Demons and the believer

[votivesoul]

The works of the FLESH are manifest...

Every evil thing a person might conceive of doing comes under the work of flesh. The Son of God was manifested to destroy the works of the devil.

Do you suppose the Son of God failed in that regard?

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by Esaias

So, you have divine revelation that is not actually stated in the Bible? Sorry, but I don't go by anyone's divine revelation, I have a more sure word (2 Peter 1:19).

You are eisegeting, reading into the text things that are not there. I understand that what is being presented to you is contrary to the beliefs you have, and therefore you have a hard time understanding something other than what you currently hold. To each his own. I have no sacred cows and no traditions to defend except what I see written in the Word.

The origin and nature and mechanism of sin is spelled out quite explicitly in the Bible, and that's what I believe. The terms devil and satan are used for various things and various people, so I believe that. The Bible teaches by both precept and example that we are not running around swatting invisible demon-flies, but are engaged in a spiritual war between the Kingdom (dominion, RULE) of Christ and the kingdoms of men and their vain philosophies. Heathen gods are demons, and they are also NOTHING. That informs my understanding of these things.

People can get all sorts of things "in the prayer room" but if it does not agree with the Scripture then it's all just last night's pizza sauce.

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by Esaias

See? This all ties back into the KINGDOM OF GOD, which is clearly and undeniably an issue of JURISDICTION and AUTHORITY. The GOSPEL of "the Kingdom of God".

THIS is why the world hates it. The world don't care where you think you are going when you die. They just want to make sure you SUBMIT TO THEIR AUTHORITY in the HERE AND NOW. But Christ has all authority, here and now and forever more. THAT is what creates the conflict. The secular powers that be see real Gospel Christianity as a threat to their power and control.

Interesting how the powers that be don't really see much of modern Christendom as any kind of threat... Might be because modern Christendom has lost sight of what the Gospel is really all about?

this is good Brother Esaias

[Esaias]

The "god of this world"?

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: (4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

A few things must be kept in mind in studying this issue:

• Some of Paul's writings are hard to understand (2 Peter 3:16)
• Misunderstanding Paul can be catastrophic to our knowledge of truth (2 Peter 3:16)
• For Paul, all Old Testament saints, and all New Testament saints, there is but one God (1 Cor 8:6, Psalm 86:10)

To identify what Paul is speaking about when he says "the god of this world", we can first look to see what this "god" does: it blinds the minds of people who do not believe, lest they should receive the light of Christ's Gospel. It should be noted that this god does not cause people to not believe, but instead operates on those who do not believe. They are unbelievers first, and then are blinded by the god of this world. The blindness prevents them from perceiving the light of the Gospel. The Gospel is the Gospel of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14). So the blindness prevents them from perceiving and entering the Kingdom of God. This is not a blindness that affects people who have no knowledge of the Gospel, for if that were the case then nobody could be saved (especially the heathen). It must therefore have to do with those who consciously reject the Gospel message, who are then prevented from perceiving it's truth.

Now, Paul did not dredge up doctrine all on his own. What he taught was consistent with what the rest of the apostles taught. And the apostles taught what Jesus taught (Matthew 28:20). So let's look at what the Gospels say about people being blinded to the truth of the Kingdom message:

Matthew 15:12-14 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? (13) But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. (14) Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

The Pharisees were blind leaders of the blind, and are plants that would be rooted up. This is a reference to the tares being gathered out of the Kingdom (Matthew 13:30), and thus the Christ-rejecting Pharisees and their followers are identified as plants sown by the enemy and who are not of the Kingdom.

John 12:37-41 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: (38) That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? (39) Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, (40) He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. (41) These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

The apostle John taught that God himself had blinded the unbelievers and hardened their heart, in fulfillment of a prophecy of Isaiah. Let's look at that prophecy for a minute:

Isaiah 6:9-10 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. (10) Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

Here, God pronounces a Divine punishment of blindness upon Israel that is due to their heart waxing fat, their ears becoming heavy and their eyes shutting. Now what is the cause of this waxing fat, heavy eared and shut eyed?

Isaiah 29:13-14 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: (14) Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

Isaiah 30:8-13 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: (9) That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: (10) Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: (11) Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. (12) Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: (13) Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.

Ezekiel 12:2 Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.

They cannot perceive God's truth because they are rebellious. Their heart is uncircumcised, stiffnecked, hardened. They are full of pride and vanity, and are not willing to submit to God. They "believe not" as Paul said, and as a result something blinds them from perceiving the Gospel. Their hardheartedness makes them susceptible to being led away from the Gospel. Like this:

Luke 11:52 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

Matthew 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

Matthew 21:31-32 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. (32) For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

The religious leaders of Judea were unbelievers, they did not believe in Christ. They were blind, and they were leaders of their followers, who were likewise blind. They, the teachers (rabbis of the Pharisees, scribes and lawyers) prevented people from entering the Kingdom. They themselves had rejected the evidences of Jesus' Messiaship, and did not repent, and thus could not believe on Him. They were hindering those who were seeking to enter in by taking away the "key of knowledge".

