Friday, October 4, 2013

Does Satan have access to Heaven? NO!!

                                                                   

                                              The Accuser of the Brethren

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.

      
     Satan does not have access to heaven to accuse Christians, and he never has! Satan only came before God to accuse those that were identified as God's people that were trying to be justified by works, or those that were under the law of Moses.
      
     FirstThat Satan (before the new covenant) accuses those that are living by works or the law, is found in scripture. 
     Second. There is no accusation or condemnation against those that are living by Grace, all others are condemned already. 

Now, let me support and defend these statements from the word of God. 
      
      In the book of Job, Satan comes before God and accuses Job. Job 1:9 Doth Job fear God for nought? Now Job was a man who crossed all his t's and dotted all his i's when it came to work's. God uses Satan's accusation to bring Job to a new understanding. At first Job is proclaiming his innocence and he doesn't understand why God is allowing this to happen to him. Job 9:33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both. 34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me: 35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me. Job is  asking for a mediator. If only he had someone who could make God set down and listen to him, he and God could come to some kind of understanding. We make the same mistake as Job, we look for a mediator that can bring us and God to the table so we can negotiate an understanding for our sin. But when we come to God, we must come through Christ Jesus, and Jesus stands between us and the Father. The Father sees us through the shed blood of his Son. 1 Timothy 2:For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 
      After some time Job would make what I think is one of the greatest statements of the Old Testament. Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.  We can't come to God by our own merit, Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Jesus is the sacrifice for our sins!
      Zechariah 3:1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. Joshua's righteousness was "as filthy rags" just as ours is. Joshua was living by the law of Moses, but he wasn't made righteous by the law. When we come to God through the blood of Jesus he gives us clean garments just like he did Joshua. So it isn't our righteousness that we are clothed in when we stand before God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

      One of the most egregious allegorical interpretations of scripture is to use 1 John 2:1 (My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.) and make Jesus our defense attorney and Satan the prosecuting attorney. A prosecutor is a prestigious position, an officer of the court, and is sworn to seek justice. To make Satan the prosecuting attorney gives him a position he does not deserve, and puts him on a par with Jesus. The Greek word parakletos, translated "advocate" in 1 John 2:1 is also the same word translated as "comforter" in John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;  To see our relationship with Christ our Advocate, as a relationship between an attorney and his client is wrong. Christ gave his life in our stead, go find an attorney who would do that. When we as Christians sin, we have an intercessor at the right hand of God, Christ Jesus, Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Why would God hear an accusation against a Christian from Satan who is a liar and a murderer, John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. Satan has never been able to enter heaven and make an accusation against a Christian saved by the blood of Jesus. Romans 14: Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. And again, Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. And one more, John 3:1He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

      And now to the proof text that is used to teach that Satan accuses Christians before God today. 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. 
      In this chapter we see Satan and his angels cast out of heaven. There is a woman and a man child. If you believe that the man child is the church, then when the church is taken out of the world Satan will be cast out. This view would seem to support a mid-tribulation rapture of believers. Daniels 70 weeks is seen as 490 years. 483 of those years were fulfilled with the death of Christ. The last 7 years is called the great tribulation. After the woman in Revelation 12 gives birth to the man child she is protected for 3 and a half years. I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture of believers. This is the event that will begin Daniels 70th week. The anti-christ will make a 7 year treaty with the Jewish nation, and he will restore order after all the Christians are ruptured. Jesus warned his people, the Jews of this, Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) In the middle of the 7 years the anti-christ will break his treaty with the Jews and will go into the temple and declare himself to be god. 2 Thessalonians 2:Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 
      I believe that Jesus is the man child, we know that Jesus didn't ascend into heaven in the middle of the tribulation, so how do we interpret Revelation chapter 12? I believe that most of Revelation is yet to be fulfilled. I think that chapter 12 is here to bridge the gap in Daniels 70 weeks called the church age. When Jesus ascended into heaven that ended Daniels 69th week, with the rapture of the church Daniels 70th week will begin. Revelations, after chapter 3, is about tribulations and God dealing with his people Israel. So the brethren in chapter 12 would be Jewish brethren and not Christians of the church age. 
      If you believe that Jesus is the man child it will be very difficult to support the position that Satan can go before God in heaven and accuse Christians, with Jesus, his hands and feet pierced,  setting on God's right hand. If Satan was cast out when Jesus ascended to heaven, well, that happened two thousand years ago.
John 12:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
Verse 31 says "now shall the prince of this world be cast out." What event is going to bring this about? The death of Jesus, and his ascension back to the Father. Satan has never had access to heaven during the church age, therefore he has never come into the presence of God and accused any born again Christian. 

