity for a mere creature of the Almighty God to say! It would be like an ant who, while climbing atop a railroad track in New Mexico, looks around and concludes, "Since I see no President of the B&L Railroad company, I proclaim myself President!" His pride led him to a frightful delusion of grandeur.

I will ascend above the tops of the clouds (v14): This "I will" continues the prideful thoughts of Satan as he elevates himself above the mountain past the "tops of the clouds"  (Isa 14:14). It seems that foolish ambition feeds on itself. Satan lusts for more and more power and glory. In his fallen nature, nothing seems to satisfy him. He desires more power, exaltation, glory, and majesty. None of us can find contentment in these things. I am not sure about the angels but I do know this: only by seeking the Lord Jesus Christ can any human be truly satisfied. I feel certain it applies to angelic creatures as well. Satan, of course, will have none of this. He desires worship of himself to gain glory and take it away from God.

I will make myself like the Most High (v14):

The chief sin of Satan is this last "I will." He desires to be like the Most High God. Even though the term "Most High" is self-explanatory, Satan still wants to sit on God's throne. He still desires to overtake, overthrow, or overturn God' agenda. Once he guarded the throne of God. Now he wants to be "god." There is an infinite distance between the nature of the Creator and the nature of any of His creatures. The most abominable sin is the one that tries to bring God down to the level of a creature or to exalt the creature to the level of his Creator. God has made it clear that He is unique and holy:

Only God Worthy of Praise: "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols" (Isa 42:8, NIV).

Only God Around: "'You are my witnesses,' declares the LORD, 'and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior'" (Isa 43:10-11, NIV).

Only Creator: "This is what the LORD says-- your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself" (Isa 44:24, NIV).

Unique God: "I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other" (Isa 45:5-6, NIV).

With the clear picture of a holy and unique Creator God, it is inconceivable how any creature could do anything but fall on his face before Him. Yet the sinful human heart is capable of even desiring godhood as evidenced by the Mormons, the New Age Movement, and many other cults. Satan was the first to conceive this evil thought. Because of his pride, he would not submit to his Creator. Because of his jealously, he fought with God to take over the throne. He forever lost his exalted place in heaven as a result.

4. What does Satan think about human beings?

In Ezekiel 28, Satan is described as a created angelic being who once basked in the glory of God. He held the highest position in heaven as the guardian cherub (vv. 14,16) of God's throne. He possessed great wisdom (vv. 12,17) and was the most beautiful of the angels (vv. 12-13). But sin was found in his heart as he desired to be like God and to sit enthroned above the Creator (v. 15).

As a result of his pride, Satan was cast out of heaven (Isa. 14:12; Luke 10:18). Pride had caused him to desire God's glory for himself. The consequences of this sin were enormous: he lost his position (v. 17), he lost his beauty in God's eyes: "I have cast you as profane" (v.15), and he lost his wisdom: "you corrupted your wisdom" (v.17). Satan seeks the glory and power that rightfully belongs only to the Creator. In his corrupted thinking and pride, Satan still thinks he can overcome God. The loss of his position just made him all the more ambitious.

After creating Satan and the other angels, God decided to create a new kind of creature: humans. Genesis 1 gives an account of how God created a whole universe and earth for these humans. Humans were the very pinnacle of creation. After God created each significant thing He declared it good; after creating humans, it was all declared very good (v. 31). Humans were given dominion over the earth (v. 28). Humans were made humans male and female so they could enjoy fellowship and also procreate (v. 27-28). Most significant of all, humans were made in the very image and likeness of God (v. 26). This means all the communicable attributes of God -- mind, will, emotion, ability to love and hate, and many others -- were endowed in humans. Humans, then, bring glory to God like no other creature of His. Indeed, the prophet Isaiah shares the insight that humans were in fact created for God's glory (Isa. 43:7).

Satan, then, is very jealous of the special status of humans. No other eternal creatures, including Satan, have the ability to procreate. No other creatures were made in the image of God. No other creatures will be glorified with Christ but believers (Rom. 8:17). Humans have even been given a part in judging the world and angels (1 Cor. 6:2,3). And in spite of our sin, God gave the life of His Son to redeem humans (Scripture, however, does not record what God has done for the angels in terms of redemption). Satan sees these things that he cannot have and it makes him all the angry.

One strategy of Satan might have been to simply destroy the humans, assuming God would permit such a thing. This would have eliminated the immediate indignation he felt. Still, the fact that God had shown His preference for humans over Satan could never be changed. Satan's more diabolical plan is to entice the humans to serve and worship him rather than the Creator.

