SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 28
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. [Ezekiel 28:17]
Ezekiel likens the wicked king of Tyre to Satan himself, You were in Eden, the garden of God… You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. [Ezekiel 28:13-14]
This happens more often in the bible [see Isaiah 14:12-15], with the most memorable time when Jesus said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” [Matthew 16:23]
This passage in Ezekiel in particular gives more information about who Satan was, and what happened, how he was cast down out of God’s presence in shame and defeat.

He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. [Luke 10:18-19]
Interesting that Jesus says this prior to His victory on the cross, after the missionary disciples return having cast out demons and healed sick people and witnessed to the kingdom of God.
When did Jesus see Satan fall – at that moment?
Of was the defeat of Satan already established at the very beginning, and that God is only now working out in time what was already established at the beginning of time.
History is not a tug of war between God and Satan; Satan has always been defeated and doomed for destruction, but because his rebellion occurred in time, God is working it out in time.
Satan fell from heaven a long time ago [see Revelation 12:7-9 for another picture of this], and through history God is working it out.
Satan knows that he is defeated, he knows his days are numbered, but he isn’t going down without a fight.

Too often we view history from the perspective of evil’s power, but by faith we see God enthroned, Jesus as Lord, Satan as fallen and his days numbered.
Evil events, cruel tyrants, wars and catastrophes are not signs of the rise of evil, but the last days of evil, as God’s kingdom comes.
But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short. [Revelation 12:12]
Today is Easter, the day we celebrate the victory of God over Satan and evil, the guarantee that God’s kingdom is coming, that death is but a doorway to life.
Satan is furious, raging on earth… but he knows his time is short, his days numbered.

PRAYER:
Lord, You are seated on the throne over all, including defeated Satan. Help me to stop giving him authority in my life, and to live the truth of Your victory!