“Does Satan still accuse believers before God?”

June 2023 – Grace & Truth Magazine

QUESTION: Does Satan still have access to God in bringing accusations against believers today in light of Job 1:6 and 2:1?

ANSWER: The book of Revelation answers this question for us. The apostle John, the writer of Revelation, was told, “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this” (1:19). This gives us the outline of the book.

After the introduction in the first eight verses, the things which he “had seen” are those things related in the rest of chapter 1, describing how the Lord Jesus appeared to him on a Lord’s Day when he was in exile on the lonely island of Patmos (v.9). The “things which are” comprise the letters to seven then-existing churches in the Roman province of Asia which would be in the present-day country of Turkey. The Holy Spirit however calls on each person reading the seven letters to hear what He said to the churches. When we do so, we can see that these letters all have practical applications for Christians, including us, down through the centuries since they were written.

Perhaps even more importantly, since this is a book of “prophecy” (1:3), these letters are also a vital prophetic outline of “the things which will take place after this.” This is indicated doubly in Revelation 4:1, which includes the phrases “after these things” and “I will show you things which must take place after this.” In the same verse, John is told, “Come up here.” He would be shown things from a heavenly perspective, whereas the things in the previous chapter were all happening here on earth. The apostle, John, would then be above all the turmoil on earth just as the Church will be raptured from earth and be safe in heaven with the Lord when God’s judgments fall onto this guilty world.

From the beginning of chapter 4 to the end of chapter 19, the Revelation presents events that happen during the tribulation, concentrating primarily on the second half of this terrible time. The portion following (Rev. 20:1–22:5) focuses on the events that take place after this time, while the remainder of Revelation 22 closes the book with the Lord’s final message to us all.

In the wisdom of God, the Revelation is written largely in symbolic language, the symbols being drawn primarily from the Old Testament; other symbols are explained as they occur. Thus, believers acquainted with Scripture could understand the book, while the Roman authorities persecuting them would not understand the judgments foretold that were to come upon their empire and its rulers.

According to Ephesians 3, the Church was a mystery absolutely hidden in God and not revealed or even alluded to in Old Testament times. Therefore, prophecy in the Old Testament focuses on God’s earthly people, Israel, and the surrounding nations with which it had contacts. Revelation speaks of judgment, of worldwide tribulation, but its focus expands from Israel and its neighbors in particular to those lands where the knowledge of God through Christianity became established. The Lord Jesus stated the divine principle: “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more” (Lk. 12:48).

Revelation 12 is interesting. In it we see the hatred and opposition of Satan, described as the great fiery red dragon, against the woman, Israel, who bore the male child, Christ, who was destined to rule all nations with a rod of iron. Satan has ever been against the Lord Jesus Christ and all who are associated with Him. When we believers are with the Lord in glory, Satan’s wrath will be directed against Israel, particularly the remnant that turns to God in faith during that time of tribulation. Sadly, many Christians today do not understand that God is faithful to all His word. He will fulfill His promises to Abraham, David and His ancient people as a whole.

The dragon will not succeed in devouring the male child. Revelation tells us there is war in heaven and the dragon and his angels are cast out of heaven, cast to the earth. All heaven rejoices. Notice what is said about Satan in Revelation 12:9-10. He is fully identified as “the great dragon … that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world … the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night.” He “has been cast down.” Heaven and those dwelling therein are told to “rejoice” in verse 12. But the verse continues: “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the Devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

This answers the question at the beginning of this article. Satan still has access to God as “the accuser of the brethren” (v.10). However, we can thank God that another is there also. “If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins” (1 Jn. 2:1-2). In other translations “Advocate” is presented as “Helper,” “Comforter” or “Patron.” This is our Lord Jesus; He represents us before God the Father. His work avails for us against all that Satan would bring up against us. The Accuser cannot succeed against anyone saved by Christ’s precious blood (consider Rom. 8:32-34).

Nor will Satan succeed in his efforts against the coming faithful remnant and those won to God by their testimony during the three-and-a-half years of the great tribulation. They will suffer severe persecution, but their end is to rejoice in the certain fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel in Christ’s coming kingdom – the millennium.

Answered by Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.