WHEN was Satan cast down to earth?

[8thdaypriest]

Revelation 12:4-10  His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. 7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
 (NKJ)

Luke 10:18 And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven." (NKJ)

The Revelation 12 passage reads like Satan was cast out after Christ returned to the heavenly realm, following His death and resurrection.  Interesting that He is still called Michael.  And if this is the resurrected Jesus, who is fighting with Satan and his angels, then the resurrected Christ has been given some awesome powers - far beyond mere human powers. 

Satan still exists in a spirit dimension.  He is not continuously visible, that I know of.   That would mean he has been stripped of his angelic powers.  Paul wrote:    "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Eph 6:12 NKJ)  

Apparently,  Satan still lives in "the heavenly places", which are NOT "Heaven itself" (where Christ sits at the right hand of the Father), but rather a spirit dimension with limited access - to earth and things on the earth that are not protected by God, and Christ, and spirit beings loyal to them.

Just wondered what others think about the timing of Satan's casting down - to earth. 

[dgrimm60]

8THDAYPRIEST

SATAN was there at the beginning of Christ birth since he use KING HEARLD to try to kill him---SATAN was there after JESUS  baptisim in the wilderness==

SATAN was there all JESUS LIFE  on earth using the JEWISH leaders to trap JESUS ====the devil demons were  also there with the demomic and other

people that they had control of ====my understanding that he was kick out of heaven long before the cross===he was there with JOB===

the bible does say the  devil or Satan  as prince of the air==EPH 2:2 ===also prince of this world==JOHN 16:11===so the devil is in this world 

and the air around the world===Satan was in the book of JOB

and did go to heaven but after the cross the Devil was confined to earth===

I hope this helps

dgrimm60

[8thdaypriest]

1 hour ago, dgrimm60 said:

after the cross the Devil was confined to earth

That is what the text of Revelation 12 appears to be saying.   Up UNTIL the cross, Satan was allowed to enter the Heavenly courts, and to argue his case before God.  (Example would be the case of Job.)   After Satan proved himself a murderer, he was no longer allowed to enter the Heavenly courts.   Rather his power and influence was confined to the earthly realm. 

It appears the "war in Heaven" took place AFTER Christ returned following His resurrection.   Apparently it took some force to eject Satan from the Heavenly realm.   I think it interesting that Michael and His angels fought against the Devil and his angels.   A lot of folks believe that Michael is the Son of God's name, in the Heavenly realm.  Michael means "like unto God". It does seem rather blasphemous for a created angel to be called "like unto God".   

[JoeMo]

I believe what dgrimm says is a plausible scenario.  Another plausible scenario is that the events described in Rev. 12:4 and 5 have been fulfilled by the first coming of Christ; and 12:6 and onward are yet future events.  Could the woman of verses 4 and 5 represent God's church on earth at Christ's first coming; (the Jews): while the woman in the verses thereafter represent God's church in the last days?

Is it possible that satan has indeed already been cast out of heaven; but he is not yet confined to earth?

[8thdaypriest]

7 minutes ago, JoeMo said:

I believe what dgrimm says is a plausible scenario.  Another plausible scenario is that the events described in Rev. 12:4 and 5 have been fulfilled by the first coming of Christ; and 12:6 and onward are yet future events.  Could the woman of verses 4 and 5 represent God's church on earth at Christ's first coming; (the Jews): while the woman in the verses thereafter represent God's church in the last days?

Is it possible that satan has indeed already been cast out of heaven; but he is not yet confined to earth?

Verse 17 :  The dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offsping, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."  

These appear to me, to be the remnant.  

 

[JoeMo]

8 minutes ago, 8thdaypriest said:

A lot of folks believe that Michael is the Son of God's name, in the Heavenly realm.  Michael means "like unto God". It does seem rather blasphemous for a created angel to be called "like unto God".

