Page 112 - Foundations

Although it may be inexplicable to man why God would let this rebel angel loose, and why Satan
would be permitted so many opportunities to foment rebellion among Yahweh’s creation, we must
concede that since he will be imprisoned and released in the future, he may well have been
imprisoned and released in the past. Solomon declared:

Ecclesiastes 1:9-11
That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done.
So, there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one might say, "See this, it is new"?
Already it has existed for ages which were before us. There is no remembrance of earlier things; And
also of the later things which will occur, there will be for them no remembrance among those who
will come later still.

At the beginning of this chapter we asked how Satan came to gain authority over this earth. Why does
this “anointed cherub” have authority over the kingdoms of this earth? It seems probable that this
world was placed under Satan’s dominion from ages long past, before he fell into sin. Even as Saul
was anointed as the first king of Israel, it is possible that Satan was appointed as the first regent of
the earth, and that like Saul, his appointment preceded his transgression.

Satan’s fall into sin and rebellion has had a devastating effect upon this globe. Nevertheless, Yahweh
has borne patiently with the injustice and wickedness of the prince of this world. In His mercy and
grace, God has provided for the redemption of mankind, as well as for the creation to be set free from
its slavery to corruption. Yahweh has entrusted to His firstborn Son the responsibility of reconciling
all things, whether in heaven or on earth, back to Himself (Colossians 1:20). Yahshua came to destroy
the works of the devil (I John 3:8). Christ’s reign will be complete when He has rectified all the evil
and wickedness of Satan, restoring the creation to a perfect harmony with its Creator (I Corinthians
15:25-28).

The rebellion of Satan against God began in former ages, ages concerning which Yahweh has given
us scant information. The restoration of all things will not be complete until more ages have past.

Just before Christ’s crucifixion there was a remarkable exchange of words between the Father and
the Son.

John 12:27-31
“Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for
this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” There came therefore a voice out of
heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The multitude therefore, who stood by and
heard it, were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.”
Yahshua answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. Now judgment
is upon this world; now the prince of this world shall be cast out.”

The Scriptures paint a picture of a world that has long been under the dominion of the prince of this
world. Even as Absalom, the beautiful son of King David slandered his father in an attempt to wrest
the rule of the kingdom to himself, Satan has slandered Yahweh. Satan, as a covering cherub should
have glorified the name of Yahweh, but he has done just the opposite. We are promised, however,