SEMESTER 3
146 – The Doctrine of Satan – His Work
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: THEOLOGY III LESSON # 46
THE DOCTRINE OF SATAN (HIS WORK)
Read Gen. 3:1-6
.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Almost as soon as we open our Bibles, we see the influence of an evil spirit.
2. In Genesis, chapters 4-6, this influence accumulates to motivate God’s destruction of the earth and its population, by the flood.
3. As we continue through our Bible, we learn that this evil, spiritual influence comes from a personal being, an angelic, spiritual being, whose name is Satan.
4. It is thought by some that the revelation of God, in the fullness of His attributes, and any possibility of Satan existing and acting as Scripture reveals he does, are antagonistic statements.
III: Skeptics think the question, “Who made the devil?” is supposed to defeat Christian reason.
I. SATAN IS A FALLEN ANGEL
This is held by essentially all students of theology and is proven by the following points:
1. He is of the same (spiritual) nature as other angels.
i. Notice in Job 1:6 and 7, we see his access to both heaven and earth which no corporeal being possesses.
ii. The works generally attributed to him in Scripture forbid us to view him as a physical being. (Eph. 6:11-12)
iii. Some of the “traditional comic strip views” of Satan cause men to be less aware of the subtlety and danger of his activity.
2. He is the leader of other fallen angels.
i. The Lord clearly states this in Mat. 25:41.
ii. Other Scriptures teach this. (Note Mark 5:8-15)
3. A common destiny awaits Satan and all these fallen angels.
i. Hell was prepared particularly for them. (Mat. 25:41)
ii. It seems obvious Satan is among these.
iii. It seems John 6:44 refers to the beginning of sin.
II. BIBLICAL EVIDENCE OF SATAN’S FALL
1. We have Bible passages referring to Satan’s fall in representative figures.
i. The king of Tyrus passage in Ezek. 28:12-18.
ii. The passage about the king of Babylon. (Isa. 14:4-23)
2. Reference to Satan in his unfallen state. (Ezek. 28:12-15)
3. References to the fall of Satan in direct statement.
i. He fell as a “covering cherub.” (Ezek. 28:16-18)
ii. He fell as “son of the morning.” (Isa. 14:12-17)
4. The above Scriptures imply that this fall was facilitated by pride. Scripture warns us against this tendency.
i. Pride goeth before destruction. (Pro. 16:8)
ii. Premature exaltation can ruin us. (I Tim. 3:2-6)
III. THE DESTINY OF SATAN
1. Much foolishness and superstition shrouds the doctrine of Satan, and is even accommodated by preachers.
i. That Satan and his demons are in, or of, hell.
ii. That coming forth from hell are evil influences.
iii. That Satan will torment impenitents in hell.
2. The biblically revealed truth of his state is this:
i. He now inhabits the heavenlies. (Eph. 6:11-12)
ii. He has at least limited access to God. (Job 1:6)
iii. He is active upon the earth. (Job 1:7, I Peter 5:8)
3. His future state is to be torment.
i. He shall be restrained for 1,000 years. (Rev. 20:1-3)
ii. He will have limited influence after this. (Rev. 20:3,7,8)
iii. He will then experience the condemnation which Mat. 25:41 says he was ordained unto. (Rev. 20:10)
CONCLUSION: Thus, let it be understood, Satan is not purposing to recruit victims for hell. The fact is that if he could, he would empty the place and destroy it. I wonder how many of today’s religionists would join him?