Through the ages, the Archangel Lucifer has been referred to by many names, attributing to this fallen angel's power, strength, and force over our lives. Regretfully, the names of Satan have deceived countless believers into misunderstanding the imbued might this former "Son of the Morning" indeed possesses.

In the Bible, Lucifer is called the following:

"The Prince of the Power of the Air." (Ephesians 2:1-3)

"The Father of Lies." (John 8:44)

"The Prince of Darkness." (Luke 22:53)

"The Tempter." (Matthew 4:1-3)

"The Accuser." (Revelation 12:10)

"The Roaring Lion." (1 Peter 5:8)

"The Day Star." (Isaiah 14:12)

Each term is empowering. Some are terms about his identity; others are labels about his personality. All are warnings about his alacrity, which is a fancy way of saying "passion" or "fervor." Since Lucifer was expelled from the heavenly hosts that we will call home, his unyielding focus is to lead God's children astray by any means necessary.

Yet do we understand what those "means" are and how they can be implemented in our lives? To grasp that understanding and demystify the several misappropriations given to the Devil, it's crucial to start at the beginning of his own–and new–name.

These are nine myths most Christians believe about Satan but aren't really understood–or even accurate.

“Satan is Lucifer's new name.”

In the Masoretic Text, known as the "Text of the Tradition," comprised of 24 Hebrew and Aramaic books of Rabbinic Judaism, Ha-Satan is written 17 times. However, it's only written in two books, Job (14 times) and Zechariah (3 times).

Did you notice what's different about his name in the original language? Ha-Satan? That's not to say he laughs. That's actually an article in grammar or a word used to modify a noun. There are two in grammar: "The," a definite article, and "A/An," which are indefinite articles.

In Greek, it's Satanas. In Hebrew or Latin, it's commonly Satan. It means "one who opposes or acts as an adversary." In Jesus' mother tongue, it's Ha-Satan. "Ha" is used as a definite article. Lucifer is "the adversary."

Satan is not a first name; it's a label.

What is your vice? What is your primary struggle? What continues to distance you from the righteousness of God? Call it what you want, but those are all things the adversary uses. In prayer, consider Lucifer your only enemy and source of struggle against God Almighty.

He's still a fallen angel, but God would never give him a new name as He did with Abram, Sarai, Jacob, Simon, and Saul of Tarsus.

He empowers us to know we have a single enemy, an accuser. That's it.

“Lucifer rules in Hell.”

In comic books, the heroes and villains each have their lair. Batman had the "Batcave," and Joker lived in "Arkham Asylum" for his formative years of insanity. Likewise, people (not only Christians) believe God lives in Heaven, and Satan lives in Hell.

If the Devil is known as the "Prince of the Power of the Air," where are the clouds in Hell? It is a dark place of eternal damnation that was created for Lucifer and the other fallen angels.

It's not "the Kingdom of Satan," it's a place he's scared to go.

"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.'" (Matthew 25:41 NKJV)

This is not a vacation spot for Lucifer to sit on a crown of skulls like many deviant art concepts would have you believe. Hell is a place where he will be screaming for mercy in a place designed for him by God.

“Lucifer is the opposite of God.”

Yin or Yang, Good or Evil, Light or Dark—those are opposites. God or Satan? Not even close. Lucifer is a created entity, an archangel meant to serve God. Made blameless before God, Lucifer also had a will. He used that will to flood his soul with false ideas of superiority and power, both of which he was never promised or provided.

We often hear in sports that the "student is now the teacher."

In the spiritual world, that never happens.

We are always the students, learning at God's feet how to serve Him and bless others. We are not His opposite. We are His children and His creation. So was Lucifer.

“Satan has eternal powers.”

We know God to be omnipotent (supreme power), omnipresent (in all places at once), and omniscient (knowing all things). It has long been believed that the Devil, a fallen archangel, has the same powers as God. No.

