Satan's Ongoing Battle Against Believers in Scripture

Satan, whose name means "adversary" or "accuser" ^{[1, 7]}, wages an ongoing battle against believers, a conflict depicted throughout Scripture from the Old Testament to the New. This adversary is also known as the devil (Greek: Diabolos), the dragon, the old serpent, the prince of this world, the prince of the power of the air, and the god of this world ^[1].

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word satan is used to denote an adversary, as seen in passages like 1 Samuel 29:4 and Numbers 22:22 ^[2]. When used as a proper name, it often appears with the article, "the adversary," as in Job 1:6-12 and Zechariah 3:1 ^{[1, 2]}. Job 1 and 2 portray Satan as an accuser who presents himself before God, challenging Job's faithfulness and seeking permission to test him ^[1]. Similarly, Zechariah 3:1 depicts Satan standing at the right hand of the angel of the Lord to accuse Joshua the high priest ^[1]. The Psalms also describe the wicked plotting against the righteous, seeking to kill them and gnashing their teeth ^{[3, 4]}.

The New Testament expands on Satan's role as an active opponent of God's people. He is explicitly called the "accuser of the brethren" in Revelation 12:10, a role consistent with the Jewish understanding of him as one who brings charges against humanity before God ^[5]. This accusation aims to weaken believers' influence and harm the cause they represent ^[5].

Satan's tactics against believers are multifaceted:

Hindering the Word: He actively seeks to prevent people from receiving and understanding the truth of God's Word. In the parable of the sower, Jesus explains that Satan comes immediately to take away the Word sown in people's hearts, preventing them from believing and being saved ^{[6, 8]}.
Warfare against the Saints: Revelation describes Satan making war with the saints, those who keep God's commandments and hold the testimony of Jesus ^{[11, 14]}. This spiritual warfare is a constant reality for believers ^[9]. John Gill notes that this war is stirred up by Satan with malicious intent and permitted by God to test the faith and patience of believers ^[14].
Deception and Corruption: Satan uses wicked doctrine to lead people into ruin, alienating them from the Holy Spirit through his enchantments ^[12]. Even after experiencing Christ's reign, sinful people can still flock to Satan when he is given freedom to act ^{[10, 13]}.
Harassment and Temptation: While Satan's power is limited, he is allowed to harass believers, as he did Job, which can be seen as a sign of God's favor rather than displeasure ^[9]. Believers are called to be steadfast in faith to resist him ^[9].

The book of Revelation provides a comprehensive view of Satan's ultimate defeat. It describes his binding for a period, followed by his release for a final attempt to conquer God's people, which culminates in his fiery demise ^{[10, 13]}. This narrative underscores God's absolute justice and the depravity of those who follow Satan, forming the basis for the final judgment ^[10]. Despite his ongoing efforts, Satan's war is futile; he cannot withstand even an angel, and God will have the final victory ^[13].

