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Monday 28 November 2022

THE ORIGIN OF SATAN

The Origin of Satan

There is a lot of mystery surrounding the person of Satan. But the Bible is clear on who Satan is and his origin. In this piece I delve into some theories about Satan's origin and point you to the Biblical truth.

Many, including seasoned preachers intimate that God made Lucifer and not Satan. But that raises question about the sovereignty of God. It further raises doubt about the Scriptures.

For instance, John 1:3 of the King James Version of the Bible says, “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” That means your ceiling fan even though was manufactured by an electrical company was made by God. And that by extension includes Satan.

Now just because your parents had sex before having you doesn't mean that you were not made by God. Lucifer didn't metamorphose into Satan.

Satan is a creation by God. God orchestrated and designed him into being. A lot of preachers have the penchant of presenting God in a way that makes Him look too good than He is. It's like they don't want to offend God. Or it’s like if they present the bare facts or truth, their God will be unattractive to the masses. 

This penchant to make God marketable make Bible interpreters squeeze Scriptures by all means to make God look faultless and “clean”. But that is not the truth! God is to be blame for most of the happenings we see around us. He made the “ages” and everything in them.

Satan was made Satan for the benefit and use of God. That is what the Scriptures says! Satan did not spring into existence all by himself. Many preachers want God to look more good than He is but you cannot help God. You cannot make Him look more good than He is.

God is the source of all things. There are millions of demons or devils that invade the earth from time to time, oppressing and influencing many to do evil apart from Satan himself. And all these devils were created by God Himself. Satan himself is not the only devil oppressing people. He is not even organized that much to depend on other devils or network of devils that report to him.

Colossians 1:16 of the Living Bible renders it this way: “Christ himself is the Creator who made everything in heaven and earth, the things we can see and the things we can’t; the spirit world with its kings and kingdoms, its rulers and authorities; all were made by Christ for his own use and glory.”

Do you remember the Bible says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” –  Ephesians 6:12,KJV.

Who do you think made all these wicked devils, Satan? No!! It is our loving God. Ephesians 6:12 is talking about an order or hierarchy of devils. Let me reiterate, these evil spirits were made by God. It is God who put Satan in charge of all this wicked devils. God made Satan prince of DARKNESS!

Isaiah 45:7 of the King James Version of the Bible put it like this, “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” There is no better way to put it. There is no other way to say it.

Not every devil is a fallen angel. Or to say it well, devils are not fallen angels. I will write later about this fallen-angel-thing. Apart from Satan and some other fallen angels (Jude 1:6), most devils were created originally as devils. Plus, the Scriptures tell us that all fallen angels are caged (2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 1:6). They are not available to Satan for his assignments. Satan is assisted by spirit-beings originally created as devils!

These devils constitute wicked spirits who are enthroned in the realm of the spirit. As the King James Version of the Bible of Colossians 1:16 elucidates, “... whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:”

Colossians 1:16 is not just talking about [holy] angelic thrones, dominions, principalities or powers. It is also talking about demonic thrones, dominions, principalities or powers.


GOD MADE SATAN

Revelation 12:9 of the Holy Bible predicting the fate of Satan calls him that old serpent and a great dragon. Well, that means Satan can transform himself into a serpent and/or dragon apart from taking on the likeness of a human. But that is not important now.

“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.” – Revelation 12:9, KJV. Did you see what the Bible say he is called: the Devil , and Satan! Not Lucifer!!

I quoted Revelation 12:9 to drum home the fact that God made Satan. Many will juxtapose Revelation 12:9 with Genesis 3:1. Many believe the serpent in Genesis 3 is the devil and he is the same old serpent of Revelation 12:9. Yet Genesis 3:1 says “...that  the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made...”

It therefore corroborates the fact that God made the DEVIL! And he made him subtle than any other beast. And subtleness is not a good thing. There is nothing good about cunningness. Before Adam and Eve sinned evil was already in existence. 

Remember that angelic beings are also referred to as living beast (Revelations 4:7). Don't be deceived by the word “field” in Genesis 3:1. It is not a physical snake the Bible is talking about. It is a spiritual one. Physical snakes don't talk! Satan cannot make animals talk.

This therefore means that if even you don't believe that that serpent was Satan himself, you can’t deny that it was a demon that spoke to Eve. And that settles the origin of devils or the Devil! Satan didn't possess the body of a physical serpent; that is not what the Bible says. It's either the serpent of Genesis 3 is the Devil or some other demon.

No wonder Romans 9:17 of the Amplified Bible posits, “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, I have raised you up for this very purpose of displaying My power in [dealing with] you, so that My name may be proclaimed the whole world over.” That is true about devils and the Devil, Satan.

