When do we become obsessed with them, and when do we pretend they do not exist? Where’s the balance? Most importantly, what does the Bible say about them?

After all the data points in this post, let’s end by reflecting on theology and the Bible’s teaching on them. What does it mean to us?

I.. Introduction: Summary Table

A.. Brief intro.

The names vary, but they all express evil and opposition to God’s rule. Cumulatively, these names reveal his evil character or nature and his evil activities

Introduction: Summary Table
1	Opening Statement	Let’s first understand the basics from the Bible about Satan and demons, and our victory over them.
2	Basics	Satan and demons are evil spirits that tempt believers and unbelievers away from God, moral law, and righteousness. They are intelligent and have a small measure of free will, but they are limited in their power and influence. They are completely evil and have no conscience. They can infiltrate the church with false doctrines. They can put evil and false thoughts in people’s minds. They hate people, God’s highest creation on earth. They can afflict people with diseases and physical ailments. They can work signs and wonders.
3	Comparison with God	Satan is not the equal opposite force against God, for God is infinitely powerful and omniscient and omnipresent. He is eternal. Satan is none of those things.
4	Future	Fire is prepared for Satan and his angels, who are demons. They lose.
5	Warning to Christians	Demons can harass, attack, influence, and tempt Spirit-filled believers, particularly when they indulge in habitual, unconfessed sins, but demons cannot totally possess or take complete ownership over them.
6	Victory of Christians	Being in Christ and submitted to God and in Jesus’s name, believers can resist and defeat them and break their hold over their lives.

II. Names of Satan

Cumulatively, these names reveal his evil character or nature and his evil activities.

Names of Satan
	Basic Definition	Satan is an evil spirit who does not have a body as humans do. Pagans thought demons were lesser spirits or deities that can dispense good or evil, but Jesus and apostles prove they are malevolent spirit beings. They have no conscience and cannot do good.
1	Satan	Adversary (Job 1:6)
2	Accuser	Points sins and weaknesses (Zech. 3; Rev. 12:10)
3	Devil	Slanderer (Matt. 4:1-11)
4	Deceiver of the whole world	He plants deception and lies in people and entire systems and even nations (Rev. 12:9).
5	Ancient serpent	This image comes from the temptation in the Garden of Eden (Rev. 12:9; 20:2; Gen. 2).
6	A spirit now at work in the disobedient	He plants disobedience against God, his moral law and righteousness (Eph. 2:2).
7	Ruler of kingdom of the air	This is not the natural air but an invisible realm under God’s realm or heaven. Satan’s realm gives him access to people (Eph. 2:2).
8	Tempter	This name is derived from his activity in tempting Jesus, so he is called the “tempter” (Matt. 4:3). And Paul calls him by the same name, because Thessalonian new believers might fall away from Paul’s gospel (1 Thess. 3:5).
9	Evil One	In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus called Satan the “evil one” (Matt. 6:13). John calls him by the same name (1 John 2:13).
10	Beelzebul or Beelzebub	It originally meant Baal-Zebul (“Exalted Baal,” a false god), and the word “Beelzebub” is a mockery of this false god and means “lord of the flies,” taken from a garbage heap, where flies were attracted (Matt. 12:24)
11	Belial	This name comes from Hebrew for “scoundrels” or “troublemakers” (belliyya’al) (Deut. 13:13), which was later used for Satan. (2 Cor. 6:15).
12	Murderer from the beginning	Jesus called him that (John 8:44), and no doubt this refers to Cain, when he killed his brother. Satan inspired him. Wanton death and destruction comes from Satan (John 10:10).
13	Father of lies	Jesus said the truth is not in Satan, and he speaks his native language—no truth, but falsehoods (John 8:44). “Father” speaks of Satan procreating and leader of lies.
14	Prince or ruler of this world	John 12:31 says now is the time for the prince of this world to be driven out because Jesus was about to die on the cross. John 14:30 says the prince of this world is coming, but he has no hold on Jesus, because Jesus does exactly what his Father has commanded. But what has his Father commanded? His death on the cross.
15	Prince of demons	The Pharisees gave the devil this title (Matt. 12:24), but it reflects the truth that Satan leads the demons, so there is a hierarchy of sorts.
16	God of this age or world	Satan is referred to as a god (2 Cor. 4:4). Satan is behind the worship of gods. Satan has a certain rulership of the worlds (Matt. 4:8-9).
17	Angel of the abyss	The abyss is an underworld cavern, which some believe is bottomless, but it is not. “Abyss” means it has no artificial bottom (Rev. 9:11). 2 Peter 2:4 says fallen angels were not wiped out into nonexistence, but were chained in gloomy darkness to await judgment.
18	Abaddon or Apollyon	This is a personification of destruction (Rev. 9:11; Prov. 15:11), and Apollyon means “Destroyer.”
	Summary	The names are found throughout key verses in the OT, but mostly in the NT, where the revelation about them becomes clearer and fuller.