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Satan — Adversary; accuser. When used as a proper name, the Hebrew word so rendered has the article "the adversary" (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7). In the New Testament it is used as interchangeable with Diabolos, or the devil, and is so used more than thirty times. He is also called "the dragon," "the old serpent" (Rev. 12:9; 20:2); "the prince of this world" (John 12:31; 14:30); "the prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2); "the god of this world" (2 Cor. 4:4); "the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" (Eph. 2:2). The distinct personality of Satan and h”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Satan — The word itself, the Hebrew satan, is simply an "adversary," and is so used in (1 Samuel 29:4; 2 Samuel 19:22; 1 Kings 6:4; 11:14,23,25; Numbers 22:22,33; Psalms 109:6) This original sense is still found in our Lord's application of the name to St. Peter in (Matthew 16:23) It is used as a proper name or title only four times in the Old Testament, vis. (with the article) in (Job 1:6; 12; 2:1; Zechariah 2:1) and without the article in (1 Chronicles 21:1) It is with the scriptural revelation on the subject that we are here concerned; and it is clear, from this si”
Psalms “The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to kill him. -- Psalms 37:32”
Psalms “The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth. -- Psalms 37:12”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Accuser — Satan is styled the "accuser of the brethren" (Rev. 12:10. Comp. Job 1:6; Zech. 3:1), as seeking to uphold his influence among men by bringing false charges against Christians, with the view of weakening their influence and injuring the cause with which they are identified. He was regarded by the Jews as the accuser of men before God, laying to their charge the violations of the law of which they were guilty, and demanding their punishment. The same Greek word, rendered "accuser," is found in John 8:10 (but omitted in the Revised Version); Acts 23:30, 35; 2”
Mark “Mark 4:15 (LITV) — And these are those by the wayside where the Word is sown. And when they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the Word having been sown in their hearts.”
Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Satan — contrary; adversary; enemy; accuser”
Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 8:12: 8:12 to have the devil come and take it away: Satan seeks to prevent unbelievers from seeing the truth.”
1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 5:9: (Luk 4:13; Eph 6:11-17; Jam 4:7.) steadfast--Compare established in the truth," Pe2 1:12. Satan's power exists only in respect to the unbelieving; the faithful he cannot hurt (Jo1 5:18). Faith gives strength to prayer, the great instrument against the foe (Jam 1:6, &c.). knowing, &c.--"encouragement not to faint in afflictions": your brethren suffer the same; nothing beyond the common lot of Christians befalls you (Co1 10:13). It is a sign of God's favor rather than displeasure, that Satan is allowed to harass you, as he did Job. Your fellow Christ”
Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 20:7: 20:7-10 Satan’s all-out attempt to conquer God’s people is followed by his fiery demise. This passage has two major purposes: (1) to show God’s absolute justice, because Satan and his followers are worthy of punishment and will never change; and (2) to show the depravity of people who follow Satan. In spite of viewing the nature of Christ’s reign in the world for many years, they still flock to Satan’s standard when he is freed. These factors are the basis for the judgment at the great white throne (20:11-15). 20:7-8 When free to act (20:7), Satan still seeks ”
Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 12:17: wroth with--Greek, "at." went--Greek, "went away." the remnant of her seed--distinct in some sense from the woman herself. Satan's first effort was to root out the Christian Church, so that there should be no visible profession of Christianity. Foiled in this, he wars (Rev 11:7; Rev 13:7) against the invisible Church, namely, "those who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus" (A, B, and C omit "Christ"). These are "the remnant," or rest of her seed, as distinguished from her seed, "the man-child" (Rev 12:5), on one hand,”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 77.2: our minds in eternal life; Antichrist, trained up under Satan’s tuition, by wicked doctrine, involves the wicked in ruin; 671 671 “ En ruine et perdition eternelle ;” — “In eternal ruin and perdition.” Christ puts forth the power of his Spirit for salvation, and seals his gospel by miracles; the adversary, 672 672 Our author evidently means Antichrist, alluding to the term applied to him by Paul in the 4th verse.— Ed . by the efficacy of Satan, alienates us from the Holy Spirit, and by his enchantments confirms mis”
Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 20:1: 20:1-10 There are three parts to this passage: the binding of Satan (20:1-3), the reign of God’s holy people (20:4-6), and the release of Satan for his final attempt at a battle (20:7-10). Four themes emerge: (1) Satan’s war is futile—he cannot withstand even an angel; (2) God’s holy people will be vindicated and glorified; (3) God will have the final victory; and (4) even when sinful and depraved human beings experience Christ’s good purposes in the world, they still flock after Satan when he gains even a small amount of freedom to act. 20:1-2 Like the Old Te”
Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 13:7: And it was given unto him to make war with the saints,.... The remnant of the woman's seed, Rev 12:17, whom God has set apart for himself, Christ has cleansed from sin by his blood, and the Holy Spirit has sanctified by his grace; and who under the influence of it live holy lives and conversations; against such Satan always bore an enmity; and it is an aggravation of the wickedness of the Romish antichrist, that he makes war with such, which he is stirred up to by Satan, with a malicious intent, and is permitted by God for the trial of the faith and patience of hi”

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