A few days ago, I began a series of studies about a figure called Satan, who or what figure is as is understood in the Bible, while pointing out that this is not the same as how we have come to know that figure today. Thus far, we have discovered that Satan is not an archangel, as is supposed, nor is he even an angelic figure. Christian tradition supposes he is the serpent that tempted the woman in Genesis 3, but we’ve found that there simply is not enough information there to point to a sentient, evil, angelic being. Instead, the metaphorical figure seems to point to Adam, vis-à-vis it was he who adopted a plan to seduce his wife into testing the word of God at Genesis 2:17 by eating of the tree (Genesis 3:6), which the Lord warned Adam not to eat. At this point in our study of this figure, since the Bible doesn’t describe an evil spiritual being called Satan or the serpent of Eden, does it describe a spirit being, whom we have come to believe to be Satan, but is really called the Devil?[1]
The Apocalypse mentions there coming to be war in heaven (Revelation 12:7), whereby the Dragon and his messengers fought Michael and his messengers. The Dragon lost the battle and was cast out of heaven (verse-8), and at that time he is identified as “that old serpent,” who is called the Devil and Satan, very same who deceives the world (verse-9). At this point the text announces the coming of “salvation, strength, and the Kingdom of God… for the Accuser of our brethren is cast down…” (Revelation 12:10).
Many would consider this scripture to be proof of the existence of an evil sentient spiritual being very much like the traditional figure we’ve come to know as Satan, the Devil. However, we should keep in mind that it is probably unwise to derive a literal interpretation from the most symbolic book in our Bible. If this is logical and true, what may we say of Revelation 12:7-10?
In chapter 10 of Luke’s Gospel narrative, Jesus sends out the Seventy disciples to preach to those places and cities he would visit on his way to Jerusalem from Galilee (Luke 10:1). Upon their return to him, they rejoice in finding that even the demons were subject to them through Jesus’s name (Luke 10:17). How Jesus replied is significant. He said: “I beheld Satan, as lightening, fall from heaven!” (Luke 10:18). Scholars conclude that this points to an original rebellion in heaven prior to the creation of mankind, but such an interpretation is pure supposition. Not an ounce of proof is submitted by anyone to show this is a valid understanding. If, however, we allow the sending out of the Seventy to be what is symbolized in the Apocalypse (Revelation 12:7-10), we are able to conclude what Jesus and his disciples were doing in the spirit. The preaching was physical, but the effect is spiritual. If this is so, then the terms, satan, serpent and devil point to physical figures, not spiritual entities. But, is this logical and true?
Scripture often connects certain men with the devil or the ‘accuser’ of God’s people. Paul called Elymas the sorcerer, a child of the devil (Acts 13:3-10). Jesus said that the one who would betray him is a devil, someone who slanders or falsely accused him, turning him over to those who desired his life (John 6:70-71; cp. John 13:2). He also claimed that the religious leaders of his day, who refused to receive him were children of the devil (John 8:44). Moreover, Jesus said that all those who claim to be his followers are not necessarily so. Though they dwell among his people claiming to be his, they are really the children of the devil. They bring slander and accusation upon Christ and his Body, the Church (Matthew 13:24-25, 37-39; cp. Revelation 2:9; 3:9; 2Peter 2:1-2).
In John 8:44; Jesus says that his accusers were children of the devil. Notice that Jesus says that the devil lusts! What does he lust after? The text says he desire to murder, but why do folks want to murder others? Isn’t murder committed over jealousy, hatred, envy, fear, greed, anger and the like, vis-à-vis works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21)? Moreover, Jesus says that the devil is also a liar from the beginning (John 8:44)! Didn’t Adam lie to his wife, saying touching the tree would result in death (Genesis 3:3; cp. 2:17), if not, why didn’t he correct his wife’s error, because he was there with her (Genesis 3:6)? Paul claims that the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) war against (Galatians 5:17) the works of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Doesn’t such a statement reflect the symbolism of Revelation 12:7-10 and the reality of Luke 10:1, 17-18)? Without any proof that the devil, satan or the serpent represent evil spiritual identities, how can they be anything other than evil, wicked men just as we find them referred to as such in the four Gospel narratives?
