Satan

Satan

There is nothing that causes us greater difficulty in understanding the Bible than our tendency to see its persons, events, and teachings, as we imagine them to be, rather than as they are actually described. We pick up notions here and there, and unconsciously we read the facts of Scripture in the colored light of these preconceptions.

Again, angels are always represented as winged creatures, and so we think of them. But Scripture does not describe them in this way. The cherubim and seraphim are winged; but angels are so much like us in appearance that they have been frequently mistaken for men. Abraham mistook them, so did Lot, and many others.

Some of these ridiculous ideas which we carry over into the Word of God are merely laughable, but many of them result most perniciously by distorting or perverting the truth of the Word. One of the most dangerous is the crude medieval conception of Satan that has come down to us from the Dark Ages. In it he is represented as a hideous being of repulsive appearance, usually with horns on his head, hoofs for feet. and bat-like wings. He is supposed to rule in hell, his chief delight being the torment of the souls of the damned. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Satan never was in hell, and it is his fixed purpose never to go there if he can help it. Again, instead of being hideous in appearance, he is the most beautiful and wonderful creature in all the creation of God. But let us see what the Bible actually tells us of him.

In Ezekiel 28:12-19, we have a picture of Satan as he was created. And lest someone should raise the objection that this is what he once was, but that now he has been so changed by sin that the description is no longer applicable, let us remind ourselves that “The gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” The word rendered repentance signifies change of intention; hence it is evident that there is no ground for believing in any change in Satan other than that taught directly in the Word, while on the contrary there is evidence pointing strongly to the position that he will always remain the noble and beautiful creature he was created, excepting always the changes in his character wrought by sin.

Reverting to our passage in Ezekiel, we find him addressed under the similitude of the King of Tyre. A moment’s consideration will show that the language of the prophecy could never have been intended to apply to a human king, but is descriptive, instead, of that wonderful being who controlled the earthly ruler and his realm. Nor need we hesitate to understand it in this way, since other instances of Satan being addressed through his instruments are not lacking in the Scripture. A most familiar one is that in Eden, where God, in pronouncing judgment on the devil for causing the fall of man, addresses him through the serpent which had lent itself to his scheme.

First, then, as to his place or order in the heavenly host, Satan is a cherub, one of that order of mighty beings that surround and uphold the throne of God. The descriptions of the cherubim as given in other passages are evidently figurative, hence it would seem that the passage before us presents the least symbolic description of one of them that we possess. The other cherubim are always represented as engaged in maintaining the holiness of God as opposed by sin. May it not be that this special feature of their work results from one of their number being the first sinner?

Be that as it may, it would appear that Satan not only belongs to this highest order of angelic beings, but that he was once their chief. Twice in this passage he is spoken of as the anointed cherub. Not only was he the honored one of his orders, but his wisdom is complete and his beauty perfect. He is also a great musician. The word translated workmanship in the text might be rendered in harmony—the harmony of thy tabrets and pipes, i.e., the love of music. Again he was once sinless: he was perfect in all his ways till iniquity was found in him.

What a wondrous picture! A being of the highest order, in exalted position, full of wisdom, perfect in beauty, and himself a lover of the beautiful—this wondrous being hides a heart of pride. (verse 17).

In Isaiah 14:12-15, we have a glimpse of his fall. The essence of all sin is found in his “I wills.” The will of God is perfect. To choose any other will than God’s is to cast reflection on His wisdom and goodness.

If any other way could be as good as God’s, then either He is not omniscient, He does not know everything, or He is not omnipotent, He cannot carry His will into effect, or He is not Goodness, because He chooses a way less good for us than the best. To choose our own will, then, as opposed to God’s is to doubt Him, to deny Him, and is the essential thing without which nothing is sin. “When Satan said, ‘I will,’ sin began.”

But Satan not only fell himself, but he also drew with him not a small part of the hosts of heaven. Ezekiel 28:16 may give us a hint of the way this was accomplished. The word rendered merchandise in the text may as properly be translated as slander. The passage then will read, “By the multitude of your slander they have filled the midst of the [heaven] with violence, . . . therefore I will cast them as profane out of the mountain of God.” Questioning the goodness of God Himself, he voices his unbelief, and many believe his slanders of the Omnipotent One.

