Whatever is Satan

WHATEVER IS “SATAN”?

Arnold Kennedy
INTRODUCTION.
The Bible always makes it clear that we are all responsible for our actions; that we must reap what we sow, and that in the end we have to give account to God for those things “done in the body”.
2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
But the churches commonly present a conflicting message about this:
[a] That what we do “in the body” is what they call “works”, and is somehow irrelevant after being “justified by faith”.
[b] That what they call “Satan”-[an un-translated word meaning “adversary”]- is to be blamed for everything bad in this world.
This view is not valid! To show this we shall firstly consider the word “Satan”.
THE WORD “SATAN”.
From the “Dictionary of Bible Symbolism” by B.A. Hunter, we read about “satan”.,
Literally, “adversary;” “opponent.” The Hebrew word “satan’ is not a name, but merely a transliteration, meaning simply “an opponent or adversary”. In the O.T. it is transliterated as though it were a proper name (Satan) 19 times, with 14 of these occurrences in Job. Other O.T. passages correctly translate it as “adversary”, or “be an adversary”, “resist”, or “withstand”. In the N.T., the translators have rendered it as a proper name, in spite of the fact it is the same transliterated Hebrew word which in no way implies a supernatural being such as is conjured up in the modern mind.
The only time the Hebrew word ’satan” is applied other than to mortal man is when it is twice applied to God Himself !! The first occurrence of this application is in Numbers 22:22, in which passage it has correctly been translated as “adversary”. Again, in I Chronicles 21:11 it is God Himself Who is referred to as ‘Satan,” as is illustrated by the parallel passage of 11 Samuel 24:1.
In the Greek Septuagint, the word is the New Testament equivalent of “devil”, and is also found in Esther 7:4, Psalm 108:6, as well as the other commonly known places where “satan” is found translated as such from the Masoretic Text. What follows comes from the latter text.
The important things to note are,
“The Hebrew word “satan’ is not a name, but merely a transliteration, meaning simply “an opponent or adversary”.
Strong 7854 confirms the Hebrew, “adversary (in general – personal or national)” and
Strong 4567 confirms the Greek, “adversary (one who opposes another in purpose or act).
♦ Thus anything in any way that is an adversary to God or to Man is “a satan”.
♦ The transliterated Hebrew word in no way implies a supernatural being such as is conjured up in the modern mind.
♦ The word “satan” can also be applied to God! [This is important to understanding of what the word “satan” actually means].
♦ In the O.T. it is transliterated as though it were a proper name, whereas it is not in fact.
For generations, the wrong transliteration of the word “satan” into the proper noun “Satan” by translators has created a non-Biblical doctrine. This suggests that there are two gods, one good God and one bad god who are fighting each other for supposedly “immortal souls”. This idea is what most churchgoers perceive because it is subtly presented to them this way.

This happens from Sunday School, e.g. the ditty “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine”……Don’t let Satan blow it out” etc. The “Satan” concept has been instilled in children from a very early age!
This basic idea behind all the world’s heathen religions has infiltrated the churches. Translations and traditions cause this to be virtually standard teaching, the origin of which we shall consider further on. Most churchgoers are brought up with this idea and it has become deeply ingrained into their subconscious minds.
WHERE DOES EVIL ACTUALLY COME FROM?
Now, having looked briefly at the word “Satan”. We can consider exactly where the evil actually comes from.
Jeremiah 17:9-10 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Genesis 8:21 For the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.
Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Note that the New Testament and the Old Testament are in exact agreement about the “evil heart” and the consequences of what we do!
Jesus confirms the source of evil:
Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Now the questions these verses raise are:
1. If there is nothing worse than the human heart, and if all evil proceeds from the human heart, could there possibly be some being supposedly worse called “Satan”?
It is clear that the answer to the first question is that the evil comes out of the heart, there being no mention of a “Satan” as an personal identity or “satan” as an adversary.
2. Do we “say” things in our hearts, or do we blame “Satan” for thoughts and words that originate evil, as churches infer?
Let us consider together a few verses concerning the second question taking notice of the phrase “said in his heart”. In them there again is no mention of a “Satan” or “satan”.
Genesis 17:17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
Genesis 27:41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.
