Christ First Forum

The Doctrine of Satan
I. The Existence of Satan

A. Seven Old Testament books and every New Testament writer refer to Satan.

B. Jesus referred to Satan (Matt.13:39; Luke 10:18; 11:18).

II. The Personality and Names of Satan

A. Personality – He has intellect (2 Cor.11:3), emotions (Rev.12:17) and will (2 Tim.2:26.

B. Names – He is called Satan, the Devil (slanderer), Lucifer (son of the morning), Beelzebub (Lord of the flies – Matt.12:24), and Belial (lawless – 2 Cor.6:15), the evil one (1 John 5:19), the tempter (1 Thess.3:5), the prince of this world (John 12:31), the god of this age (2 Cor.4:4), the prince of the power of the air (Eph.2:2), the accuser of the brethren (Rev.12:10), and angel of light (false light – 2 Cor.11:14), a serpent (Rev.12:9), and a dragon (Rev.12:3).

III. The Nature of Satan

A. He is a created angelic being. He was created as part of the angelic realm (Eph.6:11,12; Ezek.24:18) and was the highest in rank of them all (Ezek.28:12-14).

B. He is an enemy of righteousness. He is a murderer (John 8:44), a liar (John 8:44), and accuser (Rev.12:10) and our adversary (1 Pet.5:8).

C. He is a limited creature. He is limited by God (Job.1:12). He is not God’s equal (1 John 4:4). He is not omniscient, omnipotent or infinite in any way. Believers with God’s help can resist him (James 4:7).

IV. The Fall of Satan

Key Passages – Ezekiel 28; Isaiah 14

A. Ezekiel 28:11-19 is a prophetic lamentation over the “King of Tyre” who is described in language that fits Satan’s fall and not a mere human king. Satan is distinguished form the human ruler of Tyre in 28:2 (“prince/ruler”) and called a “king” in 28:12 (Not even Israel’s rulers were called “King”). Though Tyre had a human “ruler”, Satan was the real “King” behind that wicked kingdom.

B. His attributes – Moral perfection (v.12) Sinless at his creation until his fall (v.15)

C. His appearance – Perfect in beauty (v.12b,13)

1. His privileges – Free access to the garden of Eden (v.12) and to God’s holy mountain (= God’s presence – v.14)

2. His rank – “Cherub” (vs.14,16)

3. His judgment –

a. Cast out of the mountain of God (v.16, cf. Rev12:4)

b. Cast to the ground (v.17)

c. Consumed by fire (v.18, cf. Rev.20:10)

D. Isaiah 14:12-15 also seems to describe Satan’s fall. Satan is manifest here by the king of Babylon. As in Ezekiel 28, Satan is pictured here as the real “king” behind the wicked human kingdom of Babylon.

1. The imagery of a “star” and “falling from heaven” (v.12) suggests a supernatural fulfillment. “Stars” (v.12,13) are symbolic of the angelic realm elsewhere (Job 38:6,7; Rev.12:4).

2. The five “I will’s” of vss. 13 & 14 are literally true of Satan and only metaphorically true of Babylon’s king. This ultimate form of pride (“I will be like the Most High” – v.14) fits the New Testament description of Satan’s fall 1 Tim.3:6.

V. The Activity of Satan

Satan is seeking to oppose God’s plan by promoting evil in every way possible.

A. Indirect Activity – He works indirectly through the world (in which he has great freedom and power – John 12:31; 1 John 5:19) and the flesh (Gal.5:19-21). The world, the flesh and the devil are not three separate enemies of the Christian. Rather Satan works through the evil world system (1 John 2:13-15) to exploit the fleshly nature that still wars within us (Rom.7:18; Gal.5:19-21).



Diagram: Norm Geisler

B. Direct Activity – He works directly by deception, temptation, attack and possession.

1. In Christ’s ministry

a. He tempted Christ (Matt.4:1-11).

b. He attempted to thwart Christ’s work (John 8:44; Matt.16:23; Luke 22:31).

c. He possessed Judas to accomplish the betrayal (John 13:27).

2. In unbelievers

a. He blinds their minds to hinder their understanding of the gospel (2 Cor.4:4).

b. When the gospel is heard or understood, he tries to hinder its effect (Luke 8:12).

c. He uses persecution (Rev.2:10) and false religions (Rev.2:13) to hinder the effect of the gospel.

