The bible describes Satan and his angels as residing in heaven.
During the tribulation period they will be cast down from heaven.
After Satan and his angels are cast out of heaven, they will be imprisoned in the Abyss.

Satan and his angels currently reside in heaven, but during the tribulation they will be cast out of heaven.

On a bit of a darker note, and contrary to popular belief, Satan and his angels currently reside somewhere in heaven, not in hell. Despite our inclination to picture them as ruling in the underworld, this assumption is not supported by the careful analysis of scripture. Satan and his own have certainly fallen spiritually in their opposition to God, who is the truth and the light, but that’s not the same as being cast down from heaven. God allows them to maintain their place in the heavens, until the season of their destruction arrives.

The opening chapter of the book of Job tells us that Satan is basically free to go where he wants, including heaven, “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it” (Job 1.6-7 KJV bible). During the time of the events described in Job, Satan is free to traverse either heaven or earth.

Though Satan is depicted as having free range in the bible, it is also prophesied that he will at some point be banished from heaven, and literally cast to the earth. At this time men will look upon him, “I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee” (Ezekiel 28.17 KJV bible). Also, Isaiah 14 tells us that after he is cast down, he will be entombed in Sheol, “They will all respond and say to you, Even you have been made weak as we, You have become like us. Your pomp and the music of your harps have been brought down to Sheol; Maggots are spread out as your bed beneath you And worms are your covering” (Isaiah 14.11 NASB bible). So as to the whereabouts of Satan and his angels, the question is whether these events; their expulsion, time on Earth, and imprisonment in the Abyss (a part of Sheol), have come to pass yet?

Satan hasn't yet been cast from heaven.

Revelation depicts these events in detail, and also gives us some frame of reference for when they will happen. Revelation 12 tells us that after Satan is cast out of heaven (along with his angels), he will persecute the woman for a time, times, and a dividing of time, “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…And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent” (Revelation 12.10,13-14 KJV bible). Time, times, and a dividing of time, is another way of saying 1 year, 2 years, and 1/2 a year, otherwise known as 3 and 1/2 years. So the devil is cast out sometime during the 1st half of the seven year tribulation period (7/2 = 3 ½), because the persecution takes place during the entire second half.

We can also narrow the time down by saying that Satan is cast out at the third trumpet, because he is the bitter star “wormwood” which pollutes a third of the waters, “And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers…And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood” (Revelation 8.10-11 KJV bible). This is why he is able to release his locust army from the Abyss at the fifth trump (Revelation 9.1-2), because he is already on Earth having been cast out at the third. Suffice to say, that unless you adhere to the belief that the tribulation described in the book of Revelation has already come and gone, then Satan and his angels must still be residing in heaven.

The book of Ephesians informs us on this subject, when it refers to Satan and his angels as dark powers and principalities in the heavenlies, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6.12 NASB bible). Also in Ephesians, Satan is refered to as the prince of the power of the air, “according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2.2 KJV bible). Both of these verses suggest that devil and his angels are still in heaven, and the time of their expulsion has not yet arrived.

Several verses in the New Testament might seem to contradict the idea that Satan and his angels are in heaven, and I will briefly discuss them. Jesus says in Luke 10.18, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven” (Luke 10.18 KJV bible). This is a spiritual description of the breaking of Satan’s power over those people who had received the message of Jesus' apostles, which is the subject of Luke 10. Further, Luke 10 is pre-crucifixion, but we know from Revelation 12 that the devil and his angels are defeated in heaven by the blood of the Lamb, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Revelation 12.11 KJV bible). Thus, the war in heaven along with Satan’s expulsion are post-crucifixion, and could not have been occurring during the time of Luke 10.

Two more seemingly contradictory verses come to us from Revelation. First, “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon” (Revelation 13.11 KJV bible). This is undoubtedly Satan, but then why does it describe him as coming up out of the earth, if in reality he will be cast down from heaven? The answer is because it is him in his role as the false prophet or deceiver of nations. He is cast down as the accuser of our brethren (Revelation 12.10), but he rises up as the false prophet. The false prophet will superficially appear like the Lamb or Messiah, but instead of the truth, he will teach the doctrine of the dragon (Revelation 13.11). Lastly, if Satan is in heaven, why is he described as the king of the Abyss in Revelation 9, “They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon” (Revelation 9.11 NASB bible)? The simple answer is that his evil spirit rules in the Abyss, even though he is not down there yet. The Abyss is part of Satan's spiritual dominion, but he is not yet captive to it.

I should also point out that not all of the fallen angels are in heaven. Recall, that both Jude 6 and 2nd Peter 2.4 speak of those angels who left their 1st habitation, and are now bound in Tartarus (a part of Hades), “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” (Jude 6 KJV bible). They are currently imprisoned in Tartarus, awaiting the great day of judgment (see also Genesis 6.4).

Comments

cody sellers 01 Feb 2010, 10:15

Wow did not know that thanks and can u send me a teaching's on what caused satan to be judged by god in the frist place? ive always wondered but never knew where to look...why does god judge satan?