People were being blinded by these religious leaders who were giving them false knowledge and teaching lies and error. The people who followed these leaders were obviously unbelievers as well, and thus guide and follower, teacher and student, were blind and heading to the ditch. Both were being kept out of the Kingdom. Both were blinded because of the hardness of their hearts. Both were blinded lest they should see the truth of the Gospel of God's Kingdom.

So who is doing the blinding? According to the Gospels, it was the Pharisees, scribes and lawyers, the religious teachers. Which brings us to the next point:

Matthew 23:1-2 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, (2) Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:

The scribes and Pharisees (who were unrepentant, hard hearted, and blind, and who prevented people from entering the Kingdom by leading those who rejected the evidences of Christ's identity away from Him, who were blinding others through their lies and blasphemous errors) were sitting in Moses' seat. They had assumed the place of Moses. Moses was the "Lawgiver", the one who directly represented God to the people. They were in this position in two ways:

First, by expounding and teaching the law of Moses to the people. They were serving in Moses' place as teachers of the law.

Second, by usurping Moses' position. They claimed to not only be teaching Moses, but had by their man made traditions made the law void and of no effect (Mark 7:13). They had in reality replaced Moses' law with their own, thus they had replaced Moses with themselves. They were usurping Moses' place as the messenger and representative of God. Sort of like the man of sin in 2 Thessalonians 2...


About that man of sin, he sat in the Temple of God "showing himself to be God", exalting himself above God. This is in effect what the scribes and Pharisees were doing, putting themselves in God's position as the Legislator, exalting themselves above God by instituting their own rules and regulations as replacements for God's, additions to God's, and even as annulments of God's laws and commandments. They had in a sense seated themselves on the mercy seat as dispensers of God's word, grace, forgiveness, righteousness, etc.

The scribes and Pharisees were "teaching the law" (albeit their own version of what they passed off as the law of God) and were thus in Moses' seat. (The scribes and Pharisees would, when in synagogue teaching, stand and read the Scriptures and then sit down and teach it's meaning and application.) But according to Jesus their teachign was hindering people from entering the Kingdom. They were blind guides leading blind students. They rejected knowledge and kept it from others. All those who did not believe in Christ went instead to the scribes and Pharisees, and were copiously taught by them to continue in their obstinate disbelief:

Matthew 9:34 But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

- cont in next post

[Esaias]

-cont from previous post
They continued this opposition to Christ among the Greeks:

Acts 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

Acts 13:50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

Acts 14:2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

Acts 14:19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

Acts 17:5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

Acts 17:13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.

Acts 18:12 And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,

Acts 21:27 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,

Acts 25:7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.

1 Thessalonians 2:14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

(This last point shows that Gentiles were not above being blind guides leading the blind against the church and the Gospel.)

So who is blinding people to the truth? Remember, Paul did not say the god of this world keeps people from believing in the first place, but that the god of this world blinds those who believe not. Those who reject the truth are then hardened, blinded, and cannot perceive the truth of the Gospel. So who is leading people against the Gospel, keeping them from seeing its truth?

Why, it's the religious leaders who were opposed to Christ. Concerning which, they are spoken of here:

Matthew 17:24-25 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? (25) He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

The word "tribute" in verse 24 is "didrachma", the double drachma, which was the Greek term for the half shekel Temple tax. Jesus thus speaks of the Temple authorities, the priests, scribes, Pharisees, etc, as "the kings of the earth".

In any event, the rulers of the earth are the blind leaders sitting in Moses' seat dispensing error in the name of God to lead astray those who reject the Gospel message and preventing them from entering the Kingdom. Interestingly, Paul attributes this blinding to God Himself:

Romans 11:7-10 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (8) (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day. (9) And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: (10) Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

The exact same circumstances, the same people, the same hardness of heart, the same blindness against the Gospel, even the same phraseology "eyes that see not, ears that hear not", are used both here and in the Gospel accounts. And both parallel the same subject as the Pauline quote in question. All deal with obstinate unbelievers being blinded and rejecting the gospel.

So then who is the "god of this world" (aeon, or age)?

In a sense, it is the religious leaders who rejecting Christ teach damnable errors that solidify the unbelievers in their obstinate unbelief. That men are called "gods" is clear from Scripture (John 10:35, Exodus 7:1), although they are not genuine gods (divine beings). There are no other genuinely divine beings except Jehovah.

