Is Satan Omnipresent?

No, Satan is not omnipresent. he can only be in one place at a time. However, he is so fast that he often appears to be able to be in more than one place at a time. The technical term I learned in Seminary (Dr. Bob must have fallen asleep that day ) was ubiquitous which means "seeming to be everywhere at once."

 

Dr. Bob,

This is a very good question...one that I have pondered myself...what is the nature of Satan and how much power does he have?

One of the first things I think we need to do is look at who he really is. I think we need to get beyond the fairy tale visions of who he is perpetrated by the secular world and by church traditions.

1. Is he actually a fallen angel and if so, what scriptural support is there for this?

2. Is he a little man in a red suit with horns and a pitchfork with a big evil smile on his face all the time?

Automatically, we will go to Isaiah 14:12-23:

"How you are fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!..."

The rest of this passage details even further the sins of the "morning star" and its punishment. But who is this "morning star" or "Lucifer" as was translated in the Latin Vulgate.

The Hebrew text actually uses the word "helel" which is derived from the Hebrew verb Halal which is translated as "I shine". The word "helel" is the proper name for the king of Babylon (Harris, Archer, and Waltke, p. 217).

This whole passage does not refer to the fall of satan as has been the historical tradition of the church on this verse. So what, then does it mean?

If you read the whole passage in context, you will see that it is the judgment of God on Babylon for their sins of pride and arrogance and for putting themselves above God. Did this judgment occur historically, or must we see it symbollically as Satan? The answer is yes the prophecy was fulfilled in 539 BC, when Babylon was "...at the height of her power...fell to the Medes and Persians led by Cyrus. Xerxes destroyed the city in 478, and it was finally abandoned in the 4th century BC" (Field, Guthrie, Hughes, Millard, and Marshall, p. 382).

Biblical Archeologist and Seminary Professor Thomas Brisco verifies and expands on these ideas in his book "The Holman Bible Atlas" (Brisco, pp. 164-167).

So, who is this satan guy? That is the question. Unfortunately, I think the church, in order to know more about this personality, has tried to change scripture in order to read him into stuff that wasn't about him at all. This would be one such case. I do believe that he exist, but his origins and nature need to be studied further to see what the Bible really says about him, and not just the traditions of man. Remeber, we must study to show ourselves approved. I think part of that is admitting that we may not be able to know some things and being honest about it. It may be that the more we study the scriptures, the less we know about his origins. I do think though that we can know more about his nature and personaity from the New Testament.

Bibliography:

Isaiah 14 (NIV)

Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament

Eerdman's Handbook to the Bible

Holman Bible Atlas
Joseph

[ July 31, 2001: Message edited by: JBotwinick ]

 

I agree with Tom, that Satan is NOT omnipresent. In fact, you could take it a step further. None of the following attributes of God could be applied to Satan (omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, all-sovereign, eternal, never-changing, etc.), without setting up a dualistic struggle between two equal beings--one good and one evil. The very nature of God makes it impossible for there to be another being with the omni-attributes.

As such, I do not believe that Satan or his demons can read all our thoughts, or always predict what we are going to do.

Chick

 

Dr. Bob, I agree that satan is not everywhere at the same time. My cry is that most of us are not doing enough for satan to know who we are. Remember as some of the disciples were trying to cast out a demon he said, I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you. I want to live my life in such a way that satn knows Lee Taylor.

 

Pardon the long post, but my pastor just completed a six week teaching on Satanology. Here are the notes:

The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. (Rev 12:9 NIV)

The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. (Job 1:12 NIV)

Satan was created perfect by God:

You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. 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, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. (Ezek 28:15-17 NIV)

The pride of Satan was the source of all sin: He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. (1 Tim 3:6 NIV)

Satan realized his special status in creation and determined that he deserved more: How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." (Isa 14:12-14 NIV)

The five "I wills"
1) I will ascend to heaven: Satan's regular access to heaven was based on God's will. Satan wanted to come and go as he pleased.
2) I will raise my throne above the stars (angels) of God: Satan wanted to rule over all the angelic host.
3) I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain: Satan either wanted to rule from God's throne or as God over the future worldwide kingdom.
4) I will ascend above the tops of the clouds: Since clouds represent the glory of God, Satan was desiring to have glory even greater than God's (Is that possible?).
5) I will make myself like the Most High: He admits he is not equal to God, but desire to be God.

You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. (Ezek 28:15)

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>The source of sin is based on an act of free will: Satan chose, knowing the consequences of his choice, to corrupt his own holy character with a desire to be like God.<LI>Sin was spontaneously generated from the freedom of moral choice (Satan's immoral choice)<LI>This does not deny divine sovereignty, because God chose to give His creatures the ability to choose (free will).
<LI>Therefore, God is not responsible for evil, nor did He create it.<LI>Satan is the source of sin - He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. (1 John 3:8 NIV)<LI>He is the ultimate reason for Christ's coming, as the last part of the above verse says! Christ has begun to destroy Satan's work (our hearts!) and He will complete that work (the World!).<LI>Satan is disgraced - So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones.
1) Because of his rebellion, Satan lost his special position as guardian Cherub.
2) He was publicly disgraced in front of his fellow angels and sent out of heaven.
<LI>Satan and the demonic forces cannot dominate or possess us except by our own consent. <LI>Believers will not be tempted beyond our power of resistance. <LI>Satan and demonic forces are active, but they are limited. <LI>Avoid becoming preoccupied with him. <LI>Two extremes are dangerous: total ignorance and total absorption.[/list]

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted (one of Satan’s names is The Tempter) beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Cor 10:13 NIV)

Michael respected Satan - "But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" (Jude 1:9 NIV)