Psalm 10:6-13 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity. He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor. He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net. He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones. He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it. Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble. Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.

Psalm 14:11 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Obadiah 3 The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?
Luke 12:45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken.
Now, there are hundreds of verses in the Bible referring to the human heart that do not bear any reference to “Satan”. [There are some 46 New Testament verses referring to “the devil” which we will come back to later]. So when religious persons blame “Satan” for evil in people, they are passing on religious tradition and are generating untruths. It is simply passing blame for the actions of their unregenerate and wicked hearts onto another supposed entity.
This is the vogue today, even in our law courts, where blame is passed on to someone or to something else. This is denying responsibility and accountability. It is the false, “the devil made me do it”, trip we often hear about. It is somewhat like people who are dying through having smoked tobacco for years, blaming the tobacco growers or tobacco manufacturers for their condition, as we find them now doing.
Yes, it is always our just God who is sovereign, not “Satan”.
John 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
Prov. 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Why?
Prov. 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Honesty demands that we should admit our part in yielding to temptation.
James 1:13-16 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.
Let us no longer err about this in blaming “Satan”, as the churches do!
NONE OTHER GODS.
The churches effectively have two gods before them, despite what the Bible presents:
Deuteronomy 5:7 Thou shalt have NONE OTHER gods before me.
God emphatically denies the two-god concept. Please note the capitalized words in the next verses.
Psalm 83:18 That men may know that thou, whose name ALONE is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.
Isaiah 37:16 O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou ALONE, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.
Isaiah 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth BY MYSELF.

! Cor. 8:4-6 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that THERE IS NONE OTHER GOD BUT ONE. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but ONE GOD, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Ephesians 4:6 ONE GOD and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
James 2:19 Thou believest that there is ONE GOD; thou doest well:
So if we have any concept at all in our minds about there being two Gods [or more] we are not doing well!
Quoting Charles Spurgeon, “There are certain doctrines called Calvanistic, which I think commend themselves to the minds of all thoughtful persons for this reason mainly – they ascribe to God everything”.
THE WORD “ADVERSARY”.
As soon as we put the right meaning as “adversary” onto the word “satan”, that is “adversary (in general – personal or national)” and, “adversary (one who opposes another in purpose or act) – Strongs 7854 and 4567”) we can start to get a glimmer of light on this subject. Remember that Jesus called Peter “satan” when Peter was being an adversary to Him. Yet Peter could not have been the literal “Satan” pictured by the churches.
The following passages exemplify the alternatively rendered word to illustrate the fact that the meaning of the word “satan” has been distorted. We should read “adversary” where “satan” is written.
Num. 22:22 And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary (i.e. a satan) against him….
1 Sam. 29:4 And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary -
(i.e. a satan) to us….
Note: Because “adversary” is the same word as that translated as “Satan” elsewhere, in this verse, David is called a “satan” to the Philistines.
2 Sam 24:1 And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.
Note: This passage specifies that it was God who moved David. It is parallel to the following passage in Chronicles which states God was an “satan” [opponent].
I Chron. 21:1 And Satan (i.e. God as an adversary of Israel) stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
Ps. 38.20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries (satans); because I follow the thing that good is.
Ps. 71:13 Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries (satans) to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.
The word “adversaries” is “satan” in the Hebrew in these two verses, as in many others.
Psalm 109:4-6 For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer. And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love. Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan [an adversary] stand at his right hand.
The word translated as “adversaries” [7853] in this verse is a different form of the same root word translated “Satan” [7854] at the end of the verse. Note how the translators wrongly put in a capital “S” as they have in so many places to try to make Scripture fit their beliefs.
Next we shall see that the New Testament confirms the Old Testament.
Matt 16:22-23 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Note: The word “offence” means “the trigger of a trap”. The things that are “of men” are the adversary nature and what comes from the evil heart of fallen Man.
Mark 1:13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan [i.e. adversary]; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
2 Thess 2:8-9 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan [i.e. adversary] with all power and signs and lying wonders.
Revelation 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan [i.e. of adversaries].
Revelation 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan [i.e. of adversaries], which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Again, these verses have a capitalised “S” wrongly inserted by the translators.
ORIGINS.
