A Fallen Archangel
Scripture shows that God created three archangels—Gabriel, Michael, and Lucifer. Through sin and rebellion, Lucifer became Satan the devil. Satan means adversary. As one of the anointed cherubim who covered God’s throne in heaven, Lucifer was a magnificent spirit being. Apparently, he was eventually assigned to oversee the earth, a position he later came to resent. Indeed, over time the sin of vanity and pride manifested itself in Lucifer. Through seduction, he recruited a third of the angelic realm to his perverted way of thinking; ultimately, he rebelled and attempted to overthrow God. Defeated by the righteous angels, Lucifer—now Satan the devil—was cast out of heaven, along with his angels, now called demons. As a result, Satan and his demons are restricted to the earth (though Satan himself has limited access to heaven). They wonder the earth as perverse, degenerate spirits—seeking to thwart God’s plan.
Scriptural References
Ezek. 28:12-17
Isa. 14:12-14
Jude 6
Rev. 12:7-9
II Pet. 2:4
Jude 9
Enemy and Deceiver
As the archenemy of God and His people, Satan is crafty and seeks primarily to destroy through deceit—just as he did with Adam and Eve. Moreover, it is Satan’s evil spirit that is the power behind carnal human nature. The devil goes about seeking to spiritually devour God’s elect. He is the accuser of the brethren, and the father of lies. For the time, Satan is the “god” of this present age—the unseen ruler of this evil world. As such, he has all of mankind in the grip of massive deception—especially in the area of religion. He even has his own ministers who appear as “ministers of light”—but they only do his work of deception. As saints, we are to have no undue fear of Satan—for he can only do what God allows. But Scripture warns God’s people of the devil’s “fiery darts” of temptation, promising that if we diligently resist Satan, he will flee from us. Ultimately, remaining close to God is the only way to overcome the “wicked one.”
Scriptural References
Gen. 3:1-5
John 8:44
Eph 2:2-3
I Pet. 5:8
Rev. 12:10
II Cor. 4:4
Eph. 6:12
Rev. 12:9
I John 5:19
II Cor. 11:13-15
Eph. 6:11, 16
James 4:7
I John 2:13-14
To Be Destroyed
Having overcome Satan, Jesus Christ has qualified to replace him. At Jesus’ return, Satan will be bound throughout the one-thousand-year reign of Christ and the saints. Afterwards, Satan will be released for a brief time—to test the nations at the end of the millennial period. Finally, he and his demons will be thrown into the final lake of fire to be destroyed.
Scriptural References
Matt. 4:1-11
Rev. 20:1-3, 7-10
Lev. 16:20-22