The deeds of Satan have been often spoken of in the posts without them being placed there by God. People seem to know more than God has officialy told us. One wonders where do they obtain this information from. We are told not to add nor remove from the Word of God.

I would like to propose three parts on this subject mainly
Part 1. Satan of the OT
Part 2. The little horn, the great red dragon. This serves as a link
between OT end NT
Prt 3. Satan of the NT


Part 1. Satan of the OT

A. God kills and destroys
B. Word “satan” translated
C. Word “satan” not translated
D. Evil (spirit)

A. God kills and destroys

Nowhere in the O.T. we come across information that satan kills and destroys nor he leads people to sin. On contrary we are always told that God alone kills and destroys. Sadly this message is practically unknown in the Christian world today. It may prove that hristians don’t read the Bible. God used pagans to test Israel. He is the sovereign power in His creation. He rules alone. Let me quote some of the verses (out of hundreds) to bring the picture home.

Deu 4:24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
Deu 9:3 Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.
Deu 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
Jos 10:10 And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.
Jos 24:20 If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.
Jdg 2:20 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;
Jdg 2:21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:
Jdg 2:22 That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.
Jdg 2:23 Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.
Jdg 7:2 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.
Jdg 7:7 And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.
Jdg 7:22 And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.
1Sa 2:6 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
1Sa 2:7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
Job 12:17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
Job 12:18 He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
Job 12:19 He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
Job 12:20 He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
Job 12:21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.
Job 12:22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
Job 12:23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.
Job 12:24 He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
Job 12:25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
Job 27:13 This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.
Job 27:14 If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.
Job 27:15 Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.
Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
Isa 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Isa 46:11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
Jer 9:24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
Jer 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
Isa 63:10 But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
Dan 4:32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
Dan 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
Eze 14:13 Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:
Lam 3:38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?


B. Word “satan” translated
I would like to stress that the word “satan” doesn’t appear in the book of Genesis chapter three whereby the first sin is described. There is also no mention in the entire O.T. to suggest that the serpent was in any way influenced by satan or was satan himself.
If satan used the serpent then we must say that God had unjustly punished the innocent, stupid animal. If it was satan himself then we can see him “go on his belly” today
Gen 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

God enabled serpent to tempt the woman.
Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Some may yet come with the brilliant idea of employing allegory here as they often do in relation to Isa 14:12 and Eze 28:12-19.

Please note that the Hebrew word “satan” is often left not translated .

Satan means an enemy, an adversary (one who opposes another in purpose or act, attacker).

It appears 27 times in the O.T.

It is not translated 19 times: 1Ch21:1, Job1:6-9, Job1:12, Job2:1-4, Job2:6-7, Psa109:6, Zec3:1-2.
Translated as adversary 6 times: Num22:22, 1Ki5:4, 1Ki11:14, 1Ki11:23, 1Ki11:25,
Translated as adversaries in 2Sa19:22.
Translated as withstand in Num22:32.
It also appears in Ps 71:13, 109:20+29 in a slightly different form.

“The devil” appears only 4 times as a false and useless idol made of wood or stone worshipped by pagan nations. It never appears as a supernatural power or god.

2Ch11:15 And he ordained his own priests for the high places, and for the devils (sa`iyr), and for the calves which he had made
Le17:7 And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils (sa`iyr) after whom they have gone a whoring…

Sa`iyr: kid 28, goat 24, devil 2, satyr 2, hairy 2, rough 1.

De32:17 They sacrificed unto devils (shed), not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.
Ps106:37 Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils (shed)

Shed: devil - demon.

A foreign god in the Old Testament = demon = idol = the devil.

Let me deal with the verses where the word “satan” was translated
Num 22:22 And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary (śâṭân - satan) against him. Now he was riding upon his ***, and his two servants were with him.
Num 22:32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine *** these three times? behold, I went out to withstand (satan) thee, because thy way is perverse before me:
2Sa 19:22 And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries (satan) unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?
1Ki 11:14 And the LORD stirred up an adversary (satan) unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom.
1Ki 11:23 And God stirred him up another adversary (satan), Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:
1Ki 11:25 And he was an adversary (satan) to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.

Satan also appears in Ps 71:13, 109:20+29 in a slightly different form.
Psa 71:13 Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries (śâṭan - attackers) to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.
Psa 109:20 Let this be the reward of mine adversaries (attackers) from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul.
Psa 109:29 Let mine adversaries (attackers) be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.


