The History of Satan

[face2face]

I dont usually do this, however as I am discussing the subject of satan, devil etc here Satan Demons Angels and Spiritual Warfare I wanted to provide a more focused look at the History of Satan, firstly from the Bible and also look at extra-Biblical text to show its deception.

History of Satan

The history of Satan, including that phase of it which remains to be realized, can be set forth only along the most general lines. He belongs to the angelic order of beings. He is by nature one of the sons of Elohim (Job 1:6). He has fallen, and by virtue of his personal forcefulness has become the leader of the anarchic forces of wickedness. As a free being he has merged his life in evil and has become altogether and hopelessly evil. As a being of high intelligence he has gained great power and has exercised a wide sway over other beings. As a created being the utmost range of his power lies within the compass of that which is permitted. It is, therefore, hedged in by the providential government of God and essentially limited. The Bib. emphasis upon the element of falsehood in the career of Satan might be taken to imply that his kingdom may be less in extent than appears. At any rate, it is confined to the cosmic sphere and to a limited portion of time. It is also doomed. In the closely related passages 2 Pet 2:4 and Jude ver 6 it is affirmed that God cast the angels, when they sinned, down to Tartarus and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment. This both refers to the constant Divine control of these insurgent forces and also points to their final and utter destruction. The putting of Satan in bonds is evidently both constant and progressive. The essential limitation of the empire of evil and its ultimate overthrow are foreshadowed in the Book of Job (chs 38–41), where Jeh’s power extends even to the symbolized spirit of evil. (Matthews Louis Sweet, "Satan" The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia (Chicago: The Howard-Severance Company, 1915) 2694–2695.)

All of this information has been gleaned from 3 sections of Scripture, which offer no origin story, or any of the details written above. Now I am pleased the writter has not used Ezek 28, or Isaiah 14 which is a real relief!

As a created being the utmost range of his power lies within the compass of that which is permitted. It is, therefore, hedged in by the providential government of God and essentially limited.

So lets test this above statement which the author is taking from Job.

Who afflicted Job...the Satan / Adversary or God Himself - what was permitted?

It appears - All knew that God had brought the evil upon Job.

Adversary: 1:11 Stretch out Your hand and touch (2:5)

Job: 1:21 The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. (2:10)

6:4 The arrows of the Almighty are within me.

9:17 He (God) crushes me multiplies my wounds without cause.

10:8 Your hands made me yet You would destroy me.

19:6 Know then that God has wronged me.

27:2 As God lives, who has taken away my justice.

Friends: 5:17 Do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.

8:4 He has cast your sons away for their transgression.

11:6God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.

God: 2:3 You incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.

42:11 All the adversity that the Lord had brought upon him.

All of Job’s afflictions were controlled by God with great precision: the Sabeans (man), lightning (God), Chaldeans (man), tornado (God), etc. Job would have known by this it was God's doing!

How is it possible that a supernatural powerful fallen angel is not ONCE attributed as being the cause of these afflictions, in fact, they have no idea this being exists at all!? The adversary enters the narrative in the first two chapters then disappears.

The above evidence is rather overwhelming. To believe in such a fallen angel you must also believe God kept this being secret for thousands of years!

Unthinkable.

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[face2face]

The Adversary protested that Job’s trial had not gone far enough.

Job 2:4—Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”

There is a number of issues with this text.

1. The adversary is powerless which means they could be an envious member of Job's community (a human adversary), or
2. An obedient Angel who is seen to be questioning God's methodology in dealing with Job (blessing him abundantly etc)

I lean toward No. 1 as I can see the Adversary lacks insight into the faith of Job and accuses him of being utterly selfish—willing to suffer the loss of his family and possessions if he could save his own skin!

Also, only a human adversary would be envious at material things:

No Christian can provide an adaquate logical reason why a supernatural fallen angel would care for sheep!

His family and his possessions:

7 Sons

3 Daughters

7,000 sheep

3,000 camels

500 yoke of oxen

500 female donkeys

The greatest man of all the peoples of the East

 

[Jericho]

All of Job’s afflictions were controlled by God with great precision: the Sabeans (man), lightning (God), Chaldeans (man), tornado (God), etc. Job would have known by this it was God's doing!

How is it possible that a supernatural powerful fallen angel is not ONCE attributed as being the cause of these afflictions, in fact, they have no idea this being exists at all!? The adversary enters the narrative in the first two chapters then disappears.

