Some say that Satan and his angels were ousted from heaven before humans were created, some say it was just before, or just after, Adam and Eve sinned, some say this event is yet future. The Jehovah’s Witnesses even claim it was in a specific year — 1914. What does the Bible really say? When were Satan and his angels thrown, or cast, out of heaven?

Prior to Jesus’ death, resurrection and exaltation, Satan & his angels still had access to heaven, as can be seen from Job 1:6; 2:1, and possibly Luke 22:31. 

All that changed with  Christ’s death, resurrection and exaltation. Notice how Jesus spoke of the anticipated change, just a few days before his death:

“Now this is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out” (John 12:31 NAB)

Sixty some years afterwards, notice how this event is described:

“Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!’”—Revelation 12:7-9 ESV

After Satan’s and his angels’ defeat, the scripture says, “there was no longer any place for them in heaven,” which indicates they had access to heaven up until that point. Notice the explanation given in the Bible Hub Study Bible:

He was hurled to the earth,
This event signifies a shift in the spiritual realm, where Satan’s access to the heavenly court is revoked. It parallels the fall of Satan described in Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:12-17, where pride leads to his downfall. The earth becomes the new battleground for his activities, intensifying the spiritual warfare experienced by believers.

and his angels with him.
These angels are often identified as the fallen angels who joined Satan in his rebellion against God. Jude 1:6 and 2 Peter 2:4 refer to angels who did not keep their positions of authority and were cast down. This phrase indicates a collective rebellion and the presence of demonic forces working alongside Satan to oppose God’s purposes on earth.

But the question is, “When were Satan and his angels thrown, or cast, out of heaven?” At what point in time did this occur? Is this event yet in the future? –No!

“Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come”, past tense. This clearly points to the time of Christ’s death, resurrection and exaltation, who, at that time, was given “All power in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18 NAB). With “all power” given him at his resurrection and exaltation, Christ and his angels threw Satan and his angels out of heaven permanently.

 The scriptures further confirm this:

“I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself first won the victory and sit with my Father on his throne” (Revelation 3:21 NAB). Jesus conquered by his faithful sacrificial death, and began sitting on his kingdom throne in heaven after his “victory”, that is, after his death, at the time of his resurrection and exaltation. Notice the commentary on this verse in the Bible Hub Study Bible:

just as I overcame
Jesus’ overcoming is a reference to His victory over sin, death, and the powers of darkness through His life, death, and resurrection. This phrase highlights the pattern that believers are to follow, as Jesus is the ultimate example of overcoming. His victory is the foundation for the believer’s victory, as He has already conquered the world (John 16:33).

and sat down with My Father on His throne
This part of the verse points to the exaltation of Christ after His resurrection, as He ascended to heaven and took His place at the right hand of the Father. This is a fulfillment of the prophecy in Psalm 110:1 and is affirmed in Hebrews 1:3, which describes Jesus sitting at the right hand of the Majesty on high. It signifies the completion of His redemptive work and His supreme authority over all creation. The believer’s future sharing in this throne is a testament to the intimate relationship and unity with Christ.

“He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colosians 1:13,14 NAB). Paul, here in his letter to Colossian Christians, confirms the fact that Jesus was enthroned as King of his kingdom by his Father at the time of his resurrection and exaltation.

At this point, “Then the dragon became angry and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring, those who keep god’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus” (Revelation 12:17 NAB). This makes sense, because Satan, after his ouster from heaven, angrily begins to viscously attack Christians who are Christ’s witnesses. However, as verse 11 says,”they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death”. 

An analysis of the scriptures  indicates that Satan and his angels were thrown, or cast, out of heaven at Christ’s resurrection and exultation.