Satan

The first occurrence of "Satan" in Scripture is the following:

"1Ch 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel"

However, this is the same Hebrew word, "sawtan" [#7854] which appears as "withstand" in the following verse:

Num 22:32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:

So where the KJV translators assumed "sawtan" to be a proper noun in one verse, they assumed it to be just a verb in another verse.  It's not impossible that it's both, but it's not likely that the Word of God would be so duplicitous or confusing.

In another verse where it was impossible to translate this as a proper noun "Satan", it appears as "adversaries" in reference to enemies of David:

2Sa 19:22 And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?

How could "sawtan" refer to the enemies of David in one verse, and an entity who came up against David in another verse?  It couldn't.  It's a MIS-translation. Had it not been for the appearance so often of this mis-tranlsation in Job, it would have been translated more often as anything but the proper noun "Satan":

Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

Job 1:7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

Job 1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for naught?

 

The only reason for this inconsistency is the church's desire to cause Israelites to worship a power which God warned us NOT to worship, an entity they created called "Satan".

In the following verses, by changing "sawtan" from "adversaries" to "Satan", the fact that the LORD punished the adversaries of the House of Israel is CONCEALED:

Zec 3:1 And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.

Zec 3:2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

Let's read these verses in an HONEST context:

Zec 3:1 And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and our adversaries standing at his right hand to resist him.

Zec 3:2 And the LORD said unto our adversaries, The LORD rebuke thee, adversaries; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

And who are our adversaries?

jews

APPENDIX E

JOB AND SATAN

The book of Job is probably the bedrock book of the Satan exalters. They claim that this book shows the power of their "fallen angel" and what he can and does do! We will examine the validity of their "claims" using the word of God.

The word "Satan" is a Hebrew word, signifying "to oppose, to be an adversary." The word ‘‘Satan’’ is translated by our English translators ‘‘adversary," "withstand,’’ ‘‘resist," and also transliterated as "Satan," in many places in the Bible.

If the translators had used the words adversary or opponent, instead of the term Satan, we wouldn’t have all the Satan worshippers today! But, as usual, God moved them to use this term to lead the unregenerate man into error.

I’ve discussed this with many people. They all deny that they worship Satan. What they claim is that they just recognize his power, and what he is able to do! Well, my friend, if you think for a moment that you can admit that "Satan" has power to do his own will, you have, in effect, given him the power of a deity. My dictionary tells me that worship means: TO VENERATE AS A DEITY.

So any way you want to cut it — the "fallen angel" dogma is the veneration of "Satan," in violation of the first commandment: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."

But let’s go on to Job, and see if "Satan" has the power to do anything without the Lord’s blessing!

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

(Job 1:1)

If we look up the word man in this verse, we discover that Job was a iysh or son of Noah. We also know he was the third son of Issachar (Gen. 46:13). Knowing this, we can see that Job had moved out of Egypt to dwell in the land of Uz. The land of Uz was in Arabia, by the way. And Uz was the first son of Aram of the seed of Shem (Gen. 10:23). We know the children of Israel dwelt in Egypt, for 400 years. With Job listed as one of the children of Issachar who entered Egypt, it is no wonder that we don’t see any of the other Israelites mentioned as Job’s "friends," (Job 2:11 and also Job 19:13). By knowing this, we can deduce that Job lived out his entire life separate from his brethren in Egypt. Unless, of course, he lived over 400 years, which seems unlikely, according to the "ripe" old age of Abraham at his death (Gen. 25:7-8).

Now that we’ve determined who Job was, let’s discover what happened to him. Job 1:6,

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.

And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

Now the "fallen angel" proponents claim that this event took place in "heaven" and that the sons of God mentioned here are the angels. And, of course, the "Satan" here has ascended for the meeting! Now this is a nice theory, but it just doesn’t wash when we know Bible terms. I’ve pointed out before that the Bible term, "sons of God," was exclusive property of the sons of Adam through Seth and Shem, with other divisions coming at Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob-Israel (Luke 3:38). This truth is also confirmed in Ex. 4:22-23:

And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

And I say unto thee, Let my son go,

Now, as far as the angels being called the sons of God, Paul gives us clarification on this in Heb. I:

For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? v:5

But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? vs: 13-14

We can now see that the angels of God were never called sons. And that their job is to be ministering spirits to the heirs of salvation! So now you know what the Holy Spirit is! For more on this revelation read: Luke 12:8-10, Ex. 23:20-23, Rev. 22:16.

Now back to Job.

In the days of Job it was a common event for the sons of God to appear before the Lord. This "appearing before the Lord" became part of the law covenant given to the children of Israel in Ex. 23:17:

Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord God.

