I think to understand Satan, we must get over any precontrieved ideas about him. We must also not shape God into our image, but let the truth of the Bible take precedence over firmly held traditions.
I think that we must come to an understanding that the world as we know it was NOT created in 7 literal days. For me, proof of this is found in the 7th day. It never ended with a "thus the evening and the morning were the seventh day." We also notice that God had made them male and female on day six. Again, this is not a literal day but more like an age. To be more exact, this was the age of the natural man.
When day or age 7 arrives, God blesses this day and rests in it. We also notice something peculiar with the story that gives us clues on it's true intent.
Genesis 2:4-7
4These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
5And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.
6But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. 7And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
The first thing we notice is that it is no longer God here, but the LORD God. This is now the day that He creates. It also talks about plants and herbs. Didn't God make plants and herbs on day three? This is SYMBOLIC, but more on that later. Also, we notice that the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth. Instead, A MIST FROM THE GROUND WATERED THE WHOLE FACE OF THE EARTH. The LORD God had not poured His Spirit or Word upon the natural man. Man's way of explaining things at this time was based off of earthly things. Hence the paganism of today. It was the spirit of the earth that "watered" the ground. This was Satans kingdom.
Another thing we notice is that there WAS NOT A MAN TO TILL THE GROUND. If the Adam FORMED on this day was the only man, then why add anything else? He was made to be sanctified from the natural man to bring them into the correct knowledge of God.
Romans 5:12-14
12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
13(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
By one man sin entered into the world. Is this the Adam we know? How? It then goes on to say that until the law SIN WAS IN THE WORLD. On day 6, man did not recieve a law from the LORD God. They were told to eat of every tree. Why? Because sin is not imputed when there is no law. Sin was dead! It had no power!
The Adam formed or in the likeness of the natural man on day 7 was sanctified. He was set apart, and thus given a COMMANDMENT. Two trees; one of life, the other, the knowledge of good and evil. What were they??
Romans 7:5-14
5For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
6But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
8But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
10And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
11For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
12Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
13Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. 14For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
The tree of life is none other than the Spirit; the word of God. But the knowlege of sin came by the letter of the law! We must remember that Adam is in the similitude of Jesus. Adam's Job was to "till the ground". Jesus does exactly that.
Matthew 9:35-38
35And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
37Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
1John 4:4-6
4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Satan is indeed, the spirit of error.