When Did Satan Fall? - Soul Choice Ministries

There are six passages of Scripture that refer to Satan’s fall from heaven. The question is: When did his fall take place?

We must be aware that it may have occurred in stages. Therefore, each of these verses may reveal different aspects of Satan’s fall. One verse may refer to Satan’s authority, and another to his position.

Jesus stated that Satan had a kingdom. In Luke 11:18, Jesus said, “If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand?”

Jesus also stated, “The kingdom of God has come near unto you.” He was introducing the new kingdom.

The First Verse

Luke 10:18, Jesus said, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” This was right after the seventy disciples were excited that they could cast out demons.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary, page 1857:

“Satan and his kingdom fell before the preaching of the gospel… He (Jesus) foresees this to be an earnest of what should now be shortly done and was already begun. The destroying of Satan’s kingdom… and the turning of nations to the faith of Christ.”

He states that Satan’s fall took place fully at the Cross, but it had begun with the disciples as a foretaste of what was to come. However, he also makes reference to some who believe it was at the beginning of Creation. Other Bible teachers believe that Jesus was referring to what took place at the beginning of Creation.

Nelson’s Bible Commentary, page 1271, indicates that his fall began with the ministry of Jesus.

Believer’s Bible Commentary, page 1409: “An earnest of the eventual fall of Satan… This fall is still future.” They are stating that this was a taste of what would fully come in the future.

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, page 1004: “The whole ultimate result of His ministry.” They indicate that his fall happened at the Cross.

We have three opinions regarding the time period Jesus was referring to:

The Cross
The beginning of Creation
The future, specifically the middle of the Tribulation

The New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, and Jack Hayford, mention this about Luke 10:18:

“This was not a vision in which Jesus saw Satan cast out of heaven; rather, He saw in their ministry the present and ultimate defeat of Satan.”

The verse does not reveal the time when Satan fell, but it does reveal that the removal of Satan’s authority had begun with the ministry of Jesus and was fully completed at the Cross. His fall may still be future, but his authority was lost at the Cross.

The Second Verse

In John 12:31 Jesus said, “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.”

Believer’s Bible Commentary, page 1539: “Satan was utterly defeated at Calvary… The sentence has not yet been carried out on the devil, but his doom has been sealed.”

Nelson’s Bible Commentary, page 1343: “Christ is referring to His judgment of sin through His death, and His defeat of Satan.”

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, page 1056: “He sees the triumph of the Cross.”

The MacArthur Commentary, page 1400: “The Cross marked Satan’s defeat.”

Matthew Henry’s Commentary, page 2001: “That by the death of Christ Satan should be conquered…”

The New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Jack Hayford: “The Cross dethroned Satan’s uncontested rulership in the world, further ‘binding’ him.”

All six commentaries agree that this verse was referring to the time of the Cross as ending Satan’s authority or kingdom rule.

The Third Verse

Isaiah 14:11-15: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!… Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”

Unger’s Commentary, page 1181: “Satan’s original fall.” However, he does not say when that occurred, though he implies it was at the beginning. Many commentaries do not comment on a specific time period but hint that it was in the beginning.

However, it is noticeable that the verse says, “Did weaken the nations.” This implies a past tense. If the time period were at the beginning, there would not have been any nations yet to weaken. Therefore, that may indicate it does not refer to the very beginning. This is only speculation.

The Fourth Verse

Ezekiel 28:15-18: “I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God… I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.” The commentaries do not state the time period when this occurred. Some hint that it may have been at the beginning of Creation and may be paired with Isaiah 14. However, again it is interesting that part of the passage says: “I will lay you before kings.”

This implies that there were kings present when this occurred. If it were at the beginning of Creation, there would not have been any kings to lay him before. Yet another possibility is that the casting out was at the beginning, while the laying before kings may still be future. Therefore, two separate events may be in view within that passage.

The Fifth Verse

Revelation 12:3-4: “And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.”

Believer’s Bible Commentary, page 2369: “A possible reference to war in heaven which takes place in the middle of the Tribulation…” Therefore, they speculate that it is future.

The MacArthur Commentary, page 2015: “Satan’s original rebellion.” He believes it refers to the past, sometime in the beginning. Some others also believe it could refer to the beginning, sometime after the six days of Creation.

One view is that it occurs in the middle of the Tribulation. Others believe it refers to the original rebellion at the beginning. Since Satan was waiting to devour the child, Jesus, it tells us he was already on the earth. I personally think it was at the beginning, sometime after the six days of Creation.

The Sixth Verse

Revelation 12:7-14: “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him… for the accuser of our brethren is cast down… he hath but a short time.”

Believer’s Bible Commentary, page 2369: “This takes place in the middle of the Tribulation…”

Two other commentaries state the same.

The New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Jack Hayford: “The dragon and his angels were defeated by the total event of Jesus Christ. In this yet future battle, Satan is excluded once and for all from access to the third heaven.”

I agree that it takes place in the middle of the Tribulation, as the passage gives three clues:

Satan deceived the whole world. This indicates time passing in order to deceive a worldwide population.
The accuser is cast down. We know he accuses Christians throughout the ages, so it would have to include all Christians right up until the end.
It says he has but a short time. When Satan sees that he has been cast down, he immediately persecutes Israel.

However, they are protected by God and flee to the city of Petra for three and one-half years, the last half of the Tribulation. Therefore, his fall would occur right at the midpoint of the Tribulation.

John 12:31 seems to be the only verse that clearly refers to Satan being cast out when Jesus died on the Cross. However, it may be referring to his authority and not the actual casting out of heaven. We know that Satan’s original rebellion would have taken place near the beginning of Creation, sometime after the Creation week, since he was in the Garden of Eden and tempted Eve. The time of Satan’s original fall in the beginning could be one or all of these passages: Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28, Luke 10:18, and Revelation 12:3-4.

The bottom line is that we cannot know for certain. This is not a critical issue and does not ultimately affect the gospel message. The main point is that Jesus Christ defeated Satan at the Cross.

First John 3:8 says: “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”