III.. Activities of Satan.

A.. Brief intro

Cumulatively, these activities reveal his evil character and strategies.

Activities of Satan
Past Activities
1	He was originally created good, as all angels were.	Gen. 1:31
2	He led a revolt of angels in heaven. Traditional theology teaches that Satan and demons were once good angels, but they rebelled and were thrown down from heaven, some to chains in gloomy darkness and others to a spiritual dimension, invisible to us, below God’s heaven.  They seem to exist in a hierarchy, with Satan being at the head. Now Satan is a fallen archangel, and the lesser angels are demons.	2 Pe. 2:4; Rev. 12:7-8
3	He tempted Eve.	Gen. 3:1-7
4	He incited David to sin.	1 Chron. 21:1-2
5	He attacked and afflicted Job.	Job 1:6-19; Job 2:1-10
6	He tempted Jesus.	Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13
7	He was involved in putting Jesus to death.	Luke 22:2; John 14:30-31
Present Activities
8	He afflicts people with illness.	Luke 13:16; Acts 10:38
9	He steals, kills, and destroys, though the context says religious leaders do this. But I think we can expand the meaning to see Satan behind the verse.	John 10:10
10	He is the father of lies.	John 8:44
11	He does evil to people.	Matt. 13:38-39; Luke 13:11; Luke 13:16
12	He tempts believers to sin.	Matt. 16:33; Acts 5:3; 1 Thess. 3:5; 1 Pe. 5:8
13	He tries to keep people from true worship.	Matt. 13:19; 1 Pe. 5:8-9
14	He thwarts the spread of the gospel.	Matt. 13:19; 2 Cor. 4:3-4; 1 Thess. 2:18
15	He wants people to worship him.	Matt. 4:9; Luke 4:5-7
16	He masquerades as an angel of light to deceive people.	2 Cor. 11:14
17	He uses many schemes.	2 Cor. 2:11; Eph. 6:11
18	He persecutes the church.	Rev. 2:10; Rev. 12:13-17
19	He works through false teachers.	2 Thess. 2:9-10; 1 Tim. 4:1-2
20	He tries to separate believers from Christ.	Rom. 8:38-39
21	He (temporarily) holds the power over death.	Heb. 2:14-15
22	He empowers people to work signs and wonders to empower a lie, to deceive people.	2 Thess. 2:9
23	He inspires people in the church to teach false doctrines, called “doctrine or teachings of demons.”	1 Tim. 4:1
Future Activities
24	He will be totally bound and in chains and prison, during the millennium, if one believes in a literal millennium.	Rev. 20:2-3
25	He will be set free at the end of the millennium, if one believes in a literal millennium.	Rev. 20:7-10
26	He will empower an antichrist or man of lawlessness to work signs and wonders to empower a lie, to deceive people	2 Thess. 2:9; Rev. 13:2-4

B.. Summary

Satan will be active for all of our lives until the Second Coming, when he too will be judged and thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:7-10)

IV.. The Devil’s Playground

A.. Brief intro

Satan rules over the invisible kingdom of evil. Sometimes he manifests this kingdom to our human spirits, minds, and eyes. There are ways to protect yourself. Let’s learn how.

