Bassmasa

So I've read a book about the attributes of God that was very eye-opening. It discussed things like His omniscience (all knowledge), His omnipotence (all power), His infinitude (all time), and the like.

Then last night, I got to thinking about the attributes of Satan. Obviously, Satan is under God's authority and God created him and allows him to exist (for now, anyway), but what attributes does Satan posses?

More specifically, is he omnipresent (everywhere)? I mean, many of us claim that we are tempted by Satan, but how can he be more than one place if he's not omnipresent? Is he omnipotent (knowledge)? He seems to know each of our weaknesses and tempts us with them.

Is Satan just one being, or is do his "angels" assist him?

Just some questions I really couldn't answer, but think would be important to discuss. After all, if we can understand the enemy better, maybe we can fight against him more effectively.

Boanerges

Satans biggest attribute is being a LOSER! His first displayed charecteristic was pride , the second deception.Only God is omni-present and omni-potent. the devil and his angels have had thousands of years to study human nature so they seem to know were to attack. Some would make him to be more than he really is but his power is limited and he seems to be an agent of tempting and testing with only three motives in mind:

Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.


He is powerful by human standards as the scripture refers to him as :

Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

We are told to:

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

and to :

Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

A man submitted to God and filled with His Holy Spirit has authority over such a foe

smellycat

satan is a liar from the beginning.and tries to copy goodness for self gain,tempts people.twists Gods words for self gain.a manipulator of truth.makes burdensome laws.is a destroyer of good,likes bad news ,and loves to make Gods people suffer.feeds us to despare or suicide.uses other people to set traps for you.loves people with loose lips to spread evil.uses music films etc to undermine God.sways the weak mind from salvation.tries to make us break the 10 commands as if its common place.(everybody else is doing it etc).tells us we can stand alone without anybody.punishes you with your past sins,tells you your not good enough for God or God doesnt want you etc.basically floods your mind with nonsense and takes you away from truth.creates a mindfield for us.

Boanerges

Word brother!

Bassmasa

I appreciate your responses, and agree with them wholeheartedly, but maybe I didn't phrase my question properly.

We all know that God/the Holy Spirit are everywhere, with each of us simultaneously, present at all times and in all places. Does Satan's "spirit" work the same way? For example, we can all pray at the same time and God hears each of us equally and perfectly, it's not as if we have to take turns because He can't hear us at the same time. Is it the same way with Satan? Clearly, we can each be tempted at the same time in vastly different locations, but is the temptation necessarily from Satan himself, something like his "spirit", or one of his minions?

I guess I'm getting pretty abstract here, but I've been having a conversation with a non-believer who brought this point up and really got me thinking. Exactly how does Satan function in a practical matter? Is he one being that exists in one location on earth, or is he in many different places at one time?

Finally, when we choose to sin and clearly rebel against God, does that necessarily mean Satan had a hand in the matter, or just that we chose not to follow God?

violet

violet

Boanerges

Only God is omni-present and omni-potent!

violet

YelowJacket

I believe satan is not all knowing but wiser than humans and knows more than humans, he can only be one place at a time but has thousands of fallen angels to help carry out his corruption. he is a beatiful creature and has a musical instrument for his body ( don't know the scripture to back this up ... anyone) he was created and he will be destroyed. he is also under Gods control in the sense that there are things he is allowed to do and things he is not allowed to do and God is the one who gives or refuses permission. he does know that his time is short. I don't believe he is bound by time, he lives outside the human dimension and time only applies in the human dimensions.
This is my opinion and I am open to responses. I have not quoted scripture but love to read any that people have on this topic. I love to learn this stuff. We should know the enemy.