Bible Study - Dark Side (1) - Satan - Revelation 12:7-12 - September 3, 2017

Bible Study – Dark Side (1) – Satan – September 3, 2017

This is lesson one (1) in our new series of study entitled “The Dark Side.”

Our focus scripture is found in Revelation 12:7-12.

Satan fights against us, but we can stand in CHRIST.

For the next six (6) weeks we will study our new series entitled “The Dark Side.” Some may find this study repulsive. Why? Simply, Satan desires to remain anonymous. Satan does not want to be exposed to the light of JESUS. I have prayed for all who will study these lessons that you will see Satan as he is – a deceiver who fights against GOD and desires to be GOD but is defeated by the shed blood of the LORD JESUS. His desire is to destroy you by enticing you to sin and getting trapped in addictions and unholy actions.

We read in Genesis 3 about Satan tempting Eve to disobey GOD. Satan first led her to touch the forbidden fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Eve had exaggerated what she had been told about the fruit. GOD never told Adam not to touch the fruit but instead not to eat it. Once, she touched the forbidden fruit nothing happened. This led her to the next step which was deadly. She tasted the forbidden fruit. Eve enticed Adam to taste it. When he did, their eyes were opened and they saw that they were naked. Adam was standing next to his wife, yet remained silent. Both were punished by GOD. 

They lost eternal life and their eternal home. They lost their intimate, loving relationship with GOD. The Devil/Satan was the deceiver.

Who is Satan? Where did he come from?

Satan is a created being. He is an angel. Recorded in Ezekiel, Chapter 28, the Prophet Ezekiel wrote about the King of Tyre in language that described the Devil/Satan. The King of Tyre considered himself god and so did the Devil/Satan.

Recorded in Ezekiel Chapter 28 are some of the attributes of the Devil/Satan – model of perfection, pride, beauty adorned with every precious stone, as wise as a god, in the Garden of Eden, blameless until wickedness found you, created as a guardian cherub, corrupted wisdom, GOD cast him out of heaven to earth and the list goes on.

Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden and all mankind since inherited the results of their original sin; eternal death and separation from GOD. But GOD, in HIS love, sent HIS only SON, JESUS to earth to live as a human. JESUS gave HIS life to redeem all who place their faith in JESUS as their Savior from sin and eternal death. Upon earth all humankind experiences the “knowledge of good and evil.” Let’s continue ---

2 Corinthians 12:2:

2 I know a man in Christ who was caught up into the third heaven 14 years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don't know; God knows.

The Apostle Paul wrote of three heavens. Satan had access to these three heavens as written in Job 1:6-7:

6 One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them.

7 The Lord asked Satan, "Where have you come from?" "From roaming through the earth," Satan answered Him, "and walking around on it."

Christians must keep in mind that the passion of JESUS defeated Satan/the Devil. Christians live in the victory accomplished by JESUS.

1 John 4:4 – Greater is JESUS Who is in you than Satan/the Devil who is in the world.

Ephesians 2:1-10:

1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins

2 in which you previously walked according to this worldly age, according to the ruler of the atmospheric domain, the spirit now working in the disobedient.

3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and by nature we were children under wrath, as the others were also.

4 But God, who is abundant in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us,

5 made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. By grace you are saved!

6 He also raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus,

7 so that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace in [His] kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift-

9 not from works, so that no one can boast.

10 For we are His creation-created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:10-13:

10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength.

11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil.

12 For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.

13 This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.

Spiritual warfare must be fought with Spiritual weapons. Step one is to ask JESUS to forgive you for your sins and for JESUS to come into your heart. Then confess with your mouth that JESUS is your LORD and Savior. After confession and receiving salvation make JESUS The LORD of your life – allow the indwelling Holy Spirit to lead, guide and control your life. Keep in mind that the indwelling Holy Spirit makes your body the temple of GOD.

Does that mean you, as a Christian, will not face hardships? No! You will but you will have JESUS as your comforter and strength through troubling times in your life.

Keep in mind that GOD is in control and keeps HIS strategic plans a mystery until HE has accomplished HIS plans and purpose as recorded in 1 Corinthians 2:7-8:

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,

8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

The Devil/Satan is crafty but GOD’S wisdom and sovereignty reigns.   

The Apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 5:8:

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

A roaring lion is a hungry lion. Christians must remember as recorded in 1 John 4:4:

4 You, dear children (Christians), are from God and have overcome them, because the one (JESUS) who is in you is greater than the one (the devil) who is in the world.

So what are Christians to do when they encounter the Devil? 

Let’s continue to read in 1 Peter 5:9-10:

9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Never refer to “Devil” but “the Devil.” The Devil is a fallen angelic being. He is the supreme enemy of GOD and humankind. Satan is his most common name and Devil is what he is; the accuser or deceiver. He can only be in one place at a time.

The term comes from a Greek word that means “a false witness” or “malicious accuser.” Several descriptive phrases applied to the Devil in the New Testament point out the nature of his wicked personality and the extent of his evil deeds.

The Devil desires to masquerade as "an angel of light" as recorded in 2 Corinthians 11:14-15:

14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

The Devil/Satan desires to appear as an angel of light thus deceiving all he can. 

Christians beware! Ask GOD to give you the Spiritual gift of discernment.

What does the Devil do? We will see later in our focus scripture that he is our accuser.

Let’s read Revelation 12:7-9:

The Dragon Thrown Out of Heaven

7 Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels also fought,

8 but he could not prevail, and there was no place for them in heaven any longer.

9 So the great dragon was thrown out-the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the one who deceives the whole world. He was thrown to earth, and his angels with him.

We see in this scripture that the Devil is also referred to as “the dragon,” “the ancient serpent,” “the Devil,” and “Satan.” The dragon could not prevail against Michael and his angels.

Who is Michael? Angels are created beings whose primary function is to serve and worship GOD. Michael is the “archangel.” Angels are referred to as “ministering spirits.” Let’s read in Hebrews 1:5-6; 13-14:

The Son, JESUS, Superior to Angels

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”?

6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”

13 To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?

JESUS is set apart from angels. The duty of angels is as follows ----

14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Let’s read Revelation 12:10:

10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Messiah have now come, because the accuser of our brothers has been thrown out: the one who accuses them before our God day and night.

The Devil is the great accuser. He accuses Christians before GOD but JESUS is our advocate as recorded in 1 John 2:1:

1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

JESUS comes to the defense of all Christians when the Devil accuses us before GOD. All Christians are covered by the precious shed blood of JESUS. Our sins are washed away and we stand righteous before GOD, which is confirmed as we read on---

Let’s read Revelation 12:11-12:

11 They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not love their lives in the face of death.

The blood of the Lamb is JESUS’ shed blood and their testimony conquered the Devil/Satan. Testimony is confession with your mouth that JESUS is LORD.

12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the earth and the sea, for the Devil has come down to you with great fury, because he knows he has a short time.

The Devil’s time is short and he is doing all he can to make life upon earth miserable. When things go wrong who usually gets the blame? Is it GOD or the Devil? The Devil loves it when we blame GOD.

The Devil is a deceiver and he desperately desires to masquerade as GOD. It is sad when Christians are deceived and misled by the Devil.

Dear Father, pull the mask off of the Devil/Satan and his antics that all may see him who tries to stay hidden. Give all your children discernment and come quickly that your Kingdom will be fully established upon earth. Blessings!!!