I think it is safe to say that in this day and age most people associate the term/name "Satan" with the Devil, the serpent that showed up in the Garden who has played a role throughout Scriptures and is known as our Adversary, that old Dragon. We also know that if we resist temptation the devil will flee from us.
Genesis 3
The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild beasts that YHWH made. The serpent speaks to Eve asking, "Did God really say you shall not eat of any tree of the garden?" With that he causes her to doubt the Word of the Creator. The serpent reassures her that she won't die if she eats of the tree in the middle of the Garden but that her eyes will be opened and she will be like the 'divine beings' who know good and bad. He tempted her and she took the bait. Later, when Yah approaches and asks, "What is this that you have done!" she blames the serpent. Yah curses the serpent, separating it from all the wild beasts and cattle. "On your belly you shawl crawl" seems to indicate it walked either upright or on all fours, but no more. And now there is enmity between it and the woman and their offspring; hers shall strike at its head and its shall strike at their heel. (A deadly head wound comes to mind). Adam and Eve were banned from the Garden where they had been cared for by YHWH and now had to work to provide for themselves.
Definition of enmity:
: positive, active, and typically mutual hatred or ill will
This everlasting hatred is between Jacob and Esau and their descendants. Our Creator blessed both sons of Abraham, but He only kept His Covenant through Jacob.
In these writings no one is designated as 'Satan' and it isn't until Genesis 6 that we read about the divine beings who had sex with human women who bore those genetic half breeds; and eventually man's wickedness and his continuous evil ways cause our Creator to become so saddened that He regrets that He had made man.
Was Satan the boss of those divine beings? We're they part of his plan against YHWH and that perpetual mutual hatred between the children of Cain and the children of Elohim? What about that bright shining morning star that some translations read as 'Lucifer' ... was this referring to the King of Babylon or to the fallen state of Satan?
I found this very interesting, the definition of 'Satan' found in the Merriam Webster Dictionary:
- the angel who in Jewish belief is commanded by God to tempt humans to sin, to accuse the sinners, and to carry out God's punishment
- the rebellious angel who in Christian belief is the adversary of God and lord of evil
Commanded by God? I always thought Satan was acting of his own accord, out of pride and arrogance, defying YHWH Elohim. Rebellious and disobedient to the Creator; lawless, and able to tempt mere humans to sin.
Who we have come to know as Satan was either appearing as a serpent, possessing the serpent, or deceiving Adam and Eve into believing that it was the serpent who was talking to them. This much we can discern by reading Revelation 12:8 ~ But the dragon was not strong enough, and no longer was any place found in heaven for him and his angels. And the great dragon was hurled down — the ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
Second Thessalonians 2:9
For the coming of that Evil One is the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all the deceptiveness of iniquity in them that perish; because they did not receive the love of the truth by which they might have life. Therefore Elohim will send upon them the strength of a deception that they may believe a lie and that they all may be condemned who do not believe the truth but have pleasure in their inequity.
Inequity defined:
Injustice = Wrong
Unfairness = Marked by deception
Deceptiveness of inequity = it's all wrong, lies accepted in place of the Truth. Once we win the battle against being brainwashed all these years, it is amazing how His Truth stands out so obvious against the darkness Satan's wields.
Second Corinthians 2:10
And whom you forgive, I also forgive for that which I forgave to any one for your sakes I forgave it in the presence of the Messiah; or else Satan should overtake us, for we know his devices.
Second Corinthians 11:13
For they are false apostles, crafty workers, and pretend apostles of Y'shua, and in this there is nothing strange, for if Satan pretends to be a Messenger of light it makes sense that his ministers also pretend to be ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
First Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves under the powerful hand of Elohim for He cares for you. Be sober and guarded because Satan, like a lion, roars and goes about and seeks whom he may devour. Therefore resist him, being steadfast in the Faith and know that the same sufferings befall your Brothers that are in the world.
Through our own personal battles with temptations, and in our times of joy, we do have Revelation 20:1 to look forward to: And I saw a Messenger that descended from heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he seized that dragon, the old serpent, who is the Deceiver and Satan, who seduced the whole habitable world, and he bound him a thousand years.
Satan has been referred to as the dragon, a serpent, a deceiver, the father of lies and the adversary. It is believed he was once Yah's most favorite of the host of heaven who chose to leave his station out of pride and arrogance wanting to be 'god' himself, no longer satisfied to be part of creation. It has been his mission ever since to keep mankind from knowing the one true Living Elohim.
