How do you recognise Satan?

Prophet Ezekiel in his book chapter 28, he gives us the most complete description of Satan contained anywhere in Scripture. Many commentators objected to the application of this chapter to Satan. They criticize but in their efforts to relate the unusual language to the historic kings of Babylon and Tyre, the attempt falls short. The important question is why are these two prophecies addressed to the historic kings of Babylon and Tyre if they are descriptive of Satan?

 There are three reasons;

1)     Because there is to be seen in the characters and careers of these monarchs the wicked character and career of Satan.

2)     Satan fulfilled himself and his evil administration in and through these earthly king’s who ruled over his earthly dominions.

3)     These rulers of Tyre and Babylon appropriated to themselves divine honours and prerogatives.

 We find this aspect in Isaiah 14 as well as Ezekiel 28. Now we will see the extraordinary nature of the description given in Ezekiel 28;11-19, “You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect beauty.” Lucifer was complete and perfect in all these aspects. Verse 13 says, “You were in Eden, the garden of God.” Here we see that in primeval paradise, not the Eden of Adam but the garden of God, Satan was covered with all imaginable splendour. “Every precious stone adorned you.” Verse 14 says that the place was, “the holy mount of God.”

 “The day you were created.” Twice (verse 13 &15) his unusual origin is referred to. This is certainly inappropriate if it applied the king of Tyre. The Bible mentions Adam having been created but all the posterity of Adam were not created but born.

 Verse 14 tells us, “You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you.” Regardless of how this verse is spiritualized, there is no way to deal satisfactorily with designation of “Cherub” outside the application to spiritual being. In every instance where cherubim appear in the Bible, they are always in very close proximity to God.

Usually, they are bearing the throne of God when He manifests Himself in His glory. They are guardians of the inaccessibility of the Holy Presence of God.

 Additional references are;

 Ezekiel1, Psalm 18, Exodus 25;20, 1st. Chronicles 28;18. There is no reasonable way that this designation can be spiritualized to apply to the king of Tyre.

Ezekiel 28;14 recorded, “You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones.”This most likely signifies the divine presence of God and His glory around whose feet Ezekiel beheld the appearance of fire.(1;27). Moses saw earlier (Exodus 24;10,17); “Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire.......the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.”

 Ezekiel 28;15 says, “You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created.”

This is certainly unsuitable and inappropriate to apply to the king of Tyre. He was not originally perfect, nor was he created, nor did he later fall from some previous condition of perfection.

 However, it is an accurate description of the career of Satan. Ephesians 6;12 compared with Job 1;16 and Isaiah 8;44, presuppose the fall of Satan from an original state of righteousness. Isaiah 14;13-16 also describes Satan’s fall and his attempt to usurp the prerogatives of God.

 In the book of Revelation 12;7-9 disciple John also describes the nature and fall of Satan. Ezekiel 28;17 recorded, “Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendour.” 1st. Timothy 3;16 and Isaiah 14 also contain information about Satan’s pride, his fall and condemnation began with pride.

 Ezekiel 28; 16-19 tells us, “Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub..........................All the nations who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to horrible end and will be no more.”

 The precise fate predicted for Satan in the book of Revelation chapter 20;10 is the same as that set forth by the prophet Ezekiel. This is most informative passage of Scripture which gives us added insight into Satan; his origin, his original state, his fall and his eventual end.