Doug Buckley 01 Feb 2010, 20:49

Hi Cody, good to hear from you,
I'll answer your question about Satan right here. God and Satan became enemies when Satan turned against God. This happened even before Adam and Eve. Two passages that relate to Satan's defiance of God are Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28. They say in part,

"Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness..." (Ezekiel 28.17 KJV bible), "For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God...I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High" (Isaiah 14.13-14 KJV bible).

Mankind and the angels are all created in the image and likeness of God. However, unlike God, we are not inherently righteous. Like trying to balance a pencil on its tip, some souls will fall toward evil and darkness, and some will love and serve God. Even as good as Satan had it in heaven, he believed that he was something special. It wasn't enough to serve God, but Satan wanted to be God, and so he led a coup against God that will ultimately end in the perdition of him and followers.

jackie chavez 13 May 2010, 02:22

i disagree, satan did rebel, but the spirit of sin, or seed had already corrupted mankind, and eventually led to Gods people rejecting Him, which gave birth to a false church, the roman catholic church, who persecuted anyone who wanted to learn the scriptures on their own, the catholic church is the mother of harlots that the nations become drunk with her wine, when napoleaon (france) destroyed the reign of the pope and killed him, he suffered the deadly wound, spoken of, and later that wound is healed when church and state unite and make everyone serve according to the way the church dictates, it's going on now, all the talks of a one world religion, that is the revived roman catholic church, read up on it online, that is the woman that sits on 7 mountains or hills, it's rome, look it up, that is the mother of harlots and gives birth to the beast u.s.a.(many waters means many nations and tongues) this is the daughter of the beast, that no one can fight against, the scriptures are symbolic, Jesus meant it to be this way, so the ones who really want to know, will search scripture, to find truth, the world events line up with the symbolic language, look at the depictions, Jesus was even asked why He spoke in illustrations to the people, and He told His disciples that His sheep will hear His voice, but to the world it would not make sense. the beast is not satan, it is the false church guided by satan . satan is the prince of the air and has powers to decieve through organizations like the catholic church, he set it up, they even bear the number 666, it is the roman numerals on the popes garment, it adds up to 666, it also says the pope is Gods representative on earth or in Gods place, that is a blasphemy, that is the church you need to read history on, it will open your eyes on how deceptive and sneaky the devil has been all these years, he's been working through that church and it is coming into power again as we speak.the u.s and all the christyan churches are partnering with the pope to make a one world religion and when it comes into play very shortly, anyone who resists will be killed just like they did back then. they think they are doing godservice but are playing right into the enemies hands. they are thoroughly decieved.

Doug Buckley 13 May 2010, 03:57

Hi Jackie,
Satan stood in opposition to God in the garden, because he tempted Adam and Eve to disobey God's commandment. Yet according to Ezekiel 28, Satan was not created evil. Thus, the garden and subsequent corruption of mankind happened after Satan had rebelled.

Second, I am familiar with, and also reject the theory that the pope and the Catholic Church are any of the beasts (there are more than one) of Revelation. Revelation clearly describes Satan being cast down from heaven (Revelation 12.12), and releasing his locust army (Revelation 9.1). We also see the arrival of a false prophet with the voice of Satan, who performs great miracles in order to deceive the entire world (Revelation 13.11-14). If the pope declares himself to be God (see 2nd Thessalonians 2.4), and causes fire to come down from heaven, I'll reconsider.

jeffrey 11 Aug 2010, 06:40

hi jackie and doug,

The good thing is that we are aware that some type of false teaching will arise. We are ready for anything that comes up. We belong to the Lord and another voice we will not follow! Im very happy to find his webisite is wonderful! God bless you bye

Doug Buckley 14 Aug 2010, 18:31

Hi Jeffrey, it's great to hear from you, (been away from my PC for a few days). I'm blessed that the website is of service to you and other believers. The Word prepares us for Satan's deception, and makes us like faithful watchmen awaiting our Lord's return. God bless.

Jermaine 05 Dec 2010, 13:15

THE BIBLE NEVER CALLS SATAN A ANGEL OR THAT HE REBELLED AGAINST GOD. JESUS SAYS HE WAS A MURDERER AND A LIAR FROM HIS BEGINNING JOHN 8:44. SO HIS EVIL SPIRITS WOULD BE ALSO THE FALL OF SATAN IS A MYTH BY INCORRECTLY APPLYING EZEKIAL 28 CHAPTER AND ISAIAH 14 CHAPTER.WHICH SPEAKS OF THE KING OF TYRE AND BABYLON. HE IS STILL IN HEAVEN ACCUSING THE SAINTS DAY AND NIGHT REVELATION CHAPTER 12 SO HE WAS CREATED EVIL TO OPPOSE GODS PLAIN TO TEMPT AND ACCUSE. REVELATION SAYS MICHAEL ACTUALLY FIGHTS SATAN FIRST HE SAYS SATAN FIGHTS BACK A DEFENSIVE MOVE. AND WHY IN THE BOOK OF JOB DID HE ASK PERMISSION FROM GOD TO TEMPT JOB IF HE WAS IN STATE OF REBELLION. REVELATION SAYS WHEN HE IS KICKED OUT OF HEAVEN HE CANT RETURN.MY POINT IS THERE NOT ANGELS OR SONS OF GOD. GOD CREATED EVIL JUST AS HE DID GOOD HE IS THE GOD OF ALL HE DOSNT TEMPT BUT GIVES YOU A CHOOSE.

