“The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray…”
—Revelation 12:9
Satan, the Accuser
The name “Satan” is a familiar one within the Christian faith. A question often raised both inside and outside the Church is: Who exactly is Satan? Is he a real personal being? A symbolic concept? Or merely a personification of evil?
The Bible does not portray Satan as fictional or metaphorical. Instead, it consistently presents him as one who opposes God, accuses God’s people, and leads many astray. Interestingly, however, the term “Satan” is not used uniformly throughout Scripture—its usage and meaning vary depending on context and period.
In the Hebrew Old Testament, the word satan (שָּׂטָן) originally means “adversary,” “opponent,” or “accuser.” One prominent appearance of this figure is found in the book of Job. In the heavenly court, Satan appears before God and accuses Job, requesting the opportunity to test him.
“Does Job fear God for nothing?” (Job 1:9)
Here, Satan is not used as a proper name, but as a title indicating his role as accuser before God. He questions the sincerity of Job’s faith, assuming it is conditional. This foreshadows Satan’s central function throughout the rest of Scripture: a deceiver and an accuser.
The Rebel in Heaven Cast Down to Earth
The Bible does not give a detailed origin story for Satan, but various passages provide clues. Two often-cited texts are Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28.
Isaiah 14 is a judgment prophecy against the king of Babylon, but historically, the Church has interpreted its language as symbolic of Satan’s fall. “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn…” (Isaiah 14:12)
The term “morning star” was translated in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate as Lucifer (meaning “light-bearer”). Over time, especially in the Western Church, “Lucifer” became associated with Satan’s original name before his fall. However, this interpretation is debated, as the passage primarily addresses a human king.
Ezekiel 28 follows a similar pattern. Though the passage speaks against the king of Tyre, phrases like “You were in Eden, the garden of God,” and “You were anointed as a guardian cherub” suggest a being more than human.
“You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.” (Ezekiel 28:14–15)
Taken together, these texts suggest that Satan was once a heavenly being in the presence of God, but fell through pride and rebellion. Still, these are traditional understandings more than established doctrines. The New Testament offers more direct insight.
Cast from Heaven, Active on Earth
The New Testament portrays Satan more clearly as a personalized spiritual being, directly confronting Jesus and influencing people.
In the Gospels, Satan tempts Jesus in the wilderness and seeks to mislead Peter:
“Get behind me, Satan!” (Matthew 16:23)
Here, Jesus rebukes Peter—not for himself, but for the satanic influence in his thinking, which tried to divert Christ from the path of the cross. This demonstrates that even human thoughts can become instruments of satanic deception.
Revelation 12 dramatically depicts a heavenly battle and Satan’s expulsion:
“The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray…” (Revelation 12:9)
This shows that Satan has already been cast down from heaven. He now acts on earth “in great fury,” seeking to deceive and persecute believers. Though defeated, he remains active and dangerous.
Satan’s Current Role: Accuser, Deceiver, Opponent
Scripture refers to Satan as the “god of this age” and the “prince of the power of the air.” He leads the spiritual forces of evil and opposes God’s people.
“In order that Satan might not outwit us…” (2 Corinthians 2:11)
“You followed the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air…” (Ephesians 2:2)
Satan obscures truth, leads believers into temptation, and seeks to obstruct God’s plans. He is the father of lies, sometimes masquerading as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14), and subtly works to divide the Church.
He also continues to try to accuse believers before God. Yet through Christ’s sacrifice, Satan’s accusations have lost their legal power.
“The accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.”(Revelation 12:10)
The cross rendered Satan’s accusations void. Romans 8:1 declares, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Still, Satan attempts to influence believers emotionally, spiritually, and socially.
A Being Facing Final Judgment
Satan’s destiny is already determined. Revelation 20 declares his end:
“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur…” (Revelation 20:10)
This signifies not just defeat, but eternal judgment. Satan will no longer be the accuser or deceiver—but the condemned. He will stand as a symbol of judgment and rebellion brought to justice.
This forms a central message of the Bible’s eschatology: Evil does not triumph. Satan holds no absolute power. He is a defeated being, allowed only limited activity within God’s sovereign plan.
Whose Voice Will We Listen To?
Satan is real—not a metaphor, not a symbol. He is a spiritual being the Bible describes in detail, and he stands at the center of opposition to God’s people. His nature is to accuse, to deceive, and to destroy faith.
But he is defeated. The cross broke his power. His accusations have no standing. Believers are free in Christ and are no longer under condemnation.
Now the question is this: Whose voice will we listen to? The whisper of the accuser? Or the word of the Intercessor?
Those who hold fast to the truth will not be shaken by accusation.
Maeil Scripture Journal | Bible Knowledge Plus
