CHAPTER TWO

GOD’S HISTORY IN TIME 
(FROM THE CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE 
TO THE FINAL JUDGMENT
AT THE GREAT WHITE THRONE— 
GENESIS 1:1—REVELATION 20:15)

(1)

CREATING THE UNIVERSE AND 
JUDGING SATAN AND THE UNIVERSE

OUTLINE

1. Creating the universe:
   1. God created the heavens and the earth—Gen. 1:1:
      1. God created the heavens with all the living things in the heavens:
         1. Stretching forth the heavens—Isa. 42:5a; Zech. 12:1a.
         2. Creating the stars—Job 38:7a.
         3. Creating the sons of God—the angels, one of them becoming Satan—v. 7b; 1:6.
      2. God created the earth with all the things on the earth:
         1. Laying the foundations of the earth—Zech. 12:1b; Job 38:4.
         2. In the proper measurements with the solid bases and the marking cornerstones—vv. 5-6.
         3. Spreading forth the earth and what springs up from it—Isa. 42:5b.
         4. The morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy at God’s beautiful building of the earth—Job 38:7.
   2. God’s initial creation of the universe before Satan’s rebellion.
2. Judging Satan and the universe:
   1. Satan was the Daystar (translated in Latin, “Lucifer”), son of the dawn, indicating that Satan was one of the early angels created by God at the “morning” of the universe—Isa. 14:12.
   2. He was in Eden, the garden of God, upon the holy mountain in the heavens, and was anointed by God to be the chief archangel (Jude 9) above all the angels—Ezek. 28:13-14:
      1. As the ruler of the world (proved by the musical instruments—v. 13b)—John 12:31; Luke 4:5-6; Eph. 2:2.
      2. As the cherub covering the Ark, close to God as the high priest serving God—Ezek. 28:14-15a.
   3. He rebelled against God—vv. 15-16:
      1. His heart was lifted up because of his beauty and his brightness—v. 17.
      2. He said in his heart, “I will ascend to heaven; / Above the stars of God / I will exalt my throne. / And I will sit upon the mount of assembly / In the uttermost parts of the north. / I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; / I will make myself like the Most High”—Isa. 14:13-14.
      3. One-third of the angels of heaven participated in his rebellion—Rev. 12:4a.
      4. The living creatures in the preadamic age also joined him in his rebellion.
   4. The issue of his rebellion:
      1. He became God’s adversary (Heb., Satan—Zech. 3:1-2; Rev. 12:9a; 20:2a).
      2. He and his subordinate angels became the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies, of which he is the ruler—Eph. 6:12; 2:2b; Dan. 10:13, 20.
      3. The living creatures of the preadamic age became demons (Matt. 12:43-45), working for his kingdom of darkness—v. 26; Acts 26:18a; Col. 1:13a.
      4. God judged Satan so that he will be cast from the heavens to the earth and to Sheol, to the uttermost parts of the pit—Ezek. 28:16-17; Isa. 14:15.
      5. God judged the heavens and the earth, which were polluted by Satan’s rebellion, and thereby the entire universe became dark—Job 9:5-7; Gen. 1:2a.
      6. God will execute His judgment upon Satan, step by step, until he is cast into the lake of fire—Luke 10:17-19; Rev. 12:9, 10b, 13; 20:2-3, 7, 10.
      7. Before the completion of the execution of God’s judgment upon him, he can still enter into the presence of God to accuse God’s people (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7; Zech. 3:1-2; Rev. 12:10b) and, as a roaring lion he walks about, seeking someone to devour (1 Pet. 5:8).
      8. Christ, in His flesh on the cross, destroyed him, in his person and nature, as the one who has the might of death—Heb. 2:14.