Isa 59:2  “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. ”

This is part 1 of the series on the “fall of Satan”. People decided that Satan’s sinful pride and rebellion against God’s authority caused his fall from grace and expulsion from heaven. Before we get into the details, I would like to address some fundamental truths that most people ignore about Satan and his minions. (Satan and demons are usually synonymous). Hopefully, this intro will help with your understanding of the following segments in this series on the Fall of Satan and other articles on our adversary.

  • Satan is never called an angel, or a fallen angel in the bible. He is called a dragon. Although he appeared with the angels in the Book of Job, the text does not identify him as an angel.
  • Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan,
  • Job 1:6  Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.
  • Satan is a spirit. He is called the “god of this world” and the “prince of the power of the air. “
  • Eph 2:2  in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
  • 2Co 4:4  in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
  • Satan can kill, steal, and destroy.
  • Joh 10:10  “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
  • Satan can portray himself as an angel of light. Meaning he can pretend to be an angel or Jesus.
  • 2Co 11:14  No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
  • Satan or demons can indwell in man. They can speak, they have power, destroy relationships and can cause sickness and suicide. They travel in groups. (Mark 5:1-20, Mark 1:23-26, Luke 8:26-39)
  • Satan can move from one person to another. (Matthew 12:43-45)
  • Satan has been a liar and evil from the beginning.
  • Joh 8:44  “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
  • We have authority over Satan and his demons.
  • Luk 10:19  “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.
  • Satan is a servant of the Lord. God uses Satan to show His glory and to purify his people, bringing discipline to help them repent. We can see this in scripture:
    • 1Co 5:5  I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
    • This man was having an incestuous relationship with his father’s wife. The church expelled him, hoping to destroy his sinful impulses.
    • 1Ti 1:20  Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.
    • Paul apparently disciplined them for their disobedience to God in heresy.
    • 2Co 12:7  Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!
    • God allowed Satan a demonic thorn in the flesh to keep him from becoming prideful.
    • Job 1:8  The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.”
    • Job 1:12  Then the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.
    • The Lord allowed Satan to attack Job, but told him he could not kill him. The Lord established limits or boundaries for the attack.
    • God is in control of Satan and demons, using them for his purposes, including to help test and mature his saints.
    • Jas 1:2-4  Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
    • Rom 5:3-4  And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
    • 1Sa 16:14-15  Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD terrorized him. Saul’s servants then said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrorizing you.
    • These examples show Satan and his demons under God’s control. Satan is not God’s equal. He is a creature. God is the Creator. Jesus was before all things and holds all things together. This should be of great comfort knowing that Satan is under divine control.
    • God can eliminate Satan whenever He pleases but has chosen not to until he has completed his purpose. Until then, he remains a servant of God.

I have heard 5 different beliefs or myths about when heaven excommunicated Satan. Only one belief finds validation in scripture. They are,

  1. Before God created Adam.
  2. In Isaiah during the time of Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar.
  3. In Ezekiel during the reign of King or Prince Tyre.
  4. When the disciples saw Satan fall from the sky in the Book of Luke.
  5. In Revelation where Satan left heaven with one-third of the angels.

We will address each of these events or time periods in the following articles from the ministry.