This position is further strengthen by what is recorded in Romans 11:36 of the Amplified Bible. It is recorded thus: “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. [For all things originate with Him and come from Him; all things live through Him, and all things center in and tend to consummate and to end in Him.] To Him be glory forever! Amen (so be it).”

Christianity in many circles thrives on hyping and dignify the Devil beyond measure. It seems the Devil is at par with God. This is because that is what makes God needed and wanted. Satan is the one that make God to be needed. That is what make many Christians seek after God. The Devil is treated as if he is so effective. He is treated as if he is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. But the Devil is none of that. And the other devils he commands are not even orderly!

Satan is not God’s co-equal. Satan doesn't come anywhere near some of the holy angels.

This overly dignifying of Satan more than what he is must stop. We must have a well balanced perception about who Satan is. Satan is a fallen angel whom God put in charge of the dark hordes. The are even God's holy angels who are no match for Satan. The Devil is afraid of them.


SATAN REPORTS TO AND IS RESOURCED BY GOD

Once, I was listening to a sermon by Creflo Dollar. In that sermon entitled “the Reality of Angels”, he reference Job 1:6 to explain that angels report to God. Well that is also true for Satan. He report to the Almighty God. Many find it difficult to reconcile that with the ‘grace-Message’. It sound so absurd to them.

Well, the Bible says in Revelation 12:10 that “... the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” The Greek word translated “before” in Revelations 12:10 literally means “in the face of” or “in the presence of”. So Satan do get audience with the Holy Father, even in the New Testament Scriptures.

Now let consider some group of Scriptures in the book of Revelations. Bear in mind that the book of Revelation can be divided into two sections: a vision of John's day (chapters 1–3); that is a past event, and a vision of the future (chapters 4–22). Even though chapters 4-22 is yet to happen we can learn significant lessons or things about how the spirit realm operates. 

Consider carefully Revelation 6:3-8 of the King James Version of the Bible. It reads as follows: “[3]And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. [4]And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. [5]And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. [6]And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. [7]And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. [8]And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.”

Did you notice the trend in these Scriptures. These Scriptures talks about the dispatching of evil principalities. It adds further that power was given unto them. Who gave them the power? Who else could it be if it wasn't God? It is the same with Satan. He gets his power from the Holy Father. Satan can go as far as God permits him. Plus he is not always effective in his dealings. He fails sometimes.

Do you remember the Scriptures say, “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” – 1 Corinthians 15:26,KJV. Death is not just an event. Death is a spirit; an evil principality! As we read in Revelations, Death is given power to kill! Without Death been given that power he could do absolutely nothing. That is why we say Satan gets his assignments from the Father!! And he reports to Him. If that makes you think of God as a wicked person well that is your problem.


STOP CALLING SATAN LUCIFER

Satan is not called Lucifer, stop calling him that. The word ‘Lucifer’ is found once in the King James Version of the Bible. It is found in Isaiah 14:12.

The word translated “Lucifer” comes from the Hebrew word “hêylêl”. “Hêylêl” literally means “light-bearer” or “morning star” or “day star” or “shining one”.

Thus whereas the King James Version of the Bible translates Isaiah 14:12 as follows: “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!”; the Amplified Bible translates Isaiah 14:12: “How have you fallen from heaven, O light-bringer and daystar, son of the morning! How you have been cut down to the ground, you who weakened and laid low the nations [O blasphemous, satanic king of Babylon!]”

Lucifer is not a proper name. It is a title.

Some way some how, when the King James Version of the Bible was been translated the Latin Vulgate has been around for thousands of years.

The Latin Vulgate translated “hêylêl” as “Lucifero”. As a result, Lucifer had already become the proper name for the Devil.

In translating “hêylêl”, the King James translators kept the popular Latin term Lucifer (from Lucifero)

Lucifer is also the Latin name for the planet Venus.


JESUS IS THE REAL “LUCIFER”

2 Peter 1:19 of the King James Version of the Bible reads, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:” The Greek word translated “day star” in the above verse comes from the Greek word “phōsphoros” which means “light bringing” or  “light bearing” or “giving light” or “the planet Venus” or “the morning star” or “day star”

This should tell you something. Jesus is the DAY STAR! Further Jesus says of Himself, “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. – Revelation 22:16, KJV.

As if that is not enough Jesus promises the church in Thyatira and of course all Christians who overcome ‘the morning star’! 

Revelation 2:26-28 reads, “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star.” This concretized the fact that the morning star is something bestowed upon or some sort of title, which Satan once enjoyed! Jesus truly is real the Morning Star.



DID SATAN LEAD A THIRD OF GOD'S ANGELS ASTRAY?

There is this assertion in some Churches that Satan led a third of the angelic host astray. It is even taught in Sunday School. This assertion is largely from Revelation 12:3-4. But that is a wrong or warp interpretation of those Scriptural verses. It is a traditional myth.