      
      




10 comments:

  1. If we are in a country where the judge refuses to allow an accuser to make an accusation, or where a judge disposes of the accusers of his son, what kind of a country would that be?. . . an unjust country?
    Maybe like many African country's, governed by dicators and self-serving despots? Enemies of the relatives of the ruling class are routinely denied access to justice or any ability to accuse those close to the leaders.
    Our God (the judge)is totally holy and without favoritism towards his sons, and without malice towards those who accuse his sons. He is totally dispassionate towards both the accused and the accuser.
    The only legal right Satan has to approach God is with a legal accusations against men. His most common accusation is mens' "self-righteousness". Self righteousness in all its forms, coming from judging oneself more or less righteous because of our actions. From those who are proud of their actions, to those who are guilty because of their actions are self righteous. The accuser has legal ability to take you to the judge. "agree with your accuser while on the way to the judge lest he gets you the judge and you are thrown into prison". When you feel guilt and condemnation, agree that you are guilty of the actions of sin, and struggle to be free from the actions of sin, Testify that you where never righteous because of your own righteousness, but that you only stand on Jesus righteousness. Confess(testify) "I cannot stand but Jesus can and has".
    At that point Satan's presence before the judge is illegal and nothing can substantiate his presence before a holy and perfect God. He must be separated from God like lightning(instantaneously), back to earth.
    The other reason which validates his presence before God as the accuser is when the most powerful beings on the planet make accusations. i.e when we, the sons of God speak without discipline and love. We become the tools of Satan and accuse the brethren.
    Our mouths are a big problem.

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    1. Thank you for your comment, see my reply below.

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  2. WE are saved by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.
    It's all very legal.
    Our loving God "Father" has made a way for us to stand before him as the most feared Judge ever and be unprosecutable.
    The Holy Spirit is our councilor.

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  3. Dear Brother Elson, you are very close to understanding that Satan can no longer come before God to accuse God's people.
    When God's people were under the Law, they lived by the law of works. But, the Law was a teacher, to teach us that we can not be saved by works. And the Accuser, Satan, was always there to point out when those that lived by works failed. All have sinned, all have come short of the glory of God. None are righteous, no not one. The Accuser of the brethren is the accuser of those that where trying to live by works. Christians don't live by works but by faith. Not by works but by grace are we saved. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. But he that believes not is condemned already.
    When someone wrongs me, I have a right, in a just society, to take him to court, and accuse him before the judge. And he has a right to defend himself against my accusation. And this is only right, as we are a nation governed by law. But this is not analogous to our relationship to God. When we sin, we sin against God not against Satan. It is God who is grieved and should be the one to bring the accusation against us. But we have and Advocate with the Father. And Satan is not the prosecutor, he is not an officer of God's court. He is a defeated enemy of God. He has no position of respect or honor, and no legal right to stand in God's court. And this is a legal principle, you must have standing to bring a case to court. He has no standing in any case involving a Christian and God the Father. And therefore, has no legal right to make any accusation.
    When Jesus, the man child of Revelation 12, ascended into heaven, Satan was cast out and could no longer stand in God's court. Satan was never an officer in God's court of justice. So, how was he able to bring accusations against God's people? You don't have to be an officer of the court to be able to bring a case to court if you have standing in that case. Think about how Satan had legal standing in the case of those who were living by works.
    I hope you understand that Satan has no legal standing against a Christian.

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    1. Hi Greg, first let me apologise for my lack of response, it is only by chance I looked in a different folder to see this conversation.
      I really do appreciate your energy to provoke communication and to challenge those who make up the body of Christ to be active participants in their understanding of the relationship we have entered.

      I totally agree that Satan has no legal standing against us. However accusations don't stand or fall based on the position of an accuser, accusations are judged by truth and not by who says them.
      Satan goes around like a roaring lion seeking who he can devour. Scripture reveals(x2) that the wrath of a King is like the roar of a lion. From this we can understand that most of Satan's work is to cause people to think that "The King" is angry with them. . . to cause them to misunderstand the true nature of God, and feel guilty and unworthy before God. Satan causes people to feel condemnation, when the truth is they are free from condemnation and set free from "the law of Sin and death" and are now under "the Law of the Spirit of Life is Christ Jesus".
      "The Law of the Spirit of Life" does not enforce itself automatically, it must be "pointed to"(acknowledged) and claimed by Faith. That is the nature of all "petitions". All laws in Heaven and earth must be be pointed to for them to be enforced. (It's our role not Gods)

      Jesus won the victory over Satan, he thoroughly defeated Satan, dragging him through the streets in open shame for everyone to know his true relationship towards us now, Satan is defeated, judged and condemned. We must accept the new relationship before we can apply the power of "the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus"on earth.