C. Word “satan” not translated


“Satan” in the book of Job refers to a person. We are told that Job was perfect and upright. God blessed him for this abundantly. So there were some who envied him. They had controversy so they presented themselves “before God” or God’s anointed persons to discuss unfair blessings granted to Job.
Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Deu 19:17 Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;

A son of God is every one to whom the word of God came


Psa 82:6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
Joh 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

Joh 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;


The accuser (Hebrew word “satan) was also among them. If it was satan then how did he became a friend of God after being cursed inGe 3? We are told that he is God’s grant enemy. The rest is simple. The adversary of Job “acted” the way as Moses or Samson did:
Exo 3:20 And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.
Jdg 13:25 And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him (Samson) at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Job teaches that
Job 1:21 …Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
Job 2:10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Another verse where the word was left not translated points to a wicked man
Psa 109:6 Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan (an opponent) stand at his right hand.

Many claim that satan stood against Israel.
1Ch 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

Yet in exactly the same record of numbering Israel we are told that it was God who was angry at Israel
2Sa 24:1 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

This is only one of many accounts of God turning against Israel as their enemy, opposer, attacker and so forth.
Isa 63:10 But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.

Isa 14:12 is said to introduce satan to Jews. We need to consider this verse in its context. In Isa 14:1-3 God promises that He will have mercy on Jacob and deliver Israel from the Babylonian bondage. In verses 4-27 God speaks how will He accomplish it so that Israel w0uld know that God has fulfilled His promised. In the desperate attempt to promote pagan god some say that it is an allegory. Please read the chapter carefully to make up your own opinion..

The word "lucifer" appears only once in few translations of the word helel – pertaining to brightness; the morning star. In no way it suggests correlation to Satan. The word is never elaborated on elsewhere in the O.T. nor in the N.T. Instead it refers to the Banylonian king


Dan 5:22 And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;
Dan 5:23 But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:
Dan 5:24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.
Dan 5:25 And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
Dan 5:26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
Dan 5:27 TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
Dan 5:28 PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
Dan 5:30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
Dan 5:31 And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.

There is nowhere a clue to suggest that Isa 14 is speaking about satan nor a fallen angel.

Again Eze 28:12-19 is said to introduce satan to Jews. There is a cluster of chapters in the book of Ezekiel dealing with Israel’s sin and her upcoming punishment. Also all countries that were against God or treated Israel badly during the time of her punishment are to be punished. God speaks about Tyrus in two chapters namely Eze 26 and 27.
Eze 26:7 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north…
Eze 26:12 And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise…
Eze 26:15 Thus saith the Lord GOD to Tyrus; Shall not the isles shake at the sound of thy fall, when the wounded cry, when the slaughter is made in the midst of thee?
Eze 26:16 Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and lay away their robes, and put off their broidered garments: they shall clothe themselves with trembling; they shall sit upon the ground, and shall tremble at every moment, and be astonished at thee.

Eze 27:3 And say unto Tyrus, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea, which art a merchant of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O Tyrus, thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty.
Eze 27:4 Thy borders are in the midst of the seas, thy builders have perfected thy beauty.
Eze 27:9 The ancients of Gebal and the wise men thereof were in thee thy calkers: all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in thee to occupy thy merchandise.
Eze 27:10 They of Persia and of Lud and of Phut were in thine army, thy men of war: they hanged the shield and helmet in thee; they set forth thy comeliness.
Eze 27:11 The men of Arvad with thine army were upon thy walls round about, and the Gammadims were in thy towers: they hanged their shields upon thy walls round about; they have made thy beauty perfect.
Eze 27:12 Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kind of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in thy fairs.
Eze 27:13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were thy merchants: they traded the persons of men and vessels of brass in thy market.
Eze 27:14 They of the house of Togarmah traded in thy fairs with horses and horsemen and mules.
Eze 27:15 The men of Dedan were thy merchants; many isles were the merchandise of thine hand: they brought thee for a present horns of ivory and ebony.
Eze 27:16 Syria was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of the wares of thy making: they occupied in thy fairs with emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and coral, and agate.
Eze 27:17 Judah, and the land of Israel, they were thy merchants…
Eze 27:18 Damascus was thy merchant in the multitude of the wares of thy making, for the multitude of all riches; in the wine of Helbon, and white wool.
Eze 27:19 Dan also and Javan going to and fro occupied in thy fairs: bright iron, cassia, and calamus, were in thy market.
Eze 27:20 Dedan was thy merchant in precious clothes for chariots.
Eze 27:21 Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they occupied with thee in lambs, and rams, and goats: in these were they thy merchants.
Eze 27:22 The merchants of Sheba and Raamah, they were thy merchants: they occupied in thy fairs with chief of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold.
Eze 27:23 Haran, and Canneh, and Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad, were thy merchants.
Eze 27:24 These were thy merchants in all sorts of things, in blue clothes, and broidered work, and in chests of rich apparel, bound with cords, and made of cedar, among thy merchandise.
Eze 27:25 The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market: andthou wast replenished, and made very glorious in the midst of the seas.
Eze 27:26 Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas.
Eze 27:27 Thy riches, and thy fairs, thy merchandise, thy mariners, and thy pilots, thy calkers, and the occupiers of thy merchandise, and all thy men of war, that are in thee, and in all thy company which is in the midst of thee, shall fall into the midst of the seas in the day of thy ruin.
Eze 27:32 And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea?
Eze 27:33 When thy wares went forth out of the seas, thou filledst many people; thou didst enrich the kings of the earth with the multitude of thy riches and of thy merchandise.
Eze 27:34 In the time when thou shalt be broken by the seas in the depths of the waters thy merchandise and all thy company in the midst of thee shall fall.
Eze 27:35 All the inhabitants of the isles shall be astonished at thee, and their kings shall be sore afraid, they shall be troubled in their countenance.
Eze 27:36 The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee; thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt be any more.

