Satan – a Hebrew name meaning literally ‘adversary, accuser’ In the Greek of the New Testament the name Satan (AS) is the leader of fallen spirits (See Matthew 12:24).
Satan ‘Excels in strength’ (Psalms 103:20; Jude 9), yet as a supernatural being he is a limited being, (see Job 1:7) and he can operate only by divine permission (Job 1:12; CF. 1 Cor 10:13).
He dominates all the kingdoms of mankind (Lk 4:6), seeking their destruction (1 Pet. 5:8).
Satan was a highly exalted angel but he sought to supplant God, and thus his fall.
Today satan still incites people to evil (Acts 5:3; 1 Cor. 7:5; 2 Cor 2:11) and he is able to change himself into an ‘Angel of light’ (term which refers to his deceptive nature, (CF. 2 Cor. 11:14).
He continues to hinder Christians (1 Thess. 2:18), and he is still the ‘prince‘ of the power of our earthly atmosphere (Eph. 2:2);but if we resist satan he will flee from us (Jas 4:7).
Satan knows that his time left is short (Rev 12:12). With the return of Christ, satan is to be bound (Rev. 20:2-3, CF. Isa. 24:21-22).
His final release will accomplish only the destruction of those he deceives, after which he is cast into the lake of fire forever (Rev. 20:9-10).
He is real, don’t play with him, come to Christ.
From the “Computers For Christ” BBS, edited for publication on the Web.