No. 757
“Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. . . . thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee . . .” (Ezek. 28:15-16)
There are some who deny altogether that such a being as Satan exists. They have been repulsed by nonsensical accepted teachings about Satan and have concluded not only to reject what the creeds teach about him, but have rejected the Bible teachings about him as well, considering them to be identical. This flies in the face of reason, experience, and Scripture. Reason suggests, as the Bible teaches, that sinful acts, like righteous acts and the universe itself, must have been originated by some first cause. Furthermore, the first cause of sinful acts must have itself been sinful; and since sinful acts imply purpose as well as cause, their originator must have been a being endowed with a mind and a will, hence a being – a person.
Reason thus tells us that the first cause or source of sin must exist and is a being, and the Bible assures us that this being is Satan. Experience likewise suggests to us that there are also at least a number of other invisible evil beings – evil spirits. On no other grounds can we explain the frequent, sudden injection of irrelevant, unfamiliar, foreign and repulsive evil thoughts into the minds of human beings – thoughts not suggested by the principles, activities, circumstances and experiences of those into whose minds they are injected.
SATAN A PERSONAL BEING
Many Bible passages and incidents show the personhood of Satan. It is certainly implied in his acts toward Job and the connected dealings between God and Satan. (Job 1:6-12; Job 2:1-7) It is also consistent with the thought of Satan’s personhood when he resisted the high priest Joshua and God rebuked him. (Zech. 3:1-2) Jesus strongly implied Satan’s personhood by stating that Satan may adopt policies foreign to his usual course to bolster his diminishing cause. (Matt. 12:24-26) This was also clearly taught when Jesus stated that Satan was once in the Truth but “abode not in the truth,” later originating falsehoods and murdering the human family by introducing sin into the world. (John 8:44; Gen. 3:1-7)
If Satan is merely the principle of evil as some claim, how could he ever have been in the Truth? If Satan were the principle of evil and not an evil person who works through evil principles, it would have been completely contrary to St. Paul’s stated purpose to deliver the erring Corinthian brother to Satan for corrective stripes. (1 Cor. 5:5) Paul showed that he was a firm believer in a personal devil when he cautioned the Corinthians, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” (2 Cor. 2:11) How could Satan have “devices” unless he could think and plan? Making devices implies thought and purpose and thus personhood. Certainly when he transforms himself into an angel of light from an angel of darkness, he must think and reason, which of course implies personhood. (2 Cor. 11:14)
The fact that fallen angels “believe and tremble” – and therefore think and feel – proves that Satan, their leader, thinks and feels and thus is a personal being. (Jas. 2:19) Satan’s walking about as a “roaring lion,” seeking especially Christians as his prey, proves his personhood. (1 Pet. 5:8-9) When Michael contended with him over the body of Moses, which Satan seemed to want for use as an object of worship in Israel, it was consistent with him being a real, personal being, and not the abstract principle of evil. (Jude 9) Accordingly, reason, facts and Scripture prove that Satan is a personal being.