Scripture does not anywhere present a supernatural being known as Satan which is often conjured up as a being having horns, cloven hoofs and a tail, among other things. Although there is reference to a great red dragon having a tail in Rev. 12:4, this is the concept of Judaism we see in, “He hath Beelzebub, and, by the prince of the demons casteth he out the demons—[Mark 3:19]. This is where the idea comes from that “Satan” is the ruler of the devils. Most churches are Judeo-Christian and this is their popular belief. “Judeo-Christian” does not mean “Christian” or “Biblical”. The word “Judeo” refers to the belief structure Judah adopted when in captivity in Babylon. This was the popular belief in Judea in Bible times. Jesus always condemned these traditional beliefs. But the churches accept them.
The Gnostic, Cabalistic (Jewish), Saducee and Christian Scientist idea is that evil is non-existent -[Acts 23:8]. The Jewish Encyclopaedia says, “As the Divine has true being, evil is that which had no being”. The consequence of this belief can be seen in the immorality advocated in the Jewish Talmud. What these all deny is what the Bible says about the nature of the human heart as the source of evil.
It is popular to say that God created the world out of nothing but we are not told that is so. God simply created. This act transcends the ability of the human mind to comprehend. What we can understand is that part God tells us about, namely that God made laws to which there would be good consequences for keeping them and “evil” consequences for not keeping them. He gave His people a choice and let them choose the consequences. But God did not leave His people ‘lost’ under His judgement. He provided redemption for those who believed what He said.

We are told, “For in him we live, and move, and have our being”-[Acts 17:27]. This means that the only kind of interaction God can have with the creation is that of personal relationship and personal action. There is no room for impersonal mysticism. God is totally personal, and the only relationship He has with men is personal. God communicates with men by means of language (word) and actions (deeds).
Now, in regard to the eternal Law of God, this could be something that could either be rightly related to Him, or wrongly related. We see this in common life. We can rightly relate to our friends, or we can make enemies of them by wrongly relating to them. We can rightly relate to the creation by shepherding it properly, or we can relate to it wrongly by polluting and destroying it. We can rightly relate to God by believing and agreeing with God in our actions, or we can wrongly relate with God by being adversaries to God. Thus the Christian worldview is exhaustingly relational in character. We call this relationship by the Biblical word “covenant” or “covenant relationship”.
What does this mean for the so-called “problem of evil”? Evil is not a substance but rather a wrong relationship with God. “Evil” and “satan”, in the moral sense, are just other words connected with sin which is Law transgression. Sin makes a person an adversary to God. But “Satan” is a word preferred by pagans and religionists since it seems to connote personality and thus moves responsibility away from human accountability. The word “satan” is conveniently used to disguise the corruption of the human heart. The question is often asked, “How could a good God permit evil to exist?” The answer is, “Evil does not exist as a singular identity”. Evil is the consequence of wrong choices and bad deeds. The consequence is always condemnation.
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
From this we see again exactly what the source of evil is.
Again it is not “Satan”!
In fact, the possibility of “evil” or sin is implicit in the very act of creation itself. God set the rules and gave man free choice, God established the possibility that man as captain of creation might choose to become wrongly related to Him; man might choose to break the covenant and rebel against the Covenant. In the Covenant sense this applies only to Israel, although the laws of God apply to every person on earth-[e.g. the laws of science].
The Israel Man was not confronted with a choice between God and “Satan” as two separate entities. Rather, he was confronted with a choice whether to relate to God rightly (faithful obedience) or wrongly (faithless rebellion). We know which choice Israel made, and the consequence.
When we read in Isaiah 54:16 of God saying “I have created the waster to destroy”; this sounds as if “the waster” is a personality, but the “waster” is what God caused to take effect as a pledge or consequence for making a wrong choice. The word “created” is bara’ as in Genesis One.
REDEMPTION
The purpose of redemption was not to rescue man from an evil external influence. Nor was it to defeat “evil.” Rather, the purpose of redemption is to restore man to a right relationship with God, to remove Israel from God’s covenant wrath and restore him to God’s covenant blessings. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” [i.e. adversary works and God’s wrath-1 John 3:8].
