June 6, 2016
Job 1:6, 7
(All scripture is from the New King James Version unless otherwise indicated.)
No, I do not believe in ‘Universal Salvation’ – that every one and every thing is going to someday be redeemed and end up in heaven – even Satan himself! The Bible says in Revelation 21:8, “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” And, according to Revelation 14:11, this destination – hell – is “…forever and ever….” The devil surely fits into the Revelation 21:8 eight-fold description of the occupants of eternal hell!
Some think that Satan has been kicked out of heaven long ago.
• Ezekiel 15-17 – “You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you…Therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God…I cast you to the ground….”
• Luke 10:18 – “…He [Jesus] said, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”
• Revelation 12:7-9 – “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the devil and Satan….”
But this is yet future, and is revealed as prophecy in Revelation 12:12: “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” This takes place in the last seven years – called the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7); Daniel’s seventieth week of years (Daniel 9:4, 27); the tribulation (Matthew 22:21, 29); and the great tribulation (Revelation 7:14). Until then, the devil has access to God in heaven!
In Job 1:6 and 7 a heavenly incident is recorded:
Now there came a day when the sons of God came to present them-
selves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. And the
LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered
the LORD, and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from
walking back and forth on it.”
What is the devil doing before the Father? He is accusing God’s servant Job before the Lord! But this is what he does! For a loud voice from heaven announces in Revelation 12:10: “…the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.” He tries to entice God to condemn His children! And he is still actively doing it today!
There is a cute story that drives home this point. The devil was giving his report to God and spotted a struggling believer upon earth:
“God,” Satan announced, pointing accusingly at this Christian who had again
fallen into sin, “See that? So-and-so is doing it again – just what he has
done so many times before! He’s sinning again!” God looks where the devil
is pointing, and tells him, “I don’t see anything wrong.” Satan scratches his
head. He looks again at this struggling Christian and fairly yells, “Look, God!
He is doing it again – the same thing!” The Lord looks a second time in that
direction. “I don’t see anything wrong,” He tells Satan. A third time the devil
sees the sinning Christian engaging in the same persistent sin and fairly shouts,
“God, you gotta see him! He is doing that exact same sin for the third time in
a row!” So the Father looks one more time, and replies, “I don’t see him sin-
ning. You see, devil, Jesus is standing in the way!”
Yes, Jesus is standing in the way of God holding our sins against us! We are constantly being bathed and washed clean by His blood (see I John 1:7)! He not only took our sins upon Himself and paid for them by the sacrifice of His perfect life laid down for us on the cross; He also gives us His very own righteousness to wear as a robe! (See Isaiah 61:10; Zechariah 3:1-5; II Corinthians 5:21). We stand as perfect before the Father and, as Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:6, we are “…accepted in the Beloved…” – accepted by the Father as much as He accepts His own dear Son!
But also know this from our featured Scripture in Job: Satan told God, “[I come]…from going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” He is ever vigilant – never tiring of – searching the earth to see whom he may accuse next before God! As it is written in I Peter 5:8 (English Standard Version): “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
So, although he is not omnipresent (everywhere at once – as God is), Satan is tireless in accusing you and me before God! But, it says in Hebrews 7:25, “…[Jesus] is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them.” Thank God I am on the Lord’s side! And you should thank Him every day also!