The creator of everything – God, the Father of all, was approached by Satan, one of His creations. Satan had been hard at work doing what he was intended to do – being man’s adversary. God asked him, “Have you considered my servant Job?”
You know the story related to us in Job chapters 1 and 2. This ancient account allows us to see how Satan was allowed to approach the Father and to accuse the saints. Job lived long before the covenant that God made with Israel – the Old Covenant. But he, like many others in his era, had a strong faith in God. His faith, like Abrahams (Genesis 15:6), was counted unto him for righteousness. He like all the pre-cross saints was waiting for his sins to be atoned (Job 19:25-27). And because he was still bearing his sin debt, he could be accused by Satan to God. And so it was with all the people of God before redemption.
At the cross mankind was redeemed. Therefore Satan no longer could accuse us to the Father. He was cast out of heaven. Jesus taught this in John 12:31.
Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
We are given a very clear picture of this event in Revelation 12:7-10.
And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with 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, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 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.
When was Satan cast out? Notice what verse 10 says.
Now salvation, strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren,…………has been cast down.
No doubt it was when salvation came – when the sin debt was paid – that Satan was cast out.
There are other opinions concerning the time of Satan’s expulsion from heaven. These opinions are without a scriptural basis, but rather are founded in folklore. John 12:31 and Revelation 12:7-10 should clearly show us that Satan was cast out when salvation came through the sacrifice of Christ.
Nevertheless we all agree that Satan is cast out and that he is our adversary.