Incorrect
@Johann. You were the one who read into Scripture with suppositions. For example, you said:
Did this place take place in third heaven where God is? Who were the sons of God? How do they present themselves before the LORD? How did Satan came among the sons of God? You assumed or brainwashed to believe that Satan, a created being, went among "angels" in heaven, to present himself to the Lord to discuss about Job.
Big mistake!
Job 1:6
- "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them."
Job 2:1
- "Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord."
By the way, if anyone's Bible translates these words (
sons of God) as "angels", that is
a serious error! The words sons of God in these verses are the exact same Hebrew words found throughout scripture for sons and God. It is the same words found in Genesis chapter 6. The words are [
ben 'elohiym] or as some write it [
bane el-o-heem] which is
literally offspring or children/Sons of God. The exact same words in all the verses. There is no word "angel" or "messenger" there in the original Hebrew. Any Bible that translates these words as angel is making an "unjustifiable commentary" and that's not really a translation or transliteration of the Hebrew. And believe me, there is a difference. Commentaries can be helpful, but when they find themselves on the pages of scripture masquerading "as Scripture," that is a serious error. It is an unrighteous act for anyone to translate [ben 'elohiym] as angels when God inspired the words meaning "Children of God."
As for the actual verse, some people have legitimately been confused by the language that these sons of God "came to present [
yatsab] (
meaning, to station or position) themselves before the Lord." Some think that this must mean that they were in "literal" heaven. That is not the case at all! We have to keep in mind the times that we are reading about. The time of Job was the early years of the world. The language of "presenting themselves before God", is common in Biblical History, and doesn't denote literally appearing in physical Heaven before God. It is simply common language of the day denoting coming to a place designated for the presence of God, in order to inquire of Him. Today, we'd go to a church to do this. That would be our coming to present ourselves and inquire of God. In those days, they would have their own designated Holy place. We see this clearly for example in Deuteronomy chapter 31:
Deuteronomy 31:14-15
- "...call Joshua, and Present Yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and Presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation.
- and the Lord appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud:...."
God told Moses to present [
yatsab] (same word) himself and Joshua before Him in the tabernacle, and "God" appeared there and spoke to them. Please note, they did not appear in Heaven, but in a place of earth! Comparing scripture with scripture we see this language of presenting oneself before the Lord doesn't denote an appearance in the third heaven. Here they presented themselves before God, but it was in the physical tabernacle on earth. It's the exact same thing as the sons of God presenting themselves in Job. In these early days, God spoke to His servants the Prophets in a special way. And often times that meant an appearance or His presence in a special way. But don't take my word for it, just compare scripture with scripture.
1st Samuel 10:19
- "...Now therefore Present Yourselves before the Lord by your tribes, and by your thousands."
Present (same Hebrew word) themselves before the Lord and there they would inquire of God. That didn't mean that the tribes of Israel went into Heaven to present themselves before the Lord. This is the language God uses to describe the official, recognized gathering together into the place of the presence of God. Another verse is, Numbers 11:16 where the Lord tells Moses to gather 70 into the tabernacle to STAND (same Hebrew word PRESENT) themselves with Moses, and "GOD" would come down and talk with Him there. You see, this was simply the language used in the old days when the believers or sons/children of God would come to pray, worship and inquire of the Lord. They would present themselves before the Lord for instruction. There is no different in saying, "the sons of God came to present themselves before the lord," and in saying "the believers came to present themselves before the Lord." It's human beings in view here, not angels, and it's the designated place of worship on earth, not in physical heaven.
Next literally we read in Job 1:6 says "..and there doth come
Satan in their midst." So the sons of God came to present themselves before God, and Satan (
the the spirit of the adversary) came in the midst of the congregation with them. As indeed Satan normally does among God's people. Not at all unlike the 12 Disciples with Christ in Jerusalem, and Satan coming in the midst of them
within Judas. There we have an example of Judas as the adversary coming in the midst of the sons of God at the Sop with our Lord, and Christ telling him, "
That thou doest, do quickly." Once again we see that Satan makes his appearance on earth through men!
Selah!
Yes, it's an event that took place, but
NOT in heaven,
NOT with angels,
NOT with a "being" called Satan, but in the early assembly of God's children, where the adversary came among them to bring railing accusation, and God responding with a teaching lesson for all of us that would last in His word until Christ returns. The adversary meant it for evil, but God used it for good.
Moreover, this also proves to any Bible believing, rationally thinking person that if this were
very literally Satan in heaven at the time of Job, then undeniably he couldn't have been the fallen angelic being in the Garden of Eden that was allegedly cursed
because that would necessarily mean that after that cursing, God allowed him back into heaven as an evil angel. Yet again "proving" the total and clear
bankruptcy of this doctrine that this was the Same Being Satan that was in the Garden. How is Satan cursed in the Garden, and then years later at the time of Job, came back in heaven before God and other supposed angels. Oh please! It makes
NO SENSE because it's not true. Period! It's a church tradition of fallen angels that has been passed down through the years and that many Christians cannot seem to let go of. Even when they know it's contradictory, convoluted and inconsistent!
God talking to Satan is no different from God asking Adam and Eve where they were, when of course He knew perfectly well where they were. Or Him telling the Serpent in the garden that he had been cursed.
It's all for our learning. Not a discussion for Satan, but
for us. In this conversation, we understand the
mind of wicked man who inserts himself into God's assembly and
reviles and
speaks evil against God's faithful. There is nothing new under the sun. What does God do? God
allows adversity upon Job, knowing the end from the beginning, for our benefit and edification.