3. In believers

a. He tempts believers (to pride – 1 Chron.21:1-8; to materialism – John 2:15; James 5:1-7; to immorality – 1 Cor.7:5; to lie – Acts 5:3; to discouragement – 1 Pet.5:6-10; to be unforgiving – 2 Cor.2:10,11 etc.).

b. He hinders the ministries of believers (1 Thess.2:18; Rev.2:10).

c. He promotes false teaching among believers (1 John 4:1-4).

d. He promotes anger, bitterness and division (Eph.4:26,27; 2 Cor.2:5-11). Note: See the supplement – “Satanic Activity and Spiritual Warfare” for more information on how Satan and his demons work and how we must respond.

You may find more on Satan and the doctrine of angels here: http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=388

Hi Frank, I see you have most of satans names.. I have a few more, but can't keep the ones you have long enough in my head..
So I willl just give my list, of 18 he is known by

Abaddon ..............................Rev. 9:11
Accuser ............................... .Rev. 12:10
Adversary..............................1 Peter 5:8
Apollyon.................................Rev. 9:11
Beelzebud...............................Matt. 12:24
Belial.....................................2 Cor. 6:15
Devil......................................Matt. 4:1
Enemy....................................Matt.13:28
Evil One............................... ..John 17:15
God of This World....................2 Cor.4:4
Liar........................................John 8:44
Murderer............................... .John 8:44
Prince of the power of the Air.... Eph. 2:2
Red Dragon..............................Rev. 12;3, 7, 9
Ruler of This world....................John 12:31
Satan.......................................Matt. 4:10
Serpent of Old..........................Rev. 12:9
Tempter.................................. Matt.4:3

Here is a list of Witchcraft being condemned in the Bible
Exodus 22:18
Deut. 18:10
Micah 5:12
GAL. 5:20
REV. 21:8; 22: 15

While going through some of my books in my library, I found something about " ASTRAL" this was once one of the occult studies I once was intrigued .. ( I was not looking for this, but for info on the Circumcision )


In a book titled "UNDERSTANDING THE OLD TESTAMENT" By Bernbard W. Anderson
Soon after my conversion ,I had all my occult books picked up and hauled off to be burnt by my Pastor,
I realized they were full of Witchcraft , very occultic and of satan..

what I did not know was when, where and how they were done and by whom, ..the why I knew,...


Well according to the book of Zephaniah , the first Prophet to speak after the long silence this pagan practice was done on roof of the Temple.
It futher states that it was an importation from Assyria and was infuenced by Manasseh..
Zephaniah in 1:14 said: "the kingdom of God is at hand" "the great day of Yahweh is near, near and hastening fast..

Zephaniah summonds the people and told them to repent, he denouced the pagan practice's , he comdemned the Baal worship that was a being done in Jerusalem, as it says, they were doing this Baal ( Astral ) worship on the Temple roof, they were linking togather Yahweh and milcom, which was the god of Ammon....
There mindset was as though Yehweh had no power over their history , that He could not do good or evil

Sounds pretty much like some believe today, they bring Jesus/ God down and set Him beside Baal

It was said of this "ASTRAL " on PNW by one of the user's that this was used by Russia.. I think..
its a practice that one believes they can travel outside the body.. the user mentioned Philip and the eunuch.... Acts 8:39 God caught Philip away..

In Christ Jesus, janet

elect777 wrote:Hi Frank, I see you have most of satans names.. I have a few more, but can't keep the ones you have long enough in my head..
So I willl just give my list, of 18 he is known by

Abaddon ..............................Rev. 9:11
Accuser ............................... .Rev. 12:10
Adversary..............................1 Peter 5:8
Apollyon.................................Rev. 9:11
Beelzebud...............................Matt. 12:24
Belial.....................................2 Cor. 6:15
Devil......................................Matt. 4:1
Enemy....................................Matt.13:28
Evil One............................... ..John 17:15
God of This World....................2 Cor.4:4
Liar........................................John 8:44
Murderer............................... .John 8:44
Prince of the power of the Air.... Eph. 2:2
Red Dragon..............................Rev. 12;3, 7, 9
Ruler of This world....................John 12:31
Satan.......................................Matt. 4:10
Serpent of Old..........................Rev. 12:9
Tempter.................................. Matt.4:3

Here is a list of Witchcraft being condemned in the Bible
Exodus 22:18
Deut. 18:10
Micah 5:12
GAL. 5:20
REV. 21:8; 22: 15

While going through some of my books in my library, I found something about " ASTRAL" this was once one of the occult studies I once was intrigued .. ( I was not looking for this, but for info on the Circumcision )


In a book titled "UNDERSTANDING THE OLD TESTAMENT" By Bernbard W. Anderson
Soon after my conversion ,I had all my occult books picked up and hauled off to be burnt by my Pastor,
I realized they were full of Witchcraft , very occultic and of satan..

what I did not know was when, where and how they were done and by whom, ..the why I knew,...