Satan states that God had placed a hedge or protection around Job's home and property (Job 1:10). God temporarily removed that hedge of protection and gave Satan permission to test Job but not to harm him physically. Job 1:12 makes it clear that it is Satan's doing, not God's. To say that it was God's doing is ascribing evil to God.

So, we have nature and man at work destroying Job's family and property, but Satan can use them both. When Jesus predicted his death and resurrection and Peter rebuked him for it, Jesus told him, "Get behind me Satan" (Mat 16:21–23). Peter was being used by Satan without him even knowing it. And when Jesus rebuked the wind and the waves (Luk 8:26–39), the implication is that Satan has the ability to manipulate the weather. I would speculate that Satan created the storm to try and prevent Jesus from going there and casting out the legion of demons.

Now, the messenger likens the lightning strike to "the fire of God" (Job 1:16). But this is akin to insurance companies calling natural disasters "acts of God." They're not actually acts of God; they're just acts outside of human control. Job seemed to erroneously blame God for his sufferings but later repented of his ignorance, saying, “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. ... Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:1–6).

Job 2:4—Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”

There is a number of issues with this text.

1. The adversary is powerless which means they could be an envious member of Job's community (a human adversary), or
2. An obedient Angel who is seen to be questioning God's methodology in dealing with Job (blessing him abundantly etc)

1. There is no indication it was a human adversary. The sons of God (Bene-elohim) is always a reference to spiritual entities. This phrase is used again in Job 38:

Job 38:4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.

Job 38:5 Who determined its measurements?
Surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?

Job 38:6 To what were its foundations fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone,

Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together,
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

The sons of God (Bene-elohim) were around BEFORE the earth was ever created. Plus, a human adversay couldn't control the weather.

2. It can't be an obident angel because it is literally called Satan, which means "adversary" or "accuser." An obident angel wouldn't be called Satan. I think it is what it says it is: Satan, either a fallen angel or cherubim who has or had access to God's throne room.

No Christian can provide an adaquate logical reason why a supernatural fallen angel would care for sheep!

The reason seems obvious to me. Livestock were a measure of a man's wealth in those days. By attacking his sheep, he was attacking his prosperity, further adding to Job's misery.

 

[IndianaRob]

One of the keys to understanding Satan is Genesis 3:15.

Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

If you can figure out who the two seeds are you pretty much know what Satan is.

 

[face2face]

Satan states that God had placed a hedge or protection around Job's home and property (Job 1:10).

Why would an evil supernatural being care about sheep and livestock?

The more I question you the harder it will become!

This was a human adversary!

Which is why its there in the first two chapters and gone!

In the end it was the Lord who brought the evil against Job.

F2F

 

[Jericho]

Why would an evil supernatural being care about sheep and livestock?

I answered that already. Livestock was a measure of wealth, not to mention their livelihood. Satan attacked Job every way possible.

This was a human adversary!

First you said God did it, then you say it was a human adversary who did it. Which is it?

 

[PGS11]

I wouldn't say God brought evil on Job.Job was his champion.God was admiring Job and his faithfulness and Satan came along and challenged God on the faithfulness of Job.God responded and let Satan have at Job where he was allowed to do anything except kill Job.Job didn't really have any idea what was going on on why it was happening until it ended.I would rather look at it as he was tested to his limit but yes Evil was brought on Job.

 

[face2face]

I answered that already. Livestock was a measure of wealth, not to mention their livelihood. Satan attacked Job every way possible.




First you said God did it, then you say it was a human adversary who did it. Which is it?

I see your confusion.

The adversary simply questioned Gods motives in how He was.dealing with Job as son.

Everyone in the book understood it was God who afflicted him.

Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of money and a ring of gold Job 42:11

If you understood the function of an adversary this section of Scrioture would not be difficult for you.

It was an envious person who could see with fleshly eyes Jobs abundance and sought to see Job experience not on the Goodness of Gods character, but His Severity as well.

And Job did in the end.

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[face2face]

I wouldn't say God brought evil on Job

You don't need to say it the Word of God does that for you.

 

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[Reggie Belafonte]

Satan is just all about Tempting.
The workings of such is all to do with Tempting.

 

[face2face]

Satan is just all about Tempting.
The workings of such is all to do with Tempting.

