An Angel of Light
Satan can certainly appear as an angel of light. The apostle Paul in his second epistle to the Corinthians Church affirmed, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
The apostle Paul warned the Corinthians Church against the false teachers who were, nominally, Christian Jews (1 Corinthians 11: 22) and claimed to be the apostles of Christ. They had become part of the Christian church (Acts 15:1, 2, 5; Galatians 2:4, 5; Philippians 3:2, 3). But they were impostors, deceivers who had taken over the authority, rights, and duties of Christ’s real apostles. And because they didn’t possess the true credentials (2 Corinthians 3:3), they disguised themselves as faithful apostles.
The Origin of Satan
Satan served once as an angel of light. His name was Lucifer, which means “light bearer.” The prophet Ezekiel wrote that pride led to Satan’s fall:
“You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold… “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you” (Ezekiel 28:12–15).
Without a doubt these verses transcends the king of Tyre in its application. Therefore, we can conclude that Ezekiel was allowed to see the invisible yet powerful being whom the king of Tyre served.
And the prophet Isaiah wrote, “How you are fallen from heaven, o Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:12–14). Isaiah had been permitted to see beyond the literal king of Babylon (ch. 14:4) to Satan, whose character and policies the king of Babylon carried out (verses 12–16).
Thus, pride, selfishness and rebellion against God actually changed Satan from an angel of light into an angel of darkness, and the angels who followed him inhabited the realms of darkness with him (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6).
Light Verses Darkness
Light is one of the chief attributes of God and His holy angels (Matthew 28:2, 3; 1 Timothy 6:16; 1 John 1:5; Revelation 21:23, 24). Wherever God or His angels appear, they bring light and dispel darkness (Acts 26:18; Colossians 1:13). Darkness, on the contrary, represents evil and its originator, Satan (Luke 22:53; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 6:12; John 1:4,9). From the beginning Satan has been studiously disguising himself as an angel of light to lure people away from God.
As Satan deceives, so do his representatives. In the sight of heaven, there can be nothing more heinous than for professing ministers of Christ to serve as agents of Satan. Often, they can be known only by their fruits.
Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:16–20; 12:33–37).
Satan Unmasked
The Bible declares that all hypocrites, impostors, and deceivers will ultimately be unmasked at the end of time. And God’s character of love and justice will be vindicated before the universe. At that future time, all the saved and lost, will proclaim that God is righteous, true and just (Revelation 15:4). And God’s kingdom of light will triumph eternally (Revelation 17:14).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
