Bible Question:
Does 'Satan' Really Exist? If 'Satan' is an actual person, how can the parallel accounts of Davids numbering of Israel be explained: 1 Chronicles 21:1 "And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel." 24:1 "And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah." If 'Satan' is an actual person, scripture would here indicate that 'Satan' is God. How is this possible? Secondly, if you believe that the 'war in heaven' of Revelation 12 is a literal war and not symbolic, how can it be understood in terms of it's correct chronological context: Revelation 1:1 "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass." This means that the 'war in heaven' must occur some time after the giving of The Revelation - it must "shortly come to pass." This would place it historically some time after circa 70AD. In other words, if you believe that 'Satan' is a fallen angel, then you must also believe that he did not become a fallen angel until after the whole of The Bible had been written, thus preventing the 'Satan' of Revelation 12 from being the 'Satan' of the rest of The Bible. Okay, and thanks. Dr. B. |
Bible Answer: Hi Dr. B, Those are some really good questions! There are a number of passages that seem to me to be beyond disputing that Satan is an actual being, not a symbol, or allegory, but an individual "person". In Job, in the gospels (i.e. the wilderness temptations of Jesus), Peter's letter, and many more places speak of Satan as a particular created being. Regarding your first question regarding the numbering of Israel, the Bible tells us that both Satan and God had a hand in it. But this would not make them the same person. In John 13:27, of Judas, it says, "after the sop Satan entered in to him, then Jesus said to him, "what you do, do quickly." This was an act done by Judas. Satan had played a part as well, but at the end, it was Jesus Who set it in motion. God is sovereign. I take these passages of David numbering Israel to show the same thing. Our sins are our responsibility, Satan plays a role, but God is sovereign. Regarding the war in heaven, again, turning to Job, we see Satan presenting himself before God. That he is called Satan, the accuser, clearly means that this is after his fall. That he is presenting himself before God implies that he has the ability to enter heaven. Following the War in Heaven of the Revelation, he will not be able to enter heaven. He will be cast down to the earth, unable to leave it, and it will really make him mad. I hope this clears things up for you! Love in Christ, mark |