LUCIFER CREATED PERFECT
The being we call Satan was originally good. The Hebrew word satan means “adversary” or “opponent,” but that was not his original name. Until he sinned and led the human race into sin, his name was Lucifer, meaning “light-bearer.” (Isa. 14:12) In nature and rank he was a cherub, one of the highest of all angels. (Ezek. 28:14, 16)
The Prophet Ezekiel gives a comprehensive description of this cherub’s history, both before and after he sinned, and also describes his final end – annihilation. (Ezek. 28:12-19) He is addressed as the “king of Tyrus” – Tyre symbolizing the present evil world, whose ruler is Satan. His original physical, mental, moral and religious perfection is described in both literal and figurative language. He is described as being “full of wisdom” and “perfect in beauty.” He is pictured as covered with various precious stones, illustrating his moral and religious qualities prior to his fall. (Ezek. 28:12-13) Precious stones are elsewhere used to symbolize the moral and religious perfections of the New Jerusalem – the glorified Church, the Bride, the Lamb’s Wife. (Rev. 21:11-21) Such stones were also set in the high priest’s breastplate. (Exod. 39:10-13)
Lucifer remained perfect even for a while after he was made guardian angel to Adam and Eve in Eden. (Ezek. 28:15) The Prophet describes his work in Eden and then describes his position and work among the heavenly hosts. He was perfectly righteous and good from the time of his creation and for probably millions of years after until he fell into sin in Eden. His subsequent fall into corruption is graphically described, followed by his final exposure and annihilation in the Little Season following the Millennium. (Ezek. 28:16-19)
OTHER DESCRIPTIVE NAMES
Other names and expressions applied to Satan in the Bible illustrate his qualities and activities subsequent to his fall. Thus he is called:
Beelzebub or Baalzebub – meaning “lord of the fly.” Baalzebub was the Philistine god of Ekron (which means “uprooting” or “destruction”). (2 Kings 1:2-6, 16) This name is symbolic of Satan’s plague of errors (flies) leading to war and destruction. (Matt. 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15)
Belial – meaning “wicked” or “worthless.” This is another name descriptive of his character. (2 Cor. 6:15)
Devil – from the Greek word diabolos, meaning a false accuser, a slanderer. This is descriptive of his opposition to God, the Truth, righteousness, mankind in general and the good in particular. (Matt. 4:1; Luke 4:2, 6; Rev. 20:2)
Enemy – descriptive of his malicious actions and hate-filled attitude. (Matt. 13:39)
God of this world – descriptive of him as the ruler of the present evil order of affairs. (2 Cor. 4:4)
Liar and father of lies – descriptive of his deceitfulness and his role as the originator of error. (John 8:44)
Murderer – by introducing sin he murdered the whole human family. (John 8:44; Rom. 5:12)
Serpent and old serpent – describes his poisonous and cunning nature. (Gen. 3:4, 14; Rev. 20:2; 2 Cor. 11:3)
Prince of this world – because he is by usurpation the ruler of the present evil order of affairs among mankind. (John 12:31; John 14:30; John 16:11)
Prince of devils – because he is the ruler over the fallen angels. (Matt. 12:24)
Prince of the power of the air – descriptive of the invisible nature of his rule over humanity through the fallen angels. (Eph. 2:2)
Spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience – because he uses the wicked and disobedient as his servants and tools. (Eph. 2:2)
Tempter – he entices to sin, error, selfishness and worldliness. (Matt. 4:3; 1 Thess. 3:5)
Wicked one – the absence of goodness in his character is rightly described by the words the poet Milton puts into his mouth: “Farewell remorse: all good to me is lost; Evil, be thou my good.” (Matt. 13:19, 38)
Thus we see that his Biblically-given names accurately describe his character, works and office. A being correctly characterized by such names must surely be the supreme of all sinners and evil-doers.
LUCIFER’S FALL FROM PERFECTION
Lucifer was good when he came from the creative hand of God – God did not make him so that he had to sin. On the contrary, God gave him a disposition favorable to righteousness and averse to sin. This naturally raises the question of how he could have sinned if there was no sin in the world and no sinful propensities in his original make-up.
The possibility that he would sin lay in the fact that he was endowed with liberty of choice. As one of the highest of the angels (Isa. 14:12), some of the other angels were his subordinates and by divine arrangement gave him the honor and obedience due to his rank above them. It was in harmony with God’s order for him to both desire and receive such honor and obedience, but it seems that Lucifer permitted his mind to dwell excessively on receiving such recognition. Thus he failed to keep such desires in proper subjection to the higher desire to please God above all things and to receive honor and obedience only in accordance with God’s arrangements. The more he harbored in his heart the desire to receive deference from others, the stronger this desire became. He began to desire honor and obedience from those who were not put under his charge by God.
Thus a craving gradually grew in him for more honor and power than God had arranged for him. As he contemplated the race of mankind and its possibilities, his growing ambition made him begin to see in the human family a possible dominion from which he could gain further honor and obedience than God offered him. His ambition was then the controlling quality of his heart. The limits of this guardianship over the human family in Eden were too confined to satisfy his growing desire for honor and obedience, prompting him to lead unfallen mankind into sin as the only way by which his ambition could be gratified.
