Section 11

Life Only In Christ

Chapter 109.

Origin, History,
and Destiny of Satan

1. HAVE any others than the human family sinned?
"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." 2 Peter 2:4.

2. What is the name of the one who led the angels to sin?
"Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." Matt. 25:41.

3. By what other names is he known?
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world." Rev. 12:9. See also Isa. 14:12, where he is called "Lucifer."

4. What was Satan's condition when created?
"Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee." Eze. 28:15.

5. What description is given of him by the prophet Ezekiel?
"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 workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 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." Verses 12-14.

NOTE.-From this it is evident that Satan was a high and exalted angel before he fell, a masterpiece of wisdom and beauty. From the reference to his "tabrets" and "pipes" it seems probable that he was chorister of heaven, and led the angelic host in song. In the earthly sanctuary the cherubim overshadowed the mercy-seat. Ex. 25:16-22; Heb. 9:3-5; Ps. 99:1.

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6. What unholy, ambitious spirit took possession of Satan, and led to his fall?
"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." Isa. 14:13,14.

7. Did pride also contribute to his fall?
"Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness." Eze. 28:17.

8. What does Solomon say precedes destruction and a fall?
"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." Prov. 16:18.

9. How does the prophet Isaiah describe Satan's fall?
"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!" Isa. 14:12.

10. Why was Satan cast from his high position?
"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." Eze. 28:16.

11. When cast out of the mountain of God, to what place were Satan and his angels banished, to be kept till the judgment?
"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." 2 Peter 2:4.

NOTE.-This, we understand, is the darkness surrounding this world, and is symbolic of the darkness of utter hopelessness and despair in rebellion and sin. When Satan led man to sin, darkness was brought upon this world. But God did not leave man to hopelessness. In His mercy and great love He caused "the light of the glorious gospel of Christ" to shine, to call men "out of darkness into His marvelous light." That Satan and the angels who fell with him had a period of probation and opportunity to repent, there can be no doubt. Their fate is the result of stubborn rebellion and persistence in sin in spite of the overtures of mercy and the offers of pardon. For this they were cast out of heaven. The wicked angels are kept in everlasting chains of darkness.

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12. How is the conflict which took place in heaven between Christ and Satan described by the revelator?
"And there was war in heaven: Michael and His angels
fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Rev. 12:7-9.

13. In what terms did Christ refer to Satan's fall?
"And He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." Luke 10:18.

14. Has Satan ever appeared before God since his fall?
"Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them." Job 1:6. See also chapter 2:1.

15. When asked whence he came, what was Satan's reply?
"Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it." Job 1:7. See Job 2:2.

NOTE.-By tempting man to sin, Satan usurped man's dominion over the earth. Rom. 6:16; 2 Peter 2:19. This he now claims as his kingdom (Luke 4:6); hence the temptation in offering the kingdoms of this world to Christ. As the "god" and ruler of this world, Satan, for four thousand years before the crucifixion of Christ, appeared before God among the representatives of other worlds, as the representative of this world. After accomplishing the death of Christ, the Son of God, the sinless One, Satan was cast out of this council, or assembly, and has not been permitted to enter it since. This was his second fall, and the one doubtless, to which Christ, just before His crucifixion, alluded when he said, "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out." John 12:31. His final fall and destruction are still future.

16. What has been the character of Satan since his fall?
"He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning." 1 John 3:8.

17. Was he ever in the truth?
"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." John 8:44.

NOTE.-The expression "abode not in the truth" implies that Satan was once in the truth, but that he did not remain there.

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18. What is the only "beginning" of which we have record?
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Gen. 1:1.

19. What besides a murderer did Christ say Satan is?
"When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." John 8:44.

20. What did God tell Adam and Eve would be the result if they transgressed by partaking of the forbidden fruit?
"Thou shalt surely die." Gen. 2:17.

21. What did Satan say to Eve concerning this?
"And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall NOT surely die." Gen. 3:4.

NOTE.-This, as far as the record shows, was the first lie,- a direct denial of the word of God. By persuading Eve to accept and believe it, Satan led our first parents to commit sin; and, as "the wages of sin is death," by it, also, he caused their death, and so became, in reality, the first murderer. A lie, therefore, is a twin brother to murder, and one of the most hateful things to God, the "God of truth." See Prov. 6:16-19. "The lip of truth shall be established forever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment." Prov. 12:19. "All liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone." Rev. 21:8. See also Rev. 21:27; 22:15.

22. What has been the result of sin's entrance into the world?
"By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin." Rom. 5:12. "By one man's disobedience many were made sinners." Verse 19. "The whole world lieth in wickedness." 1 John 5:19. "In Adam all die." 1 Cor. 15:22.

23. When Christ came to redeem man, what did Satan do?
"And immediately the Spirit driveth Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan." Mark 1:12,13. See also Matt. 4:1-11.

24. How severely was Christ tempted of Satan?
"For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Heb. 4:15.

25. What has the church suffered since the days of Christ?
"And when the dragon [Satan] saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman [the church]." Rev. 12:13.

NOTE.-Many millions of the people of God have been put to death since the beginning of the Christian era, under pagan and papal persecutions, all of which have been instigated by Satan. See Buck's Theological Dictionary, any commentary or church history on the subject of persecution, and the readings in Chapters 51., 59., 60. and 108. of this book.

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26. Is the remnant church to feel his wrath, and why?
"And the dragon ,vas wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Verse 17.

27. How will Satan deceive men in the last days?
"And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast." Rev. 13:14.

NOTE.-This, we understand, refers to Spiritualistic manifestations and miracles to be wrought to fasten men in error and deception.

28. What will influence the nations to gather for the great battle of Armageddon?
"They are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." Rev. 16:14.

29. Why will men be allowed thus to fall under the delusion of Satan?
"Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thess. 2:10-12. See 1 Kings 22:20-23.

30. For how long is Satan to be bound at the second advent?
"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, and bound him a thousand years." Rev. 20:1,2.

31. What is to take place at the close of the thousand years?
"And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea." Verses 7,8.

NOTE.-Satan's evil career began in rebellion against God in heaven, and ends in rebellion against Him on earth.

32. As Satan and his host compass the camp of the saints, what will take place?
"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." Verse 9.

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33. What is to be Satan's final doom?
"I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more." Eze. 28:18,19.

NOTE.-A gladsome thought! Satan, sin, and sinners are finally to come to an end, and be no more. Then God will have a clean universe.

34. Why did Christ partake of our nature?
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." Heb. 2:14.

35. What exhortations are given to Christians in view of Satan's hatred against God and all that is good?
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith." 1 Peter 5:8,9. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7.

36. With what weapon did Christ successfully meet Satan's temptations?
The Word of God. "It is written, . . . It is written, . . . It is written." Matt. 4:4-10.

NOTE.-The Word of God is the "sword of the Spirit." Eph. 6: 17. If Christ met and vanquished the enemy with this, so also may we. But no one can use it who is unfamiliar with it. How important, then, that we search, study, and know it! See first readings in this book, and reading on "Importance of Sound Doctrine."

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GRACIOUS Father, guard Thy children
From the foe's destructive power;
Save, O save them, Lord, from falling
In this dark and trying hour!
Thou wilt surely prove Thy people,
All our graces must be tried;
But Thy Word illumes our pathway,
And in God we still confide.

Preparing For Eternity
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