Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
Satan is not a fallen angel. He is a fallen cherub. Cherubs are a completely different heavenly species from angels. They have wings, whereas angels do not. They also have as many as four faces, whereas angels have only one face, as men do. Satan is called "the anointed cherub", and his position in heaven seems to have been among the especially blessed heavenly beings.
Ezekiel's description of this fallen cherub (27:12-17) includes important biographical information. In the following verses, we learn at least these things about Satan:
(1) He was created perfect in beauty.
(2)
He was created full of wisdom.
(3) The precious stones
with which he is covered resembled those given by God to
Israel's high
priest.
(4) He has been both in heaven and in the Garden of Eden.
(5)
God has promised to destroy him.
(6) He was created sinless until
he became proud of his gifts from God.
(7) Satan is involved with earthly
merchandise of some sort.
"Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden, the garden of God. Every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold. The workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth, and I have set thee so.
Thou wast upon the holy mountain of God. Thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned; therefore, I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God, and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty; thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness. I will cast thee to the ground; I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee."
Satan is history's greatest failure. He is a fool, and the "father of lies". His first sin was pride, and an ingratitude for his many gifts from God. His last end will be the awful torment of the Lake of Fire, where he, and all others who refuse to thank God for their blessings, will spend eternity.