Satan, once a high-ranking and powerful angel, led a rebellion against God and now commands the demonic forces in their opposition to divine purposes. Scripture identifies him with various titles: “Satan” (meaning “adversary”), “the devil,” “the serpent,” “the great dragon,” “the prince of the power of the air,” “the god of this age,” “the evil one,” “the prince of demons,” “the accuser,” and “the tempter” (e.g., Eph 2:2; Rev 12:9; Matt 4:1; Gen 3:1; 2 Cor 4:4).
Although Genesis does not explicitly name Satan as the serpent that tempted Eve, later scriptures, such as Revelation 12:9, confirm this identity. Satan’s initial rebellion, driven by pride in his own beauty and a corrupted wisdom, led him to seek worship for himself (Ez 28:14-17; Isa 14:13-15). As the “anointed cherub,” Satan held a unique and exalted position among the heavenly beings, acting as a canopy over God’s throne. His power exceeded even that of the Archangel Michael (Dan 10:13; Jude 1:9).
Satan’s fall stemmed from an inward discovery of iniquity, prompting him to challenge God’s very criteria for divine rule. This rebellion was not just an act of pride but a philosophical assault on God’s nature. He reasoned that God’s belief in the capacity of intelligent beings to reciprocate true, unselfish love was a fundamental error. This conclusion, influenced by Satan’s own confirmation bias, led him to propagate the idea that all devotion to God must be rooted in selfish motives. With this argument, he convinced a third of the angels to join his rebellion (Rev 12:4), spreading his deception through subtle persuasion (Ez 28:5).
The story of Job exemplifies Satan’s claim. Satan’s challenge before the heavenly court was that Job’s faithfulness stemmed only from God’s protection and blessings. When permitted to test Job (Job 1:6-12), Satan sought to prove that human devotion was inherently selfish. Yet, despite Job’s suffering, he did not curse God, disproving Satan’s assertion.
However, this defeat did not change the conviction held by Satan and the fallen angels. They believed that sentient beings ultimately served God out of self-interest. The true and irrefutable evidence came with the incarnation of Christ. Jesus demonstrated genuine, self-sacrificing love by relinquishing the privileges of divine status, becoming a servant, and willingly dying on the cross (Phil 2:4-11). This act, motivated solely by love for the Father and humanity, proved that unselfish love was not only possible but real.
The Father also displayed unselfish love by giving His only Son, the “apple of His eye,” so that humanity might have eternal life (Jn 3:16). Thus, the combined testimony of the Father and the Son conclusively established the existence of true, unselfish love. According to Deuteronomy 19:15, “By the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established,” and in this case, the divine witness was undeniable.
The incarnation of Christ had profound implications for Satan and his fallen angels. They could no longer claim that unselfish love was a myth. The very declaration, “Jesus Christ came in the flesh,” chokes demonic forces, as they are overwhelmed by the reality of their defeat and the terror of God’s truth (1 Jn 4:2-3).
In the end, Satan’s gamble—that God would disqualify Himself by erring in creating beings capable of mutual, true love—proved catastrophic. The proof of God’s love and the sacrifice of Christ stand as the ultimate testament, silencing all opposition and establishing the foundation of divine justice and truth.