I Saw Satan Fall Like Lightning From Heaven

BEYOND THE BASICS | William Stewart | Kingston, Ontario

“I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven!” Imagine how exciting it must have been to hear Jesus make such a declaration. The assertion was made to the seventy persons whom Jesus had appointed and sent to go before Him among the people (Luke 10:1). As He had given instructions to the apostles before sending them out (Matthew 10:5-15), our Lord also gave directions to this much larger contingent of disciples for their journey (Luke 10:2-16). They were sent to “heal the sick” and to proclaim “The kingdom of God has come near to you” (Luke 10:9). We do not know how long they were gone, but Luke reported the excitement of their return. Filled with joy they announced, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name” (Luke 10:17). Jesus’ statement about Satan falling from heaven was in response to their remark.

So, what does this mean? Did Jesus literally see Satan tumble out of heaven when the seventy were casting out demons or was this a figure or symbol? Did Jesus refer to something which had already happened, something which was happening at that time, or something which would happen in the future? And how do the Lord’s words here fit with what the rest of Scripture tells us about Satan and his fall?

Before we look for understanding and application of the statement, it may be helpful to consider the words which are used. Thayer defines the word “saw” as “…to be a spectator, look at, behold … to see … to perceive with the eyes … to discern, …to ascertain, find out, by seeing … to get knowledge of…” It is commonly used of what one visibly sees (ie. Mark 12:41; John 2:23; etc.), but can also refer to what someone might perceive or consider (ie. John 4:19; Hebrews 7:4; etc.). Thayer gives the following on the word “fall,” “…descent from a higher place to a lower … to be thrust down … descent from an erect to a prostrate position … to be cast down from a state of prosperity … to perish, to come to an end … to lose authority, no longer have force…” The LORD said Satan’s fall was “…like lightning from heaven.” When lightning strikes it is sudden, it is startling, and it is noticeable. The question is how and when did Satan fall, and what did the Lord mean in response to the seventy disciples with this statement?

There are multiple texts in Scripture which speak of Satan’s fall, the earliest being Genesis 3:15. The LORD said to the serpent,

“…I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”

We are not given many details in this early prophecy, but it clearly reveals the Seed which was to come (Jesus, Galatians 3:16, 19) would bruise (“overwhelm, break, bruise,” Strong’s) the serpent’s (Satan’s, Revelation 12:9; 20:2) head. Moses did not record how or when this would come to pass, simply that it would.

As we come into the New Testament, we find Mark 3:23-27, where Jesus addressed an accusation made against Him by the scribes – namely that “He has Beelzebub,” and “By the ruler of demons He casts out demons.” The Lord pointed out the foolishness of their allegation – Satan was not battling against himself. He stated:

How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house. (Mark 3:23-27)

Jesus affirmed Satan “…has an end.” not because the devil worked against himself or was in league with Jesus – nay, Satan’s end would come because the Lord would defeat him. The brief parable or story of the plundering of the strong man’s goods explains it. Jesus would bind the devil, limiting his strength and destroying his work (1 John 3:8). The Hebrew writer specifically says Jesus would “…destroy him who had the power of death…” and thus “…release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15). This would be accomplished through our Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection. The power of death held people captive – Jesus would conquer death. The crucifixion had the appearance of defeat, but in reality it resulted in Jesus’ victory and Satan’s defeat. On the third day, He arose. In Acts 2:23-24, Peter spoke before the Pentecost crowd and said, Jesus,

…being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

This victory over the devil, the demise of his power, was foreshadowed in the casting out of demons accomplished by Jesus (Matthew 8:16; 9:33), the twelve apostles (Mark 3:14-15), and the seventy disciples (Luke 10:17). The casting out of demons was not the point at which Satan fell or was cast out, but it served as evidence of his eventual defeat.

In John 12:31-32, we again find Jesus speaking about Satan being cast out. Notice:

Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.

The Lord was not referring to the final judgment when all mankind will appear before Him. It was the judgment of this world, more specifically of the ruler of this world – the devil (see John 16:8-11). The devil’s defeat was eminent. When would this be? The phrase, “if I am lifted up from the earth” gives the answer. John used this term a few times in his gospel (see John 3:14; John 8:28). It is a reference to Calvary – Jesus was lifted up and hung on a tree. When He endured and overcame death, the fall of Satan would be accomplished.

