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Satan (which is derived from Hebrew and means "adversary" or "accuser") symbolizes evil. His various names include Lucifer (light-bearer), Beelzebub (lord of flies), and the devil (to slander). In the Bible, the Israelite prophet Isaiah also calls him “Day Star” or “son of Dawn.”
In the Bible, Satan is portrayed in various ways, including as a serpent, a dragon, and sometimes as Leviathan (a water serpent). Considering his deceptive nature, Satan has also been known to disguise himself as an angel of light.
Many modern scholars view Satan not as a literal entity, but rather as a symbolic representation of evil. However, both the Old and New Testaments treat Satan as a real entity and emphasize his role as an adversary to God.
In the Old Testament, the Tabernacle and later Temple symbolize heaven and God’s throne room. The Tabernacle, which was the portable sanctuary constructed by Moses, was built according to the exact specifications laid out by God in the Book of Exodus.
The Tabernacle’s focal point was the Most Holy Place and the Ark of the Covenant (pictured) that it housed. High angels known as Cherubs were depicted on the Ark of the Covenant, and they represented real angels, one of whom was Satan before his fall, serving directly in God’s presence.
The Israelite priest Ezekiel referred to Satan as an "anointed guardian cherub." He held an exalted position in the throne room and served among the “stones of fire” in God’s direct presence.
Satan was initially described by Ezekiel as “the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and beauty.” His role in heaven was impeccable at first, and his conduct was blameless. This inevitably changed.
Satan’s pride in his beauty is what led to his downfall. His wisdom became corrupted, and his actions deceitful. His conduct in God’s holy presence shifted from reverence to violence, which marked the beginning of his rebellion against divine order.
In the Book of Luke, Jesus confirms Satan’s fall by describing seeing Satan fall from heaven like lightning. This event is echoed in the Book of Revelation, where Satan is cast down as a dragon and is known as an “ancient serpent” and “deceiver of the whole world.”
After being defeated by Michael, Satan and his angels were permanently expelled from heaven, losing any further access to God’s presence. Revelation 12:8 indicates that “there was no longer any place for them in heaven,” sealing their fate.
Satan’s last rebellion culminates in an attack on the camp of the saints and the beloved city, the new Jerusalem. This final act of defiance is met with divine judgment, as fire from heaven consumes Satan and his followers.
After his final defeat, Satan is cast into the lake of fire. This eternal punishment marks the end of Satan’s influence, as he is forever confined to the same fate as the false prophet and the beast.
The Book of Revelation describes a war in heaven that took place between Michael the Archangel and Satan with his forces. This conflict was likely symbolic, representing a war of words rather than an actual battle, where Satan challenged divine authority but was defeated.
Satan’s fall occurred before the creation of humanity, which is evidenced by his appearance as a serpent in the Garden of Eden. His deception of Adam and Eve mirrors his own rebellion, as he persuaded them to seek knowledge and power beyond their divine role.
Satan’s temptation of Eve reflects his own desires. By convincing her that she could “be like God,” he continued his rebellion, attempting to elevate others to positions beyond their ordained place, just as he sought to do for himself.
The Book of Revelation further describes how Satan, in the form of a dragon, used his tail to cast a third of the stars (angels) to the earth with him. This shouldn’t be taken literally, but rather symbolically. In prophetic terms, a prophet who lies is described as a “tail.”
The lake of fire is, according to Scripture, the answer to the question of Satan’s eternal punishment. It represents the final consequence of his rebellion, and his defeat and confinement here ensure that he will never again pose a threat to God’s creation.
Isaiah described Satan as wanting to elevate himself above God’s angels and even to ascend God’s throne himself. His ambition extended beyond ruling over the angels, since he sought equality with God.
In the Bible, “stars” often symbolize angels. Satan’s desire to rise “above the stars of God” reflected his ambition to rule over the heavenly host. Satan was discontent with merely serving in God’s throne room.
Despite his fall, Satan (along with the other fallen angels) retained limited access to heaven, and he appeared among the “sons of God” in a heavenly council to discuss contentious issues in humanity.
According to Scripture, a thousand years of peace, joy, and love on earth will begin once Christ appears in the Second Coming. This period is known as the Millennium, and only the righteous would live on earth.
Revelation 20 describes Satan’s imprisonment during the Millennium, where he is bound in chains and cast into a bottomless pit. These elements are symbolic and represent Satan’s inability to deceive or influence the nations during this period.
It is suggested that Satan’s ultimate ambition was to take the place of Jesus Christ, the rightful ruler in heaven. The Bible implies that Satan’s final expulsion occurred when Christ ascended to heaven and claimed the throne that Satan coveted.
After the Millennium, Satan will be briefly released to deceive the nations again. The Bible highlights that even after a long period of imprisonment, Satan’s nature will remain unchanged, as he immediately resumes his deception.
With Satan's final defeat and confinement to the lake of fire, evil will be eradicated. The Book of Revelation emphasizes the restoration of order and peace in creation, as God’s divine plan culminates with the end of Satan’s influence over the universe.
In Dante’s ‘Inferno,’ published in 1321, Satan's fall from heaven is depicted as a violent event that creates Hell. He is imprisoned in the deepest part of the ninth circle, where he is frozen in ice.
Dante describes Satan as a grotesque, multi-headed beast with bat-like wings, in contrast to his former beauty. However, there is very little Scripture that actually corroborates this possibly inflated perspective of Christian tradition.
Sources: (TheCollector) (Christianity.com) (Britannica)
See also: The 14 books left out of the Bible
How does Scripture from the Bible handle this incredibly contentious issue? Is there any precise detail about how Satan and the angels fell from heaven? Click through this gallery to find out.
What was the fall of Satan in the Bible?
The biblical backstory of Christianity’s most notorious event
LIFESTYLE Christianity
The story of Satan’s fall from grace is one of the most captivating narratives in religious history. From his exalted role in God’s heavenly throne room to his ultimate rebellion and banishment, Satan’s history has captivated theologians, scholars, and artists for centuries. Many parts of the Bible offer glimpses into Satan’s desire to ascend higher than his assigned place, and they do much to reveal his ambition and the inevitable fall that would spell his end.
How does Scripture from the Bible handle this incredibly contentious issue? Is there any precise detail about how Satan and the angels fell from heaven? Click through this gallery to find out.