Why the Devil Fears Your Authority (And How to Use It to Defeat Him)
Joseph Z
Excerpted from Punishing the Darkness.
Wrath is the native mode of the devil.
He knows his time is short and his fury is aimed at man, God’s precious creation. Why does Lucifer hate humankind? It was possibly due to Lucifer observing the timeline in heaven. Everything was moving along smoothly for him. He was likely the anointed musician in heaven. He was also known as the anointed cherub who covers (see Ezekiel 28:14). Then God, the Father, created Adam, and the devil saw that Adam was made in the likeness and image of God. This man, Adam, was the “first Adam,” the son of God created directly by the Father, who gave him dominion over the earth. Everyone who would be born on Earth came through the first Adam.
When Lucifer saw God breathe life into man, jealousy, followed by rage, filled his heart. Because of this, war broke out as Lucifer began to explain to many angels that God had demoted them from their “rightful place.” Michael, the warring archangel, gathered angels faithful to God the Father and collided with the rebellious horde of angels who went rogue.
Lucifer’s Fall
How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.” 15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit (Isaiah 14:12-15).
Lucifer was arrogant, prideful, and ambitious. His desire to exalt himself above the Lord God Almighty caused his forced exit from heaven.
Michael and his angels cast them out of their access to heaven. Thus began the saga of light versus darkness, with humankind in the balance. The epic levels of violence, atrocities, and evil experienced throughout history stem from this moment. It is sad to realize that God did not create Adam to endure such things. He was made for fellowship, for family. When the Lord walked with Adam in the cool of the day, He built a relationship with Adam. His plan was never to see evil come upon creation or on His son and daughter, Adam and Eve. The good news is that God was not outmatched and cannot be outwitted. Jesus would come one day as the Last Adam and change everything.
Lucifer’s Contempt
Of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged (John 16:11).
Lucifer’s contempt was something he had birthed in his heart from the beginning of his existence. In John 8:44, Jesus called the devil “a murderer from the beginning” and “the father of liars.” In the Book of Revelation, John the apostle clarifies that the dragon mentioned is “that serpent of old,” also known as the devil or Satan.
So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him (Revelation 12:9).
He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years (Revelation 20:2).
The devil led a conflict that erupted among the angelic ranks within heaven’s armies, and it was all over humanity. It is a fascinating thing to consider that these angelic beings believed Lucifer over God to the point that war erupted. This has often led me to ask, “Why would God allow this? How is it that these angels could think in this fashion?” Students of the Word of God can get glimpses of why the devil was so angry.
Let’s consider a passage from Job 1, in which Satan comes before God among the “sons of God.” The term “sons of God” is derived from the Hebrew word b’nai Elohim, implying that these angels are God’s direct creations. This refers to the angels present before God’s throne. The same reference is used again in Job 38:7, when the sons of God shout for joy at the creation of the world.
Angels enjoyed the status of being direct creations of God the Father Himself. There was nothing like them until He created the first man. Adam was also a direct creation of God, but that is not all! Adam was made in God’s image and likeness because he had the very breath of God within him! This set him apart from the angels who, although they were themselves direct creations of God, did not carry His image and likeness as Adam did. As a result, this may have been the main point the devil used to accuse God to the angels who believed his lies.
Satan knows his ultimate destination, and this knowledge has fueled his fury. This knowledge has reverberated throughout history, beginning with Eve’s temptation in the Garden of Eden. Through the devil’s deceit, Adam forfeited his authority, which allowed Satan to become the ruler of the earth.
And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:17).
Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? (1 Corinthians 6:2-3).
Your understanding of God’s Word is vital in spiritual warfare. The devil knows he is a defeated foe and is terrified that you will figure it out. First Corinthians 6:2-3 points to his fear. Paul was talking to the people of Corinth and asking them why they were disputing with one another. In verse 3, Paul asks, “Do you not know that you shall judge angels?” Think about the power of that phrase. Angels are beneath you, and demons are fallen. You are far above them in the rank and file of authority in all of creation in the universe. The angels you will judge are the fallen angels preserved until Christ’s return. Here’s a verse to back that up:
And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day (Jude 1:6).
I believe these fallen angels, including Satan, who “did not keep their proper domain,” are going to be judged by believers in Jesus Christ.
Keep The Word of God the Main Thing
Go to the Word of God regarding what I am about to say. Keep the main thing the main thing. Whenever we take steps into arenas of speculation, we mustn’t force an issue and do what biblical studies label eisegesis—basically, the idea that a person injects their ideas, beliefs, and philosophies into the text of Scripture rather than extracting what the Scripture is saying. This doesn’t mean we cannot or should not consider looking into the possibilities. This is exactly what we will do when looking into the following scripture.