ABODES OF SATAN:

• <LI>FIRST ABODE - The presence of God: Initially Satan was created a cherub and appointed as a "guardian" or "covering" cherub. He was presumably stationed above God's throne to guard His glory. His position was with God on the "holy mount of God." (Ezek 28:14)<LI>SECOND ABODE - The atmospheric Heavens: Currently Satan has his base of operations in the atmospheric heavens or the "air."
  1) in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. (Eph 2:2 NIV)
  2) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Eph 6:12 NIV)
  3) I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows. (2 Cor 12:2 NIV) The first heaven is the earth's atmosphere (Gen. 8:2; Deut. 11:11; 1 Kin. 8:35); the second is interplanetary and interstellar space (Gen. 15:5; Ps. 8:3; Is. 13:10); and the third the abode of God (1 Kin. 8:30; 2 Chr. 30:27; Ps. 123:1).
  
  He still has access to God in heaven:
  1) On another day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. (Job 2:1 NIV)
  2) Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?" (Zec 3:1-2 NIV)
  3) Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. (Rev 12:10 NIV)
  
  He is not confined to the air but has access to the earth:
  1) Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. (John 12:31 NIV)
  2) Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Pet 5:8 NIV)
  3) And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. (2 Cor 11:14 NIV) (to who? Islam, Mormonism)
  
  THIRD ABODE - The earth: In the future Satan will be cast out of the atmospheric heavens down to earth.
  1) And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short." (Rev 12:7-12 NIV)
  
  FOURTH ABODE - The Abyss (bottomless pit): This is where Satan will be confined for the 1000 year period of the Millennium.
  1) And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. (Rev 20:1-3 NIV)
  
  FIFTH ABODE - The Lake of Fire: This is where Satan will spend the rest of eternity in perpetual pain and torment with the rest of his angels and unredeemed people.
  1) When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth--Gog and Magog--to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Rev 20:7-10 NIV)
  
  Names of Satan: Devil (Rev 12:9), The Serpent (Rev 12:9), The Dragon (Rev 12:9), The Evil One (Matt 6:13), The Guardian Cherub (Ezk 28:14), The Angel of Light (2 Cor 11:14), Lucifer or Morning Star (Isa 14:12), Belial (2 Cor 6:15), Beelzebub (Matt 10:25), The Ruler of the Kingdom of the Air (Eph 2:2), The Prince of the Demons (Matt 12:24), Prince of this World (Jn 12:31), God of this Age (2 Cor 4:4), The Tempter (Matt 4:3)

 

Excellent notes! Thanks for sharing!

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dr. Bob Griffin: Can Satan be in more than one place at one time?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

No he can not, but he has enough followers who are known as "demons." They can be everywhere indeed. But thank be to God that we have guardian angels as well!

 

&lt; But thank be to God that we have guardian angels as well! &gt;

What makes you think so, and exactly what do these "guardian angels" do for you?

 

With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, "Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished." When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them. (Gen 19:15-16 NIV)

My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king." (Dan 6:22 NIV)

"See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. (Exo 23:20 NIV)

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. (Psa 91:12 NIV)

God obviously considered this one worth repeating (out of the mouth of Satan, no less)!

For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" (Luke 4:11 NIV)

[ July 31, 2001: Message edited by: wellsjs ]

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Rockfort: and exactly what do these "guardian angels" do for you?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I can't speak for "BJH," although I could recite many instances in my life where I was delivered short of a miracle, but why add to the eloquent post of "Wellsjs?" I don't want to steel his tunder!

 

Thank you for the kind compliment. The only reason it is eloquent is that I only had one line and God spoke all the rest!

 

&lt; I could recite many instances in my life where I was delivered short of a miracle &gt;

Are these angels incompetent, goofy, or what when, with the beginning of the beatings of Peter and John and the stoning of Stephen, they let all these tragic and fatal things happen?

 

Is Satan Omnipresent?

In a word..... NO!!!

God Bless!!!

Adam

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That's my two-cents worth. What's yours?

[ August 01, 2001: Message edited by: HeDied4U ]

 

Quote:
As such, I do not believe that Satan or his demons can read all our thoughts, or always predict what we are going to do.

Chick

I agree with these posts, Satan is not Omnipresent, but I feel he has a lot of help, one third of the angels turned on God and became loyal to Satan, so you may have a demon attacking you and doing Satans work, so it feels like "Satan" is everywhere.
As far as what Chick says about Satan or his demons reading our thoughts and not being able to "predict" what we are going to do, I disagree.....We are creatures of habit and given in certain situations we often respond in the same way, over and over agian. Satan and his demons have been around a long time, we are around 80 years if we're lucky but " mankind" never changes. You have heard the saying " The more we change the more we stay the same".
Thank God, when we get saved we have the power through the Holy Spirit to change our habits ( the old man is dead) so that Satans tricks on us don't always work and we don't fall into his trap (sin).
Paula

 

Paula,

Thanks for your reply. Please notice that I said that they can't read all our thoughts and can't always predict what we are going to do. I fully agree that demonic powers are aware of our habits and besetting sins, but if the demons were fully able to always know our thoughts, and always know our actions, then they approach omniscience. Demons and Satan no doubt are careful observers and are very skillful deceivers, but they are finite beings.

Chick

 

Rockfort,

You said, "Are these angels incompetent, goofy, or what when, with the beginning of the beatings of Peter and John and the stoning of Stephen, they let all these tragic and fatal things happen?"

Angels do the will of God. They protect when He says "protect," and they stand aside when He commands that as well. "God allowing pain and suffering of saints" is a whole different topic, of which the Bible gives a reasonable explanation.