      Faith is the "knowledge of relationship", "works of Faith" are our response to this knowledge.
      i.e there is a relationship between Jesus blood and my guilt, there is a relationship between Jesus suffering and my physical hardships/stress/shame/fruitfulness/sickness.
      By Jesus blood I am redeemed and justified, by the strips on Jesus back I am Healed, by Jesus sweating blood into anxiety I am free from anxiety, Jesus was made naked, alone, falsely accused so that I would Never have to be. All these are statements that describe our new covenant relationship.
      They are the reality of Faith.
      A "petition" points to these lawful relationships to initiate enforcement of the Law. . . Nothing happens without Faith.
      The Holy spirit, our councillor, helps us to accept the new relationship. He convicts us of the sin of not trusting in Jesus(the one and only sin). He convicts us that we are Righteous(justified), because of what Jesus did and where he went. He convicts us that Satan, and only Satan, is judged and condemned.(at this time)

      By Faith(the knowledge of relationship) the body of Christ will make a footstool for Jesus out of the belligerent enemy.
      The war is over, the victory is won, we are now tasked with enforcing the terms of that victory
      WE have to do it by Faith, or otherwise the accusation of Satan would be true, "we are only led by our senses and have no idea about the relationship God the Father has towards us".

      God initiated sacrifice throughout the old covenant to prevent the lawful destruction of the people. Satan would accuse, but there was blood to cover the sin.
      But still, Israel judged other nations and was therefore judged in the same way they had measured out judgement.
      The accuser and his accusations haven't changed, our sacrifice has, our relationship has, the ball is in our court.

      I don't hold on to these thoughts with clenched fists, but I do offer them for you to clash with in the hope that "iron will sharpen iron"










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  4. I am struggling with this. In a nut shell, are saying that Satan does not have access to heaven right now? That Satan only had access to heaven before Christ's death on the cross?

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  5. Agree with this article. I didn't even know this sort of teaching (satan is in heaven accusing New Covenant believers before God) existed until recently. Yes I'm aware of the Old Testament verses but live in the assurance the accuser of the brethren was cast out with Christ. Am seeing so much teaching on the Internet about that. So nice to find a New Covenant based post. Thank you. Was beginning to think I was the odd one out

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    1. hi entering the conversation very late! but i had a prayer unswered for months whatever i would do and went by faith to the court of heaven to ask why i could not get my prayer answered. i had the answer 1/2 hour later and immediately reprented of a sin that had nothing to do with what i was asking (free my horses from hundred for horse flyes!!! and it was hell for them and me! and i had my scriptures to back this up) and within few days as i had one more time rebucked the devil and bound him i had the breakthrought of having 1 or 2 flies on my 12 horses. best summer ever. so i don't know if it's real or not but since then i go to the court of justice and i have results... that's all i can say. i judge this theory by it's fruits in my life and either Satan works against him or it works really. but as per me i consider there is truth in it. as i don't know if i ever will come back on this page don't expect an answer from me! have a nice day

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  6. Satan will have access to heaven while men validate him as leader.
    Satan is a leader because men follow him, not because he claims the title of leader.
    Here's an interesting scripture that is purely spiritual in its application, "agree with the accuser while your on the way to the judge, lest you are judged and condemned" (paraphrased by me)
    When we defend our own righteousness we are likely to fall into guilt and condemnation, and then are liable to suffer justice, that's the problem with self righteousness. Agreeing with accusation and standing undefended as unrighteous prepares the way for mercy instead of justice.
    Agreeing with Jesus, we confess him as the fulfilment of our righteousness.
    Jesus is the first born, we are the second born, first born receives justice, second born receives mercy.
    Its a biblical pattern from the beginning to end, "You must be born again". This time as second born under Jesus, not Adam.
    Nicodemus, a Pharisee,(all Pharisees were first born in their families) knew what Jesus was suggesting in the physical. Nicodemus knew he was ultimately liable for the debts of his siblings. He didn't realize Jesus was the second Adam under whom we could all be reborn. . .Born again

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