When Christian Israelites do not keep this matter firmly in mind, they fall into one of two errors. The first is to view man’s problem as “Satan,” and God’s work as rescuing man from
“Satan.” The second is a more subtle error. It is to view “evil” as “non-being” and an illusion, and to say that redemption comes when people realise that “evil” does not exist. This is the viewpoint of Judaism, Eastern Mysticism and of Christian Science. While it is true that “evil” does not exist as a “being”, the “problem of evil”, or what that “problem” is, is still very real. Man exists, and so does God. When Man is estranged from God, Man must come to grips with his rebellion and seek salvation in the Person and work of Jesus Christ. There is no salvation in ignoring the issue! The Bible presents “salvation” as being a present deliverance in this life, not “heaven” at our death as churches teach. Yes, we are told that God creates [brings about] evil as a consequence of disobedience. Again, God does it, not “Satan“.
What we describe as being “evil” is the manifestation of estrangement from God. Anything in this estrangement position is an adversary to God. This adversary position is what the Bible terms “satan”. This illustrates the Biblical use of the word “satan”. We are told in the blessings and curses under the law in Deut.28, that obedience and disobedience would each have a different eternal consequence.
Psalm 119:160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
OCCULT MANIFESTATIONS.
People who are deliberate adversaries to God manifest mental states which cause them to have a whole range of occult manifestations. These mental states lead on to what the Bible terms “enchanters”, “charmers”, and involves “witches”, “wizards” and “necromancers” [familiar spirits-Deut.8:11], and “astrologers”; things which God terms “abominations”. God says, “I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways”.
Romans 1:24-25 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Note that God “gives to every man” and “gave them up”, not “Satan”.
The occult is a reality. When we begin to take a close look at the occult, it becomes necessary to define terms. There is a great difference between cults and the occult. The term cult refers to a group of people polarised around one individual who is often a magnetic personality. This individual has his or her own understanding of truth, who God is, man’s relationship to God, the existence of heaven and hell, as well as a number of other issues of faith. In most cases such individuals incorporate some degree of biblical truth into their teachings in order to gain a certain amount of credibility in order to deceive the unwary.
From dictionary definitions, the term occult means “hidden” or those things or teachings that are “unknown” “covered over” or “secret“. So, the occult is the seeking after knowledge of unknown information, knowledge that is gained beyond normal human experiences. Therefore, knowledge is said to be received by some supernatural involvement or connection. This they call “Satan” with a capitalised “S”. Satanists admit or insist that their god is “satan”, that is, they have become total adversaries to God.
Satanism challenges the biblical teaching regarding man’s relationship to others. Each of God’s people are to esteem others better than themselves, and are to be team players. In 1 Corinthians we read about God’s people being a part of the body of Christ, whereas Satanism esteems the “self” over others.
Young Satanists believe that the strong will rule with what they see as “Satan”. Once they are sufficiently involved, they often make a pact with the supposed Satan. They commit themselves to a future date when they will take their own lives by suicide. They believe that if
they submit themselves to Satan in death, they will come back in another life as a stronger being and rule with him forever. This reincarnation idea is the nature of deception from hearts that are “deceitful above all things”.
Power has become an obsession with young Satanists. It is sought after on the physical, mental, and spiritual levels. According to one former occultist, the greatest lure into the occult is “power” and “knowledge.” Not just corporate power but personal power. Gaining knowledge that others do not possess is another aspect of the occult. When individuals have more knowledge it affords them a degree of power over those who do not have access to that knowledge. Satanism leads one into bondage through mind control and fear, whereas Christianity allows the individual the freedom of choice to escape that bondage through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
THE CASTING OUT OF “DEVILS”.
In dealing with the subject of “Satan” we have words which appear to be associated with that word, such as “unclean spirits” and “devils”. These have to be touched upon, but these are not the prime subject of this paper, and so will not be enlarged upon.
We witness in the Gospels the parade of ailments Jesus cast out of people. These ailments were curses. People were healed when their curse was removed. This does not mean that these ailments have a leader called “satan” in the way popular religion is wont to say. What it means is that there is a parade of consequences of wrong belief, although this is not necessarily found in those personally healed. We know that the sin of Achan affected a whole nation-[Joshua 7] – although this sin may have reference only to the “Babylonian garment” and what that actually was.
