Satan: God's Doomed Enemy

John 8:44 KJV 1900

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Introduction

Steps

1. Students draw a picture of Satan to reflect how they think of him.

2. Students display and explain their drawings.

3. Discuss common perceptions of Satan.

ASK: What common perceptions of Satan are reflected in your

drawings?

ASK: What might Satan want people to think about him?

ASK: What might be the harm in picturing Satan as a humorous cartoon? It fails to communicate the seriousness of Satan’s threat to humanity.

4. Transition to Bible lesson.

This lesson will present the Bible’s teaching about Satan so we understand his ways and are better prepared to deal with his threats.

Satan’s Origin

God created Satan as a magnificent angelic creature called Lucifer. “Lucifer” means “morning star” (Isa. 14:12). Morning stars are planets that reflect the sun’s light so that they appear bright in the sky. The planet Venus is a morning star.

Ezekiel 28:12–13 KJV 1900

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. 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.

ASK: Why do you think God created Lucifer so brilliantly beautiful?

God adorned Lucifer with beauty and brilliance to show His own beauty and brilliance.

Lucifer was designed by God to reflect God’s greatness and glory.

And Lucifer did bring glory to God. The lesser angels could look on Lucifer and praise God for creating such a magnificent being.

Ezekiel 28:14 KJV 1900

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.

Lucifer had access to earth and the Garden of Eden as well as God’s presence in Heaven. He served God as the most glorious of the guardian cherubim. He walked in the midst of the stones of fire, perhaps a reference to God’s presence. He was holy and blameless and enjoyed the splendor of Heaven.

With all of Lucifer’s greatness came a responsibility to keep his focus on God.

and to direct the rest of the angels to worship God too. Lucifer had every reason to rejoice and shower God with praise. But he also had the temptation to praise himself.

Satan’s Fall

Satan’s pride

ASK: What might such a beautiful and privileged angel be tempted to think about himself? That he was more beautiful and more powerful than God.

Lucifer allowed sin and corruption to pollute his heart. Impressed by his own beauty and position, he became proud (1 Tim. 3:6). Instead of being content with his exalted position as a privileged angel.

Satan sinfully desired the praise and glory that belonged to God.

Isaiah 14:12–14 KJV 1900

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

ASK: What would need to be true of God for Lucifer to accomplish his goal of replacing God? God would have to be less than perfect, less than all-powerful, and less than all-knowing.

By exalting himself, Lucifer believed the lies he told himself about God. He rejected the truth and replaced it with his own truth. He then acted on his lies as if they were true.

ASK: What might sinful pride look like in our lives? Ignoring God and His Word, obsession with self and what others think about us, lack of praise to God.

Proverbs 16:5 KJV 1900

Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: Though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

God considers pride an abomination. An abomination causes repulsion and disgust. It offends all the senses. An abomination feels, smells, looks, sounds, and tastes so bad it brings immediate and resolved rejection and violent gag reflexes.

ASK: When have you been immediately repulsed by something? How did you show your repulsion?

The other day I made BBQ bacon wrapped deer back-strap filled with cream cheese and sausage, and Pepper with cheese baked. Ryan had never had the peppers like that before and he took a bite of the peppers and he that immediate repulsion to where I had to tell him to leave the table until he was past it.

But God was repulsed by His once glorious creation, immediately moved to judge Lucifer. The cherub was never the same.

God’s judgments on Satan

Past

In His first act of judgment on prideful Lucifer, God removed him from his exalted position. No longer could he reside in Heaven as he had before.

Ezekiel 28:16 KJV 1900

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.

Second, though still granted occasional access to God, Lucifer never again experienced a close relationship with God.

He became known as “Satan,” meaning “adversary.”

Satan opposes both God and believers even his influence on unbelievers is selfishly motivated. Satan loves no man and ultimately works to destroy them.

God judged Satan a second time for successfully tempting Adam and Eve to sin in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:15). The judgment came with a promise of a deliverer Who would strike Satan with a deadly blow.

Genesis 3:15 KJV 1900

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

ASK: Who dealt Satan the blow that sealed his fate and guaranteed his defeat? Who is the Seed? Christ.

God sent His Son to earth to be born of Mary as the promised Seed, the Savior of the world. When Jesus Christ, God’s Son, died on the cross, Satan seemed to have dealt Him a fatal blow. But he could not defeat Jesus. Jesus rose again as the substitute for man’s punishment for sin. God accepted Christ’s death as a suitable sacrifice for the sins of the world and sealed Satan’s doom as a defeated enemy.

Jesus’ wounded “heel” crushed Satan. Satan will not recover from Jesus’ work on the cross.

Colossians 2:14–15 KJV 1900

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Jesus disarmed Satan and his host of powers. He triumphed over them once and for all so that even the worst of sinners can be reconciled to God by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8, 9).

Future

The execution of God’s future judgment also awaits Satan. God will cast Satan out of Heaven, hurling him to the earth during the Tribulation (Rev. 12:7–9). At Christ’s second coming, Satan will be cast into the Bottomless Pit while Christ reigns on earth for one thousand years (20:1–3). At the end of the Millennium, God will free Satan and allow him to assemble his forces once more (20:7, 8). Satan’s army will come from unbelievers born during the Millennium.