Doug Buckley 05 Dec 2010, 13:17

Hi Jermaine, I agree that Satan is still in heaven at this point, however, I don't agree that God made him evil. John 8.44 says Satan was a liar from the beginning, referring to the garden. Also Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 are clearly talking about Satan, and use the king of Babylon and Tyre as names for him. Ezekiel 28.14 even says he is a cherub. Job 1.10 says that God had put a hedge of protection around Job. Lastly, Revelation 20.10 says that God will cast the devil into the Lake of Fire.

Satan serves himself and God hasn't destroyed him yet, because God has a purpose for him in the world at this time. However just because God tolerates, or at times uses evil to test and to bring about good (as in the crucifixion), does not mean that God makes individuals do evil things, or that they are serving him. Just like in the parable of the wheat and the tares, God allows the tares to stay in the field until the time of judgment.

Jermaine 05 Dec 2010, 13:21

HI DOUG EZEKIAL 28 AND ISAIAH 14 IS A TAUNT TO TWO EARTHLY KINGS IT SAYS ITS TALKING ABOUT MEN BUILDING TRADE,DYING,.PEOPLE ACTUALLY SEEING HIS DOWNFALL.SO ISAIAH AND EZEKIAL ARE NOT CLEARLY TALKING ABOUT SATAN.ISAIAH 14 CHAPTER IS USING POETICS TO MOCK THE KING OF BABYLON AND THE SAME FOR EZEKIAL 28 AND IF SATAN IS IN HEAVEN WHY WOULD HE NEED TO ASCEND TO HEAVEN. SATAN AND THE ANGELS HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF GOD THEN WE DO. SO WHAT WOULD POSSESS HIM TO CHALLENGE GOD. IT DOSNT MAKE SENSE TO REBELL AND OPENLY CHALLENGE GOD THEN ASK PERMMISSON AT ANOTHER TIME. PLUS READ ISAIAH CHAPTER 45 VERSE 7 KING JAMES VERSION.WERE GOD DIRECTLY SAYS HE CREATED EVIL. GENESIS NEVER MENTIONS SATAN IF HE WAS THE CHERUB IN THE GARDEN THEN HOW WAS HE THERE TEMPTING AND MISGUIDING EVE THAT CONTRIDICS YOUR ARGUMENT ANCIENT KINGS WERE NOTORIOUS FOR PROCLAIMING GODHOOD THATS A FALSE DOCTRINE FORMULATED BY EARLY BIBLE COMMENTATORS NOT BIBLE WRITERS AROUND 300 YEARS AFTER THE BIRTH OF YAHSHUA MOST PEOPLE GET THERE BELIEFS OF SATAN ,HELL FROM JOHN MILTON PARADISE LOST AND DANTES INFERNO AND GREEK MYTH OF HADES. THE REBELLION OF SATAN IS A TOTAL MYTH WITH NO BIBLICAL BASIS .SATAN IS NEVER CALLED THE LUCIFER OR THE MORNINGSTAR ANY WHERE ELSE IN THE BIBLE. THE BIBLE SAYS GOD CUTSOFF EVILDOERS PSALMS 37:9-11 SO I ASK AGAIN HOW COULD HE PRESENT HIMSELF [SATAN] TO GOD WITH THE SONS OF GOD IN JOB 2 TIMES AND EVERY DAY UNTIL REVELATION IF SATAN WASNT DOING WHAT HE WAS CREATED TO DO.THE BIBLE SAYS GOD DIDNT EVEN SPARE THE ANGELS 2 PETER 2:4 ARE WHEN YASHUA TOOK ON THE SINS OF THE WORLD MATTHEW 27: 45 WHO HADNT SINNED BUT TOOK ON SIN FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD ALSO ADAM AND EVE WERE ALSO CUTOFF FOR SINNING AGAINST GOD ALSO MANY TIMES THE NATION OF ISRAEL SO THESE ARE CLEAR EXAMPLES OF SIN SEPERATING GOD FROM HIS CREATION.SO SATAN WOULD BE THE ONLY BEING IN CREATION WHO CAN GO BEFORE ALMIGHTY GOD AS A SINNER. THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF A GREAT FALLEN AWAY 1 TIMOTHY 4:1-4,ACTS 20:28-31, MATTHEW 24:10-32. READ THE BIBLE USE IT TO LEARN THE WILL OF GOD AND NOT THE FALSE DOCTRINES OF MEN . BECAUSE HOW CAN YOU KNOW A FALSE PROPHET WITHOUT THE BIBLE.NEARLY ALL DENOMINATIONS ARE POLLUTED WITH FALSE DOCTRINES NON-BIBLICAL.MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

Jermaine 05 Dec 2010, 13:24

ALSO DOUG HE IS NEVER CALLED A ANGEL IN THE BIBLE ONLY 2 CORINTHIANS 11:13-15 SAYS HE MASQUERADES AS AN ANGEL A CLEAR DECEPTION DISGUISE.

Doug Buckley 05 Dec 2010, 13:26

Jermaine, first of all you need to turn off your caps lock because it is annoying. Second, the notion that God and Satan are friends is completely unbiblical, and the product of liberal theology.

