the "depths of Satan"... What is it?

Study:

"But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden." Revelation 2:24

What is Revelation 2:24's the "depths of Satan"? How can we know what it is? As, always... the answer is to be found in the Bible!

If we search for "depths of Satan," both for the English as well as its underlying Greek, we find no parallel texts. But Satan is known as the great counterfeiter of all that is God's, so perhaps the "depths of Satan" is a counterfeit of something that was originally God's. If there is no parallel for the "depths of Satan" then, perhaps we can find out more about it by looking for the "depths of God." If the "depths of Satan" is indeed a counterfeit then by studying the genuine we can learn about the counterfeit.

Searching for the "depths of God" in the New Testament, we find one and only occurrence, 1 Corinthians 2:10's the "deep things of God":

"But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." 1 Corinthians 2:10

Note: "deep things" = "depths", i.e. it is the same Greek underlieingly.

Notice now that Paul speaks of two sources of wisdom in 1 Corinthians 2, the first answering to the "depths of Satan" and the other to the "depths of God."

"For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God."
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God;..."
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth;..." vss. 11-13

Notice these two sources... their equivalences. That of the "deep things of God,"

"the Spirit of God" = "the spirit which is of God" = "the Holy Ghost"

While that of the "depths of Satan,"

"the spirit of man" = "the spirit of the world" = "man's wisdom"

So we have traced the "depths of Satan" to "man's wisdom" which "searcheth the depths of Satan" paralleling 1 Corinthians 2:10's "...the Spirit searcheth ... the deep things of God." But is their nothing more to be learned? What is "man's wisdom"? Note that Paul mentions this "wisdom" several other times in chapter 2, always negatively!

"And I, brethren, when I came to you, came NOT with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."
"And my speech and my preaching was NOT with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:"
"That your faith should NOT stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."
"Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet NOT the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:" vss. 1,2,4-6

It is understandible that Paul should speak negitively about this wisdom as he connects it with the "depths of Satan"... but what wisdom are we talking about here? Notice again verses 1 and 2.

"...I ... came NOT with ... wisdom ... for I determined not to know [or make known] any thing among you save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." vss. 1,2

Noticed how this is the message of chapter 1 also, but here Paul makes a startling addition.

"For Christ sent me ... to preach the gospel: NOT with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect." vs. 1:17

Finally, in verses 22 and 23, Paul identifies the particular "man's wisdom" he has in mind in these two chapters.

"For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;" vss. 1:22,23

So, it is Greek wisdom or Greek Philosophy (philo, "love" + sophia, "wisdom" = "love of wisdom") which "searches the depths of Satan." Thus, Revelation 2:24 describes the embracing of another source of wisdom by the church of Thyatira, other than the source of godly wisdom, the Holy Spirit. It describes the embracing of Greek philosophy by a fallen church!