Isaiah 14:12-15 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Notice that Lucifer "shalt be brought down". It is universally agreed by those who believe in the existence of Satan that the devil was cast out of Heaven long ago. Satan is evil, and therefore he must have been cast out of Heaven, but that is not what the Bible says. Revelation foretells the events of the end times, and this is when Satan is cast out of Heaven.
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.
Revelation 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.
Notice that at the time Satan is cast out of Heaven, there is but a short time. To this very day, The devil is still in Heaven. This sounds hard to believe since Satan is the essence of evil.
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Since Satan is evil, he should have been cast out of Heaven long before now, but the Bible strongly suggests that the devil is not expelled until the end times. Satan is not expelled until now because Satan has managed to evade condemnation under the Law by keeping his evil hidden within himself.
Proverbs 26:24-26 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
Psalms 10:6-7 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
Evil is repulsive to God because God is infinitely Righteous. God sees the hearts of His children, but He will not look into a heart that is totally evil.
1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
Habakkuk 1:13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?
This is a revolutionary change from the way most people view the devil, but this portrayal of Satan is overwhelmingly supported in the Bible. There is not a single verse or passage in the Bible in which Satan is presented as he is commonly perceived. There is no suggestion in the Bible that the devil has horns or carries a pitchfork.
There is no suggestion in the Bible that the devil battles God for possession of men's souls. The Biblical Satan seeks to condemn humanity; not possess it. As the devil tries to condemn humanity, he must do so without being caught violating the Law of God. Satan may be big enough to fill the Earth, but he is powerless next to God. Satan is subject to the Law of God as demonstrated by the fact that in the end he will be cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
The only Law under which Satan could be cast into the lake of fire is the Law of God. Since Satan is ultimately condemned by the Law, it is therefore clear that he is subject to the Law. It has always been necessary for the devil to conceal his hatred from the view of God, and not openly violate the Law. There is not a single verse or passage in the Bible in which Satan openly defies or openly rebels against God. Satan is evil, but according to the Bible Satan presents himself as an angel of righteousness.
2 Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
In the book of Job, Satan would always receive permission from God before he did anything to Job. In the Garden of Eden, God told Adam and Eve that they would surely die. God knew that all humans would sin, and fall short of the Law, and God was correct. Satan, on the other hand, said that Adam and Eve would not surely die. It is true that we all have our own free will. God knew that we would sin, but the devil pointed out that whether or not we live up to the Law is up to us. Satan's motive may have been evil, and his statements may have been intentionally deceptive, but his statements were not actually false.
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.
Satan is called an accuser in the Bible. The devil is like a prosecuting attorney. Satan keeps his own hatred of God hidden within himself even while he stands before [the throne of] God condemning humanity for their sins.
It is said that Christ would reveal the thoughts of many hearts. These are the hearts of Satan and his angels which hide evil as described by King Solomon.
Luke 2:34-35 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
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;
It is also said that through His death, Christ will destroy Satan. If the devil were openly evil, it would not be necessary for Christ to do anything to destroy Satan; Satan would already be condemned by his own actions. If Satan's hatred of God is hidden within his evil heart, it would be necessary for that evil to be exposed. Christ must have exposed or witnessed the evil in the heart of Satan. This exposure must somehow be connected to the death of Christ.
Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
1 Corinthians 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
The devil demonstrated that he did not know that Jesus was the Son of God. Satan did not fully realize the power that Jesus possessed, nor did he realize that Jesus would rise from the dead.
Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Psalms 10:1 Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
Christ was perfect and God would not look upon the death of Christ. The death of Christ was a violation of the Law of God. God turned His Face from the death of Christ. At that time Satan felt it was safe to unload his hatred on Christ.
Psalms 10:10-11 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones. He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
Psalms 71:10-11 For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together, Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.
Psalm 64:1-5 Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy. Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
Notice that Satan and his angels feared not. This is because God had looked away. But Christ is also God, and Christ was able to communicate with spirits which we are not able to see. Christ demonstrated His ability to discern and communicate with unseen spirits on many occasions before He was crucified. Christ witnessed the hatred of Satan when He was on the cross. This is what Christ feared about the cross.
Luke 22:42-44 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Christ did not fear death. He was completely willing to die for those He loves. Christ did not sin and He bore no shame or guilt. Being Himself God, Christ is repulsed by evil, and while He was on the cross He would have all the hatred of hell directed at Him even as He was dying. This is something else that Christ endured for us. Witnessing this evil is what Christ feared about the cross, along with the separation from God that He experienced while He was on the cross.
Christ witnessed the evil of Satan, and this is why He is called the faithful witness.
Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Notice what Christ said about those who hate Him.
John 15:22-25 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
"They have no cloke for their sin" is reference to the fact that the evil of Satan and his angels is no longer hidden but has been witnessed by Christ.
"Their Law" is reference to the fact that Satan has accepted the Law by his condemnation of humanity. Christ often stated that we are judged as we judge others. The devil is condemned by his own words. (Satan claimed that Job would curse God, but when Jesus was on the cross, Satan was caught cursing God.)
The phrase "hated me without a cause" was used on several occasions by King David.
Psalms 35:19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
Psalms 109:3 They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.
Psalms 119:161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
Satan is called an accuser. The devil condemns humans and he demonstrates his hatred of humanity, but his hatred of humanity is hatred with a cause. Satan accuses and condemns humans for their sins. This is hatred with a cause just as it is perfectly reasonable for us to denounce a murderer. Christ was perfect and without sin. The hatred directed at Christ by Satan was hatred without a cause. It was not the just condemnation of a sinner; it was pure hatred and evil. Now Satan is revealed to have violated the Law by hating God.
Even after the death and resurrection of Christ, the devil has not yet been cast out of Heaven because there is only one witness against him.
Numbers 35:30 Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.
Deuteronomy 17:6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
Christ is the faithful witness, but if He is the only witness, how can Satan be condemned by the Law? The answer to this will be a hard doctrine for most Christians. The answer will be unacceptable by most Christians because of the concept of the trinity that began in the early days of Christianity. The gentiles who were converted to Christianity began the concept of the trinity, but this concept is completely alien to Judaism. The gospels were written by Jewish followers of Christ, and they mention the "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost," but the gospels never actually say that these are three separate Gods. The Jews are correct; there is only one God. "Let us make man in our image" is only one translation of the original text, yet in other places the Old Testament clearly states that there is one God. This is also confirmed in the New Testament.
Malachi 2:10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
The "Holy Ghost" is simply another name for God, and it signifies the new relationship between God and man after the resurrection of Christ. God the Father, and God the Holy Ghost, are two names or titles for the One Most Righteous God of Heaven.
"God the Son" is Christ, and when Christ was born, God sent part of Himself into the world. This is why Christ is called "Son of God" and not "Brother of God." Christ is not a separate God; Christ is the God of Heaven. He is our Father, and our redeemer. The words that were spoken by Christ are the words of God Himself. The spirit within us came from God, meaning it was created by God. The Spirit that came into the body of Christ was a piece of God Himself, and at that time Christ became a separate Being.
After He was resurrected, Christ returned to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God.
Psalms 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Notice that Christ will not be at the right hand of God for all eternity, but only until His enemies are made His footstool. The relationship of Christ at the right hand of God will come to an end, and the enemies of God will be made His footstool. These are two separate events, but they occur at the same time because one causes the other. Christ will no longer sit at the right hand of God, because He will go back to God. Christ will again be one with God, and there will again be one God. The memories and experiences of Christ will be part of God. At that time there will be a second witness against Satan, and that second witness will be God the Father. This is how Satan will be condemned by the Law and ultimately cast into the lake of fire.
Satan does not know, nor has he considered, that Jesus came from God and will again be one with God. Once the devil realizes that Christ came from God and will fully return to God, then the devil will know that he is doomed.
Revelation 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.
When Satan is cast out of Heaven, he knows that he has but a short time, meaning he now knows that he is doomed. Satan could not have known of his pending doom before that time. If Satan had previously known that he was doomed, he would have previously had great wrath, and there would have previously been conflict in Heaven.
Christ has not yet fully returned to God which means Satan is not yet condemned under the Law. The knowledge that the devil will be condemned will cause the conflict to begin in Heaven. Since he is not yet condemned, Satan will not yet be cast into hell or the "bottomless pit"; but because of the conflict, he will be cast out of Heaven into the Earth. Knowing that he is already doomed, Satan will openly violate the Law of God after he is cast out into the Earth. The devil will do many other things for which he will be condemned by the Law. When Satan is cast out into the Earth it will cause an escalation of evil that culminates in horrors of Armageddon.
The battle will take place in Heaven, and upon it's conclusion we will see an escalation of evil in the Earth. Revelation calls God: Him that "was, is, and is to come." Revelation calls Christ: "Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end" Why do the descriptions of Christ always leave off the middle? This is because the middle is different. Christ is not the same during the middle as He was at the beginning or He will be in the end. In the end Christ will be as He was at the beginning. Jesus the Christ is not a god; Jesus is the God, and Jesus will go back to God and be one with God.
Psalms 21:8 Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.