In Genesis 3.14-15, God curses the serpent (a name for Satan), saying he will crawl on his belly the days of his life, and have his head bruised or wounded. "All the days of his life" means that his life will not go on forever. Why would God curse and wound one who serves him? If Satan was on God's team then why would he have to be forcibly kicked out of heaven, and why wouldn't God let him back in or help him? Revelation 12.12 even says Satan will be angry after he is kicked out, because he has a short time, referring to the future bruising of the head. Isaiah 27.1 also tells us that the Lord will slay the serpent. Revelation 20.10 says the devil will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Is that how God treats his servants?

Satan has many names in the Old Testament. king of Babylon and king of Tyre are two them. The historical Cyrus never fulfilled Isaiah 13 and 14. The literal king of Tyre was not a covering cherub which is a reference to the angelic beings depicted upon the ark. When was the literal king of Tyre on the holy mountain of God and when did God kill him with fire (Ezekiel 28.14-18)? Satan is among the other sons of God in Job 1, indicating he is an angelic being of some kind.

As far as Isaiah 45.7, the Hebrew word used there (rawaw) is a very broad term that can mean affliction distress or trouble, which God can raise up, but he doesn't make people do evil. God can do both good and evil in the sense of help or harm, as when he raised up the king of Babylon against Israel, but that doesn't mean they are on his team. God calls Babylon "his army" in Joel, because he raised them up, but they are not righteous or holy. God simply empowered them for his purposes. - God bless

Jermaine 05 Dec 2010, 13:29

doug first of all i never said god and satan were friends the word satan means adversary so basically your putting words in my mouth. let me repeat that i never said god was satans friend.he is called serpent, accuser,devil,dragon, evilone sense you cant use the word of god to dispprove any of my statement then you go and say something i didnt say i never said he served god thats why he calls him adversary because he opposes his works just like you falsley assuming and reading into ezekial 28 .when the scriptures says he is a man will die before his enemies as a man built up wealth, mocks him for thinking he is a god, will be killed by men who god puts against him for that purpose, he is not as wise as daniel a man so satan by your interpritation set a trade route by violence.to get rich has lesser knowlege then a man. does that sound like a spirit being or a man, yes its a man. my theology is not liberal or conservative it comes from the true word of god . and as far as he being in heaven if he got kicked out in ezekial and isaiah then how did he stay in heaven for thousands of years when those scriptures say he was thrown down after he sinned which cuts you off from god satan is called a murder,liar but is never called a sinner because he does what he was created to do, not a servant an opposing force an enemy of god and his children. i also never said satan would never die. for a person who started a web site you really need to take a course on reading comprehension.what part of adversary dont you understand.cyrus wasnt the king of tyre god used cyrus to help rebuild the hebrew temple also freed the hebrews he was the king of persia he wasnt called the king of tyre wrong king and he assisted the hebrews with there return to israel.nor does the bible say satan was on the holy mountain of god.lament,taunt.again using poetics. job 1 says the sons of god presented them self and satan also came never calling him a angel and distinguishing satan from them.yahshua says even the devil masquerades as an angel of light. the word is translated as evil. another instance where you put words in my mouth i didnt say he makes his creation do evil the bible says he created the choose.god also used pharoah by harding his heart or sent king saul a evil spirit 1 samuel 16:14 i never said satan was on god team he uses him to fulfill his plan you cant dispute the true word of god so you try to falsley accuse me of aligning satan with god.words not found in my post i never said satan was holy you dont have the holy spirit to help interpret the word of god thats why you are caughtup in false doctrines of devils and also why would god help someone who by your reasoning rebelled oppose kill destroy for thousands of years and had plenty time to repent and the word says he never repents who has no truth in him.who from the beginning was a murder and liar.you dont know the true word you didnt come close to disputing any of claims.

doug you really know nothing about the bible hell doesnt exist until just before the white throne judgment in revelation chapter 20 people will be thrown in after i guess you also believe satan has a triton with two horns another example of you being misguided.people go to sheol or hades land or place of the dead. just another false prophet peddling wares the great fallen away gets proven everyday.let me give you a short list of false doctrines trinity doctrine,rapture,purgatory, worship of mary,evolution,sinners prayer,speaking of tongues in gibberiss,praying to jesus, binding of evil spirits,priest and nun celibacy,celebrating christmas and easter or ishtar. that lucifer and satan are the same. and there are many more that allude you.because its no surprise you cant back any of your false doctrines with the bible you say my theology is flawed but were is your biblical bases you have none my words cant be disclaimed because they come from the true word of god where do yours from greek and roman mythology doctrines of men and devils.most of your comments dont come from the bible.

Doug Buckley 05 Dec 2010, 13:30

Well, it looks like your something of a poor sport, who can't handle a mature biblical discusssion. Then when your false teachings are exposed you try to back track and resort to ad hominem attacks on me. You accuse me of putting words in your mouth, but then say that I allude to some list of doctrines that you don't like. Please go away.

John 05 Dec 2010, 13:33

Jermaine I find your attitude to be quite poor and it is you who does not demonstrate the fruit of the holy spirit, in fact I find your attitude very familiar to others who deny the devil as an angel maybe there is a spirit behind it.

