The term 'Satan' comes from the Hebrew 'ha-satan,' and it is actually a title, not a name. In Hebrew, ha = the, and satan = adversary. The correct usage when fully translated into English would be 'the adversary.' Interestingly enough, the YLT version of the Bible, written over 150 years ago, did exactly that. If we are going to translate Yeshua [Hebrew] into Jesus [English], then so should we translate the Hebrew term 'satan' into adversary.
Furthermore, the concept of Satan as the devil is a Christian construct. Judaism does not have that concept. Jewish scholars will tell you that Christians have butchered the role of Satan and made him into something he is not. Many will cite the Book of Job as proof that Satan is evil, but a closer inspection of that story will reveal some startling information. Satan did not go looking for Job; God brought up Job to Satan. God wanted Satan to test Job. To take it a step further, God made the rules for the tests and Satan had no choice but to obey.
God, as the creator of the universe and everything in it, could simply snap those divine fingers and uncreate Satan if he were truly this fallen, arch enemy. There's no need for all the mythology surrounding the story. God could cut right through the red tape and be done with it. Remember, it is God's will that is done in Heaven, so there is no way that an angel(s) could rebel unless God willed it.
Under Judaism (which knows the OT far better than Christianity, as they understand it in Hebrew) Satan is in the role of district attorney. He brings you up on charges of sin, and God sits as the judge and jury. Because God is the omnipotent creator, Satan can't do anything without permission. He is fulfilling his divine role given to him by God.
There was a belief that Hell was inside the Earth. The 1611 KJV kept that belief when it translated Revelation 12:9 and stated that "...he [Satan] was cast out [of Heaven] into the earth." Modern translations have removed "into the earth" and replaced it with "to the earth." It is because of that ancient belief that Heaven was "up" and Hell was "down."
Satan is often referred to as Lucifer. This is also incorrect. The term lucifer is Latin, and the 4th century CE monk named Jerome can be blamed for its usage. In writing his Latin Vulgate for the RCC, he got to Isaiah 14:12 and for reasons unknown, capitalized the L in lucifer, thus making it a proper noun [name]. The 1611 KJV kept the erroneous translation and that has led many people to use it over the years. Modern translations have since removed the term completely after realizing the error.
The term lucifer [Latin] comes from he�sphoros [Greek], and it is in reference to the planet Venus, otherwise known as the dawn star because it can be seen at dawn. Venus is the morning star; the dawn bringer or the light bringer. Interestingly enough, Jesus is also referred to as the morning star [lucifer].
Some will quote Isaiah 14:12 and link it to Luke 10:18, as proof of Satan and his fall from Heaven. However, Isaiah 14:12 is NOT about a fallen angel. The entire chapter is about a fallen Babylonian king, and if you study Judaism you'd understand that. The Jews HATED the Persian Empire, especially Nebuchadnezzar II, since he destroyed the temples in Jerusalem. The writer was mocking the fallen king in his death.
So why do Christians believe in Satan as God's nemesis? Because they want a supernatural boogeyman to blame all the bad stuff on. The irony is that God is the one that causes evil in the world, and even says so in Isaiah 45:7 - "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."
Besides, the scrolls that made up what was to become the Bible, were written thousands of years ago. The stories were Earth centric, and did not take into account other planets because they did not know about other planets. They did not have telescopes. What does that have to do with anything? If "Satan" was cast down to the Earth, then every other planet in the universe does not have to worry about him!
How about them apples?!