We may reasonably assume that at the outset Lucifer did not intend to go as far as he has gone. His course gradually turned him from Lucifer, the “light-bearer,” into Satan, the “adversary” – a relentless opponent of God and man. There is a saying, “He who says A must say B too.” In other words, whoever gives in to wrong for his own advantage will have to go ever further in wrong to secure his ends. Satan has gone further than B – we might say he has now gone as far as Y, and by the end of the Millennium he will go to Z, the full limit of evil, whereupon his destruction will ensue. (Heb. 2:14)
The course he has taken has wrought fearful havoc with his own once holy character; it has destroyed his fellowship with God and all those in harmony with God; it has drawn many angels into sin and its evil results and has brought sin and ruin upon the human family.
As a result of his course, Satan became cunning instead of wise, most unjust instead of just, most selfish instead of loving, and most obstinate in evil instead of powerful in good. As a result he is the most conspicuous example of depraved character in the universe – almost the synonym of sin itself. He has attained all of his ambitions: He has become “the prince of this world.” (John 12:31; John 14:30; John 16:11) He has blinded the minds of the human family under “this present evil world.” (2 Cor. 4:4; Gal. 1:4) He has achieved prince-ship over the fallen angels. (Matt. 12:24; Eph. 2:2; Eph. 6:11-12) Yet his example of “vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself” has come at a terrible cost to himself and to all his underlings! Let us avoid imitating him.
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!” (Isa. 14:12) Because of the course he has taken, the once glorious angelic being has been cut off from association with holy things and sentenced to final destruction.
THE FOUNDATION OF SATAN’S EMPIRE
The Prophet Isaiah describes how Satan’s unholy ambition brought about his fall into sin and the establishment of his empire:
“For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.” (Isa. 14:13) Satan vowed to make himself an exalted ruler, the king over the angels (“stars” – Job 38:7), the ruler over the kingdom (“mount” – Dan. 2:35, 44, 45; Isa. 25:6) of the human family (“congregation”), an invisible spiritual ruler. The “sides of the north” refers to the Pleiades in the north, long considered the center of the universe, representing God’s throne which Satan sought to usurp.
“I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” (Isa. 14:14) Satan vowed to put himself out of reach of all trouble, founding an independent empire in which he would be God’s equal.
Thus we see that he has founded an empire having two phases. The first is an invisible phase consisting of the fallen angels under his leadership. This is the higher and controlling phase of his empire. The second phase is a visible and subordinate phase, consisting of human agents as the visible representatives among men of the invisible and ruling fallen angels.
The earthly phase of Satan’s empire is composed of three divisions: oppressive governments, predatory aristocracies and false religions. Three classes of officials represent the three divisions: rulers, aristocrats and clergy.
Satan established the principle of “divine right” as the foundation principle supporting his empire. This principle has three forms corresponding to the three divisions of his empire: the divine right of kings (rulers), the divine right of aristocracy (the elite class), and the divine right of clergy. This doctrine in its three forms was calculated to make the masses submit blindly to the leadings of the three classes of officials as a matter of divine sanction and obligation. This principle of divine right was calculated to indoctrinate the masses and keep them in subjection to Satan’s representatives, and thus to him. This becomes manifest when we consider what the three forms of this principle mean:
Divine right of kings: Through his mouthpieces, especially the clergy, Satan taught the following: (1) Kings (rulers) are God’s direct appointees, vicegerents and representatives. (2) Rulers do exactly what God wants them to do. (3) Therefore, God sanctions all the acts of rulers (which means, e.g., God sanctioned all the acts of the Czar, the Kaiser, etc.). (4) Therefore, people are duty bound to obey without question everything their rulers require. The principle of the divine right of rulers was calculated to keep the people subject to those rulers whose selfishness Satan could depend upon to advance those governmental policies he wished advanced. Thus he could control the people governmentally by the divine right doctrine.
Divine right of the aristocracy: He caused the following things to be taught, especially through the clergy: (1) It is the divine will and pleasure that practically the whole earth and its riches be owned and administered by the aristocracy (now usually called “capital” – the privileged upper class). (2) The aristocracy act as stewards and almoners of the Almighty, dispensing on their own terms (through wages, charitable works, etc.) the surplus of earth’s bounties to the remainder of mankind who are their slaves, serfs or employees. (3) God sanctions the administration of affairs by the upper class. (4) Therefore, the masses should be content with their lot and with what is dispensed to them by the upper class. The principle of the divine right of the aristocracy was calculated to keep the people subject as employees, servants or slaves to the aristocratic upper class. Satan could depend on the selfishness of the upper class to advance those aristocratic policies that he wanted advanced. Thus he could control the people economically and socially by the divine right doctrine.