Lynda 05 Dec 2010, 13:39

Lynda from rual Maine 12-4-10

Hi Doug,
I have been in NY city and Fort Dix army/navy base for a week. I had not been out of Maine for 4 years. Had a nice Thanksgiving with family. First let me greet all of you. Doug you got me mixed up with jackie last month in one of your e-mails. I finally figured it out. No big problem.
Wow' sounds like jermaine has hadsome bad experiences with Christianity, he is angry. If he is really searching for the truth he will find it. I have been a Christian for many years, and you never stop growing and learning. It truley is line by line, precept by precept, here a little and there a little.All this along with ones own physical and psychological experiences. When I was in my 20's, I thought I could get to God through my intellect alone. Not true. Although you do not have to throw your brains out of thewindow when you are converted, as some think.

My comment concerning demons and satan, I have benn a Christian over 30 years now. I accepted the basic doctrines when I was 10 years old. Being raised in a Baptise church. When I went to college I began to question everything I learned in Sunday school. One of my professors tried to educate God out of me. But that's another story.I had to prove it all to myself. I have been to many churchs and tried to understand many denominations. I knew there was more to God's word. Couldn't shake it. After much confusion I found the answers I was looking for. When I started to read and study the word of God myself,and of course praying and asking for help from God. I have had a few experience with demons, or spirits with no bodies. It was scrary. I will write about it fi anybody is interested. My bible tells me:

1. Satan is a created being.
2. He is the most beautiful being God ever created.
3. He is full of all knowledge.
4. He was in charge of the administration of God'skingdom.
5. He at some point and time was over come with pride.
6. He lost his position and became absolutely evil.
7. Satan caused a war in heaven.
8. He caused a third of God's children to follow him.
9. Satan is the father of lies, murder, and disobedence.
10. He is jealous of God, He wants to be worshipped as God.
11. Satan uses deception more than anything else.
12. Satan loves the trick that he does not exist.

I am sure some of you canadd to the list.This is not in the bible, but I believe satan loves to get people focused on him. I once attended a church that preached more about satan than God.It was the devil this, and the devil that.Thepastor had the people so afraid. But I thought to myself this is not right. God has the power. Jermaine is right about myths regarding satan. Dante did a lot to give rise to a physical hell, and we can not forget how the Universal church used the devil to control the peasants during the middle ages.

I've said enough, I hope I did not degress to much, I went off topic I know.I just want our little group to get to know me. Let me also say I am not a joiner. Doug caught my eye because it is evident he has studied in debt. He has also prayed. He is serious.I like that we can learn from each other. We can dicuss and appreciate where people are in there walk. Right?

Gotta go feed thoes chickens and bring in more fire wood.( Not kidding guys.) God Bless. Lynda

Doug Buckley 05 Dec 2010, 13:41

Hi Lynda, I moved some posts around here. I agree with alot of what you're saying here about Satan and thank you for contributing.

Seth 29 Dec 2010, 08:03

Jermaine you said "Satan and angels have a better understanding of God than we do", well I dont know much about theology, but as a born again christian, I think thats erroneous. If he has a better understanding of God than we then He should have know that, though he was Gods Archangel & vice regent, if he tried to exalt himself to be against God he would utterly lose and face the tormenting consequences , so he tried and lost, which therefore means his knowledge of God, let alone the angels', is way too limited and is not 'better than ours' of God as sons of God and he would know by now that as he tries to deceive and afflict us Chritians, it would only make us more glorious and victorious, because the bible says "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;" (2 Cor. 4:17). And also that, what he thinks would be insufferable and unbearable affliction, we would only call 'light affliction'. I mean do you know what paul went through? And he calls all that light affliction, and that its for a moment. One other thing, if angels know God better that we, then why are they at the service of men. Man is in the class of God(which is higher than angels). Doug, when you say Devil is in heaven, is it the third, second or first heaven? God bless you Doug!

Doug Buckley 30 Dec 2010, 05:07

Hi Seth, it would be the third heaven which is spiritual heaven. Satan dwells in another part of it though, away from God. God bless.

jackie 30 Dec 2010, 22:01

satan was a;ready a serpent when he approached Eve in the garden, what he was after was the stopping of the birth of Christ Jesus,, he was there during the planning of the world and what was going to be and became jealous, because we were to become like God, become His sons,heirs.. satan had already rebelled, up until then, man had not sinned, and "Lynda", Jesus took the form of a man and made Himself lower than the angels, they are of a different order and not human in any way shape or form, they were designed to do what they do, deliver messages to men, those who will become heirs to the kingdom, the Bible says all this, but once we have overcome the din and evil in our lives, we inherit the kingdom, through salvation, believing in Jesus sacrifice, those who do not believe He actually died for us, will be consumed, put to death. I know doug doesn't believe in literal hell, but I do, cause everything else He has said was delivered to the last word. but then again, we are both studied in the word and are searching together, man was the one and only creation that was made in His image, possessing all the attributes of God, but free will gve us the ability to choose the path we want to take. angel are a different type of being and fearsome looking, I saw a bad one one time and he was huge and scary, my breath left me, so they are not like us, they materialize and take vrious forms.

