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 Dear
Sir:
Does
the Bible teach that Satan has ever exercised any degree of
supernatural power, and if so, does the Bible indicate that it
is still possible for him to do so today?
Reply:
The
Egyptian magicians “with their enchantments” (f. n. ,
“secret arts”) changed their rods into serpents, turned
water to blood, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.
(Ex. 7:8:) Jesus said “false prophets ”shall show
great signs and wonders; “ (Matt. 24: 24) and Simon of
Samaria, “with his sorceries” amazed the people.
(Acts 8: 9-11) I believe these “wonders” were deceptions —
things that astonished and dumfounded because the method of
performance was hidden.
But
here were signs and wonders that “come to pass”( Deut.
13:1-f) and it was necessary for God to point out that it was
the “word”, not the sign, by which a prophet was to be
judged. (See 1 Jn. 4: 1-6) Perhaps fulfillment of these “signs”
was coincidental, or explainable upon other bases, but they were
“real” enough to witnesses that they needed another grounds
for testing. More difficult to explain, and outside my
knowledge, are those cases of “demons” — where to “cast
out” was to challenge and overthrow the power of Satan. (Matt.
12: 22-29)
It
has been suggested by some that Satan exercised some direct and
arbitrary power (seemingly supernatural) prior to the
death of Christ, which power has been taken from him. (See Lu.
10: 17-20) I do not see
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that this necessitates actual supernatural
power on Satan’s part — deceptive works, and the overthrow
of Satan’s sway in the hearts of men, seems equally an
acceptable interpretation — but I must admit that “demons”
seem the most likely examples of some “direct” power on the
part of Satan. However, the fact that Christ overcame this power
shows that it was not of the same nature as divine power — for
divinity is not divided against itself.
The
most appropriate text of all is 2 Thes. 2: 8-12 where the “working
of Satan” is described as “power and signs and wonders of
falsehood” (f. n. of RV). Lenski says, “Our versions make
the genitive adjectival and construe it only with “wonders”:
“lying wonders.” But Paul means: “lie-signs and
lie-wonders.” The genitive is qualitative and stronger than an
adjective. It does not denote source: “derived from what is
lie”; nor effect: “producing what is lie”; or a
combination of these two ideas. These signs and wonders are
themselves, in their own quality, “lie.”... We may
translate: “pseudo-signs and pseudo- wonders.” “Lenski
also says the singular “power” is no equivalent of the
plural “powers” (“power works”) used elsewhere to
designate works of divine omnipotence.
Genuine
“super-natural” power is power above or beyond the laws
which God established to control His universe. There is
something incongruous in thinking that Satan ever had power
superior to God’s power, in any way. That Satan, and man,
might use natural laws to work “wonders” — even to deceive
— is believable; but I would not call this “supernatural”.
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