We have already noted how that as the human family spread throughout the world in ancient times, so also did Satan and his angels spread throughout this world seeking to conquer the world and to become its ruler. We have also considered how that God’s angels, prophets, and righteous saints have spread over the world to combat the forces of darkness. Moreover, for us to understand the battle which now rages throughout the world. We need to understand the ancient Christian doctrine about the pre-existence, the council in heaven, the rebellion of Satan, and the angels which followed him. The war in heaven between Michael the Archangel who led the fight for freedom against Satan and his angels. Plus, how Michael wounded Satan, and how his angelic forces thrust the rebellious angels out of heaven. Their fall from heaven, and how they continue to war and fight against God and the righteous here on the earth. You might remember the numerous sources we have already considered about how that Christ defeated and wounds the devil during his battle with him in the underworld to free the captive spirits held there. And so, even though Satan is also a world wide wounded wander, he is an evil one.
In Job 1:6—7 we read about his wanderings: “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”
The basic elements to pre-existence consist of the follow:
A. The spirit was created before the body.
B. It lived in a family in heaven before the creation of the world.
C. The angels of God were these pre-existing spirits.
D. A council was held in heaven in order to discuss the creation of the world into which the spirit sons and daughter of God would descend in order to gain mortal bodies.
E. Satan, then a good angel, suggested a plan of force and wanted to take over the Father's position, because he would force everyone to be saved.
F. Christ, as the first born spirit, wanted to maintain the plan of freedom of choice on the earth, and because the human family would be free, they would sometimes sin. Thus, someone would have to come and atone for the sins of the world in order to give the human family a chance to repent and return to glory. The Father said he would send Christ to be the redeemer.
G. Because Christ was chosen to be the Redeemer of the world; Satan rebelled and fought against Christ, his spirit-brother. Satan caused a war in heaven, and Michael the arch-angel, and his host of angels thrust Satan and his angels out of heaven.
H. Satan and his angels fell, and thus they became the demons who still war against God.
These concepts are found throughout Christian history, scriptures, illumination manuscripts, art works, icons, monuments, mystery plays, & legends. The early Jewish & Christian sects developed their own particular interpretations to these things by including all or some of these aspects in their versions of the story. (1)
EARLY ANTI-CHRISTIANS KNEW OF & REJECTED THE DOCTRINE
Trypho the Jew said to Justin Martyr, A.D. 100—165, that their (Trypho's) teachers had taught them that the (early) Christians utter many blasphemies, seeking to persuade us that Christ or “this crucified man was with Moses and Aaron, and spoke to them... [And] that he became a man...” Thus, this early anti-Christian rejected the concept that Christ pre-existed.
Jewish documents make reference to the pre-existence.# So they may not have had too much of a problem with the idea of a pre-existence. But rather, the Jews had a hard time accepting Christ as being the one God, or another God. And that it was Jesus who had spoken to their prophets.
Furthermore, though Jewish writings have their own particular versions of the war in heaven. Plus, how Satan and his angels fell from heaven. Still, in spite of this, Trypho rejects the early Christians’ version of the story, for he says that they "...assert that angels sinned and revolted from God." Justin cites from Isaiah, Zechariah, Job, Moses, & David to show how Jewish scriptures say that the devil and his demons fell from heaven to become fallen angels/demons. Plus, how the wicked angels sinned when they revolted against God.
115—168—181, Theophilus of Antioch, while responding to the early anti-Christian, Autolycus, says this: In the pre-existence, Christ was in a council in heaven with God the Father.
Concerning the pre-existence of the soul, we read in an ancient document said to be more primitive than the canonical gospels: "Blessed is he who was before he came into being.”
The Book of Enoch is cited by Jude, and it speaks of the pre-existence, the war in heaven, Satan and his angels fall, and their evil works upon the earth. Enoch speaks of the "Lord of Spirits." Numbers 16:22 speaks of the “God of the spirits of all flesh". Numbers 27:16: "...the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh..." Hebrews 12:9 "...shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?” (2)
First century A.D., New Testament writers:
There is a family in Heaven, and a family on earth (Ephesians 3:14—15; Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:4—7; Genesis 2:4—5).
The human family has a heavenly Father of Spirits (Hebrews 12:9—10).
Christ’s Heavenly Father is also our Heavenly Father (John 20:17).
Before the creation there was some of the angels sinned (Jude 6; 1 Peter 2:4).
Satan and his angels fought with Michael and his angels (Revelation 12:7—9).
The rebellious angels were thrust out, and fell from heaven.
The consequences of sins in pre-existence determined the type of body and conditions one could be born into (John 9:1—3).
Christ, the apostles, and the human family came down from heaven (John 3:13; 17:4—5; 18).
Return to heaven, suggesting that one had been there first (John 6:62—65).
Pre-ordination, chosen to perform certain missions in life (Jeremiah 1:5; Titus 1:1—2).
Christ the first born (Colossians 1:15—16; Romans 8:29; Hebrews 1:5—6).
Christ anointed above all other angels chosen to be the Father's son in the flesh (Hebrews 1:2—9; Ezekiel 28:14; Psalms 104:4).
The human family sojourners here away from their heavenly home (Hebrew 11:13—16).
The New Testament shows the continued feud between the forces of Satan & Jesus, a feud that began in the pre-existence. In The New Testament we note that the Lord Jesus Christ recognizes the adversary & the adversary recognizes Jesus Christ as being each others' rival and old opponent.
John speaks of Christ as having come down from heaven. This suggests that Christ pre-existed before his birth (John 1:1-3, & 14). John the Baptist was perhaps one of the ones who was pre-ordained to be the prophet to bear witness of Christ. Thus, he was “sent from God” (John 1:6).
Christ is the true Light which “which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9).
First century, The Odes of Solomon, Syriac text, Ode 22: "He who brought me down from on high, also brought me up from the regions below... He who scattered my enemies had existed from ancient and my adversaries... He that overthrew by my hands the dragon with seven heads: and thou hast set me over his roots that I might destroy his seed." “For from another race am I: For the Father of truth remembered me: He who possessed me from the beginning... The Son of the Most High... the Word that was beforetime... He was known before the foundation of the world...” (3)
