Job 1:6

How can Satan come before God when he was dismissed from heaven?

PROBLEM: Job 1:6 states that the sons of God came to present themselves to God, and “Satan also came among them.” However, this implies that Satan has access to the throne of God when elsewhere it is declared that he has been banished from God’s presence (Revelation 12:7-12).

SOLUTION: Satan has been officially expelled from heaven, but he still actually has access there. Several places in Scripture present the idea that Satan has access to the presence of God in order to accuse the saints. In Zechariah 3:1 we find a vision of Joshua standing before the angel of the Lord with Satan on his right hand accusing him. Revelation 12:10 identifies Satan as the accuser of the brethren “who accused them before our God day and night.” Apparently, as the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2), Satan has had opportunity to appear before God for the purpose of accusing God’s people of sin. This is what he is doing against Job in both Job 1:6 and 2:1.

Job 1:6 — Who are the sons of God mentioned in this verse?

PROBLEM: The introduction of Satan into the story of Job takes place before the throne of God. Satan comes before God among a group identified as “the sons of God.” But, who are these sons of God?

SOLUTION: These are angels. Several other passages in the Bible refer to angels as the sons of God, such as Job 2:1 and Job 38:7 (cf. Psalms 29:1 and 89:6 where the Hebrew uses the phrase “sons of God”). The angels are the “sons” of God in the sense that they are His creation. (Also see comments on Genesis 6:2ff.)