Divine right of the clergy: Satan caused the following thoughts to be taught, especially by the clergy: (1) God speaks to the people through the clergy. (2) Therefore, the clergy are His mouthpieces dispensing the truth. (3) He sanctions the teachings of the clergy. (4) Therefore, the people should with unquestioning minds blindly believe and practice the clergy’s teachings. The principle of the divine right of the clergy was calculated to make the people subject to the clergy, on whose selfishness Satan could depend to advance those religious teachings and practices that he wanted advanced. Thus he could control the people religiously by the divine right doctrine.
The doctrine of divine right is of course false as a whole and in its three forms. It was calculated to keep the human race subject to Satan and since the flood it has succeeded until recent times, when wars and social debates have somewhat set it aside throughout Christendom.
For the good of his empire Satan has always seen to it that some “law and order” has existed; it was required for the successful operation of his empire’s three earthly departments. He was too shrewd to allow anarchy to reign in his kingdom, knowing well that it would result in the wreck and ruin of his cause. Hence, from the outset there has been civil law in his empire, guarding especially the rights of the leaders in state, religion and capital. He has only tolerated the setting aside of civil law when it interfered with the overturning of those governments, religions and aristocracies that he decided should be overturned for the good of his empire.
He has also introduced some laws purportedly for the benefit of the “common people,” but these laws have always been designed to first serve the interests of the statesmen, clergy and aristocrats, and therefore the interests of Satan. These laws were calculated to keep the people subject to his own interests; only secondarily did they serve the interests of the common people. His governments, religions and aristocracies have always been oppressive and exploitative of the common people, allowing crimes and other invasions of their rights.
In individual cases Satan has encouraged such crimes and exploitations, partly because it was in his interests to corrupt the race and partly to arrange for the execution of punishments that would strike fear into the hearts of the people and engender respect for his laws. Thus he has been both an angel of light and an angel of darkness as it best served his ends, and the same may be said of his representatives. “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Cor. 11:14-15)
SATAN’S SUPPORTING DOCTRINES
The three doctrines of divine right are the foundational doctrines of Satan’s empire. An empire based on such principles and using such means for its perpetuation must naturally be a very evil one. St. Paul refers to Satan’s empire as “the power of darkness” – the power of sin and error. (Col. 1:13) While Satan greatly deceived the people by these doctrines of the divine right of rulers, clergy, and aristocrats, he knew these doctrines by themselves were not sufficient to ensure his rule over the human race. He found it necessary to advance three other supporting doctrines to hold up the superstructure he was building upon the foundation of the divine right doctrines.
Early in the history of the human race, in Eden itself, Satan set forth three falsehoods. For these lies Jesus called him a liar and the father of lies. Jesus also called him a murderer because Eve was deceived by these lies, causing sin and death to come upon the race. (John 8:44) Following are the three supporting doctrines of Satan’s empire based on these lies:
(1) The immortality of the soul: Satan said, “Ye shall not surely die.” (Gen. 3:4) That is, you will only seem to die; actually, you will live right on, even though you are seemingly dead. In other words, the dead are alive. This is a direct contradiction of God’s statement, “Thou shalt surely die.” (Gen. 2:17)
(2) The consciousness of the dead: Satan said, “Ye shall be as gods.” (Gen. 3:5) That is, the dead become spirit beings, angels, and therefore they are conscious. Angels are many times referred to as “gods” in the Old Testament. For example, “Worship him, all ye gods.” (Psa. 97:7) Compare this with St. Paul’s inspired comment: “And let all the angels of God worship him.” (Heb. 1:6)
(3) The torment or bliss of the dead: Satan said the dead will be in a state of “knowing good and evil.” (Gen. 3:5) That is, they will experience either bliss (good) or torment (evil).
