The Origin and Fall of
Satan (part 1)
Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning….” However, what is it
the beginning of? It certainly is not the beginning of all things because God
is present, His Holy Spirit is present and His Son is present. Are we to assume
that 6000 – 10,000 years ago (our conservative Christian view of creation)
nothing existed for trillions upon trillions of what we would call years? Can
we really be expected to believe God and His Holy Spirit and Son sat in
absolute solitude with no praise or worship for all of eternity past? Was there
nothing of any kind, of any type, anywhere until 6000 years ago?
There is a tendency today to look for the newest thoughts,
to be the author who discovered those things not discovered before even though
thousands of years have passed and as many scholars have penned as many works.
One of the newest, although there is nothing new under the sun, is a discussion
on the origin of Satan. When was he created? When did he fall? And similar
discussions. It would seem that many, certainly not all, modern authors place a
great deal of value on being the one to offer a ‘new’ thought or idea, or to
uncover an ancient mystery no one has yet laid bare. This desire for prestige
seems to be what drives many to unveil the next great work on some obscure
topic.
Because Satan being created during the six days of creation
appears to be the next big issue to be discussed in theological circles I felt
compelled to at least ‘address it’ myself. So, in my opinion at least, any work
seeking to discover the origin of Satan must begin at the beginning. Therefore,
we must ask what “In the beginning” actually means. It certainly must mean
something but it does not seem likely that it would mean the beginning of all
things. Take a moment and look at what is said on each of the days of creation.
Day one: light, day and night, is created. Day two: the
heavens, that region between land and space called atmosphere. Day three: bodies
of water and vegetation. Day four: celestial bodies. Day five: living
creatures. Day six: man. It may not be apparent at first what each day of
creation shares with each of the other days. However, if one takes the time to
look a little more closely it may become glaringly obvious. God created a
physical universe. He was creating physical objects like stars and planets, He
was creating animals as we know them with fur and legs, and he was creating man
in His own image both male and female. “In the beginning” in no way rules out
the existence of myriad other entities or non-physical ‘objects’ brought into
existence by God. It was the ‘beginning’ of a ‘physical’ universe.
The angels, and Satan, are not physical, they are spiritual.
Jesus said there is a distinction when he explained to Nicodemus the importance
of being born again, John 3:5-6 “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto
thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter
into the kingdom of God. (v.6) That which is born of the flesh (or born
physically) is flesh (or physical); and that which is born of the Spirit is
spirit.” There is such a marked difference between the flesh and the spirit
that only the spiritual can enter heaven. Those things which are born in this
physical realm can never enter into the spiritual realm of God. All of the
angels of heaven including Satan were part of the spiritual realm and not the
physical realm or its creation.
So then, if God created a physical universe 6000-10,000
years ago are we to assume He existed in a vast empty void for eons of times
back through eternity past? That is not logical. In fact, it makes no sense at
all that a God of such great power and unbounded awareness would only create
once, and that only in that passed 6000
years. Biblically, we are convinced He only created one physical universe and in
that creation He made mankind (not angels) after His own image only once. But
that does not preclude a previous creation of a spiritual realm.
This seems to be a problem for Christians because of the
doors it appears to open. However, we must never interpret the Word of God from
a standpoint of fear. “Let God be true, and every man a liar” (Romans 3:40).
The Word of God is not jeopardized at all, His Word stands true. Every word of
the Bible is true, every account is accurate, and every promise will yet come
true. We are only suggesting the Bible accounts for this universe and the
physical world we live in since its inception. It would not be possible to
write of all that has occurred in the presence of God from eternity past. So
then, “In the beginning” would mean, in the beginning of the creation of the
physical universe. It is unlikely to apply to the spiritual realm.
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