Expert: Rev. Robert Woods - 10/26/2010

Question
Can you tell me what is the Baptist view on Satan? Is he a
real person or is Satan just a word for "evil". I have been
told that he was once angel, but fell.  Who created him? Was
he born of another devil? Was he once created by God as a
righteous being but became evil eventually? I am struggling
with this. If he is a fallen angel, he must have once been
good, and I believe that all good was created by God, which
to me means God did not create Satan, but he created the
being who eventually became Satan through his own decisions,
correct? I think this is the same with people, that babies
are born innocent, not Satanic, but they can become evil
through their own decisions. So according to our (Baptist)
beliefs, was he created by God and is he in a sense once one
of God's children like the rest of us?

Answer
Blessings and thank you for your questions.

Short Answer: Satan was created by God and was one of the original angels.  He lead a violent revolt against God and led 1/3 of the angels of heaven to follow him.  He has never been a man nor ever will be.  He was created just like the other angels.  At one time Satan led worship in heaven but his pride, lust for power and jealousy caused him to rebel against God.  Angels have the same free will that we have, so they can choose right and wrong.  

The Bible doesn't really give us a lot of reasoning for his fall.  The best explanation that I have heard comes from Wendy Alec.  She says that Satan was jealous over God's decision to make man in His own image.  His pride and jealousy drove him to rebellion.  Now it is just a theory.  


Long Answer: Satan is referred to in seven books of the OT and every writer of the NT.  In the Gospels, he is mentioned 29, all but four of these are the words of Christ.

Satan’s Sin:
  Ezekiel 28:11-19 and Isaiah 14:12-19
  Luke 10:17-18

1.   He desired to be equal to God
2.   He desired to be superior over the stars or other angels
3.   Pride, Zion is the Mountain of God in the OT, Satan wished to sit on it or rule over God’s people, like or instead of God.
4.   He desired to ascend above the heights of the clouds or heaven to rule there.
5.   He aspired to make himself like God.


He sinned before the Garden.  

The Names of Satan:
  Satan – which means adversary used 17 times in OT and 34 in NT
  The Devil – name for the head of the fallen angels means “to throw”, he hurls accusations, slanders, tears
down or defames God to man and man to God.
  The Serpent – describes his subtlety and beguiling nature, also used with Great Dragon in Rev.
  Beelzebub – ruler of demons or Lord of the flies or filth
  Ruler or Prince of this world – Satan does not rule the world, but he rules the counter-kingdom he began at
his fall.  It stands in opposition and defiance of God’s rule.  Jesus calls him this 3 times in John
(12:31; 14:30; 16:11).  Paul calls him the Prince which many walk with until their conversion
(Eph 2:2).  He says that Satan is at work in their minds and emotions, seeking to keep them from
trusting Christ.  This parallels the spiritual blindness Paul referred to in 2 Cor 4:4.  His rule is
limited.
  God of this Age – same idea as above
  The Tempter – Matt 4:3 & 1 Thess 3:5
  The Dragon – a huge serpent in (Rev 12:3-4, 7, 9 13, 16-17; 13:1-4; 16:13; 20:2)
  The Evil One – John 17:15; 1 John 5:18-19  He loves evil, he tries to move the whole world to wickedness,
Just as he did with Cain (1 John 3:12)

  