To cont...

Cont. Part 1.

Eze 28:1-19 is the parallel to Tyrus prophecy relating to the prince or king of Tyrus himself. In verse two we are told that the prince of Tyrus is a man (not satan):
Eze 28:2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:

The prince of Tyrus demonstrates characteristic of Tyrus itself
Eze 28:4 With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:
Eze 28:5 By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:
Eze 28:6 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God;

His beauty and wisdom will be punished by a strange nation. He will die mans death
Eze 28:7 Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.
Eze 28:8 They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas.

Once again we are told that he is a man who will die as a man
Eze 28:9 Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee.
Eze 28:10 Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.

God repeats the fate of this man whose character again is parallel to the character of Tyrus
Eze 28:12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

There are few ways of considering of the verses 13-15.
One is that the king o Tyrus was a Jew. On this account he would be covered by Aaron’s breast’s plate with stones.
1Ki 7:13 And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre.
1Ki 7:14 He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.

The next one is that Hiram was treated like a Jew. Hehad a league with Solomon and helped him with building of the temple. In return Solomon offered him twenty cities of the land of God. Hiram was not pleased with the offer so God punished him for his pride.
1Ki 9:12 And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not.
1Ki 9:13 And he said, What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day.

To allude that the “anointed cherub” refers to Satan seems ridiculous. Just to mention but one reference whereby we are told that there were at least two cherubims. How would the “grant enemy” of God who just has offended Him make place there?
Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Eze 28:13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
Eze 28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
Eze 28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

Again the characteristics of Tyrus are his characteristics. He will be laid before kings to see his fall
Eze 28:16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
Eze 28:17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

The common story has it that satan will be subjected to the everlasting torture yet the king of Tyrus was to be brought to ashes for his iniquity of traffic. All who knew him would be astonished at his fall.
Eze 28:18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
Eze 28:19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee…

And the prophecy continues. We have found not a hint to suggest that the king of Tyrus was an allegory of satan. All evidence indicates squarely to the physical king of Tyrus.

And lastly we come across satan in Zec 3:1-9. We are told that Zachariah had a series of night visions.
Zec 1:8 I saw by night... Zec 2:1 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked…
Zec 3:1 And he shewed me (in a vision) Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.

There was a man (see exposition on Job) not happy with Joshua. The angel rebuked the man but why? Most likely because Joshua’s “clothing were filthy” or he was not serving God properly. Yet the angel says that this is all what God pulled out from the sinners of Israel to serve Him. He further says: “if thou wilt walk in my ways” indicating that Joshua must have been guilty.
Zec 3:2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
Zec 3:3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
Zec 3:4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.

Zec 3:5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.

Zec 3:6 And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,
Zec 3:7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.
Zec 3:8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.
Zec 3:9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

There is no hint to suggest that God introduced satan (a fallen angel) to Jews in any of those verses that have commonly been used to “prove” existence of satan. The NT translations has been used instead to “prove” the existence of satan in the O.T. It has been said that satan is “allegorically” spoken of in Isa 14 and Eze 28. However there is a problem. How should Jews have known that God was speaking about satan if there is no other reference to it at all? ?

It has been forgotten that God alone kills and destroys. The glory of God seems to be attributed to the pagan god satan.

The belief in existance of a bad and a good god has been dated to ancient Egypt some 5000 years ago. It was modified over the years to the state we know it today. However, the belief is not uniform as there is no information in the Bible to follow.

D. Evil (spirit)

Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Num 27:16 Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
Jdg 9:23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
1Sa 18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.
1Sa 19:9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.
1Ki 22:21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.
1Ki 22:22 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.
1Ki 22:23 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.
2Ch 18:21 And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.
2Ch 18:22 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.
2Ch 21:16 Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians:
Isa 19:14 The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.
Isa 29:10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
Isa 37:36 Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
Isa 40:7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
Jer 51:1 Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind (ruach-spirit);
Eze 14:9 And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.
Deu 13:1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
Deu 13:2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
Deu 13:3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Few month ago I have visited a near by recently established Church (I always mean a Christian community) for their prophets were coming to speak. The hall looked reach, many people of above average social states. After the initial formalities the prophets began their message. One, a brilliant motivational speaker, led the deliverance while other two were affirming what he was saying from time to time. Then he came to the best part of his point that is frightening people with Satan and demons. He stated that a demon gets into the person when that yawns. To know that a person has a demon is a simple way. When you hear something moving in your tummy from one side to the other that is definitely the demon. So many realised that they had frmond snf csme foward to have them "cust out". Some fell backward while the prophets blew on them, some stood strong. One older women, a devoted member, apparently had many demons for she was going lower and lower every time all three prophets blew on her yet fell not. Eventually she began to cry and fell to her knees but the demons left not. What a circus!!!


