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II. His Present Location.
The common notion is that Satan and his angels are imprisoned in Hell. This is not true. The angels described in 2 Pet. 2:4, and Jude 6, as having left their "first estate," and being "reserved in everlasting chains under darkness," are not Satan's angels. They are a special class of angels whose sin caused the Flood. They are the "Spirits in Prison" of whom Peter speaks in I Pet 3: 18-20. Satan and his angels are at liberty. We read in the first and second chapters of Job that it was the custom in Job's day for the "Sons of God" (angels), to appear at stated times in the presence of God to give an account of their stewardship, and that Satan always appeared with them.
When the Lord said to Satan - "Whence comest thou?" he replied, "From going to and fro in the earth and from walking up and down in it." Job 1:7; 2:2. Satan then was at liberty "on the earth," and had "access to God," and was "not cast out of Heaven" in Job's day. B.C. 2000. Milton in his book "Paradise Lost" describes Satan as having been cast out of Heaven in the time of Adam and Eve, and bases his description on Rev. 12: 7-12. But as the Book of Revelation is a prophecy of "Things to Come," and that were all "future" in the Apostle John's day, Satan had not been cast out of heaven up to that time, A.D. 96, and as he has not been cast out since, he must still be at liberty in the heavenlies and on the earth.
III. His Kingdom.
Satan is a King, and has a Kingdom.
"If Satan cast out Satan he is divided against himself; how shall then his 'kingdom' stand." Matt. 12:24-30.
"We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against Principalities, against Powers, against the Rulers of the Darkness and of this World (Age), against Spiritual Wickedness in High Places, (the Heavenlies)." Eph. 6:12
From this we see that his Kingdom consists of "Principalities," "Powers," "Age Rulers of Darkness," and "Wicked Spirits in the Heavenlies."
These "Principalities" are ruled by "Princes," who control certain nations of our earth, as in the days of Daniel the Prophet, when a heavenly messenger was sent to Daniel, but was hindered "three weeks" from reaching him by the
"Prince of the Kingdom of Persia,"
Satan's ruling "Prince of Persia," until Michael the Archangel came to his rescue. Dan. 10: 10-14.
The subjects of Satan's Kingdom are -
1. Angels. Not the angels that kept not their first estate and who are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the Judgment of the Great Day, (Jude 6), but angels who are at liberty, and are now with Satan in the heavenlies (Rev. 12:9), and who, with him, are to be cast into the "Lake of Fire" prepared for the Devil and his angels. Matt 25:41. Rev. 20:10.
2. Demons. There is but one Devil. When the Word "devils" occurs in the New Testament we should substitute the word "demons." These demons are a race or order of "bodiless spirits," supposed by any to be the bodiless spirits of the inhabitants of the Pre-Adamite Earth, who seek to re-embody themselves by taking up their abode in human beings. This we know they can do under certain conditions. Demon possession was common in Christ's day.
These demons are wicked, unclean, vicious, and have power to derange both mind and body. Matt. 12:22; 15:22; Luke 4:35; 8:26-36; 9:42. They are the "Familiar Spirits" and "Wizards" of the Old Testament and the "Seducing Spirits" of whom Paul warned Timothy. 1 Tim. 4:1.
3. Unregenerated Human Beings. All unregenerated human beings are the subjects of Satan. Jesus called the "Tares" the "Children of the Wicked One," (Matt. 13:38), and He told the Pharisaical Jews that their father was the Devil. John 8:44.
