The Accuser’s Deception and Man’s Ignorance
Have you ever considered why Satan gets all the glory for the not-so-good and uncomfortable stuff that happens in our lives? I decided to go on a fact-finding mission to not only understand some things, but stop making blaming Satan for the things that I, in my own imaturatity chose to do.
Maybe, in reading this, you fellas may see how you too have fallen for some of the tricks and ignorance of religion over the years. …maybe not. Either way, it should be at least informative.
WHO is Satan?
Hebrew word "Satan" (hasatān) is translated as "Satan" in some passages, but its broader meaning is "adversary", “resister” or "opposer". In the TANAKH, "hasatan" is used in contexts [situations, circumstances and backgrounds] where an individual is accusing or resisting GOD or His will.
Satan’s role has always been combined with challenging individuals and leading them away from righteousness.
In the book of Job, Satan questions and accuses Job, seeking to undermine the relationship between GOD and the faithful servant.
Belial appears in the Old Testament and is often translated as "worthlessness" or "wickedness". It can refer to those who oppose GOD's order or represent chaos and death. While not explicitly a demon, Belial is considered a template for the later conception of the devil.
NOTE: Belial is a Hebrew word used to characterize the wicked or worthless. It is often associated with malevolence and worthlessness in Biblical and early Christian texts. When referring to the adversary, hasatan is the accuser, tasked with calling attention to the unworthiness of mankind.
NOTE: Satan's name in Scripture doesn't explicitly name him as the Devil or Lucifer. The term "Satan" is often used to refer to him, but "Lucifer" is not his name in the Biblical text.
WHY is Satan?
The story/depiction of Satan's fall is also alluded to in other Biblical passages.
"I saw Satan fall like lightning" comes from Luke 10:18, where Jesus, speaking to His disciples, refers to Satan's downfall. This phrase is not a description of a literal physical fall, but rather a metaphor for Satan's judgment and the swiftness with which he was cast down from his place in heaven.
WHAT is Satan?
Unlike the New Testament's portrayal of Satan as a fallen angel and the leader of evil, the Old Testament does not present a fully developed concept of a devil as a separate, independent entity.
In later development, the idea of a personal devil, more closely resembling the Christian Devil, emerged in Jewish apocalyptic literature and was later incorporated into the New Testament.
HOW did Satan come to be?
Revelation 12:1-10: Satan’s broader meaning is "adversary" or "opposer". In the Old Testament, "Satan" is used in contexts where an individual is accusing or resisting GOD or His will.
A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 2 and she was pregnant, and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.
3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red [see notes] dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven crowns. 4 And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and hurled them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her Child.
NOTE: Symbolism and Prophecy: Edom is often used symbolically in the Bible to represent nations opposed to GOD's people. Prophecies against Edom, such as those found in Isaiah 34 and Jeremiah 49, emphasize divine retribution for their actions against Israel.
NOTE: Therefore, we see in both Isaiah 63 and Isaiah 34 that Edom is a representative of the nations who are against GOD and His people. Isaiah is connecting the judgment against the Edomites (who were known as those who hated GOD and His people) with the ultimate judgment at the return of Jesus Christ.
NOTE: When Isaiah or other prophets mention Edom in connection with future judgment, they are mentioned because they represent the nations that hate Israel and hate Israel’s GOD. Because the Edomites were famous as being those who were close to Israel but who hated them and rejoiced in Israel’s calamity, they became representatives of those who hate the people of GOD.
Revelation 12:5-17
5 And she gave birth to a Son, a male, who is going to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her Child was caught up to GOD and to His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by GOD, so that there she would be nourished for 1,260 days.
7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they did not prevail, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 Then 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 and sisters has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our GOD day and night. 11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. 12 For this reason, rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you with great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”
13 And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time, times, and half a time, away from the presence of the serpent. 15 And the serpent hurled water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon had hurled out of his mouth. 17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the Commandments of GOD and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
Ezekiel 28:13: Tyre in Eden & Tyre's king Ethbaal
"You were in Eden, the garden of GOD; every precious stone was your covering [cakak: protection], the ruby, the topaz and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald; and the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, was in you, on the day that you were created They were prepared.