In the O.T. God taught that He alone killed and destroyed. The existence of the fallen angel called satan was unknown to Jews. Verses from the N.T. shouldn’t be used in this topic, please.

God bless

Part 2. The little horn, the great red dragon

We need to turn to the prophecies of Daniel. In the book of Daniel chapter 2 God presents an image of a man representative of four kingdoms namely Babylonian, Mede-Persian, Greek and Roman. Our interest is in the Roman kingdom whereby we find object of our interest, the “little horn”.
Dan 2:33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
Dan 2:40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
Dan 2:41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
Dan 2:42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
Dan 2:43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

The image is broken to pieces by a prophetic, which filled the whole earth.
Dan 2:34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
Dan 2:35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
Dan 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
Dan 2:45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

The same four kingdoms are presented as four beasts in Daniel 7. Daniel receives few visions concerning the fourth kingdom from differing perspective.
Dan 7:7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

A little horn comes up on the seen. It has appearance of man, speaks “great things” and uproots the three of the ten kings.
Dan 7:8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

In another vision Daniel observes slaying (disintegrating) of the beast while the little horn already speaks great words. He is about 151 years old.
Dan 7:11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

Then Daniel wants to know more about the fourth beast and the little horn.
Dan 7:19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
Dan 7:20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

Daniel finds out that the ten horns represent ten kings while the late-comer the “little horn” will speak great words, be diverse then the ten kings and will subdue “pluck up by the roots” three of them.
Dan 7:24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.

This dreadful beast with ten horns represents Roman kingdom (Empire) taking control in the year 168 BC and disintegrating into ten parts (ten horns) in the year 476 AD. Since the year 325 the Christian religion becomes the state religion (a king), gains power and subdues three of the existing kings namely Herulies 493, Vandals 534, and Ostrogoth 538. This king speaks against most High, consumes the saints and changes God’s laws.
Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

We are leaving prophecy of Daniel with the following information: the fourth beast, Roman Empire, “gave birth” to a Christian king who is different and rules differently (in spiritual sphere). He speaks against God, changes God’s laws and consumes saints (spills blood, becomes red). He is in control of the entire area of ten kings (ten horns) yet has uprooted third part of it (three heads missing, only seven remain).

Empowered with this information we connect to another prophecy for more revelation. This prophecy we find in the book of Revelation chapter 12, which opens with a symbolical vision of John.
Rev 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

No one would possibly think that this vision is literal. Then John receives another symbolical vision.
Rev 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
Rev 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

We can see how tightly it refers to Daniel 7 where we have just left. The red dragon, amalgamation of the Roman Empire and it’s conversion into the Christian king, is soaked in blood of saints (the true worshippers of the only true God the Father), rules the area of ten kings with three of them uprooted (third part of stars of heaven or authorities plucked up) and wears seven crowns (symbols of man’s authority on earth). The heads and horns symbolise, as in Da 7, kings and kingdoms in Re 13:1, 17:9-12.

The dragon was after the woman’s child , which is caught up unto God. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

The infant Church disperses because of persecutions
Rev 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

The dragon strived for control of the world (heaven) yet God brought him down (to the earth).
Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Rev 12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

The red dragon called the devil (a traducer), and Satan (opponent, adversary) according to work originated by that old serpent, the false spiritual authority,” who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” was destroyed.
Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Please bear in mind what was presented in the Part 1. Satan, a fallen angel, was unknown to Jews of the OT. It was anyone or any organization slandering or opposing. The organization, which falsely claims “We hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty”, which “opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” is the only organization in existence since the time of the “little horn” and fits perfectly the description in all aspects.

Do we recognise this organisation?

God bless

Part 3. Satan of the NT

As we have seen in part 1, Jews of the OT were not taught about satan “the fallen angel”. They were taught that satan was someone or something opposing the other in his purpose or action.

Likewise, we have seen in part 2 that the great red dragon of Re 12 is the beast of Daniel 7 (Roman empire) amalgamated and transformed later into a spiritual beast. Those who ignore it, do gravies injury to the Word of God.

Alas, the power called Satan, the fallen angel, who kill, steal and destroy has been taught in the Christian world today. Anyone who knows God from the O.T. (as indicated in part 1) will have to ask what is really going on. Did God abdicate His power or lost it all together?