I have thought for a long time that Michael may have been Jesus' name prior to His incarnation.  Rev. 12:7 is one of those verses that makes me question that.  Iy's the only place in Revelation that "Michael" is mentioned.  Everyplace else in Revelation Jesus is referred to as the Lamb or Jesus or some other familiar Name.  On the other hand, Michael appears to be the commander of the Lord's army in Rev., a title I thought belonged to Jesus (Ref. Joshua 5:13-14).

[8thdaypriest]

I've never yet understood the "time, times and half a time" during which "the woman who gave birth to the male child, was "nourished, and somehow isolated from "the presence of the serpent".   

I didn't think any group was free from Satan's temptations.

[8thdaypriest]

13 minutes ago, JoeMo said:

I believe what dgrimm says is a plausible scenario.  Another plausible scenario is that the events described in Rev. 12:4 and 5 have been fulfilled by the first coming of Christ; and 12:6 and onward are yet future events.  Could the woman of verses 4 and 5 represent God's church on earth at Christ's first coming; (the Jews): while the woman in the verses thereafter represent God's church in the last days?

Is it possible that satan has indeed already been cast out of heaven; but he is not yet confined to earth?

By "confined to the earth", do you mean that he cannot go into the spirit realm, that he somehow becomes like a physical being who must walk on our dirt?

[JoeMo]

15 minutes ago, 8thdaypriest said:

By "confined to the earth", do you mean that he cannot go into the spirit realm, that he somehow becomes like a physical being who must walk on our dirt?

He can still be a Spirit, but - like other head angels, he has the ability to appear in human form.  He will be confined to earth in the same manner that other evil angels are currently confined in Tartarus or the abyss.

[dgrimm60]

8THDAYPRIEST

the timextimesx1/2time====in the bible times the year was 360 days ===so time===360 ==times =360 x2 ==720===1/2 time ==180

so 1260 years

every person on the earth is tempted by Satan and his demons ===the only escape to the temptation is to have the HOLY SPIRIT  control your life

if not every person will sin

dgrimm60

[JoeMo]

12 hours ago, dgrimm60 said:

the only escape to the temptation is to have the HOLY SPIRIT  control your life

if not every person will sin

Every person does sin.  We all fall short of the mark.  That's why we need a Savior.  The HS might advise us and guide us; but we don't always listen or follow its guidance.  We have a free will to listen or not listen.  All of us "don't listen" sometimes. It's a free will thing.

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.Satan and his ilk are not the only source of our temptation. (1 John 1:8)

But satan is not the only source of temptation in our lives.

"but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters." (James 1:14-16)

So, IMHO, just because satan is bound does not mean that humanity will automatically be unconditionally free of temptation and sin. It's a free will thing.

[dgrimm60]

JOEMO

the  only way Satan and his demons will be bound is during the 1000 years ===that is because he will

not have any one to tempt the people will be either dead on earth or they will be in HEAVEN going over

the books=====yes every person  has a choice to make if they will sin are not =====but Satan helps 

us along knowing are weakness ====the only way to combat this is to ask for the HOLY SPIRIT to help us

dgrimm60

[8thdaypriest]

15 hours ago, dgrimm60 said:

the timextimesx1/2time====in the bible times the year was 360 days ===so time===360 ==times =360 x2 ==720===1/2 time ==180

so 1260 years

I understand the SDA interpretation of the 1260 years, but I thought those were the years during which the Catholic Church persecuted true believers who kept the commandments.  How could those years be a time of safety, away from the presence of the Serpent.  Seems just the opposite to me.  

[JoeMo]

2 hours ago, dgrimm60 said:

that is because he will not have any one to tempt the people will be either dead on earth or they will be in HEAVEN

I don't believe this is what the Bible teaches.  There are several passages that tell me that there will be people on the earth in the millennium that will not necessarily be in compliance with the Kingdom. For example, see Zech. 14:12-19, Isaiah 60, and Rev. 2:26-27.

