Satan: three curious cases of slander

The following excerpt is taken from What Every Christian Should Know About Satan. Order your copy in print, Kindle, or Audible versions here.

Let’s briefly examine three biblical events that illustrate Satan’s slanderous nature.

Case No. 1: Job 1:6 – 2:10

Satan (literally the satan) appears with the sons of God before the Lord. The sons of God are members of the divine council, an assembly of created spirit beings to whom the Lord has endowed authority for governing of the universe. The satan shows up as well, although it seems he may not be a member of the divine council. Rather than consult with God, as council members do, he reports to God he has been “roaming through the earth … and walking around on it” (Job 1:7). You might say he relishes the role of divine ambulance chaser. 

“Have you considered my servant Job?” says the Lord. “No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil” (1:8).

“Does Job fear God for nothing?” asks the accuser. “Haven’t you placed a hedge around him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he owns, and he will surely curse you to your face” (1:9-11).

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The returning Son of Man

This is the second in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon.com.

Many of Jesus’ teachings on the second coming revolve around his favorite self-designation: Son of Man. In fact, Jesus uses the title “Son of Man” roughly 80 times in the Gospels to refer to himself.

While Jesus prefers to use this title rather than “Son of God” or “Messiah” to identify himself, it shouldn’t be assumed he has any doubts about his identity or wishes to be coy with his followers. His use of “Son of Man” is purposeful.

Jesus clearly reveals his deity at strategic times. For example, he applies the divine name I AM to himself (John 8:58). He claims equality with the Father (John 10:30). He receives worship (John 20:28). He forgives sins (Mark 2:1-12). He teaches with divine authority (Mark 1:21-22). He affirms in advance what the apostles write concerning his deity (John 1:1-3, 14; cf. Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:15-16; 2:9; Heb. 1:1-4). And he displays the attributes unique to God (Matt. 28:18-20; John 1:1; 5:22; 16:30; Heb. 1:8; 13:8).

The term “Son of Man” accomplishes two primary goals. First, it illustrates that Jesus shares humanity with us. In Philippians 2:5-8, Paul spells out the humble manner in which the eternal Son of God adds sinless humanity to his deity. 

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The names “Satan” and “Devil”

The following excerpt is taken from What Every Christian Should Know About Satan. Order your copy in print, Kindle, or Audible versions here.

Social-media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram have made slander a quick and easy blood sport for anyone with a smart phone or an Internet connection. American singer-songwriter Lizzo found herself on the receiving end of a defamation suit after tweeting the name, workplace, and photo of a food delivery person she claimed stole her food.

Billionaire Elon Musk engaged in an online spat with a British diver who helped rescue twelve boys and their coach from a cave in Thailand. Musk called the hero a “pedo guy” and allegedly referred to him as a “child rapist” in an off-the-record email to a journalist. The result of Musk’s accusations? You guessed it: a lawsuit.

And hip-hop star The Game chose to rant about his children’s former nanny to the rapper’s one million Instagram followers. In reply, the babysitter sued for an unspecified amount of money, claiming loss of employment, inability to work in her chosen field, and depression.

And so it goes. Despite ramped-up filtering efforts by social-media platforms, a subscriber’s flash of anger, or a simmering grudge, becomes public fodder in a matter of seconds. Equally troubling, the consequences of these viral accusations may be difficult, if not impossible, to arrest until they’ve run their course. 

How did people become so adept at slander? Practice. And a supernatural role model.

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The certainty of Jesus’ return

This is the first in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon.com.

Although it’s been nearly 2,000 years since Jesus ascended into heaven, we should not lose heart that his coming in glory is delayed. If we trust in Jesus for salvation, we should wait confidently for his return to glorify us, purge the cosmos of sin and its stain, and create new heavens and a new earth. 

After all, Jesus promises, “I will come again” (John 14:3). 

One mission, two campaigns

It’s clear that Jesus understands his mission to earth. This mission consists of two major campaigns: first, as the Suffering Servant; second, as the conquering King.

 Jesus comes the first time as the Suffering Servant (Isa. 42:1-9; 49:1-13; 50:4-11; 52:13 – 53:12). In his own words, he comes to lay down his life for his sheep (John 10:11, 15); to give his life as a ransom for many (Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45); to seek and to save the lost (Matt. 18:11 HCSB; Luke 19:10); to die and rise again (Mark 9:31). 

Through his miraculous conception in a virgin’s womb, the eternal Son of God adds sinless humanity to his deity. And he offers up that perfect life on the cross to satisfy the justice of God. 

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Satan as the dragon – conclusion

The following excerpt is taken from What Every Christian Should Know About Satan. Order your copy in print, Kindle, or Audible versions here.

Read parts one, two, and three of “Satan as the dragon.”

The dragon and the beast from the earth (Rev. 13:11-18)

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast on its behalf and compels the earth and those who live on it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. It also performs great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in front of people. It deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs that it is permitted to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. It was permitted to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast could both speak and cause whoever would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.  And it makes everyone ​— ​small and great, rich and poor, free and slave ​— ​to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark: the beast’s name or the number of its name.

This calls for wisdom: Let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, because it is the number of a person. Its number is 666 (emphasis added).

Revelation 13:11-18

We are now introduced to the second of two beasts: a beast from the earth, more often identified as the false prophet. He has two horns like a lamb but speaks like a dragon. Like the first beast, he is endowed with great authority and power, which he uses to compel people to worship the first beast while deceiving them with miraculous signs. He even gives life to an image of the first beast and causes those who refuse to worship the image to be killed. Finally, he restricts commerce so that only those who take a special mark on their right hands or foreheads, indicating their allegiance to the first beast, may buy and sell. 

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