Manny 19 Mar 2011, 15:42

Hi,Doug!
Wow! I sadly understand how it's going to be a easy task for satan to deceive the world when he shows up soon. I certantly understand this one thing,and I pray there is still brothers and sisters out there that also get it! Wich I do! that long before the garden of eden and even before we were made flesh, that GOD delt with satan revolting against him in the (first earth age*), chronologically transpiring between (Genesis 1:1 and 1:2), and led one third of God's children to fight against God and His Angels (Rev. 12:3+4). God of course won, and destroyed that first earth age. Who knows how long ago? but this destruction is written of in (2nd Pet. 3:5-7) and for an even more clear view do a study in (Jerem. 4:23-27). This destruction by water should not be confused with Noah's flood (notice in (Jerem. 4:25) it reads: "there was no man"). But we all know that Noah and his family survived Noah's flood. Now to those of you that do not believe satan is coming back to this earth FIRST,(to decieve) prior to the return of the "true Messiah Jesus Christ" you need to study and ask the LORD for wisdom cause we all need it.
Thank you,
and God bless!

Doug Buckley 20 Mar 2011, 11:47

Hey Manny, good to hear from you. I don't know if I have it all figured out with respect to the age of the earth and dinosaurs and everything else. I do know that Satan turned against God took alot of souls with him before Adam and Eve. Jesus says to the religious hypocrites "I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father" (John 8.38 KJV bible). If you read my question about Matthew 11.12 in the bible questions section, the hypocrites sought to sit in the place of Christ and steal his Kingdom, just like their spiritual father Satan did when he rebelled against God.

Jan Worthen 18 May 2011, 18:23

Ok...But as far as the Devil still in Heaven? As Lucifer he was kicked out of Heaven. Ephesians says his domain is on the earth, "He walks to and fro seeking whom he can devour." Deut 32:22 "For a fire is kindled in My anger, and shall burn unto the lowest Hell, and shall consume the Earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains." (Wickedness brings eternal judgment.) II Sam. "The sorrows of Hell compassed me"..Ps 9:17, "wicked turned into Hell." Ezekiel 31:15 "Thus the Lord GOD; ;In the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning; I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed; " Expositors Study Bible says this comes from the word "Sheol" ..the place of departed spirits who are in Hell, and have full consciousness, Jesus said so Luke 16:19-31." So there is disagreement in what my understanding is.. For in Job 1 We see that Satan has access to the throne of God , and God "allows" him to test us, yet hell is a real place now according to other scriptures which are numerous. Yet too, that
Great White Judgment Seat of God...will judge the unGodly, and
evil. I was taught there is no such thing as purgatory either...So this whole thing is pretty confusing. One says one thing, another another thing..For we know Jesus went down to Hell also. When we as saved Christians die our souls go to Heaven (3)..but the unsaved I was taught Hell...So where does that put the Great White Throne Judgement...if no purgatory? I think I'm more confused than ever.

Doug Buckley 18 May 2011, 18:32

Hi Jan, moved your question over here. Basically the traditional view of Satan dwelling in hell and punishing the wicked is incorrect. Satan has a place of authority and power in the world, especially among nonbelievers. Satan is basically free at this time, but he will be imprisoned and destroyed in the future.

As to your second question, there are two hells in the bible (see ch.2). The first hell is called Sheol in the OT and Hades in the NT. Check out the word "hell" in your Strong's concordance. Hades is where nonbelievers go. On Judgment Day, nonbelievers will be judged by their works and go on to either eternal life or eternal damnation in the second hell. The second hell is called the Lake of Fire (see Revelation 20).

jackie chavez 19 May 2011, 00:01

doug, you say the devil resides somewhere in heaven, but when Jesus was crucified, the Bible says He went into the heart of the earth for 3 days and preached to the prisoners, who are these prisoners there must be some inprisoned people down there somewhere, being reserved, the Bible says that the angels that sinned and forsook there natural dwelling place, were put under chains and imprisoned in tartarus, a dark abyss./ scientists are saying that the earth is like a living organism, and in Genesis, God told cain that Ables blood cried out unto Him from the ground, that sure does describe that we go into the center of the earth, it swallows us up, we are from the earth and go back to it, unless we are redeemed, how did satan get access to earth unless God sent him here, being cast down to earth, I believe he has been alienated from heaven (the 1st heaven )
since he showed up here, and goes back and forth to accuse us before The Father, so that he won't look so bad. I believe he was a beautiful angel at one time, but alienation from God's light has changed the way he looks and his countenance. because of sin the earth has become corrupt and Jesus blood dripping on the earth cleansed it and now the imprisoned angels are roaming around in the air, using telepathy to communicate with wizards and psychics, for deception of the people. what's your take on this?