Unbelievers are a prime target since Satan has the opportunity to prevent them from being redeemed (from his limited perspective). If he convinces them to ignore the most precious gift of salvation, he may or may not gain their worship but God will not have fellowship with them in any case. Satan may also convince them that it is better, more profitable, to follow him than God. In so doing, Satan gets glorified by humans and God's plan for them is foiled.

Born-again believers are property of God and can never be taken back by Satan. Satan knows this. He also knows he can render them ineffective in God's kingdom through various devices:

Fear of Satan's perceived superiority

Confusion about his existence

Division and strife within the church

Persecution outside the church

Antagonistic attacks on the authenticity and authority of God's word

Temptations to be like God

Temptations to be self-sufficient

All of these tactics, and many others not listed, are intended to prevent the spread of God's kingdom. This diminishes God's glory and puts Satan in control -- the two things he seems to pursue most zealously.

5. Why do so many Christians deny that Satan is an actual being?

In places where Christianity has not taken root, the Devil has a fairly free reign. People are confronted frequently by his presence and wicked deeds. Even physical manifestations of demonic activity are related from areas where Christianity is scarce. Satan is known and makes himself known in such places. But here in the South, the so-called "Bible Belt," many people ignore or downplay the existence of Satan. There are many believers in the South. The church of the Lord Jesus Christ has a strong hold in this area. Yet one of the most effective tactics any enemy can use is to get people to think he is weak or not really an enemy.

It is easier to live in denial of the reality of Satan than to acknowledge his existence and the spiritual battle at the root of many problems. It is easier to curse the world, despair over circumstances, and accept "bad luck" than to get down on one's knees and fight the good fight of faith (2 Tim 4:7). I believe this is the primary reason so many believers choose unbelief in regard to Satan's reality and purposes. It appears easier in the short run. What folly it is to allow one so wicked to operate unchecked, as though he were not there!

6. What does the future hold for Satan?

In the book of Revelation, the Apostle John shares the consummation of history along with the problem of evil in the world. Revelation 19:11 through 20:3 describe the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. As a result of His return to the Earth, He binds Satan for one thousand years. Christian martyrs are resurrected and reign with Christ during this millenium (Rev. 20:4-6). After this, Satan is released whereupon he deceives the nations once again; war is then waged with the saints. The Lord destroys these opposing forces. Satan is then thrown into the lake of fire where he will be tormented forever (Rev. 20:7-10). So the literal end of Satan is clearly in view. He will be punished forever for his wickedness.

The Bible also makes it clear, from a believer's perspective, that Satan is already a defeated enemy as a result of Jesus' atonement for our sins on the cross (Col. 2:15). Two thousand years ago, victory over sin was accomplished. Victory over death was assured through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The sin which so easily entangles us and the temptations of Satan which so often bombard us need not be our master. Jesus has won the war. He will return soon to claim His territory. Meanwhile, we, His children, live in the present as victorious warriors.

7. How could a good God create such an evil creature as Satan?

The passage in Ezekiel 28 recounts a prophecy concerning the King of Tyre. As the prophecy unfolds it becomes clear that is has a dual fulfillment. No human could fulfill all of the things said about the King of Tyre. The statements made beginning in verse 12 speak of a beautiful creature made by God for a special role. "You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you" (Ezek 28:14, NIV). He was created in a state of grace, without sin (Ezek 28:15). God describes this creature as the "model of perfection (Ezek 28:12b). in wisdom and in beauty. The beauty became a stumbling block which caused him to sin. As a result, God removed him from his high, exalted role and cast him out of heaven. The parallels with what Jesus said and what John revealed in Revelation 12 are clear. The King of Tyre is pictured here along with his inspiration, the Devil.

In a prophetic word concerning the King of Babylon (Isa 14:4), Isaiah reveals another dual prophecy about Satan. Again, he is found being kicked out of heaven. Isaiah reveals also Satan's greatest sin: he desires to exalt himself above God and sit on his own throne (Isa 14:13). This was the temptation he posed to Eve -- "you will be like God" (Gen 3:5). Most likely, this was how he lured other angels into sin. Ultimately, Satan thinks he can become "like the Most High" (Isa 14:14, NIV). As Ezekiel pointed out in Ezekiel 28:17, Satan's great wisdom has been corrupted by his desire to become "god."

Satan was once the most beautiful of the angels. He was once wise and exalted in his position as the guardian cherub of God's holy throne. Now he is corrupt, shamed, and condemned. He is like a wounded animal -- intense and dangerous. And though his fate is sealed (Rev 20:10), his corrupt thinking seems to show an unwillingness to accept this reality. This makes him and his fallen angels all the more dangerous because they think they can win.

Next: "The Reality of the Spiritual Realm - Who are demons and what is their purpose?"

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Copyright 5/19/2001, Randy Lariscy.