Satan, Demons and the Powers of Darkness: A Study in the Scriptures

Satan, Demons & the Powers of Darkness

"And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan ... (who) was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone ... and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
Revelation 20:1-3, 10

Copyright © 1976, 1977, 1997 by Diane S. Dew Related article: Hell

I. Satan – his origin and fall.

A. Satan is a created being.

Ezekiel 28:13, 15

1. He was created perfect and beautiful.

Ezekiel 28:15, 17

2. He was once in heaven, "upon the holy mountain of God."

Isaiah 14:12; Ezekiel 28:13, 14; Luke 10:18; Revelation 12:8

3. He had free choice, and sinned.

Ezekiel 28:15-16 ("... till iniquity was found in thee .... thou hast sinned ...")

B. Many angels joined Satan in his rebellion against God, and a war in heaven resulted.

2 Peter 2:4; 1 John 3:8; Jude 6, 7; Revelation 12:7-9

1. Satan and his angels were cast out of heaven and to the earth.

Isaiah 14:15; Ezekiel 28:16; Luke 10:18; Revelation 12:7-12

2. This spiritual warfare is still taking place between the powers of darkness and light.

Daniel 10:13, 21; Ephesians 6:11-17

II. His person.

Satan is a being, not an "influence" or power. The Devil and his angels are actual spirit beings.

A. Jesus was not talking to Himself when He rebuked evil spirits and
was tempted by Satan in the wilderness.

Matthew 4:1-10; 17:18; Mark 5:8-13; 8:33; 9:25, 26

B. Satan and his angels can talk and shout.

1 Kings 22:20-22 (2 Chronicles 18:20-21); Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7;
Zechariah 3:1, 2; Matthew 12:43, 44; Mark 1:23, 24, 26; 3:11;
5:12; 8:31; 9:26; 12:43-45; Luke 4:41; Acts 8:7, 19:15

C. They have a memory.

Matthew 4:6

D. They have a free will.

Isaiah 14:12, etc.

E. They have feelings and emotions.

1. Anger. Revelation 12:12,17

2. Fear. Matthew 8:28, 29; Mark 1:23, 24; 5:7; Luke 8:28, 31; James 2:19

F. They can see.

Mark 3:11

G. They walk "to and fro in the earth" and seek rest.

Job 1:7; 2:2; Ezekiel 28:14; Matthew 12:43, 44

H. They fall down and stand still.

1 Kings 22:21; Zechariah 3:1

I. They seek and accept worship.

Leviticus 17:7; Deuteronomy 32:17; 2 Chronicles 11:15;
Psalms 106:37; Matthew 4:8-10 (Luke 4:5-7); 1 Corinthians 10:20;
2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4; Revelation 9:20; 13:4, 8, 12

J. They have intelligence.

Ezekiel 28:3, 12

1. Know the time is short.

Revelation 12:12

2. Recognize who the saved are.

Acts 16:16, 17

3. Testify to the divinity of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 8:29; Mark 1:23, 24, 34; 3:11; 5:7;
Luke 4:41; 8:28; Acts 19:15

4. Believe there is one God.

James 2:19

5. Are aware of their destiny.

Mark 5:7; Luke 8:31

K. They influence man to lie.

1 Kings 22:22 (2 Chronicles 18:20-22); Acts 5:3

L. They have great strength to overpower man.

Mark 5:4; Acts 19:16

M. They have been seen by man and are frightening to behold.

1 Samuel 28:13; Job 4:15; Revelation 16:13

N. Scripture uses personal pronouns in its reference to Satan and his angels.

Job 1:8; 2:1, 2; Matthew 12:26

III. His character.

A. Boldness.

Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6; Zechariah 3:1, 2

B. Pride (the cause of his downfall).

Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:17; 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4

C. Subtlety and cunning; deception.

Genesis 3:1-6; Matthew 4 (Luke 4) "If ... if ..."
2 Corinthians 11:3, 14; Revelation 12:9; Revelation 20:3, 8

D. Self-ambition; a strong self-will.

Isaiah 14:12-15 "I will ascend ... I will exalt ... I will ... I will ..."
Ezekiel 28:17

1. Satan himself desired to "be like the Most High" (Isaiah 14:14;
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4), and He tempted man with the same
ambition (Genesis 3:4-5 "ye shall be as gods ..."). However,
he himself is subject to God.

a. Satan is not eternal, as God. He is a created being.

Ezekiel 28:13, 15

b. Satan is not omniscient, but he is knowledgeable of God's
doings in the earth.

(1) He knows his time is short.

Revelation 12:12

(2) The demons know Who Jesus is, and they are aware of their destiny.

