Sermon Tone Analysis

Satan means “adversary” (שָׂטָן).

Scripture also refers to Satan as “the devil” (Matt 4:1, 5; Lk 4:2, 3; Eph 6:11), “the serpent” (Gen 3:1; 2 Cor 11:3; Rev 20:2), “the great dragon” (Rev 12:9; cf Rev 20:2), “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2), “the god of this age” (2 Cor 4:4), “the evil one” (Matt 13:19, 38; Jn 17:15; Eph 6:16), “the prince of demons” (Matt 9:34; 12:24; Mk 3:22; Lk 11:15), “the accuser” (Rev 12:10), and “the tempter” (Matt 4:3; 1 Thess 3:5).

(Lexham Survey of Theology)

The Bible Does Not Definitively Reveal the Origin of Satan.

Satan (the Serpent) is just “there” at the beginning of the biblical story (Genesis 3:1-19).

Satan shows up rarely in the Old Testament story.

None of these Old Testament passages clearly describe Satan’s origin.

The New Testament record just assumes the existence and work of Satan without clearly revealing his origin.

He is especially active during the ministry of Jesus in the Gospels.

At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, Satan tempts him in the wilderness (Matthew 4; Mark 1; Luke 4).

Satan is described as stealing the Word before it can take root in someone’s heart (Mark 4:15).

He is described as sowing tares (false professors, unbelievers) in the midst of the wheat (true believers) (Matthew 13:38-39).

Satan is described as afflicting a woman with an illness for 18 years (Luke 13:16).

He is described by Christ as a murderer and a liar (John 8:44).

Christ calls him the “prince of this world” (John 12:31).

Satan enters the heart of Judas to betray Christ (Luke 22:3; John 13:2, 27).

Satan desired to scatter the disciples, but Jesus prayed for them that their faith would not fail (Luke 22:31).

Most of Satan’s activity during Jesus’ ministry in the Gospels is carried out by demons.

The rest of the New Testament describes more of Satan’s activity but does not clearly describe his origin.

He fills the heart of Ananias to lie to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3).

He tempts people to sin (1 Corinthians 7:5).

He is described as plotting and scheming against God’s people (2 Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 6:11; 1 Timothy 3:6, 7).

He is described as the deceiving Serpent who brings a false gospel (2 Corinthians 11:3-4).

He is a deceiver and masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).

He afflicts Paul with a thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7).

He is called the ruler of the kingdom of the air (this world) (Ephesians 2:2).

He is described as hindering Paul’s desire to personally visit the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 2:18).

He empowers and enables the “Lawless One” (2 Thessalonians 2:9).

Those under church discipline are “handed over” or “delivered to” Satan (1 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Timothy 1:20).

He is said to be the one who holds the power of death (Hebrews 2:14).

He is our enemy who prowls around like a roaring lion seeking to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

He is behind the persecution of the church (Revelation 2:10).

In Revelation, he is the one who influences and empowers the enemies of Christ and his people, such as the beast and the false prophet.

In Revelation, he is described as the old Serpent who wages war against the church (Revelation 12).

The Scriptures say more about his ultimate destiny than it does about his origin.

In the original curse on the Serpent, his ultimate defeat is prophesied (Genesis 3:15).

Paul encourages the church that they will be victorious over Satan by crushing him under their feet (Romans 16:20).

He is seen falling from heaven due to the healing and exorcising ministry of Jesus’ disciples (Luke 10:17-18).

Satan’s defeat to Michael the Archangel and his expulsion from heaven is described in Revelation 12.

This is most likely not a description of his original fall but a description of his defeat because of the resurrection and ascension of Jesus (Revelation 12:5).

Satan is bound in the bottomless pit (Abyss) during the reign of Jesus (Revelation 20:2).

He is ultimately judged by God and thrown in the lake of fire for ever (Revelation 20:10).

The Likely Origin of Satan May Be Pieced Together with the Help of Several Scriptures.

He is an angel, most likely originally an archangel.