We are pointed to
Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…

Who is Jesus referring to? We need to see the context of this verse. Let’s go back to
Joh 9:39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

Jesus says that he came to make some to see and to blind others. The Pharisees were upset for this with Jesus:
Joh 9:40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
Joh 9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

So the Pharisees were the ones to be blinded. But they were the custodians of the Word. They had the power and authority. They were the leaders of Israel. They were the “shepherd of the flock”. Were they a “good shepherd”?
Eze 34:2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
Eze 34:3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.
Eze 34:4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.
Eze 34:5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.
Eze 34:6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
Eze 34:7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
Eze 34:8 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;
Eze 34:9 Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
Eze 34:10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.
Eze 34:11 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.
Eze 34:12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
Eze 34:13 And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.
Eze 34:14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.
Eze 34:15 I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.
Eze 34:16 I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.

People use Joh 10:10 without consideration of the Biblical context. Jesus referred to Eze 34 where God spoke against the shepherds of Israel. There is nothing to suggest that this verse refers to a fallen angel.

You will tell me that Satan is taught in the Gospels. True, Satan is spoken about in the gospels. I have already mentioned above “Jesus says that he came to make some to see and to blind others”. How did Jesus do it? He spoke to them in parables.
Mat 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

What was the purpose for speaking in parables?
Mar 4:11-12 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Jesus says again that he doesn’t speak clearly to the Jewish leaders purposely that they shouldn’t be converted. If they were to be blinded by Jesus’ saying, are we not supposed to be blinded by reading exactly the same words? Yes, we are.

So where is the Truth? God has revealed Himself to man in the O.T. If we don’t get to know Him from there we will be blinded as Jews were.

King David had an excellent relationship with God. He was blessed abundantly. He knew that God’s power was the only power in the world. His son king Solomon did very well until he followed his pagan woman (not Satan) to warship pagan gods. So God began chastising him.
1Ki 11:14 And the LORD stirred up an adversary (Satan) unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom.
1Ki 11:23 And God stirred him up another adversary (Satan) Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:

Please note that the word “ adversary” was translated from the original Hebrew word śâṭân

After the death of king Solomon God divided the kingdom of Israel into two parts. Both parts grew worse and worse so God put them through periods of severe punishment. It didn’t turn them back, so God put them to slaughter and Babylonian slavery for 70 years.

After the Babylonian slavery, Israel was weak. Her priests became disinterested in the matters of God. In turn God sent prophets no more. They were left without instruction for about 500 years. They backslid and observed pagan gods again. Also the Greek philosophy became fashionable.

When Jesus began his preaching, Jews were dip in pagan beliefs. They attributed some aspects of the power of God to pagan powers (gods).

We see Jesus telling them that they are blind and will remain in their sin:

Joh 9:39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
Joh 9:40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
Joh 9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

We don’t see Jesus correcting them. He spoke to them according to their beliefs, pointing out that whatever power they believed in he was in control of.

We come across some verses, which seem to stand out as a contradiction of the general pattern of Jesus’ preaching. It happens only when Jesus explains a parable or speaks to the apostles alone.

In the parable of the sower Jesus teaches that if someone hears the word without understanding it, he will be easily persuaded by others not to consider it:

Mat 13:19 When any one hearth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

Wicked one - these are some of the possible meanings of the word poneros - hurtful, morally culpable, derelict, vicious, facinorou, sinner, bad, evil, grievous, lewd, malicious. It is indicative of man.

Likewise Jesus pointed out that man of shallow faith “loses” the Word because of the prevailing conditions of the world:

Mat 13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
Mat 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

The apostles asked correctly who sinned that a man was born blind. They understood that it was a punishment for sin:

Joh 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
Joh 9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

Jesus didn’t indicate the operation of Satan but replied to them that it was the will of God to manifest His work this way:

Joh 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Jews accepted existence of pagan gods, the false powers. Jesus spoke to them in parables in line with their understanding. He didn’t correct them.

Yet there is a “second doctrine” in the “back light” which is taught by Jesus and which is spoken by the apostles that there is only one power in the world, the Power of the Father.

How can we explain NT verses containing ”supposed information” about Satan and the devil? We need to remember that we begin the NT without knowledge of a fallen angel called Satan.

As in the OT so in the NT the opponents are called satans
Mt16:23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.
Joh6:70 Then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.

Let us look first at Satan’s work leading people to God:
1Co5:4-5.…Hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.
2Co12:7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
1Ti1:20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
Ac13:8-12 But Elymas…opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, "You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun. Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.
Ac19:13-20 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out…One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

Satan “destroys man’s sinful nature in order that his spirit may be saved”. A messenger of Satan “prevented” Paul from becoming conceited (proud). Satan “teaches” not to blaspheme. A child of the devil “helps” proconsul to believe. Evil spirits “help” the name of the Lord Jesus to be held in high honour.

To continue

Part 3 cont.