Revelation 12:3-4 of the King James Version of the Bible reads, “And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.”

First bear in mind that earlier, I said the Book of Revelations is in two parts. Well these particular scriptural verses (Revelations 12:3-4) are part of the futuristic portion. That means they are yet to take place.

In other words, Satan hasn't caused a third of Heaven’s host to rebel against God yet. So even if the interpretation of those verses is that Satan caused a fall of a third of God's angels, it hasn't happened yet.

More importantly, Revelation 12:3-4 doesn't indicate the fall of God's holy angels. Why? This is because the Heaven spoken of in Revelation 12:3-4 has nothing to do with the third Heavens, where most of God's holy angels are or God is. No matter how strong Satan can get, he has no access to third Heavens which is the abode of the Father!

When we say Satan get access to God we mean to say that he meet God in the second Heavens. The Bible does talk about a third Heaven (see 2 Corinthians 12:2).

The first verse of Revelation 12 says, “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:” – KJV. This doesn't mean that the woman clothed with the sun was seen by John in the third heaven. It means she was seen in the sky or probably the second or first heaven.

It isn't far fetched when the Amplified Bible renders Revelation 12:3-4 as follows: “Then another ominous sign (wonder) was seen in heaven: Behold, a huge, fiery-red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven kingly crowns (diadems) upon his heads. [Dan. 7:7.] His tail swept [across the sky] and dragged down a third of the stars and flung them to the earth. And the dragon stationed himself in front of the woman who was about to be delivered, so that he might devour her child as soon as she brought it forth. [Dan. 8:10.]” – emphasis mine 

Now, the Scriptures said that his tail drew the third stars of heaven and did cast them to the earth. It doesn't speak of he causing them to rebel. The imagery been espoused indicate a warfare ensuing rather than a backsliding been initiated. Remember, the third heaven is no-go area for Satan.


GOD DEPLOYS DEVILS HIMSELF 

God dispatches devils that Satan has no knowledge of.

Consider 1 Samuel 16:14 of the King James Version of the Bible. It says, “But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.”

Then we have an interesting account in 1 Kings 22:19-23. The King James Version of the Bible thus renders it as follows: “[19]And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. [20]And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. [21]And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. [22]And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. [23]Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.” – KJV.

Here you have an assembly of sort of spirits before the LORD God. He later deploy one of them to be a lying spirit in the mouth of some false prophets.

Even though the Bible says all the host of Heaven were gathered before the Lord, it is clear or obvious that that assembly were (or included) evil spirits. No holy angel can be a lying spirit. Further, it suggest that a third of the stars of Heaven that the tail of the dragon swept in Revelations 12:3-4 may not be holy angels after all.

Bear in mind, I raised the point that in Revelations (i.e. 6:3-8), evil principalities are deployed by heaven.

Further, Judges 9:23 speaks about how God sent an evil spirit between the men of Shechem and Abimelech. The King James Version of the Bible of Judges 9:23 reads, “Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:”

All this should tell you what sometimes happens behind the scene: God deploys evil spirits that Satan has no idea of. In 2 Kings 22, what we have is a meeting between God and other evil spirits that probably didn't involve Satan. This should tell you how God is sovereign over the hordes of darkness. Imagine the countless number of people being oppressed by devils sent directly from God. It doesn't matter whether they sinned or not, the point is that the devils oppressing them are from the Father!



MORE PROOF THAT GOD MADE SATAN

Many asserts that God made Lucifer and then Lucifer became Satan. Others suggest Satan was made by man when Adam and his wife Eve fell for the deception of Satan through the serpent. But all this is false.

A lot of people cannot wrap their heads around the fact that a good God will create evil or tempt His children.

Satan might have been made a holy angel but who made him metamorphose into a devil? What might have triggered the process that turn him into a Devil?

The answers are found in the Scriptures. Ezekiel 28:13-18 of the King James Version of the Bible reads,  “[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. [16]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. [17]Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. [18]Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.” 

These Scriptural verses above say that Satan was perfect till iniquity was found in him. The question is where did iniquity came from? Did Satan create iniquity? No! It cannot be a ‘yes’. We are told Satan is not a creator! 

Romans 4:15 of the King James Version of the Bible says, “... for where no law is, there is no transgression.” Your guess is as good as mine!

Further, in the succeeding verses, God tell the anointed cherub what He will do to him because he has sinned. He said that He will cast him (the anointed cherub) as profane and destroy him. This is what made an anointed cherub become a Devil – God's destruction and judgment. It is only God who can turn an anointed cherub into a Devil and no one else.

From all that has been discussed I hope you have gain a balanced view of the person of Satan, knowing that Satan is a product of God's destruction of once a holy angel.





Copyright ©2022JACOB DAPAAH.

All Rights Reserved. Any duplication, transfer or manipulation of the content of this article without prior permission is prohibited.


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