If you read through the Bible and underline the names for Satan (you might call them "nicknames"), you will discover much about him.
So, how is Satan described in the Bible?
~ A Lion ~
1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."
~ The Great Dragon ~
In Revelation 12:9 we read, “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
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~ An Angel of Light ~
Paul writes in one of his letters to the Corinthians, "And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms into an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:14)
~ A Bird ~
Would it surprise you to learn that the Bible describes Satan as a bird? In Matthew’s Gospel we read of Satan snatching away what is sown in hearts like a bird carries away seed from the ground.
Matthew 13:4 “And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.”
Matthew 13:19 “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.”
Matthew 13:4 “And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.”
Matthew 13:19 “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.”
~ The Serpent ~
In the last book of the Bible, we read about Satan as the serpent, “He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:2)
~ The Accuser of Our Brethren ~
Revelation 12:10 speaks of Satan as the “accuser of our brethren”. “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.”
~ The Angel of the Bottomless Pit ~
Revelation 9:11 describes Satan this way: “And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.”
~ The Evil One ~
Satan is described as the evil one in John 17:15, “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.”
~ A Liar and Murderer ~
John 8 describes Satan this way: “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”
~ The Prince of the Power of the Air ~
A familiar verse to many, Ephesians 2:2, describes Satan as "...the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience."
~ The Ruler of this World ~
Satan is described as 'the ruler of this world' in the Gospel of John, specifically in John 12:31, which states, “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.”
~ The Tempter ~
During the course of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, we read about Satan described as the tempter, “Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” (Matthew 4:3)
Final Thoughts
There are many descriptions of Satan in the Bible, and all of them depict him as our enemy. We must never underestimate Satan’s power. But we also cannot make the opposite error of believing that Satan is as powerful as Almighty God. Satan is not and ever will be all-knowing and all-powerful. He is not the opposite of God. How did Satan get here in the first place? He is God’s creation. So don’t be tempted to think, God’s over here and He’s all powerful for good; and Satan’s over here and he’s all-powerful for evil. This is not true; Satan is no match for Almighty God!
Victorious: How to Prepare for Spiritual Warfare and Win the Battle, is a book like no other Dr. Jeremiah has written before. It’s not just a study on the armor of God. Instead, it is a timely, easy-to-read, all-encompassing “how-to” guide to help you assess your blind spots, adjust accordingly—and move forward in faith, ready to experience victory and finish strong!