Satan in Heaven
By Colby Braden
Where is Satan? This may seem like a very unusual question to ask but most Christians don't know the answer. Is Satan on Earth now? Is he ruling people in Hell? or is he bound by Michael in Heaven?
The purpose of this short study is to discover where that old dragon is and what he is doing.
Let's start off by following his track a little bit. We know for a fact that he has been on Earth before in "person" so let's go to Genesis and see where we can find him.
Genesis 3: (1) Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the
field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea,
hath
God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Now unfortunately some Christians believe that this "serpent" was a
real
live walking talking snake. But that is far from the truth. If you read
Revelation 12:8 you can see that Satan is referred to as that "old
serpent"
Revelation 12: (9) 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.
The word "old" as it is used here should be translated "ancient" which
makes this a direct reference to that old serpent in Genesis. Here is
portion of this verse from the Revised Standard Version (RSV).
12: (9) And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent...
So Satan was on Earth in "person" in the Garden of Eden. (Note: You can
also check Ezekiel 28:13)
Was Satan still walking around on Earth after that? The answer is yes
and we can prove that by going to the book of Job.
Job 1: (7) The LORD said to Satan, "Whence have you come?" Satan
answered the LORD, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from
walking
up and down on it."
Well here we have Satan on Earth at the time of Job. This verse also
proves that Satan was given the power to go anywhere and pretty much do
anything he wanted to on Earth.
Now let's go to the New Testament and see what the old serpent is doing
there.
One of the most crucial points of the New Testament was when Satan
tempted Christ.
Luke 4: (1)And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan,
and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
(2) Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat
nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
(3) And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command
this
stone that it be made bread.
(4) And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not
live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
(5) And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him
all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
(6) And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and
the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I
will I give it.
(7) If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
(8) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan:
for
it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt
thou serve.
Now Satan is trying to tempt and deceive Christ and we know he is doing
it "in person", but if you look at verse 8 you see that Christ has
rebuked Satan by saying "get thee behind me".
This is also recorded in Matthew Chapter 4 and Christ rebuked Satan.
Matthew 4: (10) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for
it
is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt
thou
serve.
When Christ said "get thee hence" and "get thee behind me", they mean
that Christ rebuked the devil and when Christ rebukes a devil or demon
they go back where they came from. In other words Christ put Satan in
his place.
If you do not believe that Christ has the power to rebuke demons and
devils then you should not be a Christian. This rebuking is the last
time you see Satan here on earth in "person" until he is ejected by
Michael.
I will return to this latter but now I want to go to some Scriptures
that proves that Satan in being held in Heaven. Let's analyze
Revelation
Chapter 12 verses 7-12
Revelation 12: (7) And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels
fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
(8) And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in
heaven.
(9) 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.
Now these verses show that there is a war in Heaven (this hasn't
happened yet) and that Michael kicks Satan out of Heaven. This is
fulfillment of the prophecy in Daniel 12:1
Daniel 12: (1) And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great
prince
which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a
time
of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that
same
time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that
shall be found written in the book.
This "time of trouble" is the tribulation of Anti-Christ*. And the
"standing up" of Michael is when Satan is cast out of heaven. Both of
which has NOT happened yet. To further document this let's go to 2nd
Thessalonians Chapter 2. (* Note: Anti-Christ is just another one of
Satan's names)
2 Thessalonians 2: (6) And now ye know what withholdeth that he might
be
revealed in his time.
(7) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now
letteth will let , until he be taken out of the way.
If you read the first part of this chapter you will see that it is
talking about Christ's second advent (vs. 1-3) and that the "son of
perdition" must be revealed before Christ's second advent (vs. 3-4).
So what is withholding Satan? You just read it in Revelation, it is
Michael. He is the one that must be taken out of the way.. i.e. kick
Satan out of Heaven so that Satan can be "revealed" on Earth. Again
NONE
of this has happened yet.
Let's go back to Revelation and take another look at 12:9
Revelation 12: (9) 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.
