Ask Question #50:

Why didn’t Satan want to stay with God instead of rebelling? What did he look like when he fell? How is he able to tempt us if he’s chained at the Euphrates? Can he only tempt us if he gets permission from God?

Satan is a creature, not a rival. “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me” (Isa. 46:9).

Know Satan by his works. The Bible gives many names images for Satan (devil, deceiver, accuser, serpent, dragon, roaring lion) but it focuses more on what he does than exactly what he looks like.

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail” (Luke 22:31-32).

“Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith” (1 Pet. 5:8-9).

“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).

Revelation 12 — Behind the Curtain

Revelation means an unveiling. Revelation 12 pulls back the curtain on the spiritual conflict behind the suffering and persecution seen throughout the book.

• The woman: Her sun, moon, and twelve-star imagery recalls Joseph’s dream about the family of Israel (Gen. 37:9–10). She represents God’s people through whom Christ comes.

• The dragon: John identifies him as “the ancient serpent,” “the devil,” “Satan,” and “the deceiver of the whole world” (Rev. 12:9).

• The child: He’s the promised ruler who will “rule all the nations with a rod of iron,” echoing Psalm 2.

• The accuser is cast down: Christ’s victory changes Satan’s standing as the accuser of God’s people.

• The saints conquer: They overcome Satan “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” and remain faithful even when faithfulness costs their lives (Rev. 12:11).

• The dragon still rages: Satan remains dangerous, but he rages “because he knows that his time is short” (Rev. 12:12).

What Scripture Tells Us About Satan

• Satan is a personal spiritual being who speaks, acts, tempts, deceives, accuses, and opposes God’s purposes (Matt. 4:1-11; Rev. 12:9–10).
  Satan is not God. Yahweh alone is God, and there is none like him (Isa. 46:9).
• Satan was created. All things visible & invisible were made through Christ (Col. 1:16-17).
• Satan was characterized by sin, lies, and rebellion from the beginning (John 8:44; 1 John 3:8).
• Scripture does not give us a complete origin story or physical description of Satan. We should accept both what God has revealed and what he has not (Deut. 29:29).
• The four angels bound at the Euphrates in Revelation 9 are not identified as Satan (Rev. 9:14–15). Revelation 20 later gives a different symbolic picture in which Satan is bound.
• Satan’s power is real but limited. He is never presented as omnipotent, omniscient, or omnipresent.
• Scripture does not describe a universal procedure for Satan to get permission before each temptation. But it does show that Satan cannot overstep God’s boundaries (Luke 22:31–32; Job 1-2).
• Satan can tempt and deceive, but he cannot make us sin. We’re responsible for our desires and choices (James 1:14-15; 1 Cor. 10:13).
  Christians can resist Satan. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
• Christ has already struck the decisive blow against Satan and his works, and Satan’s final judgment is certain (Heb. 2:14; 1 John 3:8; Rev. 20:10).