Literal translations of “devil” are “spoiler”, “hairy”, “false accuser”, or “slanderer”. The phrase “the devil” is not found in the Old Testament. We see the plural word ‘devils’, twice meaning “spoiler” or “destroyer”, and twice again meaning “hairy” or “shaggy”. Otherwise it is translated as “goat”, “kid” or “hairy” 54 times.
In the New Testament “the devil” is also translated “accuser”, “false accuser” and “slanderer”. “The slanderer” is the word used which tells us that Jesus was, “tempted of the devil”, and as “satan which deceiveth the whole world”. The other 78 renditions of “devil” or “devils” are from a word which means, “to distribute fortunes”, or “one who disburses or dispenses riches”. The Greek daimonion [Strong 1140] is a derivative of diamon [Strong 1142] is used in James 3:15 as “devilish” which clearly shows that it is an earthly heart-desire for mammon, or wealth, which is “devilish”. Scripture does not teach the popular “Satan” doctrine”. Nowhere in Scripture is there basis to regard “Satan” as a supernatural being.
“UNCLEAN” SPIRITS
Just as spirit means ‘breath,” so does “unclean spirit” signify “foul breath”, which are words in opposition to those of God. The casting out of “unclean spirits” is symbolic of the removal of belief in false doctrines which opinions ‘tear’ or torment the person who clings to them. It is false doctrine that drives men mad, as opposed to the peace which acting upon God’s Word brings. This “madness” can be sensed; it “entered into” swine and drove them into the sea.
The fact that Legion and others were “possessed’ (owned) by the deceitful principles of antichrist beliefs indicates the power of counterfeit words to bring us into submission to men who are “adversaries” in high places rather than to God. These “unclean spirits” include men in high authority in the earth, and our war is against them. That which defiles is that which comes out of the mouth of man, not of “satan”. As Jesus confirms:
Mark 7:20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

Only by hearing (understanding) His Word can we be rid of these erroneous beliefs which we have been taught, and of the effect these have on us. Only then can we have what the Bible calls a “sound mind” or “the mind of Christ”.
In the symbolism of the unclean spirits’ speech, we see that these false doctrines debate with God Himself as to the truth of His Word, just as today those who are in error resist His Truth. We can see this in the following verses.
Zechariah 13:2 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.
Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
Mark 5:2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.
Luke 9:42 And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.
Revelation 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
Obviously here we have good examples of symbols in vision form, having not happened physically. There were no literal frogs or dragons, were there?
Clothing a symbol with a personality is where the churches and tradition manufacture a person they regard as an identity they call “Satan”.
This is what they have done with the word “Lucifer”. Again, like the word “Satan”, it is not a proper name. The word simply has not been translated in the KJV. Many other translations use words like “day star”, “shining one”, “star of the morning”, etc. Isaiah 14 is symbolic of the restoration of Israel and the fall of Babylon, the adversary city which had risen as if it were a “day star”.
When Jesus said in Luke 10:18, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven” He was talking about adversary deception falling before the disciples. “Fall” = pipto = “to descend from an erect to a prostrate position”. What appeared to be the light of a lamp (astrape = lightening) could not stand before the disciples and had to bow down.
“EVIL” SPIRITS.
Through the Old Testament, as mentioned, there is no mention of “devils”, but there is of evil spirits. Note well: These are sent by God, not “Satan”. It is about an attitude.
Judges 9:23 Then GOD SENT an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
1 Samuel 16:14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit FROM THE LORD troubled him.
1 Samuel 18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit FROM GOD came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.
1Samuel 19:9 And the evil spirit FROM THE LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.

Ezekiel 14:9 And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I THE LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.
WITCHCRAFT.
The multiple forms of witchcraft are declared by the Bible as being contrary to God’s Word and will, and they are specifically defined as rebellion against God.
Deut. 18:10-12 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
1 Sam 15:22-23 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
Nahum 3:4-5 Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts. Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame.
Believing in lying wonders is against the Kingdom of God since acting upon these influences defiles people and the Kingdom. The word “witch” comes from the concept, “to twist”, “to turn”, and “to rebel” having a differing set laws which are man-made.
