With Opened Bible
Get behind me, Satan
"Get behind me, Satan."
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."(Mark 8)
What does the Bible say about Satan, the Enemy of God's People? There are many stories about him, such as his first appearance in the Garden of Beginnings and his role in the temptation of Jesus. But what does the Bible say?
The first appearance of the Devil was in the Garden of Beginnings, as described in Genesis 3:1sss. The sacred author used the image of the terror of the desert (the fery serpents that killed thousands in Numbers 21:4- 9). This image has remained in the memories and has served as a model to personalize the Devil. But, for all those familiar with the Bible, the serpent is only an image. The Devil is not a serpent but a fallen Angel who no longer has access to the heavenly court, as revealed in Revelation 12:9.
An Angel? Yes, that is indeed the case. Satan, or the Devil (that is to say, the one who divides, referring to his role in creating discord and separation), is an Angel, the most beautiful. (Ezekiel 28: 12-13) Hence, his name is Morning Star or Lucifer in Latin (He who carries the light). Isaiah describes him as full of glory and splendor. (Cf. Isaiah 14,12) And since he lost his place in heaven, 'Satan masquerades as an angel of light.' (2 Corinthians 11: 14)
Having said this, the question we must answer is this: If Satan is an Angel, why did Jesus call Peter Satan? The word Satan can be understood in two ways: The frst is the personifcaton of evil par excellence, the Enemy of God and humankind. The second is his role, which is to put himself through the divine plan. By telling Jesus that no harm would come to him, Peter put himself through God's plan to sacrifce the Messiah for the world's salvaton. (Cf. Mark 8:33) Peter becomes Satan (i.e., an obstacle to realizing the divine plan). But Satan himself remains an angelic spirit who no longer has access to the presence of God.