Satan (or man) obeys Gods commands

Job1:12, 2:6 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger"… The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life".

It is very important to notice that Satan obeys God hundreds of years after the supposed tempting AND SUBSEQUENT CURSING in the garden of Eden.

A proud person would fall into condemnation of the devil.
1Ti3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

Temptation
God tells us very clearly that we are tempted by our own evil desires:
Jas1:13-15…Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
1Pe2:11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to obstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
Jas4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
1Ti6:9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
Tit2:12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.
Ro7:8 But sin…produced in me every kind of covetous desire…

Apostle Paul provides an excellent testimony of struggle with his own sinful nature:
Ro7:17-23 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do, this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members

Sin produces in us every kind of covetous desire. Our nature is double-minded. Our evil desires overpower the desire to obey God.

In the following verses God provides the explanations that the one who “will strike his heel” is a person or people:
Ps41:9 Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
Joh13:18 I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfil the scripture: “He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me”

“Satan or the devil” is not a supernatural power in existence in the world out of God’s control. It is us who act against God’s commandments, against His will. We are His adversaries and are called “Satan and the devil”. We do evil things out of our own ungodly fleshly desires.

Let us analyse some of the verses where the spiritual powers seem to be present.

Lu 22:3 Then Satan entered (eiserchomai) Judas….
Joh 6:70 Then Jesus replied…”Yet one of you is a devil!”.
Joh 13:2 … the devil had already prompted Judas…

Eiserchomai is translated as entered. It is also a metaphor of thoughts that come into the mind.

This does not mean that something entered Judas from outside, but the thought, which entered his mind. We can also see that Jesus had called him the devil before, so Satan’s entry into Judas does not make sense.
Apostle Paul’s own internal struggle provides us with further clarification concerning our internal dialog:

Ro7:17-23 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do, this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.

In the book of Eze 38 God clearly shows that thoughts come into peoples minds and people devise evil schemes:
Eze38:10 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On that day thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil scheme.

This was a thought that “entered” Judas’ mind.

Lu 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon…Satan hath desired…that he
may sift…you…

It is very interesting to look closely at the next verses:
Lu22:32-34 But I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the **** crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.

We know what followed. Peter forgot about this conversation when he saw how the Jews were treating Jesus. He denied Jesus three times. In this case, the Jewish authority was “Satan” (adversary) persecuting Jesus and His followers.

Mt 12:26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself…

This is in no way a confirmation of Satan’s existence. We need to note that Jesus always preaches according to His father’s instruction. He not only ignores hypocrisy, false beliefs or ignorance of the Jewish leaders, but uses their way of thinking. For instance Jesus does not argue when the Jews say He is demon-possessed:

Mar3:22-23 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
Joh8:52+54 At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed!…. Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me

Jesus’ purpose was not to correct the Israelite apostasy, but to preach the Kingdom of God to those who were seeking God. We can see it in Mr3:22-30 where Jesus gives only a parable for the false accusation but concludes that they (Jews) were guilty of eternal sin.
Similarly, Jesus casts out demons according to the prevailing beliefs even though these are sicknesses. Millions of sick people are made well by the modern medicine everyday. A pill a day, seems to keep a demon away. Yet some “Christians” still continue casting demons from sick people. What a circus. Are they “without”?

Mar 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
Mar 4:12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
Luk 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Joh 12:31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.

In this verse, Jesus proclaims judgment “on this world”, taking place “now” as he speaks and that “the prince of this world will be driven out” from his position. Let us find out who that prince is:
Eze21:25 O profane and wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come, whose time of punishment has reached its climax.
Ho3:4 For the Israelites will live for many days without king or prince… Joh12:42+43 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue for they loved praise from men more than praise from God. Joh9:39 Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind".
Joh12:48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.
Joh3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
1Co2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Col2:15And having disarmed the powers and uthorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross

The Jews (the prince) judged themselves by rejecting Jesus. They suffered their first punishment in the year 70 AD.

Mt 13:19 …the evil one comes and snatches away what was
sown…
Mr 4:15 …Satan comes and takes away the word….
Lu 8:12 …the devil comes and takes away the word…

Satan, the devil or evil in these three verses take the sown word away. We find out who these are in the following verses:

Lu8:14)…But as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature
Mr4:19 But the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful
Mr4:17. …When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away
Lu8:13.. …They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away
Mt13:14-15 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them
Joh 8:37 …Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word
2Ti4:3-4 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths
2Th2:11…God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie

For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group (Tit1:10). For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people (Ro16:18). Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor (Lu20:20). For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a licence for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord (Jude1:4). For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people…(2Pe2:18). For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ (2Co11:13). But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping (2Pe2:1-3). I am sending you out like sheep among wolves…(Mt10:16). In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived (2Ti3:12-13). …There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth, men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected (2Ti3:1-8). Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! Mt18:7). See to it that no-one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ (Col 2:8).

