Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

First, I would say that Satan would have been expelled from heaven prior to the acquisition of a sin nature by humanity, since Satan was the being responsible for causing the fall of humanity into sin.

It also seems to me that, as a spirit being, Satan could be expelled from heaven, but, short of being destroyed or confined (as will occur at the close of the present age), he could not be subsequently restricted to any domain in the universe, since no amount of distance would be sufficient for doing that.

He would therefore choose to exist in this world, since this is where human beings (who were originally created in God's image) exist, so that he could harm them by luring them into sin. (As Peter characterized him in 1 Peter 5:8, he roams about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.) (Also, in the book of Job, when God Himself asked Satan where he had been, Satan responded that he had come from roaming throughout the earth and going back and forth on it (Job 1:7).)

I would also say that God did not destroy or confine Satan immediately because He wanted to demonstrate that He did not have to rely on coercion, or on the granting of prosperity or good health (as Satan had suggested in Job 1:9-11 and Job 2:4-5), to force or influence humans to follow Him, but that humans would follow Him by their free-will choice because of His love for them (as demonstrated most of all by the sacrifice of His own Son for sinful humanity's redemption).

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Grant Abbott Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

When Satan was cast out of heaven he became the prince of the power of the air. His demonic followers are the principalities and powers in the heavenly realms. Human beings were given dominion over the earth but Satan usurped that right when he tempted Adam and Eve into sin. Now Satan is the ruler of this earth as well.

But Jesus invaded this kingdom of evil when he came to earth as a human being. He established the kingdom of God on earth and every Christian is a soldier for Christ to advance God's kingdom to set people free and advance justice, righteousness, love and faithfulness upon the earth. Jesus death on the cross was the victory over sin, death and all evil forces. When Jesus comes again he will vanquish all evil and wickedness from the face of this earth. Christians will live for eternity with God on a renewed earth that is what God intended at creation - without sin, death, sickness, pain or any evil presence.

1. Power of sin broken when we were crucified with Christ

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

2. Death is defeated and eternal life restored

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:1-5).

3. Evil forces are defeated by Christians

"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:4).

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:10-18).

4. We are advancing the kingdom of God and nothing can harm us

"The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”He [Jesus] replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you" (Luke 10:17-19).

Every day Christians can be victorious over sin, death and all evil forces when we stay connected to Jesus and walk by faith with his Holy Spirit. This is great, good news.

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