FOUNDATIONAL SURVEY OF THEOLOGY
Section eight: ANGELOLGY
SATAN, HIS OCCUPATION AND OPPRESSION
____________________________________________________________
Satan’s program, his entire occupation, is opposition to God.
His methods and techniques will vary from time to time, but his general practice of lies and deception reveal his heart to undermine God’s glory. Since he is a creature, he thinks and functions as a creature. Thus without originality, he, the creature, resorts to counterfitting God’s program.
Unquestionably, Satan’s most active influence among men today is the counterfitting of his program as a replacement of the experiences and doctrines of God’s program as revealed in His Word, the Bible.
Christians are commanded to prove and test all doctrines and experiences in the supernatural realm in light of the Scriptures (1 Cor. 2.12-16, Phil. l.9-11, 1 Thess. 5.20-21, 1 Tim. 5.20-21, 1 John 4.1-6). Thus, trusting the Spirit of God to demonstrate the “spirit of error”, the believer can be equipped to “stand against the wiles of the Devil” (Eph. 6.10-18)
I. Satan’s Program Against God’s PLAN
A. Before the Creation of the Human Race
Satan’s rebellion was “iniquity” (Ezek. 28.15, Isa. 14.13-14) where he sought his own glory rather than serving the God of glory Who created him.
B. At the Fall of the Human Race
Satan’s program is “deception” (Gen. 3.1-6, 2 Tim. 2.14) and “lies” (Gen. 3.4 cf John 8.44).
C. After the Judgment upon the Human Race
Following his victory in the Garden of Eden, Satan understood God would send the “Seed of woman” to inflict a “head-crushing blow” a mortal wound, which would be the doom of Satan (Gen. 3.15). He is in an eternal struggle opposing that declaration.
Many Old Testament instances reveal his attempt to interrupt God’s Plan, culminating in Satan’s greatest
counterfit “Religion apart from God” (Rom. 1.18-32).
1. The murder of Abel (Gen. 4)
Satan attempts to remove by death the believing son of Adam, leaving the unbeliever. However, God provided Seth, whose name means “Substituted”, to take Abel’s place.
2. The angelic infiltration of humanity (Gen. 6)
Angelic infiltration by cohabitation with the “daughters of men”, attempting to destroy the human race
(More detail on this subject in our study on Satan’s demons).
3. Pharaoh’s attempt to kill all Israelite babies (Ex. 1)
God had promised “The Seed” to Abraham’s children and thus delivered Israel from the hand of Pharaoh,
Satan’s ruler over Egypt.
4. Pharaoh’s attempt to destroy the nation Israel at the Red Sea (Ex. 14)
God protected Israel “through the Sea” (Psalm 106.7-12) and destroyed the hosts of Pharaoh.
5. David’s family was under constant attack
Satan attempting to destroy the lineage of the KING-TO-COME, yet God preserved the line.
Consider the Bathsheba-Uriah incident (2 Sam. 11- 12). David deserved death for his sin, by penalty of Law
(2 Sam. 12.7; cf. Lev. 18.20; Ex. 20.15; Lev. 20.10)
Consider Saul, anointed king, who sought David’s life (1 Sam. 18.8-11, 25, 19.1, 10-11, 14-15, 20-21, 20.30-31, 23.13-15)
Consider the rebellion of David’s son Absolom (2 Sam. 13.28-31, 15.7)
6. Herod the Great sought to kill the Israelite male babies from Bethlehem to Ramah at the time of the
Saviour’s birth (Matt. 2)
God delivered the Lord and His family.
7. Satan sought to entice the sinless Son of God to sin (Matt. 4)
The Lord Jesus Christ, however, was perfectly dependent upon God the Holy Spirit to glorify the Father
in His life, thus the Word of God both encouraged the Saviour and dealt with Satan, “It is written…it is
written…it is written…”
8. Judas Iscariot indwelt by Satan (John 13.27)
Seeking to betray the Lord Jesus Christ, Satan used Judas, yet God used the cross to “Make Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Cor. 5.21).
II. Satan’s Program Against God’s PROVISION
A. He blinds men from the truth (2 Cor. 4.3-4).
1. The lost are blinded “in their minds”
2. The truth “glorious gospel of Christ
How that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures..” (1 Cor. 15.1-4).
B. He “snatches” the Word of Truth from them
Satan, to keep believers from the truth, (Luke 8.12; Matt. 13.19), keeping the “seed” from germinating,
confuses, deceives, etc.
C. He opposes the ministry of the Word of Truth (Rev.2.13, 2 Cor. 11.13-15,), He attacks the outreach of the Word byattacking the messenger of the Word.
III. Satan’s Program Against God’s PEOPLE
A. Describe Satan’s Attack upon God’s people in the following verses:
1. 1 Pet. 5.8
2. Matt. 4.1 ff.
3. Rev. 20.10
4. 1 Thess. 2.18
5. 2 Cor. 2.11
6. 2 Cor. 12.7
7. James 4.7-8
8. Heb. 2.14
B. Describe Satan’s attack upon you, your family, your church relationship in the Body of Christ.
Scripture Memory
“Finally, My brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil.” Eph. 6.10-11
