What is meant by "Satan Is Cast Out Of Heaven" in Revelation and what does 'Keep' the Sayings of the Prophecies of This Book Mean?
[Updated Dec 10, 2011 to fit TOA]
Hello again Mike,
I know it's long, but I still need help with something, so please if you have the time would really appreciate your help. I've made it a habit of trying not to email you unless I can't find what I'm looking for on your website, as I know you are very busy with tons of work and e-mails.
B____
Yesterday I emailed you regarding the origin of Satan, how he was created as God's adversary, and was never a light bringing angel. If you recall, my parents and I are in total disagreement, with them being brought up in the historical orthodox way of thinking and all. When I told my mom about those Scriptures you sent me to show that God created Satan, not Lucifer, but Satan, she pointed to this scripture, and I was wondering if you could help me out with it.
The scripture is Revelation 12:9 "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angles were cast out with him"
I told her that the book of Revelation is a book of spiritual symbols, but I'm not quite sure of what the symbolism behind this particular Scripture is. From a practical stand point this Scripture can't be referring to Satan being cast out of heaven for trying to "overthrow" God, because in this very scripture it reads "who deceives the whole world", and if "Lucifer" was cast out of heaven in the beginning, he could not have possibly deceived the world yet, because no one was in the world to be deceived at that time. Not to mention that it says in this verse "that old serpent", and as you showed me yesterday the bible says that God made the "crooked serpent".
Anyway, Mike, I'm still new at understanding the Scriptures, and I know that it takes God giving me his spirit to see these things, so I pray for it and study off your site everyday. Can you help me out with this? I would really like my mom to understand just how perfect, and all knowing God is, and not a screw-up who couldn't even create an angel who would stay loyal to him.
Thank you so very much Mike.
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Hi B____,
This event in Revelation 12, is covered in our commentary which we will begin re-posting chapter by chapter before too long. Keep reading, and you will be able to see that the third verse of chapter one tells us something to which God has blinded the eyes of the "historical orthodox Christian church." Here is what we are told:
Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
This word "keep" is the same Greek word Christ used when He told His apostles:
Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
The Greek word here translated 'keep' and 'kept.' is the same in every case. It is the Greek word 'tereo,' Strong's number 5083. It appears 74 times in the New Testament. Here is the breakdown of how it is translated and here is every verse where this word occurs:
G5083tay-reh'-o
Total KJV Occurrences: 74
keep - 31
Matthew 19:17, Mark 7:9, John 8:51, John 8:55, John 14:15, John 14:23, John 15:10, John 15:20, John 17:11, John 17:15, Acts 15:5, Acts 15:24, Acts 24:23 (2), 1 Corinthians 7:37, 2 Corinthians 11:9, Ephesians 4:3, 1 Timothy 5:22, 1 Timothy 6:14, James 1:27, James 2:10, 1 John 2:3, 1 John 3:22, 1 John 5:2-3 (2), Jude 1:21, Revelation 1:3, Revelation 3:10, Revelation 12:17, Revelation 14:12, Revelation 22:9
kept- 15
John 2:9-10 (2), John 12:7, John 15:10, John 15:20, John 17:6, John 17:12, Acts 12:5-6 (2), Acts 25:4, Acts 25:21, 2 Corinthians 11:9, 2 Timothy 4:7, Jude 1:6, Revelation 3:8, Revelation 3:10
keepeth - 10
John 9:16, John 14:21, John 14:24, 1 John 2:4-5 (2), 1 John 3:24, 1 John 5:18, Revelation 2:26, Revelation 16:15, Revelation 22:7
reserved - 7
Acts 25:21, 1 Peter 1:4, 2 Peter 2:4, 2 Peter 2:17, 2 Peter 3:7, Jude 1:6, Jude 1:13
observe - 4
Matthew 23:3 (2), Matthew 28:20, Acts 21:25
preserved - 2
1 Thessalonians 5:23, Jude 1:1
hold - 1
Revelation 3:3
keepers - 1
Matthew 28:3-4 (2)
reserve - 1
2 Peter 2:9
watched - 1
Matthew 27:36
watching - 1
Matthew 27:54
Reading all of the entries of this word, one would have to be spiritually blind to fail to see that this word means to do and observe and keep what ever is under discussion.
Just taking at random one of the entries of this word let's look at Revelation 3:8:
Rev 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
Rev 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
Rev 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Is Christ going to make those who are of the synagogue of Satan to come and worship at the feet of the saints who have been careful not to do what they readeth, and [what]... they hear of the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein?" That is absurd. Christ has just told us:
Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
The reason given for "Keeping those things which are written therein" is "For [Greek- gar-because] the time is at hand." Now this was written nearly 2000 years ago. And John was told to tell everyone "the time is at hand" to "keep those things which are written therein." Now verse one tells us this:
Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
This is a book of signs and symbols. And so Satan being cast out of heaven is a sign and a symbol of something that has been going on in the lives of God's elect for the past 2000 years. To even hope to understand this symbol, you must read the paper entitled What and Where Is Heaven? I cannot now go into all the details here which prove that this is an ongoing event in the lives of God's elect down through the centuries, nevertheless that is exactly what "keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book" means. This book ends with the same admonition with which it begins. God's elect must experience this book fully:
Rev 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed [is] he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
This is the same Greek word tereo, 5083, which is found in Revelation 1:3. When you come to see what and where is Heaven, you will have the answer to your question. Read that paper. If your parents will permit it, read it to them. If not then don't bother trying to make them see something God does not want them to see at this time.
After you have read that paper, if you still have a question about what is meant by Satan being cast out of heaven, then please ask.