All of creation was affected by Adam’s sin. Death entered our race because of Adam’s sin of rebellion (Romans 5:12). Adam, the original satan, is responsible for it all, but he hid his crime (Job 31:33; cp. Genesis 3:12), suggesting in his reply that God was ultimately to blame for giving him the woman, whom he also blamed for his predicament. The slanderer, vis-à-vis the devil, veils his sin by accusing everyone else and excusing himself! But isn’t it wonderful that God never passes the buck. He accepted the blame for man’s rebellion, when Adam accused him, and in the fullness of time Jesus came and died—taking the blame for all the things done by the slanderer, vis-à-vis the Serpent, the Devil, called Satan.
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[1] This study represents a major redo of my original study: The Devil, Called Satan, Unveiled! I use some of what I said in the original, but my argument comes from a different direction to prove my conclusion, date: December, 2024.
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30 responses to “Is Satan the Devil?”
Greetings, and thanks for stopping by and letting me know how you understand the matter. I know that God could do anything he pleased. Certainly, he was the one who opened the mouth of the donkey to check the madness of the prophet. However, is this how we should understand Genesis 3? Was it God who opened the mouth of the serpent? If that is so, then it is God who tempted those folks to sin. I don’t believe that for one second, and what is more, I don’t think you do either once you think it through. The only way the “serpent” could talk is if God opened his mouth. The Bible doesn’t reveal any other being who is able to act against what is normal in creation. All things work according to how they were created in Genesis 1.
Therefore, unless God is the tempter, which James says is wrong (James 1:13), then all we have left is Adam. Man is as sly as a serpent and is able to find out the weakness of any animal. We are the wisest in that regard (Genesis 3:1). Nevertheless, this is not a salvation issue. You can believe as you please and I can as well, and we can both be brothers in Christ. Hope that sits well with you.
Lord bless.
Dear man of God. one man of God once told me there was a first eden, where God put lucifer which was not dressed like that of adam. it was decorated with gems. he quoted the words from Ezekiel 28:12… but after the “attempt to establish his throne” above God, he was thrown to the earth like “thunder” together with his angels, which brought the earth to its deformity found in Gen 1:2, which indicates the fall being before adam. then God reformed the earth and this time placed adam and put green to make it beautifull. now, as the spirits that are called demons these days have the ability to possess people, isn’t it possible that the serpent was under their influence? I am just a child of God trying to learn more about Him, which is how i came across this site and i am also still trying to understand the scenario above but i would love to know what’s your take on this? Peace be with you brother
Dear Brother in Christ, I am as you are — simply a man trying to understand all I can about our wonderful God.
Once I believed just as this man of God had told you, namely, that Genesis 1:2 represented an age long before he created man, when God had created angels but some rebelled making the earth without form and void and the support for this comes from Jeremiah 4:22-23. However, this picture painted a picture of God that doesn’t seem true. First, it seems he had another idea before creating man and changed his mind. God doesn’t do that. Secondly, it painted a picture of God who was not almighty in that he was unable to change what had been done — i.e. he could not save this “Satan” from the evil he committed. Third, this teaching paints a picture of God willing to place those whom he refers to as his children in harms way. The end result is some will be saved and some lost forever. This ultimately produced fear in the hearts of those who love him — but if God is truly almighty, we have nothing to fear.
Folks today give this “Satan” godly powers like making him present everywhere; giving him strength and wisdom second only to that of God. Moreover, if we judge the spiritual battle by what we see around us, this “Satan” is winning the war against God. Does this seem possible to you? It didn’t to me, so I began to look a little deeper, beyond what I had been taught — by good men of God. Remember, I have nothing evil to say about these men. They did not think up this doctrine. They simply believed, just as you and I do.