"For in Him, all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together." (Colossians 1:16-17 NIV)

Satan's limits are ours. He has mastered them much better than any human being, but he is still a created being. His primary weakness can be the same as ours, too–a creation who fails to understand the source of his failures. Lucifer's core setback was believing (still) he could have the same power as God.

“Satan has many earthly powers.”

It seems that way. Many times, bad things happen to ourselves and our loved ones. What do we do? "Satan, get thee behind me!"

If Jesus can do it, why can't we? If only what happened was caused by the Devil in the first place. Our adversary does possess power, but it's only one power he has learned to manipulate in countless ways.

"You are of your father, the Devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and has not stood in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature because he is a liar and the father of liars." (John 8:44 HCSB)

The Bible can't get clearer than that. If the Devil's mouth is open, he's lying. It's what he does, which is why we should know how to defend ourselves better.

“Satan is an irresistible force of evil.”

The Scriptures detail the Devil's power. He influences individuals and directly confronts Jesus, demonstrating his tangible presence. However, it ultimately comes down to will versus will—nothing more, nothing less. This is a crucial reminder that Christians frequently overlook.

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7 NIV)

If Christians hold firm to the power of the Cross and resist vile temptations from the enemy, Satan will flee. There are billions of people on the planet. You are one person. Resist him, and he will flee to find someone else who will also prayerfully resist him.

“God and Satan still wage war against each other.”

The adage in evangelism is, "Read the end of the Book. We win!" Jesus has conquered hell, death, and the grave (Revelation 1:18). Not for nothing, but God conquered any evil advances from Lucifer when He gave him the boot out of heaven (Revelation 12:7-12).

The comparison to this myth is like when we continue to hold a grudge against someone who has done us wrong. We are still hurt, our feelings are still bruised, and our mental health is jeopardized. What about the person who did it? They're not thinking of you. There is no mutual pain. That person is living life. Meanwhile, you're trapped in the pain you cause yourself.

God isn't waging war against anyone. One good soccer kick was all it took.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom." (Isaiah 40:28 NIV)

Wars create fatigue and fatalities. Our adversary can be hurt all he wants. God was done fighting long ago. The battle is ours. Our fortress, our strong tower, is the name of the Lord (Proverbs 18:10).

“Satan is not a real being.”

Countless, nameless people who consider themselves to be God-fearing and Bible-believing do not believe in a real malevolent being who seeks to cause us harm for loving Jesus.

When some people experience a problem with insurmountable odds, they believe it's easier to ignore it. They sleep more because no source of mental anguish can cause additional pain that way. They run from it in hopes of getting away. They lie about it because of fear, which makes them look weak. Anything but confront it. What if we believed we could beat it, though?

You can.

"I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." (Luke 10:19 NIV)

Ignoring our adversary doesn't make him disappear. It only gives him additional power over your life. Confronting him gives you back the power. Take it from a real entity who continues to lie about his reality to others.

“There is escape from Hell.”

In Catholicism, it's called purgatory. In Judaism, it's Gehenna. Muslims know Barzakh, and Buddhists are familiar with Bardo. This consideration of a soft top layer of a demonic home allows escape, the possibility of forgiveness for many sins, and the entrance into the presence of our sacred deity.

In theology, this is considered "universalism," or the idea that we will all be reconciled with God despite unforgiven sin or unrepented action. We have salvation through the Blood of Jesus Christ, a willful and sacrificial act. He did it for every person who came after the act at Golgotha. God wants us all to come to that life-saving knowledge (1 Timothy 2:1-4), but we must choose Jesus.

The only thing that prevents us from choosing that is a lie that makes us think otherwise. If we don't need to make decisions to live righteously, why believe in Heaven at all? Paul addresses us in 1 Timothy that God wants "all men to be saved." If this idea of universalism was real, aren't we already "safe?"

God is real, Jesus is real, Lucifer is real, and the fall from heaven is real. But these nine things about Satan are not. If "all things are possible for one who believes" (Mark 9:23), then we can believe these nine things are not true and that God alone is supreme. There is only hope in Him–hope we can all count on.