I doubt this will ease your consternation about the statue but it explains the symbolism.
https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-33682878
There is little I could find on why christianity portrays satan as a goat other than this
This description ties the Old Testament sacrificial system with the book of Revelation (explaining end time events). I will try to be brief.
Remember that in the New Testament Christ's death was a fulfillment of the old system for atonement; “a shadow of things to come". You will find the following explained further in the book of Hebrews.
In the Old Testament, once a year, all of the Israelites would prepare themselves, cleanse themselves, for the Day of Attonement. A sacrifice was made and (in the New Testament book of Hebrews it is called a copy of the sanctuary in heaven) the high priest would enter into the Holy of Holies and sprinkle blood from the sacrifice onto the “Mercy Seat". The Mercy Seat is the lid of the Ark of The Covenant in which the Ten Commandments were kept. Why?
“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” - 1 John 3:4.
See, the definition of sin is not vague. It is breaking (transgression) of God's law…the 10 Commandments. Sprinkling blood on the Mercy Seat right above those tablets is the sacrifice for sin (represented Christ's coming atonement). “The wages of sin is death".(Remember that Jesus is the lamb without blemish that was sacrificed).
Now, after the High Priest did this, he would then go out and confess Israel's sins while laying his hand upon a goat. The goat, or as the Bible called it, the “scapegoat" (sound familiar?) was then led to wander in the wilderness. In the book of Revelation, the Dragon (Satan)… (interlude)…
“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” - Revelation 12:9
…is left to wander the desolate wilderness for a thousand years, then the second resurrection: “And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.” - Revelation 20:3,4.
After the thousand years, the wicked dead are raised… “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.” - Revelation 20:5.
This is why Satan is portrayed as having goat features. He is the scapegoat. Our sins are paid for by Christ's death…but the one co-responsible who led Adam and Eve into sin must bare them as the scapegoat did. His punishment is to bear all the sins and grief and misery and pain and fear and loneliness, etc., that every person that ever lived in this world suffered AND that Christ bore on the cross.
Answer (1 of 71): In the bible it states that in the end God will separate the sheep from the goats. Sheep represent people who have submitted to Jesus Christ our Lord and God. They are willing to follow His directions to live a good and healthy relationship with Him. The goats on the other hand...
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and this
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www.findlaw.com
www.washingtonexaminer.com
