FOUNDATIONAL SURVEY OF THEOLOGY
Section Eight: ANGELOLOGY
Lesson Five: THE OFFENCE AND OBJECTIVE OF SATAN
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“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! (How) you are cut down to the ground, you who did weaken 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 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.
Those who see you will gaze at you, (saying, is) this the man who made the earth to tremble, who shook kingdoms; who made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed its cities, (Who) did not open the house of his prisoners?” Isaiah 14.12-17
From his creation as “Perfection” (Ezek. 28.15), Lucifer,which means “light bearer,” is found in rebellion against the Holy God, his Creator.
He, who began as “perfect in all his ways…” containing a”multitude of merchandise,” is the one who purposed to be “filled in the midst with violence” (Ezek. 28.16); “lifted up because of his beauty” and “corrupted his wisdom by reason of his brightness” (Ezek. 28. 17).
As we consider Satan’s offence, note God’s continuing discourse is against “a king.” In this passage, Isaiah the prophet, speaks against the “King of Babylon” (Isa. 14.4) God calls for a proverb.
This king is certainly not Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, the Head of Gold, for he will not come on the scene for a hundred years. This proclamation is also contrary to Nebuchadnezzar’s final end, as he “extolled and honored the King of Heaven…” (Dan. 4.33-37).
This king is obviously the “god of this w orld” (2 Cor. 4.4;1 Cor 8.5) who actively seeks the worship of men. This king desires to be “like the Most High…” without honoring Him Who created him.
I. The OFFENCE of Satan, Revealed in His Rebellion
A. His Pride of POTENTIAL
“I will ascend into heaven”
Question: From where is Satan ascending if he was not in heaven when he made this declaration?
B. His Pride of POWER
“I will exalt my throne above the stars of God”
Question: Who are these “stars of God?”
C. His Pride of POSITION
“I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation”
Question: What does this term signify?
D. His Pride of PERFORMANCE
“I will ascend above the heights of the clouds”
Question: What kind of ability and productivity is required to accomplish this feat?
E. His Pride of PRAISE
“I will be like the Most High.”
Question: What is wrong with desiring to be like the Most High? Note, this is the same rational Satan used with Eve.
“And the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Gen. 3.4-5
This lie has been around a long time.
II. The OBJECTIVE of Satan, Revealed in His Character
A. Consider his PERSONAL NAMES
1. “Lucifer,” son of morning
The “shining one,” this was apparently his original name, given him by God following his creation. Only God refers to him by this name, although Satan apparently seeks to maintain the image (cf. 2 Cor. 11.14).
2. “Satan,” the resister, the hater
He is the agitator, who seeks to provoke God by afflicting the human race. Observe the manner of his
activity afflicting God’s servants in the following Scriptures.
The Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 4.9-10, 16.23)
David (1 Chron. 21.1)
Job (Job 1.6-22, 2.3-8)
Ananias (Acts 5.3)
Church-age believers (1 Cor. 5.5)
The Apostle Paul (2 Cor. 12.7)
3. “Devil,” slanderer or accuser
Observe him:
“tempting” (Matt. 4.1; Luke 4.2 )
“possessing” (John 6.70, 13.2)
“reproducing” (John 8.44)
“sinning” (1 John 3.8)
“snaring” (1 Tim. 3.7; 2 Tim. 3 .6-7)
“deceiving” (Rev. 20.10)
4. “Apollyon”
This name means destruction or destroyer (Rev. 9.11).
5. “Beelzebub”
This name which means “lord of the fly, lord of the dung heap.”
This false title attributed to the Lord Jesus Christ by the religious establishment of the day. This erronous attitude comprised the sin referred to as the “unpardonable sin” (cf. Matt. 12.24, 27, Luke 11.15-19).
6. “Belial”
This name means “worthless” or “lawless,” (Deut. 13.13; 1 Sam. 30.22; 2 Chron. 13.7, 2 Cor. 6.15).
B. Consider his PERSONALITY NATURE
1. He is called “The prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2.2)
2. He is called “the god of this world” (2 Cor. 4.4)
3. He is called “the ruler of demons” (Matt. 12.24)
4. He is called “the ruler of this world” (John 12.31)
III. The Oppostion to Satan
The Christian can draw solace from his Lord’s revelation,Satan is a real enemy.
– Who is judged…
– Who is defeated by the Authority of God…
– Who appears free, but is controlled by the direction of God.