As an angel, he is a created being.

As a created being, he is not eternal and cannot be infinite in power, knowledge, or presence.

His Fall most likely occurred shortly after the creation was finished but before the Fall of Man.

Two Old Testament passages likely describe the reason for his Fall.

Isaiah 14:3-23.

A Rebuke and Proclamation of Judgment against the King of Babylon

This passage has traditionally also been used to describe the Fall of Satan.

Though likely originally intended as an oracle against an earthly king, its language may serve as instructive for the type of pride and hubris that caused the downfall of Satan as well.

Ezekiel 28:1-19.

A Rebuke and Proclamation of Judgment against the King of Tyre

Ezekiel 28:1–2 (NIV)

1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

Ezekiel 28:12 (NIV)

12 “Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

Though likely originally intended as an oracle against an earthly king, its language may serve as instructive for the type of pride and hubris that caused the downfall of Satan as well.

Two New Testament Passages May Speak to the Original Fall of Satan.

Historic Doctrine on the Fall of Satan

Second Helvetic Confession

This good and almighty God created all things, both visible and invisible, by his eternal Word, and preserves the same also by his eternal Spirit: as David witnesses, saying, ‘By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth’ (Psa.

33:6); and, as the Scripture says, ‘All things that the Lord created were very good’ (Gen.

1:31), and made for the use and profit of man.

Now, we say, that all those things do proceed from one beginning: and therefore we detest the Manichees and the Marcionites, who did wickedly imagine two substances and natures, the one of good, the other of evil; and also two beginnings and two gods, one contrary to the other—a good and an evil.

Among all the creatures, the angels and men are most excellent.

Touching angels, the Holy Scripture says, ‘Who maketh his angels spirits, his ministers a flaming fire’ (Psa.

104:4); also, ‘Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?’

(Heb.

1:14).

And the Lord Jesus himself testifies of the devil, saying, ‘He that hath been 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 lies’ (John 8:44).

We teach, therefore, that some angels persisted in obedience, and were appointed unto the faithful service of God and men; and that others fell of their own accord, and ran headlong into destruction, and so became enemies to all good, and to all the faithful, etc.

Wilhelmus à Brakel

The angels were created, for whatever exists is either Creator or creature.

Since they are not the Creator, they are creatures and have been created.

Paul confirms this when he states, “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him” (Col.

1:16).

An angel is an incorporal, personal being which God has created and gifted with an extraordinary intellect, will, and power.

In the beginning all angels were created in a holy state; however, a large portion of them have apostatized so that presently both holy angels and devils exist.

God created all angels in a state of holiness; however, a large multitude apostatized.

“For if God spared not the angels that sinned …” (2 Pet.

2:4); “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation …” (Jude 6).

Charles Hodge

The Scriptures inform us that certain of the angels kept not their first estate.

They are spoken of as the angels that sinned.

They are called evil, or unclean spirits; principalities; powers; rulers of this world; and spiritual wickednesses (i.e., wicked spirits) in high places.

These evil spirits are represented as belonging to the same order of beings as the good angels.

Their original condition was holy.

When they fell or what was the nature of their sin is not revealed.

The general opinion is that it was pride, founded on 1 Tim.

3:6.

Louis Berkhof

Besides the good there also are evil angels, who delight in opposing God and antagonizing His work.

Though they are also creatures of God, they were not created as evil angels.

God saw everything that He had created, and it was very good, Gen. 1:31.

There are two passages in Scripture which clearly imply that some of the angels did not retain their original position, but fell from the state in which they were created, 2 Pet.

2:4; Jude 6.

The special sin of these angels is not revealed, but has generally been thought to consist in this that they exalted themselves over against God, and aspired to supreme authority.

Satan appears in Scripture as the recognized head of the fallen angels.

He was originally, it would seem, one of the mightiest princes of the angelic world, and became the leader of those that revolted and fell away from God.

The name “Satan” points to him as “the Adversary,” not in the first place of man, but of God.