But in a deeper sense, the god of this age is in fact Jehovah God Himself, because He is the one who appointed these false religious leaders to be the agency of Divinely ordained blindness to those who choose not to believe. Jehovah is in fact called "the King of the Aeon" in 1 Timothy 1:17. The god of this world is "The God of this Aeon".

There is also this to consider:

Some, and particularly the ancient fathers, have connected του αιωνος τουτου with των απιστων, and have read the verse: But God hath blinded the minds of the unbelievers of this world, etc. Irenaeus, Tertullian, Chrysostom, Theodoret, Photius, Theophylact, and Augustine, all plead for the above meaning; and St. Augustine says that it was the opinion of almost all the ancients. Clarke's Commentary

Finally, a brief word on something related:

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

But who are these of whom the apostle speaks? Schoettgen contends that the rabbins and Jewish rulers are intended. This he thinks proved by the words του αιωνος τουτου, of this world, which are often used to designate the Old Testament, and the Jewish system; and the words εν τοις επουρανιοις, in heavenly places, which are not unfrequently used to signify the time of the New Testament, and the Gospel system.
By the spiritual wickedness in heavenly places, he thinks false teachers, who endeavored to corrupt Christianity, are meant; such as those mentioned by St. John, 1Jo_2:19 : They went out from us, but they were not of us, etc. And he thinks the meaning may be extended to all corrupters of Christianity in all succeeding ages. He shows also that the Jews called their own city שר של עולם sar shel olam, κοσμοκρατωρ, the ruler of the world; and proves that David’s words, Psa_2:2, The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, are applied by the apostles, Act_4:26, to the Jewish rulers, αρχοντες, who persecuted Peter and John for preaching Christ crucified. Clarke's Commentary

The rulers of this world are the kings of the earth who are the religious leaders who set themselves up as the god of this age and blind people against the Gospel because of their unbelief. Please notice that Paul speaking of the god of this age does not mean it is an actual deity, anymore than Diana of Ephesus whom the whole world worships is a real goddess or anything other than a dumb idol which according to Paul is nothing.

One final note for those who want to study further: The god of this age, the rulers of this kosmos, and similar terms are terms used by mystical Jewish Gnostic writers in the first century to describe a hierarchy of demonic, fallen angels who control this world-age behind the scenes. Yet the Gospel writers and Paul use much of the gnostic's own language to claim that Christ is all powerful and all authoritative (thus refuting the Gnostics' contentions about fallen angels ruling anything using much of their own language). JUST LIKE WE HAVE SEEN WITH THE ENOCH MATERIAL.

[Aquila]

This is getting weirder and weirder around here. There is no way anyone who has ever cast a spirit out of a person's life can deny that evil spirits are real.

We see Jesus casting out evil spirits. We see the disciples casting out evil spirits. We see the early church casting out evil spirits. We are told that it is a sign that will follow those who believe.

And now there are "Apostolics" denouncing that there even is a hierarchy of evil spirits. They even deny the reality of Satan himself.

They equate the "devils" and "spiritual wickedness" of the spirit world to earthly political leaders. This explains why this place is so jacked up with being the GOP's lapdog, the thrust, or core, of their agenda is grounded in the neo-religio-fascist ideals of Christian Reconstructionism. Essentially, the Gospel is primarily a political manifesto in their world view.

It's really getting stranger and stranger. lol

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Esaias

-cont from previous post
They continued this opposition to Christ among the Greeks:

Acts 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

Acts 13:50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

Acts 14:2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

Acts 14:19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

Acts 17:5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

Acts 17:13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.

Acts 18:12 And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,

Acts 21:27 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,

Acts 25:7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.

1 Thessalonians 2:14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

(This last point shows that Gentiles were not above being blind guides leading the blind against the church and the Gospel.)

So who is blinding people to the truth? Remember, Paul did not say the god of this world keeps people from believing in the first place, but that the god of this world blinds those who believe not. Those who reject the truth are then hardened, blinded, and cannot perceive the truth of the Gospel. So who is leading people against the Gospel, keeping them from seeing its truth?

Why, it's the religious leaders who were opposed to Christ. Concerning which, they are spoken of here:

Matthew 17:24-25 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? (25) He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

The word "tribute" in verse 24 is "didrachma", the double drachma, which was the Greek term for the half shekel Temple tax. Jesus thus speaks of the Temple authorities, the priests, scribes, Pharisees, etc, as "the kings of the earth".

