Satan wasn't always bad. In fact, his name wasn't always Satan. He was a musical creature at his creation- one of 5 cherubim which surrounded the throne.
Ezekiel 28:13-15- Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Isaiah 14:12-15- How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
His pride caused him to fall. Originally, he was the "anointed cherub" that covered the throne. When John tells us about what he sees in Revelation, he says there are four cherubim that surround the throne of God.
Revelation 4:2-3,6-8 - And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
When John describes them, you almost get the idea that each of these cherubs has his own unique face- a lion, a calf or an ox, a human, and an eagle. But when you compare other Scriptures, you find that's not the case.
Ezekiel 10:14- And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
The Cherubim are an interesting creation of God. They have four faces each; it's quite impossible for our minds to comprehend this.
However, originally, there was a fifth, and this last cherub had the face of a serpent.
Revelation 12:9- And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Revelation 20:2- And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
This is why he appeared as a "serpent" which could talk when he tempted Eve.
The Bible isn't written in chronological order. Some events are written as if happening all at once, and yet they are thousands of years apart. We aren't told exactly when he was created, but we know they were some of the original creations.
Job 38:4-7- Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
These morning stars are angels triumphing at God's creation!
Revelation 1:20- The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
Lucifer was the anointed cherub that covered the throne of God. He was suppose to lead the choir, shall we say, but every time he looked down all he could imagine was himself being on that throne. It was his pride that was the first sin in history.
I imagine that if the cherubim had a fifth face, that of a serpent, that it would have been on top of their heads (where else would it go?). And that when Lucifer looked down at the throne, he saw himself around the throne staring back and that's what encouraged his prideful rebellion. This is just my understanding of the story.
Lucifer fell before Genesis 3, and was in the Garden of Eden in his fallen condition. However, he was given a new name- Satan. He was no longer the light bearer (which is what Lucifer means) over God's throne; He is now the accuser of the saints.
He wanders earth right now, and still has access to heaven, though he doesn't live there.
Job 1:6-7- Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
He goes to heaven often and tries to make trouble for Christians. He will continue this until the middle of the Tribulation when he is kicked out of heaven for good.
Revelation 12:7-9- And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Did you notice that he has his own angels? He didn't create them; God did. But he did corrupt them. These fallen angels are where the devils and demons mentioned in the Bible come from.
Satan will rule the earth for 3.5 years during the Tribulation. He does this by going into the body of the Man of Sin- the politician that has been "ruling" over the one world government. Once this man of sin is assassinated, Satan inhabits his body and raises him back to life- he is now the AntiChrist, the devil incarnate.
Revelation 13:2-3,5-8- And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
His reign, however, is only for three and half years. When Jesus Christ comes back at the Second Advent, after the end of the Tribulation, Satan will be bound and cast into a specially prepared prison for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:1-3- And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
He will be loosed for a moment after the thousand years before He faces eternal judgment and damnation.
Revelation 20:7-10- And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
You might be wondering why God would damn one of his creations to everlasting torment instead of trying to redeem them. But, I believe that it is Satan's fault that he can't be redeemed.
Do you remember when Eve ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? God has a small discussion with the other members of the trinity, but he abruptly cuts it off without finishing the thought.
Genesis 3:22-23- And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
God says, Lest he eat of the tree of life and live forever. Almost as if someone had done just that. I believe that Satan did eat of both of those trees- giving himself ultimate knowledge along with everlasting life. He cannot die and lose the evil that is now forever in his body. He put himself past the point of redemption, and now God must confine him to everlasting torments (because he cannot be consumed by these torments they will never end).
God, in his mercy, drove Adam and Eve from the garden so they wouldn't be condemned to live in an evil existence for all eternity.
Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41), but when Adam and Eve sinned they made that destination the default of the human soul. When Christ died on the cross, he enabled an escape from that default, but only if you accept the terms of the arrangement.
Romans 10:9,10,13- That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
You have a choice. Follow Satan's lead and spurn God's gift of eternal salvation for your soul, or humble yourself and accept Christ as your Savior.
