Doctrines on Satan by R. B. Thieme, Jr.
These are some of Bob’s basic doctrines on Satan. This would have been their form in the 1960s and 1970s. These come out of Notebook 1.
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1. Satan was the highest of all angelic creatures before the fall. He was the anointed cherub.
2. But Satan is now lower than a new order that was created as a result of the angelic prehistoric conflict, the order of the seraph. The cherub only has four wings; the seraph has six wings. The fact that Satan commands all fallen angels is taught in Matthew 8:28; 9:34; 12:26; Luke 11:18,19.
3. Satan is the ruler of this world - Luke 4:5-7; John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 2Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2.
4. As the prehistoric super creature Satan had three falls.
5. As far as human history is concerned Satan has two advents. He entered the garden of Eden to tempt the woman, Genesis chapter 3; he also returns to the earth a second time at the end of the Millennium and in a conspiracy starts the last revolution of history, the Gog revolution.
6. The devil is the central antagonist of the angelic conflict in human history, Hebrews 1 & 2.
7. Satan has an organization to defeat mankind - Ephesians 6:10-12. Since Satan means “enemy” he is the enemy of the Church, Revelation 2; he is the enemy of doctrine, Matthew 13:9; he is the original murderer of the human race, John 8:44; he is the enemy of Israel, Revelation 12:13; he is the enemy of Christ, Revelation
8. The devil has strategy to control nations, Revelation 12:9; 20:3; he has strategy to control the human race. In the development of the cosmic system he has found the perfect way of doing it, 2Corinthians 2:11, we are not ignorant because we have a detailed profile of him in the Word of God.
1. Satan has a regular system of evangelists, preachers, and apostles — 2Corinthians 11:13-15.
2. These evangelists preach a gospel — Galatians 1:6-9; 2Corinthians 11:3,4 (A system of salvation that Satan has concocted)
3. Satan has a system of doctrine — 1Timothy 4:1-3.
4. Satan has a communion table — 1Corinthians 10:21. The devil’s communion table is idolatry.
a. Worship image representing man or animal.
b. Worship things (no image) — money, etc.
5. Satan has a counterfeit righteousness: A system of morality and a system of religion. It is criticised and condemned in Matthew 23:27-28.
6. Satan has a smoke screen to obscure the truth — 2Corinthians 4:3,4.
7. Satan’s demon organization: Satan has a demon organisation, an unseen organisation more powerful than any human power, mentioned in Ephesians 6:12. There are four Greek words:
a. Principalities: ARCHAS. These are the General Officers. These are super demons with super power and super responsibility.
b. Powers: EXOUSIAS. Authorities
c. Rulers of the darkness of this world: (Against world rulers of darkness) KOSMOKRATOR. This is the spy system of Satan. Check Daniel 10:13ff. This is a special team of demons to discredit and attack rulers. They attack any nation operating under divine institutions. They attack any VIP believer like Paul. They attack anyone in the vicinity of a VIP believer like Timothy.
d. Spiritual wickedness in high places: (Translation, “spirits of evil in the heavenlies.” Theseare rank and file demons who perform numerous functions. Some indwell people to perform sickness (unbelievers). Some control vocal cords. Some of these manufacture pressure situations against believers. They also entice people to do human good, and often to sin.
Satan’s Five “I Wills”(from Isaiah 14:12-15)
1. Satan’s five “I wills”:
a. “I will ascend into heaven”: 3rd heaven (throne room). I’LL TAKE OVER GOD’S PALACE.
b. “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.” I’LL RULE ANGELS: Job 38:7; Jude 13; Revelation 12:3-4.
c. “I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north.” Earth as a palace. Psalm 48:2. I’LL RULE MANKIND.
d. “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds”: I’LL BE SUPREME. He wills to displace God as the Sovereign of the universe.
e. “I will be like the most High”: I’LL BE GOD. Power lust.
2. Satan’s Three Falls (3 stages of Satan’s fall)
a. At the point of NEGATIVE VOLITION: During the five “I wills.”
b. INIQUITY. Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28:15.
c. At the middle of the Tribulation he is denied access to heaven.
d. POWER LUST. Revelation 12:9; Ezekiel 28:16.
e. At the end of the Millennium he is CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE. This is his final fall — Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10; Ezekiel 28:18.
3. Angelic Conflict Resume:
a. God created angels with volition.
b. Satan acted independently of God. 5, “I wills.”
c. One third of the angels chose to follow Satan, making two categories of angels: Elect, fallen.
d. God sentenced Satan — Matthew 25:41.
e. Satan impugned the character of God, “How can a loving God cast His creatures into the lake of fire?” Human viewpoint.
f. God’s answer: God created man with volition.
g. Every time a member of the human race (created a little lower than the angels) chooses for God, the character of God is vindicated, and Satan loses the argument.
1. Heaven: Satan accuses believers to hinder the work of the Lord on earth. Satan has access to heaven — Job 1:6-11; 2 Corinthians 2:11; Zechariah 3:1. The believer’s defense attorney: the Lord Jesus Christ — 1 John 3:1.
2. Earth: Satan invites believers to ignore the Word and accept false doctrine — 1Timothy 4:1; 1Corinthians 10:19-20; 11:3,13-15; 1Chronicles 21:1
3. Satan seeks to frustrate God’s will:
a. Operational will — James 4:7,8; Galatians 5:7.
b. Geographical will — 1 Thessalonians 2:18.
4. Satan seeks to get the eyes of the believer off the Lord Jesus Christ, obscures the focus of the believer.
a. Yourself: 1 Corinthians 1:10-11; Genesis 3:1; Elijah in 1 Kings 19:10; Peter in Matthew 26:31-35.
b. Things — Hebrews 13:5,6.
c. People — Jeremiah 17:5 (jealousy of people; admiration of people)
d. Answer: Hebrews 12:2; Colossians 3:1,2.
5. Encourages believers to worry — 1Peter 5:7-9.
6. Satan gets believers occupied with temporal solutions to man’s problems and therefore neglect divine solutions.
7. Satan instills fear of death in believers — Job 5:21; Psalm 23:4.
8. Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers: 2Corinthians 4:3,4; 2Thessalonians 2:9,10.
9. Satan deceives nations: Revelation 12:9; 20:3, 8.