The problem of the universe now confronts the Almighty. Sin has become an actual reality and must be eradicated—but this must be done in such a way that there can be no possibility of its ever reappearing to disrupt the harmony of creation. While it would have been within the power of the Almighty’s Omnipotence to annihilate Satan and his followers, it would not be consistent for an immutable God who has given his creation eternal life. To banish the fallen ones immediately to Hell might at first appear to be the simplest course of action. However, this approach carries a fatal flaw: had God done so, He would have left Himself open to the suspicion that perhaps Satan had been right all along, and that God had merely used His infinite power to crush opposition without regard for the merits of the case. The absolute wisdom, goodness, and love of God must be placed beyond all question. The only way this could be accomplished was through a complete demonstration of the futility of, and the wretched consequences resulting from, any choice other than the perfect will of the Creator. What patience and goodness are here revealed in Him, to whom all sin is an abomination, that He would permit it to run its full course so that, by its own consequences, it might be forever rejected.

Accordingly, God chose a corner of His universe for this demonstration—large enough to allow the full development of sin yet limited enough to confine its disastrous effects. A world was prepared with infinite wisdom and care, containing everything necessary for the highest development of humanity. Finally, man was placed upon it and given dominion. What a glorious destiny! Blessed with every temporal blessing and crowned with direct fellowship with the Creator.

But man did not maintain the position given him by God. Deceived by the Evil One, he surrendered his dominion to the deceiver. For, “To whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey” (Romans 6:16). Thus, Satan obtained dominion over this world, with man as his subject, and he immediately began to use his power to secure it for himself forever. His efforts toward this end—within the limitations imposed by God—constitute the history of our world.

If we are to understand the world and its movements rightly, we must keep in mind this great truth: that this earth is not under the direct control of God, but of Satan, who has been given practically free rein to act as he pleases. And this is all in fulfillment of the divine plan to provide a complete demonstration of the falsehood of sin.

It is therefore of the utmost importance for the Christian to be aware of this, and to be able to discern and properly evaluate the workings of Satan. Let us, then, examine his schemes, being assured by the Word that we are not ignorant of his devices.

His purpose is clearly stated in his declaration: “I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:14). And we find that he has had some measure of success, for Scripture refers to him as “the god of this world” and “the prince of the power of the air.” It is evident, then, that he plans to establish himself as the ruler and god of our earth.

But in this he faces two great obstacles. The first is the nature of sin. Only those who are in rebellion against God can become Satan’s subjects. And the heart that rejects the guidance of the Almighty is also inclined to resist any other authority unless it aligns with its own desires. Therefore, in order to achieve his goals, Satan must conceal his true intentions and shape his methods to appeal to the inclinations of his followers. He can only control them by leading them in a direction they are willing to go. This obstacle in itself would be sufficient to make his operations extremely difficult, but he is also beset by a still greater hindrance, the fact that God, while allowing him a practically free hand in the earth, yet maintains a suzerainty, supreme authority over it and at times steps in and vetos Satan’s plans or interferes with his operations, and that, most disastrous of all to the Devil’s purposes, He insists on keeping before the world a plan whereby all who will may return to their allegiance to the Most High and renounce Satan and his Kingdom forever. Were it not for this last, the Evil One could soon present a program to the world which the majority would eagerly accept, and he could then crush out all opposition from the minority by mere weight of numbers. But when once a soul returns to God, he is placed under the protection of the Omnipotent One, and the enemy can thereafter touch him only by special permission. And the lives and testimony of the saints of the earth are a thorn in his side that continually rouses every bit of hatred and immunity in his maligned nature.

These considerations will enable us to trace with reasonable accuracy the workings of his plan in history. His first effort was to have man accept him as a counselor and friend; but man’s own willful heart would brook no thought of following a leader. Thus, the race resented any sort of control until the flood, when a new start was made under the divine compulsion to recognize some form of government. Satan at once adjusted himself to this new condition, and sought to find men whom he could so control that through them he could govern the world. No little success has followed him in this, as the Scripture bears ample witness by its recognition of Him as the guiding power behind earthly monarchies and systems, as, for instance, the above quoted address to the King of Tyre. But opposing this control were always the few who were being won to God; and through the centuries their work has hampered an exasperated him until again and again he was hurled. The organized strength of the nations upon them in vain attempts to crush them out of existence. But he never succeeded, for always the restraining hand of God prevented his achieving success, while the persecutions which he had brought served but to make their love for God the stronger.

Now—Satan is not omniscient. Although the wisest of the creation of God, he has to learn, as must all other finite intelligences, by experience. And through the ages this mighty one has been slowly working out, with many experiments and failures, a plan which promises at last to place him at the goal of his heart’s desire—that he be openly accepted by all mankind as the prince and god of this world. But his experiments have shown him that man can be won only by flattery. He will, therefore, hide himself from view, and get all men occupied with the consideration of themselves and their greatness. When they have become sufficiently drunken in their pride, he will produce his masterpiece—a man in whom is summed up all human perfections, the antichrist.

But before such a stupendous dream can be realized, much must be done by way of preparation. Years count but little to an eternal being; and the development of Satan’s plan is a slow growth. He must get all the world ready for the coming of his superman. To produce him too soon would ruin everything.