NB. Even religious persons in “Christian” churches who claim the Ten Commandments, the Statutes and Judgements of the Law of God’s Kingdom no longer apply to the redeemed, likewise are in the witch category because they keep these things covered up and thus are in darkness.
Quoting Spurgeon again, “The heart is like a dark cellar, full of lizards, cockroaches, beetles, and all kinds of reptiles, which in the dark we do not see. But the Law takes down the shutters and lets in the light, and we see the evil”.
SORCERERS.
The sorcerer, like the magician, deceives people by trickery, convincing them that the illusion produced is reality. By diverting the attention of God’s people, he succeeds in luring them from God’s Word to turn them from the faith.
Isaiah 47:9 But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy SORCERIES, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.
Acts 13:6-8 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain SORCERER, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. But Elymas the SORCERER (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

Another means of creating illusions is by the use of drugs.
Although music, instruments and clapping are Scriptural, their use in worship is the spontaneous product of what arises from a clean heart. When these things are used in order to arouse emotions in people without cleansed hearts, particularly in mass meetings, people who claim to “feel the presence” in such meetings may be feeling the product of sorcery.
Churches can thus be involved in sorcery to create a false sense of security or acceptance by God, that has little to do with repentance or keeping what the New Testament calls “The Commandments of God”.
RACIAL ADVERSARIES [SATANS].
We can read that people can be perverted sufficiently for them to form a habit of doing evil. This is the purpose and habit of the Jews. In Matt. 3:7, 12:34, 23.33 and in Luke 3:7, Jesus and John the Baptist say that the Jews are “a generation [a descendency] of vipers”. Devilry is always manifested in these descendants of Esau, known as the serpent race. So opposition to God is manifest in the Jews who are of this line.
Through racial intermarriage, the descendants of Esau [Edom] became mixed with those who descended from Cain. Hence Jesus could say “The Jews” descended from Cain, and that the Jews’ originating father was symbolised as “the devil”. Their fleshly nature which is their lawgiver is always an adversary or a “satan”. Evil can be incarnated in races being “planted by the devil”, that is, they are born to be adversaries. This symbolises their origin. As Paul says, who are we to argue why the Potter makes different peoples. God does make differing vessels for differing purposes -[Rom. 9:21] – even if the ‘Church of Everyone’ denies this.
The word “devil(s)” has also been translated as “hairy”, “goat”, “spoiler”, and “slanderer”, the first two connecting with what Esau is, and the second two with what Esau does. Remembering that Esau’s descendants [Edom] is symbolised by a goat, note that the Jewish Encyclopaedia says, “The modern Jew is Edom”, that is, their leadership descends from Esau and not from Isaac. Through Scripture we are told, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called”-[Gen. 21:12, Romans 9:7 and Hebrews 11.18]. These Jews therefore cannot be Israelites. God hated Esau before Esau was born, and He does so for all generations-[Malachi 1]. Now we can see how “hairy” fits in. Remember how Esau was born hairy? A conclusion might be reached that the Edomite Jews are devils!
We have spoken about, “Beelzebub, the prince of the demons” as being an idea of Judaism, but we have to consider the fact that Judaism has a Prince, or King of the Jews who reigns over “The Learned Elders of Zion”, with various ranking Cahilla [secondary leaders] members below them. Does this in effect make their Prince equivalent to a “Prince of Devils”?
Did not Jesus say of the Jews, “You are of your father the devil”? Yet most churches will not accept this statement, and instead claim the phrase “The Jews”, who came from Esau rather than Isaac, represents Israel. Such churches are adversaries or “satans”.
THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS.
Matthew 4:1-11 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
In these verses we see the intimate connection between the words “Satan” and the “devil”. One has to wonder why the translators put a capital “S” in “Satan” with no capital “d” in “devil”. In the account of the “Gadarene demonic” in Mark chapter five, there are some peculiar differences in the use of the singular and the plural regarding “unclean spirit(s)” and “devil(s)”. There must be some difference the translators could not reconcile with their doctrinal understanding.
