Does Satan still have access to heaven?

[Kathi]

Satan was originally one of God's holy angels,but he rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven Luke 10:18.That was only the first stage of his judgment.Satan's kingdom was vanquished at the cross John 12:31-32.Later,he will be bound in the abyss for one thousand years Revelation 20:1-3 and then will be cast into the lake of fire for eternity Revelation 20:10.
Until this final judgment,Satan is "the prince of this world" John 14:30,but it seems that he still has restricted access to the heavenly realm.In Job 1:6,Satan stands in the presence of God.Since God is holy and absolutely without sin Isaiah 6:3,and since He will not even look on evil Habakkuk 1:13,how can Satan be in heaven?
The answer involves God's sovereign restraint of sin.In Job 1,Satan stood before God to account of himself.God initiated the meeting,led the proceedings,and remained in absolute control(verse7).The result was that Satan's power was limited(verse 12) and God was glorified.
1)Satan does not have open access to God's presence.He is summoned by God.
2)The visits are temporary.His time before God's throne is limited.
3)In no way is the purity of heaven by the brief,God ordained presence of a sinful being,"quarantined",as it were,by God's reguatory power.
4)Satan's access is only granted prior to the final judgement.
When we say "God can not allow sin into heaven",we simply mean that God cannot allow human beings who are still in their sin to live in His presence.God's holiness will eventually consume all sin.Until that day,His holiness regulates sin,and that means that Satan,on certain occasions,is briefly summoned before his Creator to give an accout of his actions.

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[JLB]

Satan was originally one of God's holy angels,but he rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven Luke 10:18.That was only the first stage of his judgment.Satan's kingdom was vanquished at the cross John 12:31-32.Later,he will be bound in the abyss for one thousand years Revelation 20:1-3 and then will be cast into the lake of fire for eternity Revelation 20:10.
Until this final judgment,Satan is "the prince of this world" John 14:30,but it seems that he still has restricted access to the heavenly realm.In Job 1:6,Satan stands in the presence of God.Since God is holy and absolutely without sin Isaiah 6:3,and since He will not even look on evil Habakkuk 1:13,how can Satan be in heaven?
The answer involves God's sovereign restraint of sin.In Job 1,Satan stood before God to account of himself.God initiated the meeting,led the proceedings,and remained in absolute control(verse7).The result was that Satan's power was limited(verse 12) and God was glorified.
1)Satan does not have open access to God's presence.He is summoned by God.
2)The visits are temporary.His time before God's throne is limited.
3)In no way is the purity of heaven by the brief,God ordained presence of a sinful being,"quarantined",as it were,by God's reguatory power.
4)Satan's access is only granted prior to the final judgement.
When we say "God can not allow sin into heaven",we simply mean that God cannot allow human beings who are still in their sin to live in His presence.God's holiness will eventually consume all sin.Until that day,His holiness regulates sin,and that means that Satan,on certain occasions,is briefly summoned before his Creator to give an accout of his actions.

Not the third heaven, where God dwells in His temple.

But the "second heaven", being the spirit realm below the third heaven.

I put second heaven in italics since I don't find the term second heaven in scripture, only the third heaven, where Paul was caught up.


JLB

 

[Kathi]

Yes,it is the third heaven where Jesus Christ dwells that he has occasionally access to.

 

[iLOVE]

18 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad?”

19 Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the multitudes of heaven standing around him on his right and on his left.

20 And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’
“One suggested this, and another that. 21 Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’

22 “‘By what means?’ the Lord asked.
“‘I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said.
“‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the Lord. ‘Go and do it.’

23 “So now the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster for you.” 1 Kings 22:18-23 NIV

 

[Edward]

You ask good questions Kathi. I heard a sermon on this once, and it was said that no sin is allowed in Heaven, period. That the third heaven is not really heaven, but a place where God can let the sinful ones go to speak with Him (as Satan did) or to have visions and revelations, like Paul and many other believers have. Right? Wrong? Dunno. Makes sense though. After we have been transformed (in the twinkling of an eye), then we will be allowed into the real Heaven.

 

[iLOVE]

As you see in post #4 the sons of God (fallen angels & Satan) have full access. We also see this in the book of "Job".

 

[JLB]

18 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad?”

19 Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the multitudes of heaven standing around him on his right and on his left.

20 And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’
“One suggested this, and another that. 21 Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’

22 “‘By what means?’ the Lord asked.
“‘I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said.
“‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the Lord. ‘Go and do it.’

23 “So now the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster for you.” 1 Kings 22:18-23 NIV

Good scripture.

Good insight.

However, it does not say this spirit was an unclean spirit or a demon.

Since the scripture says, I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the multitudes of heaven standing around him, then I would tend to concede that the phrase "stood before the Lord', meant that the spirit was in fact in the third heaven.


Not the case with Job.