Three great bodies exist among mankind: the world, the Church, and Israel. Satan’s strategy involves gaining control over each.

There are three great societal bodies, often indistinguishably intermingled yet always distinct in their essence, that exist among mankind and together comprise its totality.

The first is the world—that vast maze of political relationships which binds people together through external structures. We find it organized as nations and governments, as clubs and unions, as societies and monarchies—in short, all forms of outward organization fall under this category. To avoid misunderstanding this classification, we must remember that the authority for such organization is God-given, made necessary by sin. Christ and His apostles not only affirmed the legitimacy of such institutions but also emphasized the necessity of recognizing and submitting to the authority of those under which we live. Since these organizations, in one form or another, encompass all of humanity, it is essential to Satan’s plan that he gain control over them all. Many have already yielded to his influence.

Let us pause to consider how Satan exercises control. Contrary to commonly held beliefs, Satan is personally opposed to all degrading forms of sin. If we remember his nature—his inherent love of beauty, his overwhelming pride in himself and his accomplishments, and his ultimate goal of claiming the earth as his eternal dominion—we can see why this must be so. Satan wants to make this world the best place he possibly can, because he desires it as his eternal home.

With this goal in mind, he fills the earth with hospitals, schools, institutes, universities, vice commissions, temperance movements, and every other kind of agency that human ingenuity can devise to improve the world. It matters not to him whether the original idea was born in a heart filled with the love of God or emerged from the Church. If it is good, he seeks to control it. He then strives to occupy minds with the temporal aspects of the work, excluding the spiritual. No matter how commendable a movement’s aims may be, if it fails to proclaim the Cross of Calvary as the sole remedy for sin—and instead focuses on improving present conditions while neglecting eternal interests—then that agency has come under Satan’s influence to the extent that these conditions prevail.

Can we deny that the tendencies of the “religious work” lean in this direction? Often it aims only at reforming the sinner, not regenerating him. Satan is making rapid progress in gaining control of the organized world.

Yet he is unquestionably meeting with much opposition in his operations. If we seek the source of this resistance, we find a second body existing within the body politic—sometimes harmonious, sometimes discordant in its subbodies—yet manifesting a peculiar unity in its essential features. This is the Church of God, bought with the precious blood of Christ, its members made new creatures by the imparted divine nature. It is organized similarly to other bodies in the world, for its people are still in the world and subject to the necessity of organization, but though organized, it is more than an organization—it is an organism, throbbing with a new life of its own, fed and nurtured by its communion with the Holy One. By its very nature, it must oppose Satan and his works, for its life depends on the One whom Satan has chosen to disobey and defy. Satan has often tried to destroy the Church, but his persecutions have only driven it closer to God. Now, however, he has a new strategy: he seeks to make the Church contemplate its own excellence instead of the Lord. Filled with pride, it becomes an easy prey to doubt and unbelief. This is how Satan fell, how he caused the fall of humanity, and how he hopes to bring about the downfall of the Church.

Nothing more surely saps the vigor of a Christian’s faith than unsanctified human knowledge. Therefore, Satan would educate us in ways to accomplish our ends apart from God’s intervention. He would make us independent of our Maker. Simple faith takes God at His word and leaves the means to Him. But our well-informed reason demands to know the way and see the possibility before believing. Thus, we belittle God and confine Him within our own limitations. This is not to promote ignorance, but to warn against allowing our “scientific” knowledge to bind our faith in the Omnipotent One. Small wonder that Jesus said, “Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein,” and again, “When the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”

Thus, is revealed Satan’s chief weapon against the people of God. Filled with the pride of knowledge, men everywhere are losing their faith in the supernatural, and professing Christianity is drifting into the state described in the Laodicean Church. Yet there will always be some who heed the apostolic warning: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit.” These faithful ones are the force opposing Satan’s work and hindering the manifestation of his masterpiece, the “Man of Sin.” God must soon remove these faithful ones from the earth, and then shall be revealed that “lawless one,” the very expression of Satan.

So, the preparation of the Church progresses. More and more, her eyes are turned on herself; more increasingly, she loses her faith in God and focuses solely on man and his achievements. Can we doubt that, once the few who insist on the reality of an omnipotent God are removed, the Church will be ready to throw herself at the feet of the superman when he is revealed?