NOTE: Five different words can be used for “covering”
Ethbaal was a king of Sidon, a prominent city in ancient Phoenicia. He is most notably recognized as the father of Jezebel, who became the wife of King Ahab of Israel. Ethbaal's reign is marked by his devotion to the worship of Baal, a major deity in the Canaanite pantheon. His influence extended into Israel through Jezebel, who actively promoted Baal worship, leading to significant religious and political conflicts as recorded in the biblical narrative. Ethbaal's legacy is intertwined with the religious apostasy that characterized Ahab's reign, as described in 1 Kings 16:31: "And as if it were a trivial thing for Ahab to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he also married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and he proceeded to serve and worship Baal."
Isaiah 14:13-15 says, "You (king Hiram) said in your heart, 'I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of GOD; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon'". "I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High'".
How you have fallen from [the] heaven(s), you star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down (judged) to the earth, you who defeated the nations!
NOTE: [star of the morning, son of the dawn] This could be Satan or Yeshua – king Hiram
NOTE: Sidon is often mentioned alongside Tyre, Sidon was another prominent Phoenician city. While not a direct equivalent, it is frequently associated with Tyre in Biblical texts.
NOTE: This entry provides a comprehensive understanding of the significance of Tsor (Tyre) in Biblical literature, highlighting its historical, cultural, and theological importance.
King Hiram is a SYMBOL or TYPE of Satan
NOTE: The term Tsor [refuge, rock or stronghold] is used in the Hebrew Bible to denote the city of Tyre. It appears in various contexts, often highlighting Tyre's wealth, trade, and eventual judgment by GOD.
NOTE: In historical context, Tyre was a significant maritime and commercial hub in the ancient Near East. It was known for its skilled artisans, trade networks, and production of purple dye. The city was originally situated on an island, which contributed to its strong defensive position. David and Solomon used (and paid handsomely) King Hiram to provide supplies and build the temple of ADONAI.
NOTE: Tyre is frequently mentioned in the Bible, particularly in the prophetic books. It is often depicted as a symbol of pride and materialism. The prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel prophesied against Tyre, foretelling its downfall due to its arrogance and opposition to God's people.
King Hiram’s arrogance cost him!
Isaiah 23:1- "An oracle concerning Tyre: Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbor."
Ezekiel 26:3- "Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves."
Zechariah 9:3- "Tyre has built herself a fortress; she has heaped up silver like dust, and gold like the dirt of the streets."
Tyre's destruction was fulfilled through various historical sieges, most notably by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. Despite its fall, Tyre's legacy as a center of commerce and culture persisted through history.
Ezekiel 8:2 King Hiram AND Ezekiel 28:2 King Hiram
King of Babylon is a SYMBOL or TYPE of Lucifer (Greek god)
The Hebrew word for "Lucifer," as it appears in Isaiah 14:12, is which translates to "morning star" or "son of the dawn".
NOTE: Jesus was also call the same name of “morning star”. Would he and Lucifer share the same characterization?
The LATIN translation, "lucifer," was later used to refer to the devil in Christianity.
In the Bible the Bible, "Lucifer" appears only once, in Isaiah 14:12. This passage refers to the king of Babylon, specifically Nebuchadnezzar, and uses the term "morning star" (Lucifer in the Latin Vulgate translation) to describe his former glory before his fall from power. The passage mocks the king's arrogance and pride, not Satan. While some Christian traditions associate "Lucifer" with Satan, this is a later interpretation and not the original meaning of the term in Isaiah.
Isaiah 14:12: This verse in Isaiah speaks of the king of Babylon, who was once a mighty ruler but is now humbled. The term "Lucifer," translated from the Hebrew "hêlêl" (meaning "shining one" or "morning star"), describes his former glory.
Historically, “Lucifer” as the figure in Isaiah 14:12, to be Satan or the Devil. This understanding was influenced by the association of the morning star with the Greek god Phosphoros (light-bringer) and the idea of Satan's fall from heaven.
The term "Morning Star" in the Bible has different meanings. It can refer to both Lucifer's fall and Christ's triumph. In the Old Testament, it is associated with divine judgment and the downfall of oppressive rulers.
Tyre and Sidon, ancient cities of Phoenicia, are mentioned several times in both the Old and New Testaments. Jesus mentions Tyre and Sidon in Luke 10 in the context of judgments He was pronouncing against the cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida.
