John Brown of Haddington, Brown's Dictionary of Bible Characters: Quote: |
[re ANGELS]These apostate spirits appear to have one chief, with whom, perhaps, their apostasy began, who was probably once an archangel in his happy estate. The rest are presented as his servants. He is also called the Devil, Satan, Beelzebub, prince of the power of the air, prince and god of this world. It was probably he who, in the form of a serpent, seduced our first parents, and received an additional curse on that account, to be effected chiefly through our redemption by Christ. It was probably he who attacked our Saviour in the desert elsewhere, and tempted him to the vilest sins. (Gen. 3; Matt. 4, 25:41; Luke 4; John 14:30)(p. 120)
| Quote: DEVIL. See Satan
A fallen angel, especially the so-called chief of them, who is a malicious accuser of God and his people. (Rev. 12:9, 12) Devils were (and are) worshipped in the idols of the heathen and false religions. (Lev. 17:7; Deut. 32:17; Ps. 106:37; Rev. 9:20, 18:2). Devils themselves tremble at their view of the true God. (James 2:19) Wicked men are called devils; they resemble these evil spirits in malice and enmity against God and his people, and in reproach and slander of them, and are agents of Satan on earth. (John 6:70; 1 Tim. 3:11; Rev. 2:10)
Jesus was tempted over a period of 40 days and 40 nights by the devil. (Matt. 4:1-11, with parallels in other Gospels) He cast out devils. (Matt. 9:32-33, 12:22, 15:22, 17:18) He was accused of being possessed by the devil. (Matt. 9:32, 34; John 8:48) The Apostle Paul gives many warnings against the devil. (Eph. 4:27, 6:11; 1 Tim. 3:6-7; 2 Tim. 2:26) Exhortations about the devil are found in James 4:7 and 1 Pet. 5:8. Further facts about the devil are found in the book of Revelation: 12:9 (his fall from heaven), 12:12, 20:20 (his short time on earth), 20:10 (his final and eternal end). (p. 230)
| Quote: LUCIFER
A brilliant star whose name was used for the King of Babylon, and referred to his glory. The passage is often used to describe the fall of Satan from heaven. Found only in Isaiah 14:12. (p. 419)
| Quote: SATAN. See Angel, Devil
A name for the devil, revealing him as an inplacable enemy to the honour of God and the true interest of men. He tempted our first parents in Paradise, bereaved Job of his substance and health, causing his friends to reproach him, tempted David to seduce Bathsheba, and to number the Hebrews, and caused Ahab's prophets to induce him to go to war against Ramothgilead. (Gen. 3:1-5; Job 1:2, etc; 2 Sam. 12; 1 Kings 22; 1 Chron. 21) He tempted our Saviour to distrust, to suicide, and to devil-worship, tempted Judas to betray him, Peter to deny him, and tempted Ananias and his wife to tell lies to the Apostles concerning the price of their field. (Matt. 4:1-11, 16:23; John 13:27; Luke 22:3, 31; Acts 5:3)
Long has his power been established in the world, and, by the erection of the Assyrian, Persian, Greek, and especially, the Roman Empire, he attempted to strengthen his power against all attacks of the expected Messiah. However, God made them all contribute to the furtherance and spread of the gospel; and, by the preaching of the gospel, the working of miracles by Christ and His Apostles, and by the overturn of heathenism, his kingdom was overthrown. (Matt. 12:26; Luke 10:17-18; John 12:31, 16:11; Rev. 2:9)
Peter is called Satan because, in reproving Christ's intention to suffer, he did Satan's work, and under his direction. (Matt. 16:23) (p. 538)
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Andrew Myers
Husband of Jessica, Father of Jackson, Katie and Samuel
Member, Presbyterian Reformed Church of Northern Virginia
Warrenton, VA USA
Editor, The Matthew Poole Project
"Let your Morning Thoughts, and your last Evening Thoughts, be what shall become of you to all Eternity." -- Matthew Poole
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