Matthew 8:29; Mark 1:23, 24, 34; 3:11; 5:7
Luke 4:34, 41; 8:28, 31; Acts 19:15; James 2:19

c. He is not omnipresent (everywhere).

Luke 22:3; John 13:27

d. He is not omnipotent.

(1) He has power (2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 2:10),
but his power is limited: Job 1:12; 2:6; Mark 1:34;
5:12, 13; 1 Corinthians 10:13-17).

(2) Demons are subject to God.

Luke 8:31, 32; James 2:19

(3) They are subject to those who believe.

Luke 10:17, 19, 20; Romans 16:20; Ephesians 2:6
Colossians 2:12-15; 1 John 2:13, 14; 4:4; 5:18;
Revelation 12:11

(4) Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.

Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8

(5) Nevertheless, Satan can perform lying signs and wonders.

Exodus 7:9-11; 8:17-19; Deuteronomy 13:1-5;
Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22; 2 Thessalonians 2:9;
Revelation 13:13, 14; 16:14; 19:20

2. He covets our worship (Matthew 4:8-10; Revelation 13:4, 8, 12),
which belongs to God alone (Exodus 20:1; Matthew 4:10; etc.).

IV. Satan's names in Scripture.

A. "Prince and power of the air." Ephesians 2:2

B. "God of this age." 2 Corinthians 4:4

C. "Prince of this world." John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11

D. "Prince (ruler) of demons." Matthew 9:34; 12:24; Mark 9:34; Luke 11:15

E. "Accuser of the brethren." Zechariah 3:1; Revelation 12:10

F. "Lucifer" ("shining one"). Isaiah 14:12; Luke 10:18

G. "The wicked one." Matthew 13:19, 38; 1 John 2:13, 14; 3:12; 5:18

H. "Dragon." Revelation 12:3, 4, 7, 9, 13, 17; 20:2

I. "Serpent." Genesis 3:1-4, 13, 14; Luke 10:19; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Revelation 12:9, 15; 20:2

J. "Adversary" (Hebrew for "Satan" – Job 1:6, 7, 9-12). 1 Peter 5:8; 1 Timothy 5:14

K. "Beelzebub." Matthew 12:27; Mark 3:22

L. "Devil." Revelation 12:9; etc.

M. "Murderer." John 8:44

N. "Liar." John 8:44 (Genesis 3:4)

O. "The tempter." Matthew 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:5

P. "The enemy." Matthew 13:38, 39; Ephesians 6:11

Q. "Roaring lion." 1 Peter 5:8

R. "The Destroyer" (Apollyon, Greek – or, Abaddon, "Destruction," Hebrew).
Revelation 9:11; John 10:10

S. "The thief." John 10:10

V. Satan's work in the earth.

A. He is a king (Revelation 9:11), and his is a dominion of darkness (Acts 26:18;
Ephesians 6:12; Revelation 16:10).

B. His motives are destructive.

John 10:10; 1 Peter 5:8

1. To hinder the work and the Word of God.

Daniel 10:12, 13; Mark 4:15; 1 Thessalonians 2:18

2. To "deceive the nations."

Revelation 12:9; 20:3, 8

3. To afflict man.

2 Corinthians 12:7

a. Physically.

Job 2:1-8; Matthew 9:32, 33; 12:22; Mark 1:26, 9:17, 20, 25

Luke 9:42; 13:11

b. Mentally and spiritually.

Judges 9:23; 1 Samuel 16:14; 18:9-11; 19:9; 1 Kings
18:26-28; 22:22; 2 Chronicles 18:20-22; Matthew 4:24;
17:15; Mark 5:5, 15, 18; 9:22; Luke 8:27, 35, 36; 22:31, 32;
John 8:44; 10:10; 13:27; Acts 16:16; 19:16; 2 Corinthians 11:3;
1 Timothy 4:1

VI. His end.

Satan and his angels shall be judged for their rebellion against God (2 Peter 2:4;
Jude 6, 7). Their end shall be the lake of fire.

Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10

VII. The disciple of Jesus Christ has been given authority and victory over all the power of the enemy.

Matthew 10:1, 8 (Mark 6:7; Luke 9:1); Mark 16:17; Luke 10:19, 20;
John 14:12; Romans 16:20; James 4:7; 1 John 4:4

A. God does not want us to be ignorant of Satan's schemes (or "devices"),
"lest (he) should get an advantage of us ..."

2 Corinthians 2:11

B. We must resist him!

Ephesians 6:11, 13 "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil.... Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye
may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

James 4:7 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

C. Do not give him an opportunity!

Ephesians 4:27; 1 Timothy 5:14

D. "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works

of the Devil."

Genesis 3:15; Colossians 2:5; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8

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