I don’t know if you read other blogs of mine concerning this subject, but I wrote a series showing “Satan” is Adam. I discussed the King of Tyre of Ezekiel 28 HERE, perhaps you would like to read what I said there about Ezekiel 28:12. I cannot explain everything. I am but a man, but I do know this in my heart of hearts: “Satan” is not God, and he is not present everywhere (unless he is man — then he is everywhere on the face of the earth); he is not all powerful, and God did not create him to make me afraid. God is a Being who is full of love for you and me, and we have nothing to fear. He will provide for our needs and strengthen us in time of trouble. He has always been faithful to me, and I hope to be faithful to him to my dying breath.
Lord bless you, my Brother in Christ.
Ed-
I was reading your comments and you said this:
“Concerning the people God cuts off and saying they **force** him to do this, how can anyone “force” God to act against his own desires (1Timothy 2:4). Now (temporary) punishment is one thing, but if what God desires is for good (and he always desires to do good) how can anyone “force” him to do something he doesn’t consider “good” for us in the first place? Either God loves the (whole) world (John 3:16) or he doesn’t. Either Jesus died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6) or he didn’t. Either his death is the payment of all mankind’s sin (1John 2:2) or it isn’t. And, if it is payment for all, why would God act like it is not by punishment (some) forever?”
The Bible says:
Psalm 19
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is your servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. 12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse you me from secret faults. 13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
So the Lords judgements are true and righteous all toghether, they are “good”; he punishes the wicked for thier wicked deeds, and for what they have done to Gods people. No one forces God to do this, this is simply the consequense of the path they chose which God has clearly laid out. If he didn’t punish them there would be no justice; and God is just no?
But God pleads with us to choose life in Deut 30 to choose life:
11 For this commandment which I command you this day, it is not hidden from you, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it to us, that we may hear it, and do it? 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it to us, that we may hear it, and do it? 14 But the word is very near to you, in your mouth, and in your heart, that you may do it.
15 See, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil; 16 In that I command you this day to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that you may live and multiply: and the LORD your God shall bless you in the land where you go to possess it. 17 But if your heart turn away, so that you will not hear, but shall be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; 18 I denounce to you this day, that you shall surely perish, and that you shall not prolong your days on the land, where you pass over Jordan to go to possess it. 19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live: 20 That you may love the LORD your God, and that you may obey his voice, and that you may hold to him: for he is your life, and the length of your days: that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Therefore choose life! that both you and your seed may live.
And it is clear in Daniel 12:2 that some will not choose death, but will die and be gone forever.
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Some are risen to everlasting life and some to everlasting abhorrence or death.
Because after all “There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked” Is 48:22.
Greetings Joe, and thanks again for stopping by. I am uncertain as to what you are taking issue with. I can presume you are disagreeing with me concerning eternal punishment, but you don’t say for sure.
If this is the issue, you left out the rest of the paragraph you quoted above that came from my comments, and it puts my understanding in perspective. That is:
I agree that the wicked will be punished. One cannot read the Bible and come away with any other point of view, unless one isn’t really considering what one is reading. Therefore, the issue between you and me would be the length of that punishment. Is it eternal in the sense of never ending, or is it temporal and would end at some unspecified time. According to my understanding the Hebrew and Greek words that are translated into the English word “forever” or “everlasting” etc., they refer to an “age” that can be without end, or they can refer to several thousand years (the age before the Flood is described with this word), or it can be the length of a man’s life or as little as three days and three nights.
Therefore, I determine the meaning of the word as it applies to man’s punishment by what God’s word says about what Jesus did. He paid the price of sin, and the wages of sin is death, according to Romans 6. Some will describe “death” as eternal fire, or eternal separation from God, or maybe they would give it another definition, like “eternal blackness of darkness — no consciousness”. The point is “death” however one may describe it is the last enemy to be destroyed by Jesus, according to 1Corinthians 15. The only way there can be **no death** is if everyone is alive. Therefore, Jesus sacrifice eventually reaches the most hardened sinner and brings him to repentance, if not today, then in the judgment.
Lord bless you,
Eddie