Doug Buckley 19 May 2011, 18:44

The angels imprisoned in Tartarus are the fallen angels of Genesis 6.4 who Peter describes as leaving their first habitation. Satan is fallen in a moral sense, but did not live on earth before the flood. So there are fallen angels that are still in heaven like Satan, and ones that are already imprisoned.

jackie 21 Jun 2011, 01:26

doug.
Jesus had not yet ascended, and went into the heart of the earth to preach to the prisoners, who are the prisoners in the earth? the earth is earth, so there is obviously a place there, if not why confuse us by saying earth? He named the planet earth, so it can't be anywhere else, and satan goes walking up and down in the earth, he was in the garden, wasn't he the one God put in charge of the tree of good and evil, but while God was away, he became inflamed with the idea of being served and corrupted the beings there at that time? there war broke out in heaven and there was no longer found a place for satan and he was cast down to the earth where he has a short time, the Lord says woe to the earth for he has come down as a roaring lion to devour, now this says he was cast down, so he was in heaven at the time when he was cast down, yet he was in the garden in the beginning, how could that be? was he going back and forth all this time? and then finally get kicked out toward the end? it's kinda confusing. jackie

Doug Buckley 22 Jun 2011, 17:46

Hi Jackie, I'm not really sure, but I know that Satan gets cast out of heaven during the tribulation and this is why it says he persecutes the woman for 3 and a half years. Satan would rather stay in heaven and continue being the king of the world (nonbelievers), but he will be cast to the earth.

jackie chavez 22 Jun 2011, 22:45

doug,
ok, say that it is the 3 1/2 years, when he is cast down, but that still doesn't explain why Jesus went into the earth to preach to the prisoners, He actually freed them, al the ones existing from adam until then, because their was no redemption yet since Jesus still hadn't been crucified. i believe these are the ones sleeping in the belief of the future Christ to come, also in the story above, you have a scripture that says satan was cast to the ground and they say to him you have become weak as us, maggots being your bed and worms as a covering, this sounds like hell to me cause that is how a dead body gets under the ground, and the people on earth aren't weak, but someone already in the pit, hell, are weak because they can't get out of there no matter what they do, the big clue for me is the fact tat Jesus went down into the heart of the earth, and preached to the prisoners, and many that were dead got up and came out of their graves and started walking around and were seen by their loved ones that were alive, then they vanished as well when Jesus left cause you no longer hear about them. somehow their spirits were still here somewhere, if they were not in the heart of the earth then why go there to preach, do you follow me? cause it doesn't make sense any other way. jackie

Sally Nisley 29 Sep 2011, 10:08

I am trying to understanding the "when" of Ezekiel 28 when God said that He cast Satan profane from the mountain of God. Was that right after the completion of creation and before the fall of man? Then when does Revelation 12:3 and 9 take place. I thought that was during the 7th Trumpet judgment. I want to understand if these are 2 different events. Thanks!

Doug Buckley 30 Sep 2011, 01:45

Hi Sally, your question doesn't have an easy answer, because there aren't alot of scriptures that talk about what was before the garden. If we accept that Ezekiel 28 is talking about Satan, then it tells us that he was created good, and went bad. However in the garden Satan is working against God, by using his lies to drive a wedge between man and God. So Satan must have turned evil before the garden. I believe Satan and his angels are part of a first heavenly order that rebelled against God before the creation of Adam.

I don't know that Revelation 12.3 refers to a specific time, but the red dragon is a symbol of Satan's historical power over the nations. Revelation 12.9 will happen in the tribulation, when Satan will have a short time to deceive the nations into worshipping him.

Alejandro Dawkins 18 Oct 2011, 18:18

Dear Mr. Doug Buckley:
Upon reading your answers on this page, I have learned a lot from the commentary and answers, yet I will like to ask a question.
The Bible says that Gof kicked satan out of Heaven and he fell to earth. Could you please explain, how it is he's still in heaven? Which part of the Bible I could find the answer? I will appreciate you sending this answer to my e-mail or post it also on this page.

Thank you
Alejandro

Doug Buckley 18 Oct 2011, 18:31

Hi Alejandro, I moved your question here since your question is about Satan being cast from heaven. The two main places where it talks about the Satan being cast from heaven are Revelation 12, and Isaiah 14. Revelation 12.10-17 tells us that after Satan is cast from heaven he will persecute the woman for 3.5 years. So he is cast down during the tribulation period, right before Jesus returns. People will know he's here because he will deceive the whole world into worshipping him (see Revelation 13).

Joni 31 Oct 2011, 12:26

Very interesting observations reading this, and I do agree that satan can go in and out of heaven, but in the words of my friend and my daughter, "Why would anyone want to go to Heaven if satan was there? Hmmmmmmmmmm? I get more confused by the minute.

Doug Buckley 01 Nov 2011, 21:10

Its seems strange, but maybe it's better to think of heaven as being like Washington DC, where there is a struggle for power going on.

Joni 02 Nov 2011, 18:20

Haha, but I don't want to think of Heaven as Washington, DC. Can you give me a better visual, although that was very creative. I don't want to go to Washington DC when I die, nor do I want to go where satan resides. However, if God is there, then I guess it's all right.

david 20 Nov 2011, 05:10

Hi guys. I’m David and would like to let you know that satan and his angels(fallen) have already been cast down into earth. If Satan or the antichist is aware of what he is it makes sense that his angels will as well. They come through people and these people are fully aware of it. I know as I’ve had first hand experience with it. Jesus laid the key of david on my shoulder (rev 3:7 and isaiah 22:22) A great awakening is coming soon and all God’s children will be awoken spiritually and become aware of this fact.

