BSN: SATAN

Satan takes advantage of us by scheming (2 Cor 2:11). One of his more common schemes is to get us to doubt what God has said. We see this in the very beginning of the Bible in his temptation of Eve (Gen 3:1). We also see this scheme when John the Baptist baptizes Jesus and the voice from heaven says of Jesus “This is My beloved Son…” (Matt 3:17; Luke 3:22). Jesus then enters the wilderness to fast and pray, and, at an opportune time, Satan begins his temptations of Jesus with “If you are the Son of God…” (Matt 4:3, 6; Luke 4:3, 9). Failing, Satan pulls back, waiting for a better opportunity (Luke 4:13), which he finds when Jesus is hanging from the cross (Matt 27:40).
Name equivalencies of Satan:
- adversary – The Hebrew name/word “Satan” means “adversary”
- “the devil” = “adversary” – 1 Pet 5:8
- “the devil” = “the tempter” = “Satan” – Mt 4:1-11
- “the evil one” = “Satan” = “the devil” – Mt 13:19; Mk 4:15; Lk 8:12
- “the evil one” = “the enemy” = “the devil” (Mt 13:38-39)
- the “great red dragon” = “the dragon” = “the great dragon” = “the serpent of old” = “the devil” = “Satan” = “who deceives the whole world” = “the accuser of our brethren” = “he who accuses them before our God day and night” = “the serpent” – (Rev 12 and BSN notes on it)
  - Compare “the accuser” to “Satan’s” actions in Job 1-2).
- “Leviathan” = “serpent” = “dragon” – Is 27:1
- “the dragon” = “the serpent of old” = “the devil” = “Satan” – Rev 20:2
- “the head of the house of evil” – Hab 3:13
- “him who had the power of death” = “the devil” – Heb 2:14
- “Beelzebul, ruler of demons” – Lk 11:17-19 indicates that this is either Satan or an underling of Satan.
- “Belial” – 2 Cor 6:15 – Strong’s Concordance renders the underlying Greek in this way:
  - 955 Beliar; of unc. or.; “lord of the forest,” Beliar, a name of Satan:–Belial(1).
- “the ruler of the world” – Jn 14:30
- “the ruler of this world” – Jn 12:31; 16:11
- “the god of this world” – 2 Cor 4:4
- “Lucifer” – This name does not occur in the NASB. It does appear in the KJV, but only in Is 14:12. See BSN notes there. Some commenters see Is 14:12-20 and Ezek 28:12-19 as describing Satan’s fall. Related, but independent of any reference to “Lucifer,” Is 22:15-25 in its story of Sheba and Eliakim provides an outline that seems fitting for Satan’s fall and Messiah’s corresponding rise.