Where we read, “the devil ‘AND’ Satan” it is not the devil ‘OR’ Satan”, is it? If we think this through we can see the doctrinal nature of the translators’ conflict. In this paper we are concerned primarily with the word “Satan”. “Devils” and “unclean spirits” can be dealt with in another paper, since they are different subjects.
Perhaps it was the Edomite Jews [devils] in the wilderness who tempted Jesus to become an adversary, but Jesus was able to say, “get thee hence satan”. But yes, Jesus was tempted by the same temptation we have, namely to disbelieve the Word of God, yet He never yielded to it, or against it as many churches do.
And speaking of Jesus we read again about Him being tempted:
Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
The lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life are part of the kosmos or world of what is symbolised by “the devil”. The fact of temptation is a reality, but we are to walk “as He walked”.
1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
1 John 2:3-6 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Tough and real words these are, but they are not popular church doctrine that infers that Jesus did all the “walking” (and dying) on our behalf. As for “if we keep His commandments”, the churches reject this. They have invented the phrase “legalism” to try to get around this. True, law without love is “the letter” which kills, but did not Jesus say, “If ye love me, keep my commandments”? Jesus proved His son-ship by doing what He saw His Father doing. Keeping “My commandments” is the consequence of love to God. Paul said obedience was the proof, and:
Rom. 5:10 Much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life [zoe].
NOTE: Redemption is certainly not through the Law. The Law reveals the corruption of the fallen human heart and the need to repent from having broken God’s Laws. Then, as we walk in the light the Blood of Jesus Christ cleans us from all sin – and only then!
People become adversaries [“satans”] when they do not walk in son-ship. In symbolic form, when they yield to the fleshly evil heart, ‘devils’ “enter in” to people, i.e. there is a tangible effect. Many verses in the New Testament show that these “devils” [daimonion] relate to sickness, want of strength, weakness, inability to understand. Strongs 1142 points out that

“In the opinion of the Jews demons had entered, and so held possession of them as not only to afflict them with ills, but also to dethrone the reason and take its place themselves; accordingly the possessed were wont to express the mind and consciousness of the demons dwelling in them; and their cure was thought to require the expulsion of the demon”.
So we can see where from, and how, the Judeo-Christian churches have obtained their Babylonian ideas.
We read, “Then entered satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve”. But Judas already thought as an adversary, he came from that stock.
John 6:70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
Here the word for “devil” is diabolos for which Strong gives, “prone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely, a calumniator, false accuser, slanderer, or applied to a man opposing the cause of God”
When Jesus was dealing with the man possessed with the devil in Mark 5:15, we read of the consequence:
Mark 5:15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
The consequence was a sound mind in that person!
OUR TEMPTATION.
2 John 7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
In this verse the word “confess” is homologeo which comes from homo = “the same” and logos = “the Word”. Few churches will use “confess” this way. Our temptation is to not agree with God. We are tempted to think that God is not sovereign; that there is another authority called “satan”. In other words, believing in the existence of “Satan” is a denial of God’s absolute sovereignty. We must totally erase every concept of a figure with horns, cloven hoofs, a tail and a pitch-fork, or anything else at all, as interpreted by traditional religion. This concept is the Judeo-Talmudic version about “Beelzebub, the prince of the demons”, and this includes the Eastern Serpent system or religion and every equivalent.
THE SERPENT OF GENESIS 3.
This account is literal history emphasised by the use of figures of speech. As an example, when the Tribe of Dan is called a serpent in Genesis 49:17, we are not to believe that this Tribe had all been reduced to snakes. King Herod is referred to by Jesus as a fox and so on. When doctrine is called “leaven” we know that something greater is implied. The same applies to the “King of Tyre” in Ezekiel 28,11-19.
So when we take something figurative and make it something literal we are making a mistake.
Today we have a saying about “a bright idea” and Nachash or “Serpent” means “bright” or “shining”. When we “say” wrong things in our hearts that may likewise seem like “bright” ideas to us, may be an adversaries or “satans” to God.
OTHER ISSUES.
Some may want to raise the following issues:
There are expressions in Scripture we have to consider, such as “Lucifer”, “the Devil”, “the Anti-Christ”, “Abaddon”, “Apollyon”, “The Dragon” and “That Old Serpent”, which appear from tradition to be personalities, or parts of the one personality.
