Who is Satan?

TL;DR:

Satan who was a high-ranking angel, chose to sin and fell. Satan now deceives and tempts humanity as the world's ruler, but his power is limited by God. Through Jesus, believers can resist Satan’s lies and walk in truth, knowing his ultimate defeat is assured.

what does the bible say?

Satan was originally a high-ranking angel, described as the "anointed guardian cherub" in Ezekiel 28:12–14, but his pride and desire to be like God led to his fall (Isaiah 14:12–15). Now, Satan is the ruler of this world and the "prince of the power of the air," actively deceiving, accusing, and tempting humanity to oppose God (John 12:31; Revelation 12:10; Matthew 4:1–11). His lies often appear attractive but are deadly traps, diverting people from God's truth and grace (John 8:44; Proverbs 14:12). Despite his schemes, Satan's power is limited by God's sovereignty, and his ultimate destiny is eternal punishment in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). Through Jesus, who came to bring life abundantly, believers are equipped to resist Satan's deceptions and walk in truth (John 10:10; 2 Corinthians 11:14).

from the old testament

Isaiah 14:12 indicates that Satan's name, when he was created a holy angel, was Lucifer.
In Ezekiel 28:12–14, Satan is described as “an anointed guardian cherub” and seems to be one of the highest of the created angels.
Satan became proud of his beauty and position and wanted to sit enthroned on high and “make [himself] like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:13–14; Ezekiel 28:15).
Because of his pride and desire to ascend to God’s throne, Satan was cast from heaven, as described in Isaiah 14:12–15: “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! … You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high... I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.” Additionally, Ezekiel 28:17 states, “Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you.”
Satan's desire for power was very strong, as can be seen in Isaiah 14:12–15, but he could not overcome God or take His place.

from the new testament

Today, Satan is the ruler of this world and is called the "prince of the power of the air" (John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2).
Satan is also called "the accuser" (Revelation 12:10).
Satan tempts humans to sin against God as he did (Matthew 4:1–11; 1 Thessalonians 3:5), and he deceives humanity about the truth, especially the truth about God Himself (Genesis 3; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:3).
Satan lies about God's character and purposes, telling fallen humanity that it can save itself without God's grace. Satan does all he can to separate us from God and undermine God in our eyes, using his powers of deception, as noted in John 8:44: “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
The name "Satan" means "adversary" or "one who opposes" (2 Corinthians 2:11), and he is also known as "the devil," which means "slanderer" (Revelation 12:9).
Satan disguises himself as "an angel of light" which makes his deception all the more powerful (2 Corinthians 11:14).
Despite all his plans and efforts, Satan's destiny is irrevocably sealed—he will spend eternity in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).

implications for today

Despite all Satan knows about God and the truth, he persistently seeks to elevate himself above God and usurp His throne. His actions are behind the proliferation of false religions, cults, and deceptive gods that divert people from the Lord. Satan's lies often appear attractive and reasonable to human beings (Proverbs 14:12), but they are actually deadly traps that have led countless individuals astray throughout history. His ultimate aim is to undermine God's truth and draw people away from the salvation and purpose God offers.

Satan’s agenda is marked by a relentless desire to "steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10), seeking to ravage lives and diminish hope. However, in stark contrast, Jesus came "that [people] may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). While Satan's deception leads to despair and destruction, God’s purpose is to bring genuine fulfillment and eternal life through His grace. In this divine plan, God provides light and truth to guide us away from the darkness and towards the abundant life He promises.

understand

Originally a high-ranking angel, Satan fell because of his pride and desire to be like God.
Satan now acts as the world's ruler, deceiving and accusing humanity.
Satan will be eternally punished in the lake of fire.

reflect

How might pride and a desire for control manifest in your own life, and how can recognizing these tendencies help you avoid similar pitfalls as Satan?
How does understanding Satan’s role as a deceiver and accuser affect your approach to discerning truth and combating falsehoods in your life?
Given that Satan’s ultimate destiny is judgment, how does this knowledge influence your sense of hope and trust in God’s justice and plan for redemption?

engage

How does the description of Satan's fall in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 deepen your understanding of the nature of spiritual pride and rebellion against God?
What are some practical ways to identify and counteract the deceptive tactics of Satan in today's world, considering his role as the "prince of the power of the air"?
Satan is not God's equal; he is a created being with limited power and authority, while God is the eternal, all-powerful Creator. Despite Satan's attempts to oppose God, his actions are constrained by God's supreme sovereignty and his ultimate defeat is assured. How does understanding Satan’s limitations help you to understand his tactics against believers? How does understanding Satan’s limitations help you understand the power available to you in Christ?