Wrested Scriptures

Satan, Devil and Demons
Common
Trinity
Soul
Heaven
Hell
Satan/Demons
  The Truth
   About Satan
  Every Satan
  Every Devil
  Edenic Covenant
  Satan Prelim
  Demon Prelim
  Genesis 3:4-5
  Genesis 6:2
  Job 1:6
  Isaiah 14:12-14
  Ezekiel 28:13-16
  Matthew 4:1-11
  Matt. 12:43-45
  Luke 10:18
  Luke 22:3,31
  John 12:31
   14:30; 16:11
  John 13:2,27
  2 Cor. 11:14
  James 2:19
  1 Peter 5:8
  2 Peter 2:4
  Jude 6
  Jude 9
  Rev. 12:7-9
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Luke 10:18
". . . I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."

Problem:
This passage is connected with Isaiah 14:12 to support the doctrine that Satan, a rebel angel, was cast from heaven after a great war with the forces of the Almighty. A S.D.A. book of official doctrine, for example, puts it this way:

"As to Satan, or the devil, we hold the uniform teaching of the Word to be that he is definitely a personal being - the supreme adversary of God and man . . . He was, however, once an angel of light, the highest of the angels. He was named Lucifer, son of the morning (Isa. 14:12-14). But he fell from his high estate (Ezek. 28:13-18; Luke 10:18; John 8:44), and drew down with him a host of angels, first unto disaffection and then into open rebellion against God and His government . . ."1

Solution:
  1. It is usually argued that Satan was cast out of heaven prior to the events of Genesis 1-3, or that he was cast our of heaven in 1914 (as J.W.'s assert), but this passage squares with neither, since Jesus said, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven". (This was about A.D. 30).

  2. The passage does not state either that Satan was in heaven or that he fell from heaven. Jesus makes a comparison indicated by the simile "as". The comparison is not that as lightning falls from heaven so Satan fell from heaven. The point of the comparison is rather that the swiftness of the fall of Satan is as lightning falling from heaven.

  3. The context indicates that the casting out of demons and not the fall of a rebel angel is the subject of reference. (vs. 17).

  4. Satan (Greek: adversary)2 is used by Jesus to describe the binding effect of sin through diseases. A number of passages indicate this:
    1. Luke 11:14-23 - The cause of dumbness (which was attributed to demon possession in the vernacular of the time - vs. 14) was associated with the "house" of Satan. (vs. 17-18). The subsequent cure was said to be the "kingdom of God" coming, since the power of the King was present. (vs. 20-22).
    2. Luke 13:10-17 - Jesus healed a woman who had "a spirit of infirmity eighteen years". (vs. 11). But this same healing is described as "a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years". (vs. 16).

    Hence, the victory of the seventy over demons resulted in the dethronement of Satan (the adversary) in his "house". The cures effected by the disciples were so complete and rapid as to be compared to lightning falling from heaven. Despite this victory over the powers of sin and its effect - disease. Jesus instructs his disciples to rejoice rather that their names were written in heaven. (Luke 10:20).
Footnotes:
  1. Seventh-day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine: An Explanation of Certain Major Aspects of Seventh-day Adventist Belief, (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Ass., 1957), pp. 618, 619. Return

  2. Robert Young, Analytical Concordance to the Holy Bible, (London: Lutterworth Press, 1965). Return