The Personality of Satan

It must here be observed,  in spite of all the attempts of unbelievers to disprove the personal existence of the devil, and. to make out that only the spirit or principle of evil is intended by the title, that every quality, every action, which can indicate personality, is attributed to him by the Holy Ghost in the Word of God, and in language which by no rules of fair interpretation can be explained away.

The revelation of the existence of the great Evil Spirit, like every other fact divinely made known in Scripture, was progressive. On the first entrance of evil into the world, the temptation of man is referred only to the Serpent. Throughout the patriarchal and Jewish dispensations only a vague and imperfect revelation of the source of evil was prevalent. Here and there during the succeeding ages we meet with direct references of evil to the influence and instigation of Satan. 

It may here be mentioned that the word Satan primarily means 'adversary', and as a proper name or title it is used in the Old Testament only eight times. In the New Testament, however, the veil is boldly lifted, and the awfully real character of the Prince of this World is constantly dwelt upon. From 'the beginning of the Gospel,'' when the devil appears as the personal tempter of our Lord, through all the Gospels, Epistles, and the Apocalypse, we meet with constant revelations of the personality, origin, power, cruelty, malignity, and final doom, of 'the prince of the demons.'

The complex and vast character of the kingdom of the devil is sufficiently implied in the New Testament by the titles and names which the Holy Ghost has seen fit to employ when speaking of this great fallen spirit. Thus, though not exhaustively, 'Abaddon ' (or Perdition); 'the Accuser of the Brethren ;'4 the 'Adversary ;' s the 'Angel of the Bottomless Pit;' 'Apollyon '(or he that exterminates); 'Beelzebub;' 'Belial'; the 'Dragon'; the 'Father of Lies ;' 3 the 'Great Red Dragon;'4 the'Liar ;'the 'Man murderer;' the 'Power of Darkness;' the 'Prince of this World'; the 'Prince of the Devils'; the 'Prince of the Power of the Air;' 'the 'Ruler of the Darkness of this World' (rather, of this Age); the 'Serpent; 'the 'Spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience;'the 'Tempter ;' the 'God of this World ;'the 'Unclean Spirit;' and the 'Wicked One.

His character is spoken of by the same Spirit of truth as being presumptuous, proud,  powerful,  wicked,  malignant, subtle, deceitful, fierce, cruel, always active in doing and promoting evil, and yet cowardly.  He is compared to a Fowler employed in setting snares for runaway souls ; to a wicked sower who by night scattered tares among the good seed of the field ;to a wolf, whose nature is to ravage the flock ; and to a lion restlessly wandering about for prey. Against his treacherous and insinuating approaches the Word frequently exhorts the saints to watch and pray. To his sinful solicitations Christ has commanded His disciples to give the most uncompromising resistance.