THE APPEAL TRIAL OF SATAN

The Appeal Trial of Satan is an illustrative terminology that draws on the judicial concepts of trial and appeal to explain the continuing conflict between God and Satan.

The Appeal Trial of Satan, also called the Angelic Appeal Trial, is Satan’s objection to eternal condemnation and the ensuing courtlike event—still playing out on earth—in which he strives to prove God’s judgment unfair and inconsistent with His love.

When Lucifer’s original revolt sparked prehistoric conflict in heaven, God convened a trial to judge the offenders. The fallen super-angel, under his new title “Satan” (meaning adversary, accuser), represented himself and the angels that followed him. In perfect justice and righteousness, God pronounced them guilty and sentenced Lucifer and his minions to the eternal lake of fire (Matthew 25:41). That sentence, however, was not immediately executed. Postponement of punishment (Revelation 20:10) indicates that Satan objected to the verdict, likely on the grounds of injustice. His line of argument probably matched a common protest in the world today: “How can a loving God cast His creatures into hell?” Although there was no higher court to which Satan could appeal, the Supreme Court of Heaven graciously granted a new trial, with new witnesses and new evidence. Through this second trial—for which is coined the term appeal trial—God would demonstrate His perfect character by allowing Satan every opportunity to prove his own flawed case. Earth was the designated venue, and God inaugurated human history in order to duplicate every situation that Satan could use as a basis for his objections. Man’s freewill decisions, his choices for or against God’s plan, would provide observing angels with evidence of both Satan’s culpability and God’s perfect love and fairness (Luke 15:7, 10; 1 Peter 1:12). Witnesses for the Prosecution would be those who utilize the gracious power of God against all adversity, even cross-examination from Satan himself (Job 1—2; Zechariah 3:1-2). Testimony for the defense would show Satan’s cunning yet futile determination to discredit the God of all creation.

The process of the appeal trial, as it unfolds against human history, can be divided into three phases, each illustrated by procedures common to our own judicial system:

(1) Creation of man to birth of Christ—Cases presented. God entered His new evidence by creating man just as the angels were created, sinless yet free to express positive or negative volition toward God (Genesis 2:7, 16-17). When man disobeyed and fell into spiritual death, Satan gained rulership of the world and established the grounds to present his case (Genesis 3:1-7). His intent was to prove himself equal with God and his system of arrogance a viable alternative to the plan of God—a plan that now included a prophesied Savior of man and victor over Satan (Genesis 3:15b). Attacking the messianic genetic line to prevent the Savior’s arrival was the devil’s main strategy. He simultaneously targeted and accused various Old Testament heroes, desperate to persuade faithful believers to renounce the grace and power of God. Job, for example, was mercilessly persecuted by Satan (Job 1:9-19; 2:1-7).

(2) Incarnation through Tribulation—Rebuttal. To refute Satan’s arguments with the ultimate demonstration of love and fairness toward His creatures, the divine Prosecutor presented His chief witness: the God-man in hypostatic union (John 1:14; Colossians 2:9). Jesus Christ, after being tempted and attacked by Satan throughout the Incarnation, arrived at the cross as the spotless Lamb of God. There, He bore the penalty that belonged to fallen mankind and opened the door to eternal salvation. By His substitutionary judgment, death, and resurrection, the strategic victory over Satan was secured (Matthew 4:1-11; Philippians 2:6-11). All accusations against the character of God had been totally disproved by Christ’s completed work (John 3:16). God rebutted His opponent once again by presenting the most dramatic evidence in the entire appeal trial: the Church, with its mystery doctrine and unique spiritual assets (Romans 16:25; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 3; Colossians 1:25-26). In the Church Age, every individual believer has available the same divine power system that sustained Jesus Christ to defeat Satan (1 Corinthians 2:12-13; 2 Corinthians 4:7; Ephesians 4:11-13; Philippians 2:5). Those who reach spiritual maturity take the witness stand to provide irrefutable evidence of God’s manifold wisdom, grace, and love (Ephesians 3:10). Rebuttal for the Prosecution will conclude with the resurrection of the Church at the Rapture.

Satan’s rebuttal will be his desperate quest for world control during the Tribulation. With the Holy Spirit’s restraining ministry removed, Satan will craft a scheme of political and religious unity aimed at eradicating the Jews and establishing his own millennial kingdom (Revelation 13:1-8, 11-15). If, according to Satan, God cannot fulfill His promise of a kingdom for Israel, then God’s character is flawed and His case disproved (Zechariah 14:2; Revelation 12:17). But the devil’s schemes, though ingenious, will culminate in worldwide catastrophe and violence, indicating his failure to meet the arguments and evidence previously presented (Revelation 15—18).

(3) Second Advent through Millennium—Closing arguments and summary. The closing argument for the Prosecution will begin with our Lord’s triumphant return to earth (Revelation 19:11-14). As King of kings and Lord of lords, He will incarcerate Satan and establish the millennial kingdom, restoring Israel as promised (Revelation 19:15-16; 20:1-6). The thousand-year reign of Christ on earth will summarize God’s case: perfect environment cannot provide true happiness or solutions to life, and no creature can succeed apart from a relationship with the Creator. Even when this truth is revealed by the visible presence of Christ, some will still reject God and manufacture their own misery, for both time and eternity. No person or angel goes to the lake of fire except by his own negative volition. The closing argument for the defense will occur at the end of the Millennium, when Satan, released from prison, instantly rallies unbelievers to revolt against the world rule of Christ (Revelation 20:7-8). Satan will have no closing argument but violence, the utter desperation of defeat. His last-ditch outburst will destroy his case, which also represents every other creature, angelic and human, who rejects God. The self-destructiveness of arrogance will meet the perfect justice of Almighty God, who instantly suppresses the revolution with fire from heaven (Revelation 20:9). Concluding the appeal trial of Satan, the final pronouncement will be “Appeal denied!” The prehistoric judgment and sentence will at last be Satan’s reality, as he and his fallen angels are cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). Jesus Christ will immediately convene the Great White Throne Judgment, where all human unbelievers are confronted, declared guilty, and consigned to the same eternal fire (Revelation 20:12-15).