Updated:- Friday, October 13th, 2023
Who is Satan? Popular and contemporary cultures portray him as a monster with wings and horns, a long menacing fork, and filled with malice and anger.
But the world has a different idea of Satan compared to what the Bible says about him. So, who is Satan?
Is he a figment of our imagination or does he really exist? These are some of the questions that I shall address today!
Who Is Satan?
Well, Satan is a fallen angel. Michael, the Archangel of Heaven, had cast out Lucifer, who after his expulsion, the Bible calls Satan.
Therefore, he is a fallen angel who was once known as ‘Lucifer,’ which means ‘the morning star’ (Isaiah 14:12).
He was ranked as one of the highest angels in God’s kingdom until sin was found in him. The Scripture talks about it in Ezekiel 28:17,
“Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor.” He was kicked out of heaven on account of his sins.
The Scripture talks about Satan’s sin in Isaiah 14:13-14, “You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” He wanted to rise above God; he wanted to become a god himself. So God took away his title and removed him from heaven.
Another Name For Him Is Fallen Angel!
When we go to the chapters of Jude 6 and 2 Peter 2, there are several mentions of the fallen angels. These angels did not stay in their position of authority but rebelled against God, and now they’ve been kept in eternal chains until the day of judgment. Our God is a God of justice; there is no escaping His justice. Satan is also going to be subjected to God’s justice. How do we know this?
The Bible talks about the devil’s fate in Revelation 20:10, “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” This is his ultimate fate, and he will not escape it.
The Many Roles of Satan In The Bible
Satan has many roles. We know him as the ruler of the world (John 12:31). Another name for him is, he is the Prince of The Power of the Air (Ephesians 2:2).
He is also the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). He is an accuser as he accuses the righteous ones of God (Revelation 12:10).
One of the biggest roles of the devil is in being the tempter; he tempts God’s children into sinning (Matthew 4:3).
Another role he plays is that of a deceiver (Revelation 20:3). He has been deceiving mankind since the very beginning (Genesis 3).
He is also known as Beelzebul, the prince of demons (Matthew 12:24). The very meaning of the name ‘Satan’ is accuser; he opposes the plans and purposes of God and is absolutely malevolent.
What Are Some of The Different Names for Satan?
The Devil
• Devil: One of the most popular names given to Satan is ‘devil.’ The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Here, the devil is compared to a roaring lion, which means he is fierce, unrelenting, and powerful. We must exercise caution and put on the complete Armor of God to resist the devil.
The Accuser
Accuser: The devil is an accuser; he takes every opportunity to accuse the children of God. The Bible speaks of the devil as an accuser in Revelation 12:10, “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” The devil’s fate is sealed, and nothing can stop the judgments of God.
The Chief of The Devils – Beelzebub
• Beelzebub: A popular reference to the word ‘Beelzebub’ can be seen in the 12th chapter of Matthew, where Jesus healed a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. To this, the Pharisees said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” Jesus knew what they were talking about and eventually silenced them. Beelzebul is also mentioned in the book of Kings (2 Kings 1,6,16), where the Philistines worshipped him, but he was known by a different name Baal.
The Tempter
• Tempter: The devil has been known to be a tempter from the very beginning. He tempted Eve into eating the fruit of the Tree of Life, thereby sinning against God. One mention of the devil as a tempter can be seen in 1 Thessalonians 3:5, “For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.” Paul is talking to the church in Thessalonica here and encouraging them to hold onto their faith. The tempter comes to destroy our faith, but we need to cling to our faith because our God is able.
The Deceiver
• Deceiver: The devil is a massive deceiver; his very purpose is to kill, steal and destroy. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:4, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” The deceiver blinds the mind of the people of the world so that they don’t see the light of God’s great salvation.
The Adversary
• Adversary: Yes, the devil is our adversary. He is always seeking someone to devour; he’s always on the prowl. But how does this affect us as believers? Well, we do give the devil a bit too much power at times. On other days, we underestimate him. So how do we stay balanced? It’s simple, really! By staying saturated in the Word of God. By being filled with the Holy Spirit and depending on Him for all things.
Note above that Lucifer is not another name for Satan!
Is Lucifer The Same as Satan?
No! They are two separate beings! I have written about Lucifer – Son of The Morning. Click the link to read up on him.
Then return here to learn more about the difference between him and Satan.
If you think that Lucifer and Satan are the same think about this.
Is bauxite the same as aluminum? No. After much processing of bauxite, it becomes aluminum which could be used to manufacture many household utensils including a cooking pot.
But the pot is not made from bauxite but aluminum. Bauxite is not aluminum, and neither is aluminum bauxite, although the latter comes from the former.
Similarly, Lucifer was a perfect angel in heaven until iniquity was found in him. (Ezekiel 28:15). He was righteous and holy, that is, without sin.
Then, he became Satan or the Devil who is devoid of all righteousness!
They are not the same! Lucifer was holy but Satan is evil!
What Is Satan’s Role In The Book of Job?
We know that Satan tormented Job. At the beginning of the book, we see Satan going to the Lord and talking about Job. The Lord describes him as a blameless and upright man who feared God and shunned evil (Job 1:1).
During the conversation between Satan and God, Satan accuses God of protecting Job. The argument here was that Job only loved God because the Lord was always protecting him.
God then gave him permission to test him, with the exception of taking his life.
So, Satan took away everything that Job had including his children and possessions. He left him with nothing.
Here, Satan acted as an accuser. However, Job defeated him because Job stayed faithful to the Lord. God, in His sovereignty, allowed Satan to destroy Job’s life, but ultimately, God was victorious.
Does Satan Really Exist & And How Do We Know This?
Yes, Satan does exist. We know so because of what the Scripture says about him.
The Bible mentions Satan from the book of Genesis to the end of Revelation. Jesus also mentioned him several times.
The entire Biblical drama revolves around the adversary, his doings, and the redemption and plan of salvation.
In describing the devil, the Bible says in John 8:44, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires.
He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him.
When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
The verse says that the devil was a murderer from the very beginning and that there is no truth in him.
The Bible is the living Word of God, and we know for certain that it is the absolute truth. That’s why we believe what it says.
Conclusion
We’ve seen who Satan is; we’ve also seen the difference between the names Lucifer and Satan.
We’ve seen the different roles played by the devil and then the different names of the devil and their significance. We also saw how Satan played a vital role in the life of Job and how he accused the man.
We’ve seen how he is capable of causing harm, but only with God’s permission. The devil cannot do anything without God’s permission.
Yes, the devil is real. We must stay saturated in the Lord at all times. We cannot slack or fall behind.
Finally, God is with us, and He will see us through. When we have an assurance of salvation, eternal life is definitely ours!
Lucifer is no more, but Satan is real, alive, and very active on the earth. Satan exists! But he has an end.
Satan is not a person. He is an angel. The Devil is the father of all evil spirits. He himself is a spirit. He is not a person!