There is yet a third body to be discerned among men, God’s chosen people, Israel after the flesh. Proud and arrogant, they rejected their Messiah. And for nineteen hundred years they have been scattered among the nations—mingled with them yet never amalgamated—always maintaining their identity yet accomplishing nothing thereby except to make themselves a scorn and a hissing, the butt of ridicule, the victim of every persecution. What does Satan care for this people? Has he not accomplished their utter ruin? Are they not disinherited, expatriated, scattered, powerless? For an answer, look back on history. Note the persistent, merciless hatred with which they have been treated by almost every nation (and we have already seen that these nations are under the control of Satan), and we cannot but believe that there is something particular about this despised people that so rouses his animosity. They are the ones to whom God has promised dominion of this earth under His Son—the very dominion now held by the archenemy. Well, he knows this, and it is small wonder that he has followed them so relentlessly through the centuries. But with Israel, as with the Church, he has found it necessary to change his tactics. He cannot destroy them. But why can he not induce them to surrender their birthright to him? Adam did so.

What a seducer he has been, anyway. Did he not subvert a third of heaven by slander? Did Adam and Eve not yield to his first flattering attack? Is not the Church, that pet of the Hated One, coming to his side as he woos her with guile? He will change his treatment of the Jews. He will offer them a place where they are welcome. He will develop them, make them wealthy and influential among the nations. Then, when they are confident in themselves, proud of themselves, he will give them back their ancient patrimony—the land of Palestine—and make them a nation once more, a power in the eyes of all mankind. Even today, the nations of the earth are deliberating whether to establish the Jews in their own land. Then one day, the Antichrist will be revealed, and the people will accept him as their ruler.

The first and most difficult part of Satan’s purpose is achieved. He is the master of the whole earth. All mankind obeys him, with the exception of a very few—and they are without friends or influence. Every legal organization in the world acknowledges the Antichrist. The few individuals who dare to resist his authority do so at the peril of their lives. But the dearest hope of the master’s heart is still unsatisfied. He would be as God, receiving not only obedience but worship. He would be divine. 2 Thess. 2:4.

The world has long since ceased to believe in an omnipotent God. For a time, it looked as though Christendom would be an effectual champion of the God of Heaven, but she has corrupted her way and come instead to worship only herself—in the form of her achievements. Even the Church has largely apostatized and is resting satisfied with herself and these achievements. With the little nucleus of regenerated hearts removed, the whole body will be ready to unite with the world in acclaiming Satan’s superman as the embodiment of their ideals—and in giving worship to him who thus expresses their conception of the divine.

Satan is tasting the sweetness of his revenge over Him who cast him from heaven’s glory. Only a little more remains to be done—the work of a very short time—and his full purpose will be attained. He has but to set his superman, already acknowledged as divine, in Jehovah’s seat on Mount Zion.

But at the last moment, an unexpected hindrance presents itself. The Jews whom he has so benefited—dare to oppose him. No wonder his fury knows no bounds!

Forth to the world goes the word that their god—the embodiment of everything excellent in themselves—has been defied. Instantly, one and all declare that such trifling can be tolerated no longer. The rebels must be crushed and exterminated.

For millennia, those insolent Jews have been the plague of the earth, they say. Now they have overstepped all human endurance. Do they not owe their very existence to those they defy? Who allowed them to return to Palestine? Who gave them their land and their government? A mighty army gathers—the greatest ever seen. The world knows what a desperate fighter the Jew is when brought to bay, and too much is at stake for halfway measures. Undeterred by the portents of the wrath of that Heaven they have long despised, they pour their legions into Palestine. The Jews fight desperately, but it is of no avail. Outnumbered hundreds to one, they are driven back until only the Holy City remains to them. Modern siege guns make short work of their defenses. The Antichrist proclaims himself as master—as divine. But the day of the Lord has come. Zech. 14.

It concentrates in a point above The Mount of Olive, just before the temple. The point assumes shape—the shape of a Man. The hosts wait spellbound. Not one can look upon that wondrous Presence; not one can turn his eyes away. Majestically He descends. His feet touch the summit of the mountain. Then—Crash! The earth rocks and trembles while men rush hither and thither, seeking a place to escape from the Judge of all the earth.

What of the superman—he who just now proclaimed himself divine? There he lies on the pavement, withered and undone, powerless to move until taken by angelic hosts and consigned to his eternal doom—the lake of fire. And what of his master—the devil who devised it all? Look there he comes, bound by a single angel, to find his place in the abyss for a thousand years.

After a thousand years of freedom from Satan’s blighting presence, he is once more released—that all the universe may learn that temporal blessing is not enough to bind the soul to God. Again, the arch-deceiver finds men ready to receive him, to assist him in vengeance against those who so wrecked his master plan. But this time, he is defeated consigned forever to his eternal reward: the lake of fire. Rev. 20:7-10.

The demonstration is complete. The wisdom of God has been justified. The drama of sin has ended. The mighty curtain of fire envelops the stage. When it lifts, it reveals a new heaven and a new earth, purged by fiery baptism of every trace of sin—wherein dwells righteousness.