It is our lack of understanding, preoccupation with worldly desires or influence of ungodly people that prevents the Word of God we hear to develop and bear fruit.

Ac 13:10 You are a child of the devil…
Joh 8:44 …Your father, the devil…He was a murderer from the
beginning…
1Jo 3:8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil
has been sinning from the beginning…
1Pe 5.8 …Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion
looking for someone to devour

The following verses provide us with evidence that the enemy (false accusers, slanderer, roaring lion) has always been man:

Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them…(Mal3:7). Even so must their wives… not slanderers…(1Ti3:11AV). Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good (2Ti3:3AV). The aged women likewise, …not false accusers… (Tit2:3AV). Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous (1Jo3:12). Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked man ruling over a helpless people (Pr28:15). Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me (Ps22:12-13). I am in the midst of lions; I lie among ravenous beasts, men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords (Ps57:4). There is a conspiracy of her princes within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her. Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain (Eze22:25+27). Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong (Isa1:16). For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers (1Pe1:18). Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin (Joh8:34). You are doing the things your own father does." "We are not illegitimate children," they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself” (Joh 8:41). Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him (Ac7:52). They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God (Joh16:2).
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples he went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem (Ac 9:1+2). O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you…(Mt23:37). But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth (2Ti4:17). Persecutions, sufferings, what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them (2Ti3:11).

If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus…(1Co15:32). The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains (Php1:17). Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead (Ac14:19). I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them (Ac20:29-30). For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have (Php1:29-30). Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer… (Re2:10). In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials (1Pe1:6). Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor (Lu20:20). Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals, these are the very things that destroy them. Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam's error; they have been destroyed in Korah's rebellion (Jude1:10+11). …You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? (Mt3:7). …The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and Bitterness (Ro 3:13).

Please note the similarity between the last two verses and Ge3 in regard to a snake (serpent and viper):

Now the serpent …(Ge3:1).

To cont.

Part 3 Cont.

Finally we need to ask ourselves this question: is there in the Bible any evidence that the devil has murdered anybody as Joh8:44 may seem to suggest?:

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies (Joh8:44).

It is obvious that the devil spoken of above is people.

Re 2:9 …they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

These people claim to be the Jews but according to God they are not because they oppose everything that is godly. Therefore they represent a synagogue of adversaries (synagogue of Satan).

Re 2:13 I know where you live, where Satan has his throne…where
Satan lives.

We read in Re 2:12 and 13 that these words were addressed to the church in Pergamum, which despite severe persecutions by the local authority (Satan) did not renounce their faith in Jesus.

"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write… ...Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city…(Re2:13).

2Co 11:14…Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

Let us investigate the following verses:

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptising, he said to them: "You brood of vipers… (Mt3:7). …Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy (Lu12:1). …"Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod"(Mr8:15). For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness…(2Co11:13+15). I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews (Ac20:19).

The Jewish leaders were guilty of hypocrisy and wrong teachings. Being the guardians of the Word of God, they did not only fail to recognize their messiah, but persecuted those who did.

Mt 4:3+6+8…"If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to
become bread. If you are the Son of God," he said,
"throw yourself down…The devil took him to a very
high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of
the world….

There are two possible answers to the question “who tempted Jesus”?
1). There was somebody with Jesus who knew His powers and tempted Him to use it (it could not be “Satan” as we have seen from the previous paragraphs),
2). Jesus probably struggled with His own mind during the fast. See Ro7:15-23.

We need to recall the three elements of temptation in Eden: the fruit was good for food, the fruit was pleasing to the eye and the fruit was desirable for gaining wisdom. Jesus was tempted by the three elements. In Mt4:3 His flesh was tempted with food, in Mt4:6 His proudness was tempted to gain glory for Himself and in Mt4:8 His eyes were tempted with world’s splendour. See “temptations”.

Please note that in Mt4:3 Jesus was tempted by the tempter, but in verses 4:5 and 4:8 it was the devil who continued the tempting. In Mr1:13 Jesus was tempted by Satan. In Lu 4 Jesus was tempted by the devil. These verses appear contradictory unless the tempter, Satan and the devil are the same namely adversary, slanderer and false accuser. It is important to note that the devil in Lu4:13 left Jesus “until an opportune time”:

We can understand now that Jesus came to destroy death with its sting or cause, which is sin (called the devil) in sinful man. Jesus also disarmed Jewish power, hostility and their devil actions:

And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (Col2:15). …His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility
(Eph2:15+16).

We die because:

{For the wages of sin is death…(Ro6:23). …who holds the power of death, that is, the devil (Heb2:14)}.

Jesus appeared to:

But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins…(1Jo3:5). …The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work (1Jo3:8).

Jesus conquered:

…so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil (Heb2:14). …But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself (Heb 9:26).

DO YOU STILL WORSHIP THE PAGAN POWER CALLED SATAN AND THE DEVIL, THE FALLEN ANGEL/S?

