Was Satan Really an Angel?

3 Truths to Remember about Satan and Fallen Angels

As you can see, Satan is far more than a red figure with horns and a pitchfork. He is an ancient being who has real spiritual power that he wields for evil and selfish purposes. In particular, he is the enemy of Christians and seeks their destruction. So here are 3 important truths to remember as we navigate that spiritual reality. 

1. Jesus and Satan are not equal opposites.

 It’s a big mistake to think of God and the devil as equal opposites. That gives Satan way more credit than he’s due.

 The power differential between God and Satan is that of an infinite Creator and the work of his creation. No matter how cunning, crafty, or powerful Satan becomes in his rebellion against God, he will never come anywhere near rivaling the power of the one who spoke him into existence.

 Simply put, there are no angelic beings, whether fallen or righteous, who are any match for the power and might of Jesus.

2. Angelic beings are more powerful than you (but not the Holy Spirit).

On the other hand, an equally dangerous mistake is to underestimate the power of Satan. He’s not more powerful than God, but he is more powerful than you. Satan has been crafting dark and wicked schemes for millennia. He’s a skilled liar and manipulator, the power of whom is unparalleled by any mortal human. 

But while we ought to be vigilant against Satan, we don’t need to fear him. We don’t even know his actual name. I think that’s by design. It’s a subtle indicator that he’s not even a big enough threat to God that we even need to know his name. 

So while Satan—or, for that matter, any fallen angelic being–could easily defeat us, we still don’t need to fear. If you’re a follower of Jesus, you have become one with him by the Holy Spirit. And because of that, the devil has no power over you except that which you allow him to have.

3. Satan’s defeat was foretold from the beginning. 

From the opening chapters of Genesis, we know the end from the beginning. Even after the serpent succeeds at leading Adam and Eve astray, God declares him defeated. Here’s what God says to the serpent.

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15)

And we see this promise fulfilled in the sacrifice of Jesus. Though Jesus was dealt a fatal blow, as he gave up his spirit, he crushed the head of the serpent. And we look forward to a day when we will see this promise completely fulfilled. 

“That ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan” will be thrown into a lake of fire, never to hurt or harm anyone again (Revelation 20). This is the hope we stand on, because of the Cross of Christ. 

Stay Prepared for Spiritual Warfare

Many of us who were raised in a western culture are often blinded to the spiritual realities and unseen forces at play. We read about them. We discuss them. But few of us actually engage them. 

And in so doing, we may leave ourselves vulnerable to spiritual attack. The quickest way to lose a battle is to not realize that you’re in one. 

The power of Jesus is far more than words on a page and hope for when we die. Spiritual battle is taking place every day, all around us. If we are to be effective spiritual warriors, then we’ll need to lean into prayer, attune our hearts to the very real presence of God, and develop discernment as we seek to do the work of our Father. 

Our enemy is great, but our God is greater. 

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