The TANAKH mentions Israel’s dealings with these cities, including the Israelites’ failure to conquer Sidon in the conquest of the Promised Land (Judges 1:31), their worship of Sidonian gods on several occasions (Judges 10:6–16; 1 Kings 11), and their obtaining materials from Sidon and Tyre for the building of the temple (1 Chronicles 22:4). King Hiram of Tyre provided many of the temple furnishings for Solomon (1 Kings 7:13–51).
Tyre is significant as a prosperous and powerful Phoenician city that played a role in both the Old and New Testaments. It symbolizes God's sovereignty over nations and the consequences of pride and idolatry. Tyre's prominence and eventual decline serve as a reminder of God's judgment against those who exalt themselves.
Satan's Deception (Humanity's Impact): Satan, acting through the serpent, used manipulative language to question God's love and character, subtly twisting God's words to make them seem less benevolent.
Satan's Deception (Heavenly Impact): The Bible indicates that Satan deceived a third of the angels, leading them to rebel against GOD and fall from [the] heavens.
NOTE: Shamayim also refers to the sky as in, the visible atmosphere and the space between Earth and the heavens. These fallen angels are referred to as demons or fallen spirits, and they now dwell in darkness and continue to work AGAINST GOD's will.
NOTE: Psalm 19:1 - The heavens tell of the glory of GOD; and their expanse declares the work of His hands.
2 Corinthians 4:1-6 (Word distorted)
Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in trickery nor distorting the Word of GOD, but by the open proclamation of the truth commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in the sight of GOD. 3 And even if our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the GOD OF THIS WORLD HAS BLINDED THE MINDS OF THE UNBELIEVING SO THAT THEY WILL NOT SEE THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL OF THE GLORY of Christ, who is the image of GOD. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Messiah Yeshua as ADONAI, and ourselves as your bond-servants on account of Yeshua. 6 For GOD, Who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One Who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of GOD in the face of Christ.
Zechariah 3 (Joshua, the High Priest)
1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD (YHVH), and Satan standing at His right to accuse him, 2 and LORD (YHVH) said to Satan, “LORD (YHVH) rebuke you, Satan!
Indeed, LORD (YHVH) Who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a log snatched from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was clothed in filthy garments and was standing before the angel. 4 And he responded and said to those who were standing before him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, I have taken your guilt away from you and will clothe you with festive robes.” 5 Then I said, “Have them put a clean headband on his head.” So they put the clean headband on his head and clothed him with garments, while the angel of the Lord was standing by.
How does Satan Deceive Us?
Satan deceives by twisting truths, presenting lies as truth, and subtly influencing our thoughts, emotions, and actions to lead us away from GOD's will. He achieves this through various methods, including questioning authority, focusing on negative aspects, and tempting us with pleasure and immediate gratification. By understanding these methods, we can be better equipped to resist Satan's deceptions and remain faithful to GOD's Truth.
1. Questioning Authority and GOD's Word:
Satan tries to convince people to doubt the Bible and GOD's teachings, leading them to question the authority of GOD's Word. He subtly shifts the focus from GOD's Commands to personal desires and preferences, making us question the relevance of GOD's teachings.
2. Distorting Truth and Presenting Lies:
Satan presents lies that are subtly disguised as truths, making them more easily accepted. He uses cunning methods to make evil appear good and vice versa.
3. Narrowing Focus and Distorting Perception: Satan focuses our attention on specific temptations or concerns, narrowing our perspective and making us susceptible to his lies. He distorts our perception of reality by presenting biased or incomplete information.
4. Playing on Emotions and Self-Focus: Satan manipulates our emotions, leading us to focus on our own needs and desires rather than GOD's will. He can cause us to internalize negative narratives about ourselves, making us feel unworthy or insignificant.
5. Tempting with Pleasure and Immediate Gratification:
Satan tempts us with the promise of immediate pleasure, such as sensual desires or worldly possessions, leading us to disregard long-term consequences. He uses the allure of popularity and social acceptance to lure us into his schemes.
6. Using Dreams, Visions, and "Miracles":
Satan can use supernatural experiences like dreams and visions to deceive people, presenting false messages or interpretations. He can even create "miracles" to mislead others and gain influence.
7. Exploiting Weakness and Lack of Faith:
Satan's deceptions are more effective when we are lacking in faith, allowing him to exploit our vulnerabilities. He uses lack of knowledge and disobedience as opportunities to gain influence.