“Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft, underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts...” – C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters
The only historical document available which speaks authoritatively about the existence of Satan is the Bible. Yet, many who call themselves Christians, even theologians, would say that Satan does not exist as an individual, but perhaps as a symbol of evil. The lost world, of course, generally does not believe in the literal existence of Satan either. As people with a faith-based view of the Bible, it is imperative that we become familiar with who Satan is. When we understand what the Bible says about the person and character of Satan, we begin to see more clearly the evidence of Satan’s existence in the world around us.
A Brief History of Satan
We must understand an important distinction about how Satan was created.
The Bible lays out a clear history of Satan in two key passages: Isaiah 14:12–15 and Ezekiel 28:12-19. By reading these passages, we see that modern depictions of Satan are inaccurate. Originally, Satan was known as Lucifer, a beautiful creation, which Ezekiel 28 records:
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. 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. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. [1]
Ezekiel describes Satan as an angel of light and covering for God, which does not jive with the modern concept of Satan. In an article titled “Who is Satan?” John Gregory Drummond states, “From the most comical of cartoons to the most grotesque of gargoyles, the majority of the population today can immediately recognize an image of the devil.” [2]
We must understand an important distinction about how and why Satan was created. Lucifer (Satan) served a divine purpose specifically as a covering for God as an angel of light. When he fell, his composition, or created material, as an angel of light did not change, and he did not transform into a red, pitchfork-bearing being.
Second, Isaiah gives a detailed account of the sins Satan committed in his heart. In fact, the first sin in all of history begins in Lucifer’s heart—not with Adam! Isaiah’s record, one might say, is Satan’s agenda, his bucket list, his stated objectives. Satan declared, “I will” five times in his heart saying:
I will ascend into heaven (Isaiah 14:13)
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God (Isaiah 14:13)
I will sit upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north (Isaiah 14:13)
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds (Isaiah 14:14)
I will be like the most High (Isaiah 14:14) [3]
Lucifer’s change was not external. Change took place within his heart when he rebelled against God. All of human history would be and has been impacted by Lucifer’s sin
What’s in a Name?
Have you ever noticed how God assigns new names to people in the Bible? We see several examples including Abram becoming Abraham (Gen. 17:5), Jacob becoming Israel (Gen. 32:28), and Saul becoming Paul (Acts 13:9), each of which were positive name changes. Lucifer, which means “light bearer,” is only referred to by name one time (Isaiah 14:12) in all of the Bible. After his fall, Lucifer bears the following names: Satan (55 times), the devil (33 times), dragon (12 times), evil one (12 times), father (five times), serpent (five times), and ruler of this world (three times). He is also referred to as the accuser, adversary, enemy, liar, murderer, prince of devils, prince of the power of the air, and ruler of this world. Satan’s name is an important distinction since it defines his character. The Hebrew root word of Satan ( שָׂטָן ) literally means “adversary” or “opponent” of God, and he is the father of lies (John 8:44).
So What?
Anything established, designed, and ordained by God is opposed or counterfeited by Satan in pursuit of his own agenda.
When you look at the record of the Bible, you can see Satan’s activity from Genesis through Revelation. In Genesis, Satan opposes God by deceiving Adam and Eve in the Garden (Gen. 3). From that point on, Satan has worked tirelessly to influence man in order to achieve his stated goals – the five “I wills.” When we look at the whole of human history, we do not see humanity getting better over time. Why is that? People ask all the time, “If God is so good, why does he allow evil in the world?” The fact is that God did not introduce sin to his creation – Satan did. Because God is so good, he pursues his creation and sacrificed his own Son in order to reconcile, by man’s own free will, lost men back to himself. Paul gives a detailed description of what society (even the churched) will look like as a result of Satan’s influence preceding Christ’s second coming:
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. [4]
This description paints a picture of those who have been deceived and blinded by Satan and the false teachers who choose to believe his lies. When men are consumed with their own selfish pursuits, which Satan carefully cultivates, then he does not have to expend effort to seek whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8). Greg Outlaw observes, “In our scientific, rational age, spiritual beliefs are scorned as myth. Satan, however, doesn’t mind those who rebuff the reality of fallen angels or demons. By masking himself, he can tempt and deceive people without blame.” [5]
Paul describes a society which claims to be spiritual by “having a form of godliness” (Christian in name) but is without a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Satan’s goal in this day is to maintain his adversarial advantage against God through any means by positioning God’s own creation against him. In modern America, Satan merely has to keep the saved busy yet ineffective and the lost convinced that they are god.
