EVICTED FROM ALL THE THREE HEAVENS





The first chapter of Genesis indicates there are three "heavens"

1) The Third Heaven - where God abode during Creation - see also 2 Cor. 12:2.
2) The Second Heaven - created day one, filled day four - Outer Space - v. 1; v. 14-19.
3) The First Heaven - created day two, filled day five - Earth's atmosphere - v. 6-8; v. 20-23.

Satan cast out of The Third Heaven

We know from Scripture that Lucifer was originally in God's Throne Room (Job 1:6; 2:1; Ezek. 28:14).  Because of his pride, he was cast out of God's presence.  "And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven" (Lk. 10:18).  The first stage of his downward spiral was earlier described by the prophet Isaiah:  "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!" (Isa. 14:12).

Notice that after Satan is cast out of God's presence, he is "cut down to the ground."  It is then that he declares his goal of returning to the The Third Heaven, and overthrowing God.  "For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High" (Isa. 14:13-14).

Satan rules The Second Heaven and Earth

"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them" (2 Cor. 4:4).  "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" (Eph. 2:2).  "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" (Rev. 12:9).

Satan is cast down below the Earth

With the Lord Jesus' victory over death, and at His Second Coming, Satan's descent continues:  "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season" (Rev. 20:1-3).

Satan's final "resting place!"

"And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever" (Rev. 20:10).