Christoper 04 Dec 2011, 13:29

I really enjoyed reading these posts but if you research the history of the Kingdom of Tyre and read what happened to it, it is the same thing prophesied in Ezekiel. Jesus said he was a murderer from the beginning. That word beginning in the greek is arche which means beginning,first estate,first power,first place or rank. In Isa 45:7 the Lord I form light and create darkness, I make peace and create evil:I the Lord do these things. I agree with you that Satan hasn't be cast out of Heaven yet, that happens in Revelation 12. but scripture does not agree with Satan being a fallen angel,a psalmist like some say.So the Lord created Satan to do exactly what he is doing. In Ephesians 3:8-11 it talks about God's eternal purpose. So he made Satan to be part of it like to cause adam and eve to sin and judas to betray Christ. Satan wasn't made to be good, he was created to do exactly what he is doing. If we believe that God is all in all and in control of everything then to believe he created a being like Satan and intended for him to be good and then Satan *fell* or whatever you want to call it then God isn't in control of anything and he dropped the ball when he made Satan. God doesn't make mistakes, everyhting is in his control and his will. Thanks

Doug Buckley 04 Dec 2011, 15:26

Hi Christopher, Satan's origins have already been discussed here, but let's clear up a couple things. First, Isaiah 45.7 does not say that God creates sin. It says he creates "ra'a" which means evil, often in the sense of trouble and calamity (see my bible question on Isaiah 45.7).

Also Ezekiel 28.12-19 is talking about Satan, not the king of Tyre. The prince of Tyre means the literal king of Tyre (28.1-11). But when it switches to the king of Tyre at v. 12, it means Satan. The literal king of Tyre is not a fallen cherub. The point is that the literal heathen king of Tyre answers to the spiritual king of Tyre. (similar to the king of Babylon).

Lastly, Satan does not serve God. Satan does not follow God's orders. He does not say your will, not my will, as Jesus does. He acts in his own self interests and this is why God curses Satan in Genesis, because he doesn't listen to God, has no light or truth in him, and is a father of lies (John 8.44).

That being said, I'm not saying that you're wrong about God ultimately being behind both good and evil. Did God foreknow that Satan would turn against him? Did God make him with a propensity for evil? Why do some beings choose evil over good? That is an extremely deep subject dealing with predestination, election, and philosophy, and I'm not even sure that it can be proven one way or another.

jackie 04 Dec 2011, 21:37

I believe that satan became satan as time went on, God created Adam n Eve and placed them in garden time went by, satan was then lucifer, and from the onset of the right to reproduce themselves and fill the earth, satan became jealous of men, he and the angels were not made to reproduce and had their assigned duties, to watch over us, but being he was in the garden, he first went after Eve, since she was the first woman that would reproduce, an incubator, and he wanted to mate with her and reproduce himself, and as misery loves company, his angels were recruited in and thats how later the earth was full of nephilim, a cross breed of angels and humans, which was forbidden, producing evil giants that sought only to pro-create with women, God knew but He had already established the earth and all, it took a great deal of time to do all this and He just allowed our free will til it became so bad, evn more than He anticipated and had to send a flood, but since the angels were spirit and not flesh, they survived the flood, not their offspring
but i believe satans next agenda is to clone a child or put his spirit in a cloned body, what do you think? jackie

Doug Buckley 06 Dec 2011, 01:50

Hi Jackie, that sounds like a mix of different theories based loosely on the book of Enoch. I don't believe the book of Enoch is scripture, though some of its teachings have some biblical merit. As I've already said, I believe, based on what's given in scripture, that Satan and his angels are part of the first heavenly order that rebelled against God, before Adam and Eve.

jackie 06 Dec 2011, 03:10

well. I also do not believe the book of enoch as scripture, but, go by what the Bible says, that the sons of God went taking women of men and they bore children unto them, creating nephilim. this is in out Holy Bible, I know you know that, but the other part I had brought up about satans agenda, is only because ir seems as though technology and science have opened the doors to all types of evil, from cloning to atom and nuclear bombs that can blow up our existence, and God even says that the imaginations of mans hearts far exceed what even comes up in Gods heart, and the Bible also talks about hell enlarging itself, because so many people are waxing cold and following their sinful lusts, I do believe satan was created good and not evil, the Bible says ' in the day that you were created you were perfect, beautiful and goes on to describe lucifers beauty , but then says that iniquity was found in his heart, maybe existing so long in the heavenlies didn't seem as good as what man could do, be like the son of God, create and produce offspring, to someone who is highly intelligent, it would seem like a dream to pro create and have a child to look like him, so he pondered on this and God saw his thoughts and put a stop to it. I don't remember who it was, but didn't someone ask God,
what is man that You are mindful of him"l/jackie

jackie 06 Dec 2011, 03:33

and to another point someone brought up, a good example of our free will being excorcised, as lucifers free will was being excorcised, is the flood of Noah, God did not intend on destroying man, they corrupted themselves, God told Moses also to go down with the commandments because the people had corrupted themselves, He allows free will, but provides an escape for the people upon asking, lucifer and his angels had free will and although he was made perfect, he became proud and wanted notoriety. point is, we are not robots and God allows us to play out our own lives as we choose, God is God but He does not control us, He allows us a choice, our own decisions, if not ,wht destroy people in a flood, God obviously didn't look into the future to see what would happen , because the Bible says God repented of having created man. but nonethe less He still allowed us to go on with the human race, He foresaw His birth to come in the future, and knew everything had to play out or the challenge would always be there, God has to prove we cannot direct our own path without Him, so He lets us destroy ourselves, that is proof that we need Him.jackie

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