Does Satan exist? Yes. We have seen the history of Lucifer (Satan), including his creation, name, and character. When we understand that Satan’s purpose is to oppose God and assert himself as god in the place of God, then we clearly see his opposition and adversarial nature in everything in our world. Satan actively pursues agendas resulting in the murder of unborn children, the destruction of families and marriages, the perversion of gender roles and identities, and ultimately a rejection of the Gospel. Anything established, designed, and ordained by God is opposed or counterfeited by Satan in pursuit of his own agenda.
Satan actively works behind the scenes through deception in direct opposition to God’s plan for his creation. Fortunately, we have been given an absolute standard, The Holy Bible, for living in spite of Satan’s influences in this world. Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:3, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” [6]
Practical Living
As a Christian, if you are not living to achieve God’s purposes then you are, by default, aiding Satan in his attempts to oppose God. Practically speaking, how can we live knowing who Satan is and what he is about? Let me put this in military terms, because you need to understand we are in the midst of spiritual warfare with Satan and his forces of evil.
1) Know Your Mission
As a Soldier, if you know your commander’s goal then you do not need a complex plan to accomplish the mission. Our mission is simply stated in Matthew 28:19–20: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” [7] Goals do not get any clearer!
Let me break it down in the five W format:
WHO: Ye (in modern terminology, this means YOU in the plural)
WHAT: Go and teach all things whatsoever I have commanded you
WHEN: Immediately
WHERE: The entire world
WHY: Because the All-Powerful God of the Universe commanded it to be done!
Mission received? Now execute!
2) Put on your Armor and get in the Fight!
In combat, you are only as effective as your knowledge of employing the proper tactics, weapons and tools. What does this mean in practical terms? Through biblical discipleship we learn the importance of being established in worship, the word, the local church, and ministry, but we are not effective in any of these if we do not know how to prayerfully use the word in our lives and in others’. To combat Satan, we need to know our Bible, because he surely knows it far better than we do. We need to be effective in implementing the tools of warfare
which include:
Putting on your Armor / Using your Sword (Know your Bible – Ephesians 6:11–18).
Applying First Aid (Biblical Counseling / Accountability – Galatians 6:1–5).
Calling for Fire / Close Air Support (How to pray with Power – Matthew 6:9–13).
In short, you will never become a battle-hardened veteran if you do not know how to put on your armor, wield your weapon, or employ the right tactics. You have the armor; have you put it on? You have the tactical playbook; have you read it? You have tactical assets on station for support; have you asked for them? You are already in the fight; are you actually fighting or are you absent without leave?
Satan’s existence may not seem real to a lost man or matter to the AWOL Christian Soldier, but his existence is very real to the Christian soldier in the hottest part of a spiritual battle.
Josh Keatts is a pastor and chaplain for the Unites States Military. He and his wife served for several at Harvest Baptist Church of Blue Springs, MO.
1 The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Eze 28:13–15.
2 John Gregory Drummond, “Who is Satan? The Many Forms of the Devil in the Bible,” www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/bible-interpretation/who-is-satan/, Accessed June 25, 2019.
3 The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Isa 14:13–15.
4 The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), 2 Ti 3:1–9.
5 Greg Outlaw, “History of Satan,” www.allaboutgod.com/history-of-satan.htm, Accessed June 25, 2019.
6 The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), 2 Pe 1:3.
7 Ibid., Ma 28:19–20.