Doctrine of the Angelic Conflict, part 4 – Trial outline; Job 40: 1-4; Acts 1:6-11.

Title: Doctrine of the Angelic Conflict, part 4 - Trial outline; Job 40: 1-4; Acts 1:6-11.

 

2. Outline of the trial of satan and the fallen angels:

 

1. Judge or Jury Trial.The defense often has the right to decide whether a case will be tried to a judge or jury, but in some jurisdictions both the prosecution and the defense have the right to demand a jury trial. Juries consist of 12 persons in serious felony cases, but some states allow for as few as six person juries in less serious misdemeanor cases.

 

The prehistoric case was tried by a Judge only whereas the appellate case was and is being tried by a jury (human race).

 

Prehistoric trial: satan’s fall - “I will be like the Most High,” (ISA 14:12). Judge’s sentence - eternal fire, however reconciliation is offered and rejected, and so the sentence stands.

 

This is why God says there is no one like Me or no one above Me over and over again in the Psalms - these statements are direct rebuttals against this attack.

 

We have no idea how long this went on.

 

Due to the sentencing of the prehistoric trial, angels are divided into two categories. Elect angels possess eternal salvation. Fallen angels are sentenced to the Lake of Fire prior to human history.

 

2. Jury selection (appeal trial).If the trial will be held before a jury, the defense and prosecution select the jury through a question and answer process called "voir dire." In federal courts and many state courts, the judge carries out this process using questions suggested by the attorneys as well as questions that the judge comes up with on his or her own.

 

God and satan agree to human beings as members of the jury.

 

3. Evidence issues.The defense and prosecution request the court, in advance of trial, to admit or exclude certain evidence. These requests are called motions "in limine."

 

God and satan agree on the terms and rules of the AC.

 

God buried Moses and no one knew the burial place, so it would appear that satan wanted the location revealed for some unrevealed reason. The important point is that Michael the elect angel left the rebuking of the fallen angel to the Lord, the only Judge.

 

4. Opening statements.The prosecution and then the defense make opening statements to the judge or jury. These statements provide an outline of the case that each side expects to prove. Because neither side wants to look foolish to the jury, the attorneys are careful to promise only what they think they can deliver. In some cases, the defense attorney reserves opening argument until the beginning of the defense case.

 

God: I am eternally perfect in righteousness and justice; there are no other god’s but Me - “Let there be light!”

Satan: A loving God cannot cast His creatures into eternal fire, therefore God is unrighteous and unjust.

 

Formal trial - OT history. This phase is complete.

 

5. Prosecution case-in-chief.The prosecution presents its main case through direct examination of prosecution witnesses by the prosecutor.

 

God presents all mature OT witnesses.

 

6. Cross-examination.The defense may cross-examine the prosecution witnesses.

 

Satan cross examines Adam as well as all OT mature witnesses, Heb 11.

 

 

 

 

 

HEB 12:1

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us [OT heroes of Heb 11], let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us

 

In other words, their memory echoes in the court room even thought they are gone as their memory is recorded in Scripture and if they could do it with less power, then we can do likewise with God’s omnipotence.

 

A student of history who becomes a student of the Bible will become a better student of history.

 

It will be realized that behind every earthly power there is a satanic power lurking, seeking to control and dominate for the glory of the rebel who declared war against God.

 

7. Redirect.The prosecution may re-examine its witnesses.

 

We can conclude that this occurs every time a witness for God fails under satan’s cross examination and then we find God returning to that witness in another examination. This has happened quite frequently in the OT and to almost every OT hero. Abraham, David, Joseph are but a few.

 

8. Prosecution rests.The prosecution finishes presenting its case.

 

Occurring just prior to the birth of Christ.

 

9. Motion to dismiss (optional).The defense may move to dismiss the charges if it thinks that the prosecution has failed to produce enough evidence -- even if the jury believes it -- to support a guilty verdict.

 

Satan most likely did this often before Christ’s victory.

 

10. Denial of motion to dismiss.Almost always, the judge denies the defense motion to dismiss.

 

11. Defense case-in-chief.The defense presents its main case through direct examination of defense witnesses.

 

Satan presented his case, e.g., the infiltration of fallen angels in Gen 6, the cross- examination of the high priest in Zec 3, and Job.

 

12. Cross-examination.The prosecutor cross-examines the defense witnesses.

 

God cross-examines Job in Job 38-41.

 

JOB 40:1-4 Then the Lord said to Job, "Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer it." Then Job answered the Lord and said, "Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to Thee? I lay my hand on my mouth.

 

Jesus Christ never loses a case.

 

Technically it was God that called Job to the witness stand and not satan, however, satan did challenge God’s choice of Job and subsequently presented Job’s friends and Job’s failure before his so-called friends. My point in mentioning this is so that you do not get overcome with details and thereby miss the importance of the real trial allowed by God for the fallen angels, which will not always follow directly with American jurisprudence.

 

13. Redirect.The defense re-examines the defense witnesses.

 

14. Defense rests.The defense finishes presenting its case.

 

15. Prosecution rebuttal.The prosecutor offers evidence to refute the defense case.

 

The rebuttal phase of the trial first starts with the two rebuttal arguments of the Prosecution:  the great power experiment of the Hypostatic Union, resulting in our Lord’s strategic victory of the angelic conflict, and the great power experiment of the Church Age, in which some mature believers win the tactical victory of the angelic conflict.

 

The Church Age is the most intensive time of the angelic conflict. When any Church Age believer utilizes the omnipotence of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit to advance to spiritual maturity, there is a tactical victory in the angelic conflict.

 

God saved the best witnesses for the rebuttal; Jesus Christ and the mature Church-age believers.

 

Acts 1:6 And so when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?"

 

Acts 1:7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;

 

Acts 1:8 but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. " 

 

Acts 1:9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

 

Acts 1:10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was departing, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them;

 

Acts 1:11 and they also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."

 

Generally the defense will not be allowed a rebuttal, but in this case there was a rebuttal by the defense since there is a seven year remainder to the formal trial.

 

This is followed by the rebuttal arguments of the defense: the violence of the Tribulation. Violence is all that’s left to Satan, a demonstration that Satan lost in the strategic victory of the angelic conflict by our Lord, and in the Church Age by the tactical victory of a few believers in every generation.

 

16. Prosecution closing argument.The prosecution makes its closing argument, summarizing the evidence as the prosecution sees it and explaining why the jury should render a guilty verdict.

 

The Second Advent and Millennial reign of Christ in contrast to the violence of the Tribulation.

 

17. Defense closing argument.The defense makes its closing argument, summarizing the evidence as the defense sees it and explaining why the jury should render a not guilty verdict -- or at least a guilty verdict on a lesser charge.

 

More violence in the Gog and Magog Revolution, REV 20:8.

 

This actually occurs after satan is found in contempt at the second coming and is locked up in the Abyss for 1000 years, so we could conclude that this is a post trial motion in which the defense asks the Judge to overturn the verdict, yet, simplicity is better here.

 

18. Prosecution rebuttal.The prosecution has the last word, if it chooses to do so, and again argues that the jury has credible evidence that supports a finding of guilty.

 

Fire from heaven destroys the revolution, REV 20:9.

 

19. Sentencing.Assuming a conviction (a verdict of "guilty"), the judge either sentences the defendant on the spot or sets sentencing for another day.

 

Satan and the fallen angels receive the post-historic sentence of the Lake of Fire, REV 20:10.

 

That is an overview of the trial. Now we have to fill it all in.