The Devil’s Playground
Scriptures Say No to the Devil’s Playground
1	Divination	Using dark ways to guess about the future and your life; it is linked with superstitions (Deut. 18:10-11; Lev. 19:26; Is. 2:6)
2	Sorcery	Using spells and oaths to control. God promises to testify against sorcerers. (Deut. 18:10-11; Mal. 3:5)
3	Interpreting omens	Reading strange objects like animal entrails or bird flights or bird songs (Deut. 18:10-11; Lev. 19:26)
4	Witchcraft	Much like sorcery, witches are generalists who occupy a hierarchy and practice all the dark arts (Deut. 18:10-11)
5	Casting spells	Speaking out verbal formulas to exert power over nature and people’s minds (Deut. 18:10-11)
6	Mediums and spiritists	They stand between the spirit world and the human and contacts evil spirits, which they are deceased relatives. God says he will cut people off from his people, if they seek mediums and spiritists who are in league with the god Molek, bloodthirsty satanic spirit. (Deut. 18:10-11; Lev. 19:31)
7	Consulting the dead	Necromancy (Deut. 18:10-11)
8	Dark magic	Using signs and wonders to maintain a lie that deceives people (Deut. 18:10-11)
9	Magic spells	In each case Isaiah the holy prophet said that they ultimately cause terror, but they are destined to burn like stubble in the fire (Is. 47:12-13)
10	Astrology	Reading signs in the nighttime stars and planets (Is. 47:12-13)
11	Stargazing	Reading stars (Is. 47:12-13)
12	False prophets, diviners, false interpreters of dreams, mediums, and sorcerers	God says not to listen to them. They serve the king of Babylon, and Babylon represents the headquarters of evil. (Jer. 27:9)
13	Death penalty or salvation (see below).	Yes, the Old Covenant Scriptures (Old Testament) says to put these practioners of the dark arts to death, but this penalty is designed to teach us how seriously God takes these issues and opposes these practices (Ex. 22:18; Lev. 20:27). The NT offers a better solution (see below).
Purpose of the Dark Arts
14	They are calculated to figure out the future.	Gen. 44:15; 1 Sam. 38:5-7; Dan. 2:27; Dan 2:27 But only God has the future in his hands, so depend on him.
15	They are supposed to control the future.	Gen. 30:14; Num. 23:23 But depend on God, not the dark arts.
16	But the ultimate goal is for Satan to exercise as much power over people’s minds and souls as possible. Satan is referred to as a god	2 Cor. 4:4 We need to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus and live in him. God promises to destroy Israel’s witchcraft and the casting of spells. Darks arts can destroy people today, too. (Mic. 5:12)

V.. Our Victory over Satan

A.. Brief intro.

This table summarizes the victory of God through his Son that we have over Satan and his demons.

We Already Have Victory over Satan
1	God has power over him.	Job 1:6-12; Job 2:1-6; Luke 22:31-32
2	Christ’s disarming Satan was prophesied in Eden.	Gen. 3:15
3	Christ came to destroy him and his works.	1 John 3:8
4	Satan’s destruction is demonstrated in Christ’s victory over Satan’s temptation	Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13
5	Satan’s destruction was demonstrated by Christ’s driving out demons and by his victory on the cross.	Luke 4:40-41; Luke 10:18; Luke 11:20-22
6	Christ already bound the strong man (Satan)	Matt. 12:29
7	The cross of Christ guaranteed or sealed his defeat.	John 12:31-33; Col. 2:15; Rev. 12:11
8	We must pray daily for deliverance and protection.	Matt. 6:13; Luke 11:4
9	We must serve the Lord.	1 Tim. 5:13-15
10	We must resist his temptations by being in Christ.	1 Cor. 7:5
11	We must submit to God and then resist the devil.	Jas. 4:7
12	We must raise up the shield of faith.	Eph. 6:16
13	Repentance and knowing the truth about Jesus and the gospel takes us out of the snares of the devil.	2 Tim. 2:24-26
14	We have overcome (past tense) the evil one.	1 John 2:13
15	We overcome him by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony about Christ.	Rev. 12:10-11
16	Christ prays for the victory of our faith.	Luke 22:31-32
17	Certain fallen angels were put in prison.	2 Pe. 2:4
Final Victory over Satan
18	Satan’s defeat was prophesied by Paul.	Rom. 16:20
19	Final defeat at Christ’s return and judgment.	Matt. 25:31; Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10; Rev. 20:14
20	Satan and his demons will be thrown in the lake of fire.	Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:7-10

B. Summary

We do not need to fear Satan or demons. Our victory is assured both now in our life and by God, in the future.