The fall of the devil is mentioned a few more times in the New Testament. In Revelation 9:1, we read:

Then the fifth angel sounded: and I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit.

Some may be inclined to say the angel mentioned is the devil. I don’t think so. There are seven angels sounding seven trumpets, each bringing a measure of affliction from God intended to cause repentance (Revelation 9:20-21). Satan does not work for the Lord; he does not afflict people to provoke repentance. This angel, like the other six, is from the Lord. The fifth angel was given the key to the bottomless pit. When he opened the pit all manner of destruction and turmoil was unleashed. Rather than repent (9:20-21), the wicked simply sought to die (9:6).

Satan is mentioned in the text very briefly. John “…saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth.” This is like other verses we’ve seen about the devil. He is pictured as fallen, cast out, or cast down. He is not the angel, he did not receive the key to the bottomless pit, but the devil is introduced in the text in preparation for the next time we meet this angel with the key to the bottomless pit.

Revelation 12 also pictures the fall of Satan:

…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 (Revelation 12:7-9).

The devil was cast to the earth, just as pictured in Revelation 9:1. Revelation 12 gives details about the timing or circumstances which surrounded this. In the first several verses of the chapter, we see a woman (Israel) who was with Child (Jesus) and the dragon (Satan) sought to destroy Him (Revelation 12:1-5). A wonderful proclamation is made from heaven, “…now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come…” (v 10). However, there is an acknowledgement of the trouble the devil brings, for he is “…the accuser of our brethren…” who “…has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time” (v 10, 12).

When the devil was cast down to the earth, seeking to destroy the Child and the woman who gave birth to Him, he brought all kinds of suffering and oppression. During the days of Jesus’ earthly ministry, Satan ravaged the people upon the earth with manifold demon activity, something which was not seen before that time nor since. He pulled out all the stops, as we might say, for his time was short and the battle against the Son of Man was pressing. We know the end of the story – he loses.

Revelation 20 brings the angel with the key to the bottomless pit back into view. But this time, not only does he have the key, but he also has a great chain in his hand (Revelation 20:1). With it,

He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. (Revelation 20:2-3)

This pictures the fallen enemy. He is no longer permitted to roam about causing havoc and destruction as he once did. The Lord is now reigning in His kingdom (Mark 9:1; Acts 2:30-33; Colossians 1:13). John used the image of a thousand years (Revelation 20:4) for His reign. NOTE – this is not a literal time frame, but a figure to represent a perfect or complete time (numbers in Revelation are images and figures, not literal). Though temptation and sin are still in the world, the enemy of God’s people is portrayed as restrained and bound. He has been cast down; he has fallen. He can no longer deceive the nations and accuse the brethren as he once did. That doesn’t mean he cannot do us harm – a vicious dog that has been chained poses no threat to you so long as you keep your distance. However, if you approach it, he is dangerous. The same is true with the devil, who is chained and restrained.

Back to our primary text – Luke 10:18. Jesus, speaking prophetically to the seventy saw in their work of casting out demons the promise of Satan and his power being overthrown at Calvary. But notice what the Lord states in the next two verses:

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:19-20)

What a wonderful statement! He had given them power, amazing power. And they were joyous for the abilities He had given. However, the Lord wanted them to focus on the greater gift – salvation. Authority over serpents and scorpions and spirits is great, but how much greater is it for one’s name to be written in the Lamb’s book of life? Rejoice in that!

One final note – some, when discussing Satan’s fall, may be inclined to go to Isaiah 14:12-13,

How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations. For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…’

Though the name Lucifer is commonly applied to the devil in some religious circles, the Scriptures do not identify Lucifer as Satan. In Isaiah 13:1, where the context leading into chapter 14 begins, we read, “The burden against Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.” Again, in Isaiah 13:19 it is “…Babylon, the glory of kingdoms…” which is under consideration. In Isaiah 14:4, the immediate context says, “…take up this proverb against the king of Babylon.” This text is about the king of Babylon, perhaps Nebuchadnezzar who was immensely arrogant; it is not part of the discussion of the fall of Satan.

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July 2022 | GROW magazine