Let's look -

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. Job 1:6

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. Job 2:1

I believe this is the phrase that would tend to led us to the conclusion that Satan has access to the Third heaven where God dwells.

However, this phrase is used of others, that we know were here on Earth. -

He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord." Genesis 10:9

Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. Genesis 18:22

In this scripture the Lord Himself was not in Heaven.

Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord God. Exodus 23:17


These are just a few scriptures that speak of coming before the Lord, without in fact being up in the Third heaven.


I find it hard to believe that Satan could stand in the direct Presence of God the Father in heaven.

Now if God somehow enabled him to do so, then so be it.

I personally believe that this scripture is referring to the second heaven where Satan and his angels dwell above the earth -

9 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 12:9

I believe in this scripture that we see Satan and his angels cast down to earth and confined here.

For then there will be great tribulation such as has not been...

I believe this scripture will be fulfilled soon.



JLB

 

[Kathi]

You ask good questions Kathi. I heard a sermon on this once, and it was said that no sin is allowed in Heaven, period. That the third heaven is not really heaven, but a place where God can let the sinful ones go to speak with Him (as Satan did) or to have visions and revelations, like Paul and many other believers have. Right? Wrong? Dunno. Makes sense though. After we have been transformed (in the twinkling of an eye), then we will be allowed into the real Heaven.

If you read Job it does say that Satan was at Jesus's throne.I found this hard to believe.But when I did a research study on it I found that yes,Satan is allowed limited visits to heaven.If you read my post it says that heaven and those in heaven are not compromised by these seldom visits by satan.

 

[iLOVE]

Good scripture.

Good insight.

However, it does not say this spirit was an unclean spirit or a demon.

Since the scripture says, I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the multitudes of heaven standing around him, then I would tend to concede that the phrase "stood before the Lord', meant that the spirit was in fact in the third heaven.


Not the case with Job.

Let's look -

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. Job 1:6

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. Job 2:1

I believe this is the phrase that would tend to led us to the conclusion that Satan has access to the Third heaven where God dwells.

However, this phrase is used of others, that we know were here on Earth. -

He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord." Genesis 10:9

Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. Genesis 18:22

In this scripture the Lord Himself was not in Heaven.

Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord God. Exodus 23:17


These are just a few scriptures that speak of coming before the Lord, without in fact being up in the Third heaven.


I find it hard to believe that Satan could stand in the direct Presence of God the Father in heaven.

Now if God somehow enabled him to do so, then so be it.

I personally believe that this scripture is referring to the second heaven where Satan and his angels dwell above the earth -

9 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 12:9

I believe in this scripture that we see Satan and his angels cast down to earth and confined here.

For then there will be great tribulation such as has not been...

I believe this scripture will be fulfilled soon.



JLB

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. Revelations 12:10 NASB

 

[Edward]

I did say dunno for sure. I'm going to watch this one. There's a few very respected brothers and sisters in this one, and on both sides of the fence. I feel outclassed here, lol.

Get to work Edward...

 

[turnorburn]

I'll have to go along with these verses which leads me to believe Satan was kicked out of his playpen and now we're stuck with him.. in verse 12 the heavens are rejoicing to be done with him and then give us a look out below..

Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

tob

 

[reba]

Before or after the Cross?

 

[turnorburn]

after reba..

tob

 

[reba]

Let me rephrase ... Do you, anyone, think believe the Cross made any difference to Satan's access of Heaven?

 

[Kathi]

Like my article says I do believe that Jesus Christ willing and with Jesus Christ's permission that Satan does have occasional access to Jesus's throne.Before I did the study on it I was very skeptical but now it makes alot of sense.I do not believe that Jesus would allow any harm to come to those in heaven.

 

[iLOVE]

Satan along with the fallen angels has access to God throne up until the great tribulation. Once the heavens are shaken access is closed.

 

[Kathi]

Satan along with the fallen angels has access to God throne up until the great tribulation. Once the heavens are shaken access is closed.

Yes I am not sure about the fallen angels.Maybe someone else knows about that.It just said that satan has access.

 

[farouk]

Yes I am not sure about the fallen angels.Maybe someone else knows about that.It just said that satan has access.

I think the book of Job is instructive: God allowed Satan to go just so far with Job and not any further. Meanwhile, the Lord strenthens those of His people who are under pressure.

Blessings.

 

[Kathi]

I think the book of Job is instructive: God allowed Satan to go just so far with Job and not any further. Meanwhile, the Lord strenthens those of His people who are under pressure.

Blessings.

Yes,God allowed satan to sift Job.But look at the ending.Job was really Blessed

 

[farouk]

Yes,God allowed satan to sift Job.But look at the ending.Job was really Blessed

I knew a missionary's daughter called Keren (after Keren-Happuch, Job's daughter, mentioned at the end of the book...)

Blessings.