VI.. Reflections

A.. No fear

Now you can grow in Christ is not to obsess over the spirit world or be frightened of Satan and his demons. You can have victory over them in every moment of every day.

B.. Follow Jesus

The best way is to follow Jesus’s example, when he was attacked (Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). He used Scripture. When I was repeatedly attacked, I did not rebuke Satan at every minute, though sometimes I did have to rebuke a spirit. The real victory came when I submitted to God (Jas. 4:7) and quoted Eph. 6:16, which speaks of a shield of faith that quenches the fiery arrows of the enemy. So every day I quote it and pray like this: “Lord, today I lift up over my mind a shield of faith, which quenches the fiery arrows of the enemy.” Then I may tack on “particularly against spirits of despair, anxiety, discouragement, fear” (and other things). And it works! The Satanic influence on my mind is minimal, barely and rarely felt. You cannot fight Satan by natural methods, like intellectualizing the thoughts you have. Fight like Jesus! Use Scripture and submit to God’s will.

C.. Follow these more detailed steps.

1.. Repent

If there is sin in your life, you need to repent. Pray this prayer: “Father, in Jesus’s name, I renounce and repent of my involvement in darkness and spirits and occultic practices. I renounce and repent of my habitual involvement in other sins.” Name your sins specifically.

2.. Surrender to Jesus’s Lordship.

Causing Satan to leave is through your discipleship. You first need to receive Jesus Christ into your heart. Pray this prayer: “Father, in Jesus’s name, I repent of all my sins. I confess that Jesus is Lord. I believe in my heart that God raised him from the dead. He has all authority. He has all authority in my life. I surrender my entire life to his Lordship. I now choose the light of Jesus and oppose the darkness of Satan.”

3.. Command Satan or a demon to leave.

Pray this prayer: “In Jesus’s name I rebuke Satan and evil spirits plaguing my mind. I command them to leave. In Jesus’s name, go! But sometimes when a wicked thought crosses your mind, ignore it. You don’t have to rebuke every thought; otherwise you will become self- or demon-focused. Bad idea. If the though won’t go, however, find a mature believer and seek a prayer of deliverance with him.

4.. Pray to receive the power of the Spirit (Luke 11:11-13).

You can even ask God to give you a prayer language (Acts 2:1-4). Pray this prayer: “Father, in Jesus’s name I receive the fullness and baptism in the Holy Spirit. Fill my heart and give me the gift of your prayer language.”

5.. Memorize some key Scriptures.

Start with this one, and pray it out loud: “Father, I lift up over my mind ‘the shield of faith, which quenches the fiery arrow of the enemy’” (Eph. 6:16).

6.. Now go out and share what God has done for you to a mature believer, like a pastor or Bible study leader.

7.. Church

Go to a good Spirit-filled, Bible-teaching church that preaches the Word of God. Attend regularly.

8.. Life of purity

This will go a long way to keep your heart intimate with God and your mind from being doubled or split. If you have one part of your mind in the world and Satan’s kingdom and the other half in God’s kingdom, then you will live a confused life.

D.. Important Scripture

⁷ Submit to God; resist the devil, and he shall flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God, and he shall draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinner, and purify your hearts, doubleminded. (Jas. 4:7-8)

Those two verses teach us to submit to God, then resist the devil. If you are not surrendered to God, then Satan has easier access to your mind. This explains why unbelievers are constantly attacked. Now, however, thanks to the cross of Jesus, you are free from demonic oppression and the power of sin, and you are liberated to live for Christ and be more like him.

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LONGER POST

20 Demonology: Doctrine about Demons

BIBLIOGRAPHY

I mostly used the systematic theologians here. The tables are mine.

Works Cited