Q&A - Evil
May 30, 2021 Sunday Evening Study

So this evening’s discussion is one that a lot of us have somewhat vague beliefs about. I am going to give you all fair warning - there is not as much information on this subject in the Bible as we would probably like, and I am sticking particularly to what the Word says, so that means that some of the associated questions are ones we will not be able to answer completely. Tonight, we talk about the devil and evil.

Question - What is Satan’s real origin story?

The first use of the name Satan in the Bible is found in 1 Chronicles 21:1 - “Satan Rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census.” This is not, however, the first chronological mention, as that happens in Job 1 and 2 where God is approached by “the satan.” 

Satan - In Hebrew, it means literally “adversary.”

What other names have you heard for the enemy of God? (Devil, Dragon, evil one, serpent, tempter (Matt4), Lucifer, Abaddon (destruction), Apollyon (destroyer), Beelzebub or Beelzebul, Belial, god of this world, father of lies (John).)

Lucifer - not a Hebrew name, but a Latin one, taken from the Hebrew word heylel which means “light bearer” or “morning star.” The name Lucifer is simply the Latin Vulgate’s translation of the Hebrew word’s meaning, which is why many called Satan the Morning Star even though Jesus claims that title for himself in Revelation. Isaiah 14:12 reads “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!”

Question - Was Satan really a fallen angel?

What do you think?

Satan is mentioned in conjunction with angels in Matthew 25 and in Revelation 12, and with the “sons of God” in Job 1 and 2, which many believe to be angels. Although there is not Bible verse which explicit says he was an angel, he is called a cherub in Ezekiel 28:16. The meaning of the word cherub is uncertain, though it is usually thought of as an angelic or heavenly being because of its English similarity to the word cherubim - but be aware - these words are not similar in the original Hebrew.

The closest mention to Satan actually being an angel is in 2 Cor. 11:14 where we learn that he masquerades as an Angel of light - “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.”

Although it is possible to say that Satan was an angel, it would be more accurate to say that he was a part of the heavenly host - which includes the angels, since we know from the Lucifer verse in Isaiah that Satan came from heaven.

In Revelation 12:9, Satan, the Great Dragon fell and took a third of the heavenly host with a swipe of his tail. We do not know if those stars - those who fell with him, chose to fall, or if they were caught by his evil - there is no evidence either way. Some believe that the more vindictive and evil demons who inhabited the lives of people did so because of their anger toward the injustice of their existence - so they punished man - the only creation that received God’s grace.

Ezekiel 28 explains that Satan was perfect before his fall - he was in heaven and sent to Earth.

In fact, if you have your Bibles, please open to Ezekiel 28. This is one of the most comprehensive collections of information we have on Satan - verses 11-19. 

Question - When were the angels, and therefore Satan, created?
Read Passage - Ezekiel 28:11-19.

Although this passage addresses the King of Tyre, we are seeing God speak to Satan directly as he does several times in the Bible where He recognizes who is influencing the character being addressed - whether it is the serpent in Genesis or the King of Babylon in Isaiah of even in Mark when Jesus rebukes Peter and then addresses Satan directly.

In this passage we see that Satan was initially blameless from the day that he was created until he sinned. Thus, we can deduce that Satan was created during the creation week; since he was blameless, he was included in God’s proclamation that all was “very good.”

In Job 38 when God is rebuking Job, he is asking him “where were you” as He created all the things, indicating that the “Morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy” at the laying of  the foundation of the earth. This indicates that the heavenly beings were there to experience some of the events of creation, meaning they would have been created prior to Day 3 of the Creation week. God created the foundations of the earth either on Day 1 (Earth created) or on Day 3 (land and water separated.)

Question - When did Satan fall?

Satan sinned when pride overtook him and he fell from perfection as Ezekiel explained. The Bible does not tell us exactly when this happened, but some deductions can be made. Isaiah 14:12-14 gives us some idea:

How you have fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

When he sinned he was cast from heaven, and this must have happened after Day 6 since God pronounced everything “very good” and would not have said that about Satan’s rebellion as it is clear all through scripture that sin is detestable in God’s eyes.

Archbishop Ussher - a 17th century renowned Bible scholar taught that Satan’s fall was on the 10th day of the first year, which interestingly coincides with the Day of Atonement. In Jewish culture, the Day of Atonement was the day they made sacrifices and offerings to atone for sin - and it reflected back to what was considered the first sacrifice when God made coverings for Adam and Eve from the coats of animal skins. In any event, it stands to reason that the fall of Satan would have occurred very soon after Day 7.

Discussion - do you think it is possible that the fall of Satan was the act of enticing man to sin? Convincing man to sin would have been an effective way to try to exert power over God and His creation…

Question - If Satan was created good, how could he become evil?

We say that good man became evil because he listened to Satan. Who was Satan listening to? This is the same as the debate about the sovereignty of God vs. man’s responsibility and free will. Unfortunately, many people believe that we sin because Satan or a demon enters us and causes us to sin, but that is not biblical teaching. Satan was influencing the serpent when Adam and Eve sinned - nobody can ever claim that they sinned because “Satan made me do it.”

So why did Satan sin to begin with?

James 1:13-15 states: “13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

Simply, Death is the punishment for sin, sin originates in desire - one’s own desire. It was by Satan’s own desire for glory that his pride in his beauty and abilities overtook him.

Question - Why would God allow evil to continue to exist?

What do you think?

Romans 8:28 - “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

All things have a purpose. This also speaks to the duality of our understanding - we better understand God by understanding his adversary.

Question - What will become of Satan?

Discuss - what do we think?

Revelation 12:12 - “Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”

Matthew 25:41 - “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

Revelation 20:7-10 - “7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”

Some people claim they want to “rule in hell” with Satan as that would be even better in heaven. What they do not realize is that Satan has no power in Hell, nor will they. Satan is no ruler of Hell - he is a captive exactly the same as they are.

How do we use these answers to make disciples? Knowing the future - how should this, in reality, be stirring us to action?