Satan
We believe in the reality of Satan as a distinct person (Job 1:6-12, 2 [show]Job 1:6-12
[6]Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. [7]The LORD said to Satan, "From where have you come?" Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it." [8]And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?" [9]Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for no reason? [10]Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. [11]But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face." [12]And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. (ESV)
Job 1:2
[2]There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. (ESV)
:1-7), who, having been perfectly created (Ezek. 28:12-19), fell from his exalted state through pride, which prompted his rebellion against God (Isa. 14:13-14 [show]Isaiah 14:13-14
[13]You said in your heart,
'I will ascend to heaven;
above the stars of God
I will set my throne on high;
I will sit on the mount of assembly
in the far reaches of the north;
[14]I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.'; Ezek. 28:17; I Tim. 3:6 [show]1 Timothy 3:6
[6]He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. (ESV)), leading a multitude of the angelic host in his revolt (Ezek. 28:16, 18; Rev. 12:7-9 [show]Revelation 12:7-9
[7]Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, [8]but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. [9]And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world--he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. (ESV)); that he is the archenemy of God committed to thwarting the divine councils (Matt. 4:1-11 [show]Matthew 4:1-11
[4:1]Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. [2]And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. [3]And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." [4]But he answered, "It is written,
"'Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
[5]Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple [6]and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,
"'He will command his angels concerning you,'
and
"'On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.'"
[7]Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" [8]Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. [9]And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." [10]Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
"'You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.'"
[11]Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. (ESV); II Cor. 11:13-15 [show]2 Corinthians 11:13-15
[13]For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. [14]And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. [15]So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. (ESV)); that he is the prince of this world (John 12:31 [show]John 12:31
[31]Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. (ESV)) and the god of this age (II Cor. 4:3-4 [show]2 Corinthians 4:3-4
[3]And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. [4]In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (ESV)); that he is the king over the realm as indicated by the name of Beelzebub (Matt. 12:22-30 [show]Matthew 12:22-30
[22]Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. [23]And all the people were amazed, and said, "Can this be the Son of David?" [24]But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons." [25]Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. [26]And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? [27]And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. [28]But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. [29]Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. [30]Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. (ESV)); that he is the adversary of believers and the accuser of the brethren (I Pet. 5:8 [show]1 Peter 5:8
[8]Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (ESV); Rev. 12:10 [show]Revelation 12:10
[10]And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. (ESV)); and that he is to be cast forever into the lake of fire as execution of his sentence of judgment at Calvary (John 16:11 [show]John 16:11
[11]concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. (ESV); Rev. 20:10 [show]Revelation 20:10
[10]and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (ESV)).