Not tempting Reggie but a person or people who are an adversary either for good or evil.

It's possible to have a good satan but never a good devil as this mean false accuser.

In the story of Job the adversary was a false accuser as well as they claimed Jobs faith was not sincere with intergrity and God was wrong in blessing him.

While the satan in this story is gone by the 3rd chapter we find in the end God is proven to be right.

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[face2face]

My conclusion having studied this for many years is the satan was an envious believer in Job's communities who carried envy in his heart. It's possible this satan was suffering poverty and hardship, and was jealous of Job's success. It's possible Job never knew who this person was or the bitterness they held in their hearts.

 

[Reggie Belafonte]

My conclusion having studied this for many years is the satan was an envious believer in Job's communities who carried envy in his heart. It's possible this satan was suffering poverty and hardship, and was jealous of Job's success. It's possible Job never knew who this person was or the bitterness they held in their hearts.

The Budda i remember one event that is pointed out, is that they claim that, we creat demons, because we deny them ? that makes them demons stronger and this gives them more power ?
Another was about Phantoms ? but because people believed in them, that made them real ? to the believer ?
Another was about Vampires of the Night and the difference of the Day monster.

 

[Jericho]

Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of money and a ring of gold Job 42:11

This is answered in my thread Did God threaten to do evil? regarding Exodus 32:14. Excerpt:

The implication here is that God can do evil and that He repented of it, or so it seems. But what must be kept in mind is that we are reading an English translation of Hebrew words. The Hebrew word for "evil" is "ra'". Strong's Hebrew Lexicon says this word can mean bad, evil, distress, calamity, or injury. While "ra'" can denote evil or badness, it doesn't necessarily imply an evil act done with malice. It can simply mean something harmful, unpleasant, or undesirable. The context is what defines it as evil, negative, or undesirable. God cannot be evil because it would contradict other verses in the Bible about His character, including 1 John 1:5 (NIV), which states, "God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." I would note there are other translations of Exodus 32:13 that remove the evil connotations:

So, a couple of things:

A) By using that word, it implies that God is doing something evil, which, as stated above, is contrary to God's character.

B) Not all translations of Job 42:11 use the word "evil." Some use "adversity" and "trials.".

C) Just because Job's family and friends attributed it to God doesn't mean they were correct. Even Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar were not right about everything. They falsely accused Job of sinning and bringing the sufferings on himself.

God allowed it for a time to test Job and prove Satan wrong. He even opened the invitation. But it was ultimately Satan who was the one doing it. If Satan had no relevence beyond Job 1:12, then there would have been no point to even mention him in the first place.

 

[face2face]

This is answered in my thread Did God threaten to do evil? regarding Exodus 32:14. Excerpt:



So, a couple of things:

A) By using that word, it implies that God is doing something evil, which, as stated above, is contrary to God's character.

B) Not all translations of Job 42:11 use the word "evil." Some use "adversity" and "trials.".

C) Just because Job's family and friends attributed it to God doesn't mean they were correct. Even Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar were not right about everything. They falsely accused Job of sinning and bringing the sufferings on himself.

God allowed it for a time to test Job and prove Satan wrong. He even opened the invitation. But it was ultimately Satan who was the one doing it. If Satan had no relevence beyond Job 1:12, then there would have been no point to even mention him in the first place.

If you stick around you might learn something!

All knew that God had brought the evil upon Job.

Adversary: 1:11 Stretch out Your hand and touch (2:5)

Job: 1:21 The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. (2:10)

6:4 The arrows of the Almighty are within me.

9:17 He crushes me multiplies my wounds without cause.

10:8 Your hands made me yet You would destroy me.

19:6 Know then that God has wronged me.

27:2 As God lives, who has taken away my justice.

Friends: 5:17 Do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.

8:4 He has cast your sons away for their transgression.

11:6 God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.

God: 2:3 You incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.

42:11 All the adversity that the Lord had brought upon him.

All of Job’s afflictions were controlled by God with great precision: The Sabeans (Man), lightning (God, Chaldeans (Man), tornado (God)

Job understood the God was in full control of the trails which He brought against him!

The adversary is an envious person who could see how much God had blessed him and because the story is about retribution this person formed the belief that 1. God is showing favoritism or 2. Job is sinless and perfect

God proved both points are wrong!

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11

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