Is the Story of Satan True?

Is the Story of Satan True?

Asked by Areli

I want to know if the story of Satan is true. My grandmother mentions about how Satan became what he is today. Satan was one of God's angels but turned against him and became what he is. I just want to know its true or false. Thank you! 

Hi Areli,

Thanks for your question. We hope the information below (from this source) is helpful. There is no definite answer to your question, but the BIble verses below give us some clues, and are the reason some people believe what your grandmother told you.

Satan is mentioned in conjunction with angels (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 12:9) and the “sons of God” (Job 1:6, 2:1), which many believe to be angels. Although no Bible verse actually states that he was originally an angel, he is called a cherub in Ezekiel 28:16. The meaning of cherub is uncertain, though it is usually thought of as an angelic or heavenly being. (Ezekiel 28 is discussed in more detail later.)

In 2 Corinthians 11:14, we find that Satan masquerades as an angel of light—another allusion to his angel-like status:

And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

Although it is possible that Satan was an angel, it may be better to say that he was originally a “heavenly host” (which would include angels), since we know that he came from heaven, but don’t know with certainty that he was an actual angel. Recall Isaiah 14:12:

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!

When Satan, the great dragon in Revelation 12:9, fell, it appears that he took a third of the heavenly host with him (a “third of the stars” were taken to earth with him by his tail, Revelation 12:4). We know that angels who fell have nothing good to look forward to:

Then He will also say to those on the left hand, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).

For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment (2 Peter 2:4).

What these passages don’t say is who and where the angels and Satan were originally.

And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them (Daniel 8:10).

Daniel is speaking of heavenly hosts and angels, which were often spoken of as stars or luminaries (see Judges 5:20; Daniel 8:10; Jude 13; Revelation 1:20). It is unlikely that this passage refers to physical stars, as such would destroy the earth. The Hebrew word for stars (kowkab) also includes planets, meteors, and comets. Were these stars comets and meteors? Likely not, since the context refers to heavenly beings, which would be trampled on. This is further confirmation that Satan (and perhaps some other heavenly host) and his angels sinned and fell.

Another key passage to this is Ezekiel 28:15–17. The passage indicates that Satan was indeed perfect before his fall. He was in heaven and was cast to the earth.

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God and Satan/Devil