In the final battle of the ages, God will defeat Satan and cast him into the Lake of Fire.

Where he will experience excruciating torture for eternity (20:9, 10).

Revelation 20:9–10 KJV 1900

And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

ASK: How do you think Satan responded to the prophecy of his doom? He doubled down, betting on himself to win in the end over Christ. He will never believe that he is doomed to eternity in the Lake of Fire.

Satan’s Demons

Demon origins

Satan was not the only angel who chose to rebel against God.

A great multitude of angels followed Satan in opposing God and His purposes.

The Bible uses the words “demons” and “unclean spirits” to refer to fallen angels. The word “demon” comes from an adjective meaning “intelligent,” or “knowing.” Demons have the knowledge to discern right from wrong. They know they oppose God; and they know their fate (Matt. 8:28, 29). They also understand God’s Word. In their service to Satan, they can corrupt sound doctrine and lead people away from the truth.

1 Timothy 4:1 KJV 1900

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

ASK: What false teachings might a demon want a church to follow? Everyone will eventually be saved; moral standards don’t matter to God; health and wealth are part of the gospel.

God immediately punished some demons by confining them in pits of darkness. In these gloomy dungeons they are bound with everlasting chains and await God’s final judgment.

2 Peter 2:4 KJV 1900

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

Demon power

Demons who remain unchained roam free under Satan’s control. They ceaselessly promote Satan’s worldliness and fleshly living while opposing the ways of God.

Some demons possess unbelievers (Matt. 8:16; Mark 5:1–13). A group of demons living in one man begged Christ to send them into a herd of swine. Christ, showing He has power over demons, sent them into the herd, which ran off a cliff to their death.

In the New Testament era, some demon-possessed humans lost the ability to speak and see (Matt. 9:32, 33; 12:22). Some experienced personal injury, insanity, and suffering (Matt. 17:15; Luke 8:26–35; 13:11–17).

God will judge the fallen angels for abusing people with their power.

They will share in Satan’s fate after the Millennium (Matt. 25:41).

Spiritual Warfare

Satanic attacks

Although not omnipresent, fallen angels work all over the globe. They oppose God’s will and seek to advance Satan’s control in the world. They attack the unsaved in an attempt to prevent people from trusting Christ. They may also take on the form of an “angel of light” to deceive people (2 Cor. 11:14). As such they encourage people to follow false religions.

ASK: Why are false religions such an effective tool for Satan and his demons? They deceive people into thinking they have found the truth.

By controlling unsaved individuals, demons cause people to fear and even worship the powers of darkness. This is especially true in tribal nations that practice religions based on the spirit world.

Although they cannot live within a believer,

Satan and his demons can afflict and oppress believers.

The apostle Paul explained that demons diligently spread false doctrines through lies and deceit (11:13–15). They use deceptive religious leaders to teach these errors as the truth. Further, Satan’s forces weaken the ministry and testimony of churches by destroying unity and encouraging bitterness (2:6–11).

ASK: What might a believer’s bitterness communicate to unbelievers? That God’s love isn’t effective and real.

A believer’s defense

Christ’s death and resurrection broke the power of sin and death (1 Cor. 15:54–57), but Satan continues to function as the prince of this world and the prince of the power of the air (John 12:31; Eph. 2:2). The world is his domain right now. God will ultimately defeat Satan after the millennial reign of Christ. God will banish Satan and the demons to eternity in the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:7–10). In the meantime, believers can have daily victory as they live in Satan’s realm. God provides supernatural resources for His children to defend themselves against Satan’s attacks.

DISPLAY: Resource 29-R4.

God gave believers a spiritual armor to protect them from Satan’s attacks.

Ephesians 6:11–18 KJV 1900

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 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. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

The belt as a piece of the armor of God stands for truth and honesty. Christian soldiers should be bound with the truth of God’s Word as a protection from Satan’s lies.

The breastplate protected a soldier’s vital organs. As part of God’s armor for believers, it reminds believers that God declared them righteous in Christ the moment they trusted in Christ for salvation.

Studded shoes helped a soldier stay upright and firmly grounded during battle. The shoes of peace give believers confidence in their peace with God through Christ. They also experience peace from God during the heat of the battle.

The shield of faith represents the firm confidence we can have in God’s promises and power. We learn to have faith in God by knowing His Word.

The helmet of salvation protects believers’ minds from the destructive ideas and attitudes Satan wants them to adopt.

The soldier’s sword is the Word of God. The truth that underlies each piece of the armor of God comes from God’s Word.

ASK: What would you predict for the believer who spends little to no time studying and thinking about God’s Word?

God has given believers everything they need to live godly lives in this present evil age (2 Pet. 1:2–4). A growing knowledge of Christ and Scripture protects Christians from falling into Satan’s traps.

Conclusion

Satan has nothing constructive and true to say. He invented lying and wants believers and unbelievers alike to buy into his false worldview. His deceptive messages, half-truths, and lies are everywhere in the world. We must be careful to ground our lives in God’s Word, so we can recognize and resist Satan through God’s powerful truth.