Doctrine of the Angelic Conflict, part 3 – Trial outline; Jude 9; Heb 12:1; Job 40:1-4.

Title: Doctrine of the Angelic Conflict, part 3 - Trial outline; Jude 9; HEB 12:1; JOB 40:1-4.

 

We have documented from Scripture that this conflict or war does exist, which we term the Angelic Conflict. I repeat some definitions and then we continue in the trial outline.

 

The angelic conflict is the result of prehistoric creatures being in opposition to God, which began with the fall of Satan, and continued until all angelic creatures had made a decision for or against God.

 

It refers to two trials of Satan and fallen angels, one in prehistoric times, the other during human history.

 

Two trials: Prehistoric trial - the fall of the angels and God’s offer of redemption.

Historic trial - satan’s repeal, which is coterminous with human history.

 

Naturally, our main focus is the historic trial since we are a part of it; in fact, we are a part of the most intense part of it.

 

In the historic trial of the AC, satan’s appeal is an attack on the righteousness and justice of God with the hope of proving that God has no right to condemn him.

 

The appeal does not in any way make satan the aggressor or prosecutor, although that’s what he would love for you to believe.

 

God is the prosecutor and satan is the defense. The prosecution calls its witnesses first.

 

If a system is revealed to the human race and subsequently angels, that proves God’s character to be righteous and just by many witnesses, and under that same system certain members of the human race are exalted to heaven while others are condemned to the lake of fire, and the only difference being their own choice to have it so, then the sentence against satan and the fallen angels is just.

 

The system would have to test God’s integrity under a tremendous number of possible situations that God would direct and satan could imagine so as to challenge and test the fabric of that integrity.

 

One failure, no matter how small, that would reveal God’s integrity to be less than pure, even by a millionth of a fraction, would confirm the appeal and satan would be justified in being independent from God.

 

Though appeal trials follow different procedures than criminal trials we can see from the general outline of a criminal trial how the AC plays out in human history.

 

The many legal procedures associated with modern criminal trials have developed over centuries. States and the federal government follow a largely uniform set of procedures. Assuming that the criminal trial is carried out to completion, those procedures are as follows:

 

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.

 

How long it was from the perfection of EP when there was but one perfect will of God to the fall of angels and then the start of human history is completely unknown, though on paper it seems that it might be close. As we have noted, GEN 1:1 and 1:2 are separated by an unknown period of time. ISA 45:18 states that God did not create the earth formless or a wasteland.

 

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.

 

Example: Jude 9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you."

 

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.

 

If satan appealed to God’s love, and I have no doubt he did, then he would have been told that a fallen creature cannot be saved by love and that love is no longer the point of contact between him and God because of his unrighteousness. God so loved the world but salvation only comes to those who believe in Christ. Faith in Christ is an admission that one is totally and completely helpless and hopeless to do anything in the act of salvation. Whatever satan was offered, his faith in it would have been an admission of the same and he refused, yet still appealing to God’s love. Many do this today. They want the moon and stars from God yet they are unwilling to believe on His Savior.

 

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 (Adam to the last).

 

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 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.    

 

HEB 11:2 For by it the men of old gained approval.   

 

HEB 11:3  By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.    

 

HEB 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.   

 

HEB 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.   

 

HEB 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.    

 

HEB 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.   

 

HEB 11:8  By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.   

 

HEB 11:9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;    

 

HEB 11:10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.    

 

HEB 11:11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.   

 

HEB 11:12 Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.   

 

HEB 11:13  All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.    

 

HEB 11:14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.    

 

HEB 11:15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.    

 

HEB 11:16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.    

 

HEB 11:17  By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;    

 

 

HEB 11:18 it was he to whom it was said, "In Isaac your descendants shall be called."    

 

HEB 11:19 He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.    

 

HEB 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.    

 

HEB 11:21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.    

 

HEB 11:22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.    

 

HEB 11:23  By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict.    

 

HEB 11:24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,    

 

HEB 11:25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,    

 

HEB 11:26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.    

 

HEB 11:27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.    

 

HEB 11:28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.    

 

HEB 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.

 

 

HEB 11:30  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.    

 

HEB 11:31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.

 

HEB 11:32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,

 

HEB 11:33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,

 

HEB 11:34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

 

HEB 11:35 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection;

 

HEB 11:36 and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment.

 

HEB 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated

 

HEB 11:38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

 

HEB 11:39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,

 

HEB 11:40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

 

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.