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The problem comes
from making the beginning mentioned in John 8:44
the same as the time of the creation of Satan. Satan was a murderer from
the beginning (John 8:44) and he sinned from
the beginning (1 John 3:8). However, there is
no reason to think that this beginning is identical with his creation.
There are numerous beginnings in the Bible.
Philippians 4:15 speaks of the "beginning of
the gospel." In Acts 11:15, Peter
refers to "the beginning." However, from the
context it is clear that he is referring to the day of Pentecost in Acts
2.
One of the most common beginnings in scripture and probably the one
referred to in John 8:44 is the beginning of
this present world. That is, it refers to the six-day creation of Genesis,
chapter one. However, we have good reason to believe that Satan was
created before the beginning of our present world and that he fell into
sin before that time. Therefore, the devil was created perfect but fell
because of sin and was a liar and a murderer from the beginning of
creation as we know it. Yet, he was not a murderer and a liar from the
time of his own creation. That would make God the source of iniquity. The
absolute holiness of God would not allow this to be the case.
This is one of the main reasons that I believe in a gap of time between
the original creation and the six-day creation. It was during this gap
that Satan/Lucifer rebelled against God. If there was no original creation
and destruction, then the devil could predate man by no more than five
days. This means that the following events must have occurred between the
first day of the six-day creation and the fall of Adam and Eve:
• Lucifer’s service to God as “the anointed cherub
that covereth” (Ezekiel 28:11-15).
• The fall of Lucifer because of his pride (Isaiah
14:12-15).
• The fall of the angels who followed Satan (Matthew
25:41).
The preparation of everlasting fire for the devil and his angel
(Matthew 25:41).
NOTE: This fire must have
been prepared after the fall of Satan created the need for it yet before
the fall of man condemned him to the same place. Otherwise, it would have
been created for Satan, his angels, AND man.
Satan’s Claim on the World
Satan is called “the prince of this world” by
Christ (John 12:31) and
“the god of this world” by Paul (2Corinthians
4:4). What gives him a claim on this world and when did he get this
claim?
In Luke 4:5-6, Satan told Christ that all the
kingdoms of the world had been delivered unto him (“for
that is delivered unto me”). Christ did not deny his claim but
rather answered that only God Himself deserved worship (Luke
4:7-8). The devil’s claim of having the kingdoms of the world
delivered unto him is allowed to stand. But when could this have been
done? When Satan shows up in the Garden of Eden before the fall of man, he
is already the serpent and is in opposition to God. If Satan had some
previous rule over the world, when did he practice this rule?
In Isaiah 14:12-15, where Satan’s original
rebellion against God is recorded, the devil desired to exalt his throne
above the stars of God (v.13). In order to
exalt his throne, he had to have a throne. A throne indicates a place of
rule and dominion as well as a kingdom to rule over. Yet, this kingdom
which was ruled by Satan before the fall was below the stars of God and
below the heights of the clouds. What is left? The earth is left. Satan
had a throne on the earth before he rebelled against God. This would
explain how he got his claim to earth. The earth before
Genesis 1:2 was Lucifer’s original domain. It
was his original commission from God.
Satan’s Character From the Beginning
The devil was “a murderer from the beginning” (John
8:44) and he “sinneth from the beginning”
(1John 3:8). To what beginning does this refer? It must refer to
the beginning of the six-day creation. Nothing else makes sense.
However, if there is no gap and the devil was created on the first day of
the six days of creation, he must have been created as a sinner and a
murderer—since he was these things from the beginning. But this is
impossible for two reasons.
• First, this interpretation would make God the author of sin.
• Second, the Bible clearly states that the devil was perfect from his
creation and that iniquity was not found in him until a later date (see
Ezekiel 28:15).
He was perfect at the time of his own creation, but was a murderer and
sinner at the time of the beginning or creation as we experience it.
Therefore, the devil had to fall in sin somewhere between the time of his
creation and the beginning of the world as found in the first chapter of
Genesis. Only the gap provides a time for this. There is no other option.
Till He comes,
David F. Reagan
 John
10:9 - I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and
shall go in and out, and find pasture.
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