Angels in Heaven, sure but Satan?

This passage for sure has caused much herat burn for commentators and Bible scholars. Was this the Satan of the Garden and Revelation 12:10? How is satan allowed into the presence of God. Does he accuse others even ourselves just as he is accusing Job? Does he have the power to afflict us as he does with Job?  Why does the Hebrew use the definite article before his name (making it "the Satan")? Is he literal of figurative? Why do the angels come to present themselves before God, does he not know what they are doing?

Beyond some simple answers that are mostly wanting we need to understand several key principles.

1. All things are before God's presence, while we maintain that nothing evil has a permanent presence or existence before GOd we cannot say that no evil whatsoever has ever come before God.
2. We know that angels present themsleves before God to do His bidding, it also seems clear that the fallen ones or the chief fallen one has some presence in court before God as attested to by this passage a nd others like Luke 22:3 and Rev. 12:10.
3. Many theologians  maintain that while Satan was cast from heaven prior to the fall of man in Gen. 6; he will be permanently cast from God's presence and the presence of mankind at the final judgement in Revelation.

All in all, the key to understanding this section of Job is to realize that there is an accuser of mankind before God and that accuser is the liar and destroyer Satan and his minions. He thoughrougly enjoys this role and task. Anything to disrupt and destroy the work of God at any point in the evangelsitic process (Matt. 13:36; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; 2 Thess. 2 :8). Christians should never be found assisting the work of Satan and become one anothers "accuser"!

So how do we respond to this message?

• Believe and know that Satan is at work against us, but he is impotent when we are strong in Christ.
• Realize that like any penal act it can be a deterrant as well. Let's not give Satan opportunity to prove us sinful without making him lie!
• Prayer keeps us presenting oursleves before the LORD as the angels do. Let's enter into His presence with confidence and boldness becuase we have our best to present.
• Remember that we are eternally grateful that Christ is our advocate, presenting our innocence through Himself.

Mat_13:25, Mat_13:28; 2Co_2:17, 2Co_11:3, 2Co_11:13-15; Eph_2:2, Eph_6:11-12; 2Th_2:8-11; 1Pe_5:8; Rev_12:9, Rev_13:14, Rev_19:20, Rev_20:2-3, Rev_20:7-10