The Ancient Serpent – The Angel Who Became Satan
Pastor Tan Thai · Apr 30, 2017
This sermon explains who Satan is — the primary enemy in spiritual warfare — covering his origin, nature, and the sin of pride that caused his fall from a glorious angel to an evil adversary. The pastor draws from both Old and New Testament passages to establish that Satan is a real and dangerous being, yet always remains under the sovereign authority of God.
This sermon is the second in a series on spiritual warfare, grounded in Ephesians 6:10-12. The pastor introduces Satan as the primary enemy in this invisible battle — not fought against flesh and blood, but against dark spiritual forces. The message covers three main points: Satan as the ancient serpent and ruler of this age, his origin, and the sin that transformed him from a glorious angel into an evil adversary.
From Revelation 12:9, Scripture confirms that the serpent in the Garden of Eden was indeed Satan, who continues to tempt humanity today. The pastor explains the Hebrew meaning of 'Satan' — adversary, opponent, or accuser — and examines three key Old Testament passages (Job 1–2, Zechariah 3:1-2, 1 Chronicles 21:1) where Satan appears as a specific spiritual being identified by a definite article. Jesus himself referred to Satan 25 times across the four Gospels, confirming that Satan is a real and dangerous figure that every believer must take seriously.
Regarding his origin, Satan was originally created by God as a perfect angelic being — full of wisdom and beautiful in every way (Ezekiel 28:11-15). He belonged to the cherubim class, the highest rank of angels, assigned to guard and serve near God's presence. Because he is a created being, Satan is not equal to God — he is not omnipotent, omniscient, or omnipresent. God's sovereign authority always operates over Satan's every action, as illustrated by the account of Job, where Satan had to seek God's permission before testing him.
Satan's sin was pride — pride in his beauty, wisdom, and exalted position. Isaiah 14:12-14 records five declarations beginning with 'I will,' revealing Satan's ambition to become equal to the Most High. He did not desire to become like God in holiness and love, but to usurp the place of God on his own terms. As a consequence, God cast him out of heaven, and his final judgment will be the lake of fire forever (Revelation 20:1-3, 10).
The practical lesson the pastor draws is that pride — the very sin that caused Satan's downfall — remains the greatest spiritual danger in a believer's life today. Beauty, success, status, and power can all lead to pride if left unchecked. Scripture is clear: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5-6). Believers are urged to humble themselves under God's mighty hand so that He may lift them up in due time.