In the Book of Job, we see Satan freely talking with God. He has ‘roamed far and wide’ on the earth and then comes into heaven. When God points out Job to him, noting that he is a blameless, God-fearing man, Satan retorts:

“Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!”

– Job 1:9-11 NLT

The Lord permits Satan to go and have power over Job’s possessions, and thus begins the story of Job’s suffering at the hands of the enemy.

There’s much to learn from the Book of Job about how to think about suffering, but I want to focus on another issue: What the hell is Satan doing in heaven?

See, before Jesus, Satan rightfully accused humans in heaven. He was correct in pointing out our sins, and correct in criticising us directly to God. The justice of God had to admit the lead prosecutor to make his case against us.

But when Jesus was born, things changed.

Revelation 12 shows us vivid imagery for what took place with the life, death & resurrection of Jesus:

“And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels… When the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.”

– Revelation 12:7-13 NIV

In Jesus, the justice of God was upheld, and since then the accuser has no legitimate claim to the courts of heaven. Jesus’ sinless life and death on our behalf paid the price for sin and removed any real condemnation that Satan could make against us. Now, he goes after humanity on earth, deceiving us and attempting to convince us that he is allowed to accuse us. But for those in Christ Jesus there is no more condemnation.

“Therefore, rejoice, O heavens!
    And you who live in the heavens, rejoice!”

(that’s us as believers)

“But terror will come on the earth and the sea,
    for the devil has come down to you in great anger,
    knowing that he has little time.”

– Revelation 12:13 NIV

Not only that, but the moment of Satan’s fall from heaven is not removed from human agency, only a thing to be passively acknowledged, but instead happens when humans are empowered by Jesus, and first begin to act in his name.

When Jesus sends out the seventy-two disciples, he gives them authority. They go out and take ground from the enemy, and then return, exclaiming:

“Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

And Jesus tells them:

“I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” 

Not only does Jesus’ life, death & resurrection cast Satan out of the courts of heaven, but this victory against Satan plays out through his disciples. He goes on to explain:

“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” 

Satan is no longer able to stand against believers in the courts of heaven, nor resist believers acting on Jesus’ behalf on earth. Yet Jesus finishes by highlighting that our spiritual identity itself is far more valuable than the ways in which we are empowered to work in Jesus’ name:

“However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

– Luke 10:17-20 NIV

So when Satan next accuses you, know that he can only accuse you on earth. God isn’t listening to him anymore. He is cast out of the heavenly courts.

And if you are in Christ Jesus, then Satan has no authority to condemn you! Instead, you have authority to silence all his lies in Jesus’ name, to defuse all his attacks and come against his power in the almighty name of Jesus, who has given you the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

– see Ephesians 6:16

Thanks for reading.

If this has blessed you, please consider partnering with me in prayer, enter the heavenly courts on behalf of my ministry and pray on my behalf that God might grow my work for his gospel and the Kingdom of God.