Well according to the book of Zephaniah , the first Prophet to speak after the long silence this pagan practice was done on roof of the Temple.
It futher states that it was an importation from Assyria and was infuenced by Manasseh..
Zephaniah in 1:14 said: "the kingdom of God is at hand" "the great day of Yahweh is near, near and hastening fast..

Zephaniah summonds the people and told them to repent, he denouced the pagan practice's , he comdemned the Baal worship that was a being done in Jerusalem, as it says, they were doing this Baal ( Astral ) worship on the Temple roof, they were linking togather Yahweh and milcom, which was the god of Ammon....
There mindset was as though Yehweh had no power over their history , that He could not do good or evil

Sounds pretty much like some believe today, they bring Jesus/ God down and set Him beside Baal

It was said of this "ASTRAL " on PNW by one of the user's that this was used by Russia.. I think..
its a practice that one believes they can travel outside the body.. the user mentioned Philip and the eunuch.... Acts 8:39 God caught Philip away..

In Christ Jesus, janet

Thanks Janet for posting these! they will help in this study as we get deeper into the Doctrine of Angels!

Quick Question... Although satan is a spirit being, can he manafest his image into what we would term bodly form, appearing as "flesh and blood" so to speak? For instance , could I be walking down the street and bump into satan?

Lionheart wrote:Quick Question... Although satan is a spirit being, can he manafest his image into what we would term bodly form, appearing as "flesh and blood" so to speak? For instance , could I be walking down the street and bump into satan?

Hi Robin,
No! I see no where in scripture that even makes reference to that. He is not omnipresent either and can only be in one place at one time.

Thanks... as I suspected but always helpfull to clairify... no matter... he's done for anyway... beaten and defeated... our Lord Jesus has risen!

Question?? Although you cant bump into Satan is possible to bump into a demon in the form of a human?? I personally think that is more likely than the bummping into Satan thing. Just look at the ghost thing. They are demons who take the forms of our dead loved ones. I know that my mom and grandmother and some other members of my family belive that ghosts are really dead ones not demons. I also belived that until I was born again. I dont think that we should be playing around with things like that!!

And what about when the witch of Endor conjured up the (demonic) spirit of Samuel for King Saul?

Whatever or whoever it was that Saul saw in his vision, it certainly was not Samuel for Samuel was dead [1Samuel 28:3]. We also know that the dead "know nothing" and have no part "in any thing under the sun".

"For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten. Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun. " Ecclesiastes 9:5-6,

Although I have never seen a "ghost" personally, I know of many who have.

Neither have I ever seen a ghost and I know many that say they have, but that does not make it so. Scripture is real clear on this. I have seen demon possessed people.

The soul that turneth after such as have FAMILIAR SPIRITS, and after WIZARDS, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among His people. Lev. 20:6

A man or woman that hath a FAMILIAR SPIRIT or that is a Wizard, shall surely be PUT TO DEATH; they hall STONE THEM WITH STONES. Lev. 20:27

There shall not be found among you any one that useth DIVINATION or a WITCH or a consulter with FAMILIAR SPIRITS, or a WIZARD. Deu. 18:10-11

When they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have FAMILIAR SPIRITS and unto the WIZARDS that chirp and that mutter; should not a people seek unto their God on behal of the living, should they seek unto the dead?' Isa. 8:19

The 'familiar spirits' of the OT are the same as the DEMONS and SEDUCING SPIRITS of the NT, I believe...

NOw the Spirit (HS) speaketh expressly, that in the LATTER TIMES some shall DEPART FROM THE FAITH giving heed to SEDUCING SPIRITS and DOCTRINES OF DEVILS (Demons) for bidding to marry,and commanding to ABSTAIN FROM MEATS.

Satan cannot be 'omnipresence' so many things attribuated to him should be attributed to demons..

The 'Temptation of Jesus in the Wilderness, Satan himself is the agent.

Rev. 9:1-11 They are not angels because angels have bodies,but I believe them to be 'disembodied spirits.'

Mat. 4:24
Then HIs fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments,and those who were demon possessed, epileptics,and paralytics,and He healed them.

Demon possession MUST NOT BE CONFOUNTED with diseases, such as Epilepsy or all MI...