God bless

When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time (Lu4:13).

This opportune time arrived when Jesus was hanging on the cross. We can see that He is again tempted but this time by people:

Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!" In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, `I am the Son of God” (Mt27:39-43).

Jesus shows who those temptress and false accusers were:

But Jesus perceived their wickedness and said, "Why tempt ye Me, ye hypocrites? (Mt22:18 K.J.). But He perceived their craftiness and said unto them, "Why tempt ye Me? (Lu20:23). This they said testing Him, that they might have cause to accuse Him…(Joh8:6).

We know that Jesus was like us in every way:

…Had to be made like his brothers in every way…(Heb2:17)}.

We are told that Jesus was in a desert fasting for forty days and nights. It is very difficult for a man to survive such a test. Hallucinations and disillusionment will occur. In such a state of mind we can expect a man to think of all possibilities available to him and Jesus was aware of the power available to Him:

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power… (Joh13:3)}. Also see Joh3:35. 1Co15:27. All that belongs to the Father is mine (Joh16:15). All I have is yours, and all you have is mine…(Joh17:10).

Jesus could tell the stones to become bread and end His hunger, but He would have used Gods power for His own benefit.

The pinnacle of the temple, as historian Josephus informs us, was an elevated court or promenade, which, on one side overlooked the depths of the valley of Jehosaphat to a depths of 200 feet, and offered the facility for self-destruction. It is possible that Jesus desired to use His power to cause a sensation by falling unhurt from the pinnacle of the temple.

The devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world from a high mountain. There is no mountain from which all the kingdoms of the world could be viewed. If the devil had perhaps done it miraculously, then what was the reason to ascend a high mountain? Did Jesus struggle in His mind with the circumstances on one side, and His power to be able to possess “the kingdoms of the world”, to allow people to worship Him? We know He could:

Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way? (Mt26:53-54). Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" (Joh18:11). Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped (Php2:6).

We can envisage that Jesus was tempted to put His power to use and disregard the purpose that He was sent to fulfill. He could have used His power and claim what was to be His, but each time a word of God came to his mind and won over temptation. He first had to fulfill the purpose He was sent for and follow His Father’s will in full:

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him and through him to reconcile to himself all things…, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Col1:19-20). For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me (Joh6:38). The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life…(Joh10:17). For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mr10:45).

We see how Jesus suffers just before His arrest:

Going a little further, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him (Mr14:35). See Mt26:39 Lu22:42.

2Pe 2:4…God did not spare angels when they sinned…putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment. See also Jude1:6.

These were supposed to be angels who sinned presumably like Satan and the devil, but were treated differently. They were kept in dungeons, but Satan and the devil (if exist) managed to escape God and work against Him. We know that the word “angel” refers often to people.

Heb 2:14…so that by his death he might destroy him who holds
the power of death, that is, the devil.

Let us finally find out who or rather what the devil is. Paul tells us:

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting”. The sting of death is sin...(1Co15:55+56). …The wages of sin is death… (Ro6:23). The mind of sinful man is death…(Ro8:6)… Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned (Ro5:12).

Therefore we all die because of our sin, the product of our mind. Jesus died for our sins so that we could have everlasting life:

…For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors (Isa53:12). …He appeared so that he might take away our sins…(1Jo3:5). …Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures (1Co15:3). … But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself (Heb9:26). For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man (Ro8:3). …I have overcome the world (Joh16:33).

We can understand now that Jesus came to destroy death with its sting or cause, which is sin (called the devil) in sinful man. Jesus also disarmed Jewish power, hostility and their devil actions:

And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (Col2:15). …His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility
(Eph2:15+16).

We die because:

{For the wages of sin is death…(Ro6:23). …who holds the power of death, that is, the devil (Heb2:14)}.

Jesus appeared to:

But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins…(1Jo3:5). …The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work (1Jo3:8).

Jesus conquered:

…so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil (Heb2:14). …But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself (Heb 9:26).

DO YOU STILL WORSHIP THE PAGAN POWER CALLED SATAN AND THE DEVIL, THE FALLEN ANGEL/S?


God bless

2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

This verse has been commonly quoted to prove that Satan is in control of the world. Let us see what God says about this.

Jer 9:24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
Mat 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

As we can see from those three verses (among many) the Father is the Lord of heaven and earth, He exercises lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth and He blinds people's minds or sends them strong delusions that they should believe a lie and not be saved. For it is written

Mar 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
Mar 4:12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

God bless

Today, people seem to have no problem with placing their "fabulous story" about Satan into the Word of God. Do they have God's permission to do so? It is written to the contrary.

We need to ask ourselves this question: do we serve God by placing our story in the Biblical context thereby making mockery of His Word?

Is the pagan god Satan still with us today?

God bless

You sure have an interesting way of looking at things.