Prior to this command, and the establishment of the law covenant to be implemented by the Levitical priesthood, Melchisedek was the priest of the most High God. (Ref. Gen. 14:18 and Heb. 7). Knowing this fact, I can say without qualification that these sons of God (Israelites) came before the Lord (Melchisedek) who was their intercessor at that time in history.

Now it’s obvious from the context of Job 1:7, that this Satan (adversary) was not one of the sons of God. In fact, this adversary when answering the question from the Lord, "Whence comest thou"? admitted that he was a man. His reply was, "From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it." Now if that doesn’t describe the locomotion of a person I don’t know what does! How in the world can any person then say that this "adversary’’ was a ‘‘fallen angel"?

But let’s go on. Satan (the adversary) accused the Lord of protecting his servant Job. So the Lord allows the adversary of Job free reign to smite Job without retribution. Now remember the fact here that Job was an Israelite. The adversary knew if he vexed Job without the Lord’s permission that he would be cursed. This goes back to God’s blessing to Abram that:

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee:

Gen. 12:3

So with the Lord’s permission the Satan (adversary) begins to afflict Job. The first affliction came when the Sabeans (v: 15) fell on Job’s herds, and slew his servants tending them. One of Job’s servants escaped and told Job. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said,

The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

v: 16

Notice here it was the fire of God that fell! Next in verse 17, the Chaldeans came and took his camels, slaying more of his servants. Then in verse 19 we read the report of another servant:

And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped.

Now then; what did Job do?

Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped

And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

vs: 20-22

Job knew exactly who had caused his problem. It wasn’t "Satan," but God! Now this fact is admitted by the Lord in chapter 2.

Satan came again with the sons of God before the Lord. After a repetition of the formalities we read of in chapter 1, the Lord asked the adversary if he had observed that Job had kept his integrity,

…although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. (Job 2:3)

So from the mouth of the Lord we can see who it was that allowed and even caused Job’s troubles. Another thing we can derive from this conversation is that Job’s adversary was also a member of his household! Probably a servant who could observe Job’s reactions to his plight.

Satan (the adversary) then said that the Lord had not gone far enough. If he would only,

But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. v:5

Whose hand was "Satan" asking for to vex Job? If you missed it read it again, (v: 5). Yes, Satan (or the adversary) asked for, and got, permission from the Lord to inflict boils on Job’s body. Just how this was done we’re not told, but we know boils are caused by bacteria entering into the hair follicles or the sebaceous glands. White blood cells attack the bacteria and liquefied puss forms on the infected regions. Medical science knows today that poor nutrition is a major cause of these conditions. (Source: Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine and Nursing. W. B. Sanders Co. 1972).

Knowing this, is it not possible that Job’s boils were, in large part, caused by his faulty diet? Perhaps given to him by an "adverse" servant? Or could it be that he began an extended fast and lamenting period, in sackcloth and ashes? This was common in those days and could have been the source of the bacteria entering his hair follicles. At any rate Job was afflicted with boils.(See Job 2)

And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.

Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

vs: 8-10

Notice here again the truth of Job’s words!

Now due to the length of the book of Job, we will not cover it verse by verse, although it is full of many valuable lessons for our day. Our primary goal is to find out who it was that caused Job to be afflicted. So let’s go on to chapter 19, verses 6-13, and see who it was that gave Job all his grief:

Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.

Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.

He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he bath set darkness in my paths.

He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.

He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.

He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counted me unto him as one of his enemies.

His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle.

He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintances are verily estranged from me.

And finally verse 21, of this same Chapter 19:

Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.

Now you just read it. Job listed all his vexations and he knew who had overthrown him. Was it "Satan," or was it the Lord?

Now to make sure that this is correct in the Lord’s eyes, let’s read the last chapter of Job and see what the Lord said to Job’s "friends."

And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, the Lord said to Elisha the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.

Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.

vs: 7-8

And Job’s friends did what the Lord had told them.

And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

v: 10

And finally, part of verse 11, when Job’s friends became reconciled with him —

"...and comforted him over all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him:..."

Now, my friend, Job’s friends were corrected of their error, for they had told him that his punishment had come because of his sin and his crafty tongue, which didn’t know what he was talking about, when Job identified God as causing his problems.

The question I have for you, my Christian friend, is this: Will you believe Job? Or will you have to be corrected by God. The lesson in Job practically leaps out of the book. Let’s heed it.

For a more exhaustive study in the subject of the "devil," "Satan," and the like — I recommend you get No. 15 in Book Index.

You might also enjoy taking the quiz on the next page.

Shaman in Korea:

1. magwi = bad devil

2. guishin = good devil = Jesus.

Copyright @ 2007 by Fathers' Manifesto & Christian Party