In any event, the rulers of the earth are the blind leaders sitting in Moses' seat dispensing error in the name of God to lead astray those who reject the Gospel message and preventing them from entering the Kingdom. Interestingly, Paul attributes this blinding to God Himself:

Romans 11:7-10 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (8) (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day. (9) And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: (10) Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

The exact same circumstances, the same people, the same hardness of heart, the same blindness against the Gospel, even the same phraseology "eyes that see not, ears that hear not", are used both here and in the Gospel accounts. And both parallel the same subject as the Pauline quote in question. All deal with obstinate unbelievers being blinded and rejecting the gospel.

So then who is the "god of this world" (aeon, or age)?

In a sense, it is the religious leaders who rejecting Christ teach damnable errors that solidify the unbelievers in their obstinate unbelief. That men are called "gods" is clear from Scripture (John 10:35, Exodus 7:1), although they are not genuine gods (divine beings). There are no other genuinely divine beings except Jehovah.

But in a deeper sense, the god of this age is in fact Jehovah God Himself, because He is the one who appointed these false religious leaders to be the agency of Divinely ordained blindness to those who choose not to believe. Jehovah is in fact called "the King of the Aeon" in 1 Timothy 1:17. The god of this world is "The God of this Aeon".

There is also this to consider:

Some, and particularly the ancient fathers, have connected του αιωνος τουτου with των απιστων, and have read the verse: But God hath blinded the minds of the unbelievers of this world, etc. Irenaeus, Tertullian, Chrysostom, Theodoret, Photius, Theophylact, and Augustine, all plead for the above meaning; and St. Augustine says that it was the opinion of almost all the ancients. Clarke's Commentary

Finally, a brief word on something related:

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

But who are these of whom the apostle speaks? Schoettgen contends that the rabbins and Jewish rulers are intended. This he thinks proved by the words του αιωνος τουτου, of this world, which are often used to designate the Old Testament, and the Jewish system; and the words εν τοις επουρανιοις, in heavenly places, which are not unfrequently used to signify the time of the New Testament, and the Gospel system.
By the spiritual wickedness in heavenly places, he thinks false teachers, who endeavored to corrupt Christianity, are meant; such as those mentioned by St. John, 1Jo_2:19 : They went out from us, but they were not of us, etc. And he thinks the meaning may be extended to all corrupters of Christianity in all succeeding ages. He shows also that the Jews called their own city שר של עולם sar shel olam, κοσμοκρατωρ, the ruler of the world; and proves that David’s words, Psa_2:2, The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, are applied by the apostles, Act_4:26, to the Jewish rulers, αρχοντες, who persecuted Peter and John for preaching Christ crucified. Clarke's Commentary

The rulers of this world are the kings of the earth who are the religious leaders who set themselves up as the god of this age and blind people against the Gospel because of their unbelief. Please notice that Paul speaking of the god of this age does not mean it is an actual deity, anymore than Diana of Ephesus whom the whole world worships is a real goddess or anything other than a dumb idol which according to Paul is nothing.

One final note for those who want to study further: The god of this age, the rulers of this kosmos, and similar terms are terms used by mystical Jewish Gnostic writers in the first century to describe a hierarchy of demonic, fallen angels who control this world-age behind the scenes. Yet the Gospel writers and Paul use much of the gnostic's own language to claim that Christ is all powerful and all authoritative (thus refuting the Gnostics' contentions about fallen angels ruling anything using much of their own language). JUST LIKE WE HAVE SEEN WITH THE ENOCH MATERIAL.

The Enoch material also declares the existence of a "God".

No devil. No demons. No praying through. No gifts of the Spirt. No future prophecy. No afterlife.

I'm seeing a pattern.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Amanah

this is good Brother Esaias

Amanah, do you believe that there is no actual spiritual being, a fallen angel, identified as "Satan" (meaning Adversary) in Scripture?

[Apostolic1ness]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Amanah, do you believe that there is no actual spiritual being, a fallen angel, identified as "Satan" (meaning Adversary) in Scripture?

Aquila, Im seeing opinions on certain things in scriptures such as "god of this world" and "Lucifer" but unless I missed it I dont see anyone that doesnt believe there are actual evil spirits or devils. again I may have missed something.

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Amanah, do you believe that there is no actual spiritual being, a fallen angel, identified as "Satan" (meaning Adversary) in Scripture?

Strong's Number H7854 matches the Hebrew שָׂטָן (satan),

below are some examples of the use of H7854 שָׂטָן (satan),

Numbers 22:22 And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary H7854 against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

Numbers 22:32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand H7854 thee, because thy way is perverse before me:

1 Samuel 29:4 And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary H7854 to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?

2 Samuel 19:22 And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries H7854 unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?

So you have to conclude that the word Satan, meaning adversary is not restricted to one being.