1. Revelation 9:11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
2. Revelation 20:1-3 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon [drakon], that old serpent [ophis], which is the Devil, [diabolos] and Satan [satanas], and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
When we remember that the Book of the Revelation is a book of symbols, it is easier to follow. “Abaddon” and “Apollyon” are words indicating destruction.
-to cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way.
-to go astray, wander, roam about.
-to lead away from the truth, to lead into error, to deceive.
-to be led into error and sin.
-to be led aside from the path of virtue, to go astray,
-to sever or fall away from the truth.
All of these words, “drakon”, “ophis”, “diabolos” and “satanas” which are described as “him”, are aspects of the same thing. Jesus and the Apostles used words that were used and could be understood by the culture and common usage of the day. They understood the peoples’ mindsets.
“Power” appears to be expressed as a reality as we can see in the expressions:
“The power of darkness” -Luke 22:53. -Col. 1:13.
“The Prince of the power of the air” -Eph. 2:2.
“Him that hath the power of death, that is, the devil” -Heb 2:14.
When we look at this carefully, we see that out of the hearts of those who are adversaries to God’s laws proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies, as Jesus tells us. These empower rulers, governments and the establishment to have sway over people. It is called “darkness” because mans’ laws are not a light – not even a candle.
The following are similar symbols:
“The Prince of this world” -John 12:31. -John 14:30. -John and 16:11.
“The accuser of the brethren” -Rev. 13:12.
“The beast and his kingdom” -Rev 16:10.
This connects with:
Eph. 6:12 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.
The churches say we could not wrestle against something that is non-existent. They create in their minds a being they call “Satan” to fight against. But in reality what we are fighting are ideas and all those evils that proceed from the heart of man expressed through leaders. “Spiritual” = pneumatikos [Strong 4152] relates to the human spirit, or rational soul, and “wickedness” relates to evil purposes and desires. High as in “high places” is used often in the Old Testament to indicate an elevated position. It symbolises the seat of authority or governments. Churches refuse to fight this good fight of faith against “high places”. Instead they support and encourage support for governments in these high places.
FEW WILL AGREE WITH GOD TODAY.
King David had adversaries. Look at the wealth of detail in the verses below concerning the genetic line from Esau.
Psalm. 109.6-13 They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause. For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer. And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan [i.e. an adversary] stand at his right hand. When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin. Let his days be few; and let another take his office. Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places. Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour. Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children. Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out. Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
No denomination would pray like this today. Why not? Because it does not fit in with their “love everyone” doctrine. Instead they try to convert to their doctrine those whom Jesus says cannot hear compassing land and sea, and what they produce are two-fold more children of hell as themselves! -[Matt. 23:15].
Where they make a mistake is talking about “confessing Christ” and “going forward” in an occult way as if this was ritualistic. As already pointed out, the word “confess” is homologeo which comes from homo = “the same” and logos = “the Word”. It is when we cease to speak anything different from what God says, we cease to be adversaries. If most denominations do not speak the same word as God, they must be adversaries or “satans”.
Nothing is likely to change in the churches if they persist in using Bibles which are not translations. The NIV is not a translation. It is claimed to be a “dynamic equivalent”, and this is written in such a way as to perpetuate dualism, or the supposed tug-of-war between God and “satan”, as well as other traditions that are written into it. The latest popular presentation [deception] advertised is the video “The Visual Bible” which is claimed to be “Word-for-word from the NIV”; that it is “The word – the whole Word – and nothing but the Word”. Really? Never!
Modern versions and paraphrases are couched in such a way as to follow New Age thinking and traditional Babylonian doctrines. Even in the KJV, not only has the capital “S” in “Satan” been maintained, but those Bibles with footnotes follow these patterns. Recourse to Bible Dictionaries and such will not help our understanding when the given meanings are based upon usage and tradition. Such may perpetuate error. Following church traditions still renders the Word of God of no effect.
Essentially in practice the churches deny what Jesus points out in Matthew 15:19 “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies”, although the churches may not recognise what they are doing and the implications of doing it.
In blaming “Satan” with a capital “S” they seek to justify themselves before men.
Luke 16:15 Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Here again Jesus brings the matter back to the “heart”. This is the heart of the matter!