SATAN. Called Abaddon, Rev. 9:11; accuser of our brethren, Rev. 12:10; adversary, 1 Pet. 5:8; angel of the bottomless pit, Rev. 9:11; Apollyon, Rev. 9:11; Beelzebub, Matt. 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15; Belial, 2 Cor. 6:15; the devil, Matt. 4:1; Luke 4:2, 6; Rev. 20:2; enemy, Matt. 13:39; evil spirit, 1 Sam. 16:14; father of lies, John 8:44; gates of hell, Matt. 16:18; great red dragon, Rev. 12:3; liar, John 8:44; lying spirit, 1 Kin. 22:22; murderer, John 8:44; old serpent, Rev. 12:9; 20:2; power of darkness, Col. 1:13; prince of this world, John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; of devils, Matt. 12:24; of the power of the air, Eph. 2:2; ruler of the darkness of this world, Eph. 6:12; Satan, 1 Chr. 21:1; Job 1:6; John 13:27; Acts 5:3; 26:18; Rom. 16:20; serpent, Gen. 3:4, 14; 2 Cor. 11:3; spirit that works in the children of disobedience, Eph. 2:2; tempter, Matt. 4:3; 1 Thess. 3:5; the god of this world, 2 Cor. 4:4; unclean spirit, Matt. 12:43; wicked one, Matt. 13:19, 38. Kingdom of, to be destroyed, 2 Sam. 23:6, 7, with context; Matt. 12:29; 13:30; Luke 11:21, 22; 1 John 3:8. Synagogue of, Rev. 2:9; 3:9.
Devil—the chief opponent of God

A.     Titles of:
Abaddon     Rev. 9:11
Accuser     Rev. 12:10
Adversary     1 Pet. 5:8
Angel of the bottomless pit     Rev. 9:11
Apollyon     Rev. 9:11
Beelzebub     Matt. 12:24
Belial     2 Cor. 6:15
God of this age     2 Cor. 4:4
Murderer     John 8:44
Prince of demons     Matt. 12:24
Prince of the power of the air     Eph. 2:2
Ruler of darkness     Eph. 6:12
Ruler of this world     John 14:30
Satan     Luke 10:18
Serpent     Gen. 3:4
Serpent of old     Rev. 20:2
Wicked one     Matt. 13:19
B.     Origin of:
Heart lifted up in pride     Is. 14:12–20
Perfect until sin came     Ezek. 28:14–19
Greatest of fallen angels     Rev. 12:7–9
Tempts man to sin     Gen. 3:1–7
Father of lies     John 8:44
C.     Character of:
Cunning     Gen. 3:1; 2 Cor. 11:3
Slanderous     Job 1:9
Fierce     Luke 8:29
Deceitful     2 Cor. 11:14
Powerful     Eph. 2:2
Proud     1 Tim. 3:6
Cowardly     James 4:7
Wicked     1 John 2:13
D.     Power of, over the wicked:
They are his children     Acts 13:10; John 3:10
They do his will     John 8:44
He possesses     Luke 22:3
He blinds     2 Cor. 4:4
He deceives     Rev. 20:7, 8
He ensnares     1 Tim. 3:7
They are punished with him     Matt. 25:41
E.     Power of, over God’s people:
Tempt     1 Chr. 21:1
Afflict     Job 2:7
Oppose     Zech. 3:1
Sift     Luke 22:31
Deceive     2 Cor. 11:3
Disguise     2 Cor. 11:14, 15
F.     The believer’s power over:
Watch against     2 Cor. 2:10, 11
Fight against     Eph. 6:11–16
Resist     James 4:7; 1 Pet. 5:9
Overcome     1 John 2:13; Rev. 12:10, 11
G.     Christ’s triumph over:
Predicted     Gen. 3:15
Portrayed     Matt. 4:1–11
Proclaimed     Luke 10:18
Perfected     

In Isaiah 14:12 are the words: "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer [literally 'son of the morning']." This passage, while relating to the king of Babylon and his fall (see verse 4), goes far beyond into a fall "from heaven." Also, in Ezekiel 28:12 are words directed specifically to the king of Tyre, but that likewise suggest more, "You were blameless in your ways, you sinned, therefore I have cast you as profane from the mountain of God" (verses 15-16). Jesus speaks of seeing, "Satan fall from heaven like lightning" (Luke 10:18), and in the book of Revelation there is the vivid declaration that "the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan" (12:9). These are important references relating to Satan and his fall.
The Bible does not speak of Satan as "prince of music" (however much he does seem to dominate many forms of music today!). That Satan was "head angel" seems to be implied in the words that follow in Revelation 12:9-"Satan and his angels."