Now notice that this verse says "which deceiveth the whole world". Now
Satan's spirit and his children "deceive" the world but he defacto is
not deceiving the world and won't until the Great Tribulation.
Also notice it says "his angels were cast out with him". do you see any
fallen angels roaming around today? No you don't and you want to know
why? They are bound in Heaven with their master. You don't believe me?
Then read Jude.
Jude 1: (6) And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left
their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under
darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
That great day (the sounding of the seventh trump) has not happened
yet.
If you want to know what it means by "kept not their first estate" and
"left their habitation" you will have to read Genesis Chapter 6 in
which
these 'fallen' angels took in marriage the daughters of Adam and
produced giants.
Let's return to Revelation.
Revelation 12: (10) And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is
come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power
of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which
accused them before our God day and night.
I want you to notice it says that Satan is accusing us (our brethren)
BEFORE God day and night. If Satan has been accusing us before God and
since God is in Heaven common sense would say that Satan is in Heaven.
12: (12) Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe
to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come
down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but
a
short time.
What is this "short time"? Well it's the tribulation of course. So you
know this hasn't happened yet for if Satan was still here it would not
have been a "short time" now would it?
And to further prove all of this has NOT happened yet refer back to
verses 4-5 of this chapter and you will see that verses 7-12 all happen
AFTER Christ's first advent.
Revelation 12: (4) And his tail drew the third part of the stars of
heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the
woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon
as it was born.
(5) And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with
a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
Verse 5 is referring to Christ's birth and his ascending to heaven.
This
puts the chapter into context so you know that verses 7-12 are yet
future. And that proves beyond a shadow of a doubt where Satan is right
now.
Now I want to return to where Christ rebuked Satan in Luke Chapter 4.
Luke 4: (8) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me,
Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him
only shalt thou serve
As I stated earlier to be a Christian you have to believe that Christ
has the ability to rebuke devils and demons (that includes Satan
himself) and send them back where they came from.
I want you to note that every time after this rebuking Satan is no
longer "defacto" or present on Earth in person. And every time after
this rebuking Satan can only be found in "spirit" or in the manner of
"possession" but never in person. To prove this check Mark 8:33, Luke
22:3 and Acts 5:3.. plus many other places
Mark 8: (33) But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples,
he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest
not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
In this instance Satan is present only in 'possession' of Peter but not
in person. Again Christ rebuked him out of Peter.
Luke 22: (3) Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of
the number of the twelve
Again Satan is only present by "possessing" Judas. He is not here in
person.
Acts 5: (3) But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart
to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the
land?
Once more it is Satan's spirit that has filled Ananias and not Satan
"in
person".
Only Satan's evil spirit is allowed on Earth. Just as God has his Holy
Spirit on Earth but God is not on Earth in person.
Also after the resurrection of Christ Satan was defeated.
Hebrews 2: (14) Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh
and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through
death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the
devil;
When Christ said "get thee behind me Satan" then logic would conclude
that when Christ ascended into heaven Satan had to go too. But
nonetheless this verse proves that Christ has the power to defeat Satan
and put him in his place. If you don't believe that Christ has this
power then you may need to rethink your decision to be a Christian.
If you are having problems believing that Satan and his Angels are in
Heaven then before I conclude this study we will take a quick look at
Ephesians Chapter 6.
Ephesians 6: (12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places .
The words "high places" should be translated The Heavenlies. It is the
same word used in Ephesians 1:3
Eph 1: (3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in
Christ:
You can also check some newer translations like the New Living
Translation
(NLT) Eph 6: (12) For we are not fighting against people made of flesh
and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen
world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and
against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.
So are real enemies are not on the Earth or even in this Earthly
dimension but rather they are in Heaven or the Heavenlies. That doesn't
make them good by any means but that is just where they are. I suppose
so that God can keep a close eye on them (I jest).
May God bless your studies of His Word
Colby
(founder, Smyrna Ministries)
colby_braden@yahoo.com
www.muhlon.com/~cbraden
*******************************
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