The Nature of Satan

In Isaiah 14:12-15 we find the following image of Satan: “How you have fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.” In verse 11 it is written: “Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, and the sound of your stringed instruments; the maggot is spread under you, and worms cover you.”

Satan used to be a radiant star, the son of the morning. He stood in God’s always rising light, absorbing it within himself until he became a radiant star. But why was Satan cast down? Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” Luke 10:18. We find the answer in this sentence: “For you have said in your heart, ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.” Satan no longer heard God’s voice; he began to speak to himself—he heard a new voice. All misery has entered in because people have listened to other voices besides God’s voice. On the other hand, all the blessings come from listening to God’s voice. The woman was deceived by the serpent, and Adam, in his turn, listened to her voice. God said to Adam, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife . . . .” and then came all the misery. God said to Abraham: “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” Gen. 22:18. The blessing comes from listening to God’s voice.

Besides coming away from hearing God’s voice, Satan also turned his eyes away from God. He admired himself in the reflection of the glory which God had given him. Then the false “I,” which is the root of all evil, was born. Now Satan looked at other shining stars which God caused to shine, for his own glory.

Satan began to compare himself to them and measure his own greatness. The desire to rule was born in him, saying, “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God . . . .” He even went so far as to say, “I will be like the Most High.” Satan’s entire nature consisted of wanting to be something in himself, independent of God. God calls Himself by name, saying: “I AM.” Ex. 3:14. He does not give this name to anyone else. The one who wants to be something in himself is therefore in conflict with God and is expelled. The highest state any being can attain to is to be what God wants him to be. Therefore Jude writes in verse 6 about the angels who did not keep their proper domain but left their own habitation, that God has reserved them in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day. The one who is as God wants him to be keeps his proper domain.

Satan’s entire aim was to be great, to be like God. Jesus calls Satan “The prince of this world,” which he also is. Paul calls him, “The god of this world,” which he also is. His aim is to rule, getting as many servants as possible, and to impart his own nature to them so that they become like him.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:4 we find the man of sin mentioned who “opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God.” Satan does not forsake the course that he once chose to go.