[8thdaypriest]

16 hours ago, dgrimm60 said:

every person on the earth is tempted by Satan and his demons ===the only escape to the temptation is to have the HOLY SPIRIT  control your life

Jesus said, "the Father who lives in me, does the works."   And Jesus was sorely tempted - by the Evil One.   Jesus was NOT removed from the presence of the Serpent.  

[8thdaypriest]

6 minutes ago, JoeMo said:

I don't believe this is what the Bible teaches.  There are several passages that tell me that there will be people on the earth in the millennium that will not necessarily be in compliance with the Kingdom. For example, see Zech. 14:12-19, Isaiah 60, and Rev. 2:26-27.

As you know, I believe "the heavens and the earth" which currently exist "will perish" and "will be dissolved".   (Hebrews 1)  Survivors  don't seem likely.   I believe "the rest of the dead" will fulfill the prophecies of Zechariah 14, Isaiah 60, during the 8th millennium.   Neither your view, nor my view, fits the SDA interpretation., but mine is closer. 

But back to Satan's casting down to earth.  

Revelation 12:5  "She (Israel)  bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days." (NKJ)

Immediately following texts describe the "war in heaven" and Satan cast out to the earth.   

The "war" follows the ascension of Christ to Heaven.    I've got that part.

 

The persecution (or attempted persecution) of "the woman" definitely FOLLOWS the war in Heaven and Satan's casting down.  

v. 13  "Now WHEN the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child."  

We don't know for how long the woman is persecuted, before she is given a means of escape.  

v.14  "The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness (or desert), where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach." (NIV)

WHERE would this be?  Where would the Israel/betrothed of Jesus Christ, be out of the Serpent's reach - so far as persecution?  The United States comes to mind, with religious freedom.   

If she is "taken care of" for "a time, times, and half a time", HOW MANY YEARS would that be?  

What event STARTS this time period?  What event ENDS the time period?  

 

v. 15  The Serpent then spews water out of his mouth like a flood, trying to sweep the woman away by the "flood".    (Water might represent peoples.)  

v. 16  Then "the earth" helps "the woman" by swallowing the flood which the Dragon spewed out if his mouth. 

v. 17  The Dragon is still enraged with "the woman".  He then makes war with "the rest of her offspring" - who keep the commandments and give testimony for Jesus.  (Jesus Himself - the first "offspring", and those who believe in Jesus -"the rest of her offspring". ) 

I think verse 17 could easily correspond with 11:7, where the Beast from the pit will "make war" against the Two Witnesses, AFTER they have finished their testimony for 1260 days. 

The "two witnesses" of Chapter 11,  give their testimony for 42 months - relatively unmolested.   In the USA we have freedom of expression, especially of religious expression.  It could be the "witnesses" are headquartered and funded in the USA, during the 42 months (1260 days).  Following this time, laws are passed which severely restrict their freedom to give testimony for Jesus, to teach "His commandments", and to warn the world of the coming plagues.  

[8thdaypriest]

Satan used to stand before God "day and night" accusing human beings of sin.   THIS Satan can no longer do.  Rev 12:10

Satan accused: to claim the right of possession of these individuals, or at least to forbid God's protection of same (by His angels). 

I would assume that Satan argues with our guardian angels, trying to break their resolve to protect us.   I see this as another motive for his continuous accusations before the throne of God in Heaven.  

[JoeMo]

Satan may not be allowed into Heaven; but that doesn't mean he doesn't communicate with God.  He can still present his case against us without being in Heaven;  just like we can present our cases before God without actually being in Heaven.

The scenarios you present above are certainly plausible; but there are many plausible scenarios out there.  Like most prophecies, we won't likely know exactly how they are fulfilled until they are being fulfilled.

[Kevin H]

It was Milton in Paradise Lost that has Satan casted to the earth prior to creation. Milton's work has colored our culture. While Mrs. White does not outwardly correct Milton, she does say things that could be used to follow what Revelation tells us, that Satan was cast out after the cross. A big part of his being cast out was that he could no longer find anyone in heaven who would listen to him, and he was uncomfortable with God's glory.