devil
Satan, Summary:
This fearful being, apparently created one of the cherubim
( See Scofield) - (Ezekiel 1:5).
( See Scofield) - (Ezekiel 28:12).
and anointed for a position of great authority, perhaps over the primitive creation, (note 3);
( See Scofield) - (Genesis 1:2); (Ezekiel 28:11-15).
fell through pride; (Isaiah 14:12-14); His "I will" (Isaiah 14:13) marks the introduction of sin into the universe. Cast out of heaven, (Luke 10:18), he makes earth and air the scene of his tireless activity. (Ephesians 2:2); (1 Peter 5:8). After the creation of man he entered into the serpent.
( See Scofield) - (Genesis 3:1).
and, beguiling Eve by his subtilty, secured the downfall of Adam and through him of the race, and the entrance of sin into the world of men. (Romans 5:12-14).
The Adamic Covenant
( See Scofield) - (Genesis 3:14).
Promised the ultimate destruction of Satan through the "Seed of the woman." Then began his long warfare against the work of God in behalf of humanity, which still continues. The present world-system (Revelation 13:8) organized upon the principle of force, greed, selfishness, ambition, and sinful pleasure, is his work and was the bribe which he offered to Christ. (Matthew 4:8); (Matthew 4:9). Of that world-system, he is prince; (John 14:30); (John 16:11) and god (2 Corinthians 4:4). As "prince of the power of the air", (Ephesians 2:2), he is at the head of vast host of demons.
( See Scofield) - (Matthew 7:22).
To him, under God, was committed upon earth the power of death. (Hebrews 2:14). Cast out of heaven as his proper sphere and "first estate," he still has access to God as the "accuser of the brethren" (Revelation 12:10) and is permitted a certain power of sifting or testing the self-confident and carnal among believers; (Job 1:6-11); (Luke 22:31); (Luke 22:32); (1 Corinthians 5:5); (1 Timothy 1:20); but this is strictly permissive and limited power, and believers so sifted are kept in faith through the advocacy of Christ. (Luke 22:31); (Luke 22:32).
( See Scofield) - (1 John 2:1).
At the beginning of the great tribulation, Satan's privilege of access to God as accuser will be withdrawn. (Revelation 12:7-12). At the return of Christ in glory, Satan will be bound for one thousand years (Revelation 20:2) after which he will be "loosed for a little season" (Revelation 20:3); (Revelation 20:7); (Revelation 20:8) and will become the head of final effort to overthrow the kingdom. Defeated in this, he will be finally cast into the lake of fire, his final doom. The notion that he reigns in hell is Miltonic, not biblical. He is prince of this present world-system, but will be tormented in the lake of fire.