Satan’s design is very apparent. He knew that if he could deceive the race on these three subjects, he could deceive them into believing that certain other errors were true, certain truths were false, certain wrongs were right, and certain rights were wrong. Having done this, he promised rewards for the next life to those who accepted his errors and practiced his wrongs, and threatened with eternal torment those who refused to do so. He also threatened torments in the next life to those who accepted God’s truths (which he misrepresented as being error) and practiced certain of His commands (misrepresented as wrong by Satan), while promising eternal bliss to those who would not do these things.
Thus he deceived the people into believing and practicing his errors through fear of torment and hope of reward in the hereafter. He also deterred the people from believing and practicing God’s truths by misrepresentation of the source and character of God’s teachings and by fear of torment and hope of reward in the hereafter. He enslaved the human race to his will and prevented them from doing God’s will! This dark plot succeeded with the majority of the human family. (2 Cor. 4:4; 2 Cor. 11:3, 14-15; 2 Thess. 2:9; 2 Tim. 2:26) Thus with three lies he mightily supported his empire and its foundation errors of divine right.
THE KINGDOM OF DARKNESS
We have shown that Satan’s empire is founded on and supported by errors. By these errors he has constantly exerted an evil influence in the world, operating against truth, righteousness and purity – “the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” (Eph. 2:2). An empire so founded and so supported must be an evil one, as all history attests. The course of Satan’s empire is marked by every evil word and work. The majority of the rulers, aristocrats and clergy of his empire have been corrupt indeed. The history of “this present evil world” (Gal. 1:4) is a succession of war, revolution, pillage, murder, destruction, lust, cruelty, conquest, oppression, degradation, unhappiness, misfortune, death, and persecution. How little space in history is occupied by good, noble and philanthropic endeavors and how much of its space is given to the opposite!
Satan’s empire has also been one in which are found the greatest inconsistencies. Its various religions, philosophies, civilizations, governments, social arrangements, laws and workings have all largely contradicted each other. From this we infer that Satan adapts to the extent necessary the form of government, religion, society, etc., to the varying ideals of different peoples. If he could, he would keep all people in the densest ignorance, deepest oppression, darkest superstition and basest character and environment; but when any people will no longer stand for this, he makes such concessions as he must, while still retaining control. This accounts for the many coups, revolutions and reorganizations that have occurred in the governmental, aristocratic and religious divisions of his empire.
Whenever governments, aristocracies and religions cease to serve his purpose of controlling the people he wrecks those governments, aristocracies or religions, often with extreme ruthlessness, and replaces them by others more in harmony with his aims and the concessions he must make to his subjects. He certainly makes it uncomfortable for those rulers or religious leaders who oppose the principles and purposes of his empire. This is manifest in the opposition and persecution that he has unleased against every Christian leader and movement that has attacked his errors and preached God’s Truth – he has made them his special targets.
When we look upon the physical, mental, moral and religious perfection in which God created the human family in Eden, and then by contrast consider the physical, mental, moral and religious wrecks that Satan has made of so many of our race, we have one of the most striking evidences of his wicked character as a person and as a ruler. We see the conspicuous failure of his empire as a means of blessing its subjects and the need for it to be replaced by the Kingdom of God. We see the crying need for Satan to be replaced by The Christ as the Ruler of the world in order to rescue the human race from utter ruin and destruction, and to return it to the original perfection and bliss of God’s image and likeness.
Shortly after the fall of mankind into sin, God intimated such an ultimate recovery of mankind from the power of Satan. (Gen. 3:15) He renewed and amplified this thought by his promise to Abraham. (Gen. 28:14) He repeatedly illustrated and emphasized it by the types of the Law. (Heb. 9:23) The sublime poetry of the Prophets and Psalmists reiterated it. He clearly expounded it through Jesus and His Apostles. He encourages His faithful people to offer this prayer for it: “Thy Kingdom come,” and by the signs of the times He indicates that His Kingdom is as at hand. It is the “desire of all nations” and it will prove to be the cure for all their ills. (Hag. 2:7) God speed the day of the overthrow of Satan’s empire and of the establishment of His Kingdom under the whole heaven!
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The above is derived from Chapter III of Epiphany Volume 17, The Millennium, written by Brother Paul S.L. Johnson. It has been edited to adapt it to the paper format.
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