What did Jesus mean when he told his disciples the following?

Question

Jesus had just chosen 70 disciples, and he “sent them forth by twos in advance of him into every city and place to which he himself was going to come.” When the 70 returned, they were rejoicing over the success of their mission. “Lord, even the demons are made subject to us by the use of your name,” they said. At that point, Jesus said: “I began to behold Satan already fallen like lightning from heaven.”—Luke 10:1, 17, 18.

WHAT DID JESUS MEAN WHEN HE SAID THAT HE ALREADY BEHELD SATAN FALLING LIKE LIGHTENING FROM HEAVEN?

Answer 1

It does not mean that by that time Satan the Devil had already been ousted from heaven.No. We are not Scripturally justified in taking that view of Jesus’ statement recorded at Luke 10:18. Christ was evidently referring to a future event but was moved to do so on the basis of current happenings.
Earlier “the Lord designated seventy others and sent them forth by twos in advance of him into every city and place to which he himself was going to come.” (Luke 10:1) Upon successfully completing their assignment the seventy disciples returned with joy, saying: “Lord, even the demons are made subject to us by the use of your name.” (Luke 10:17) This was a marvelous display of God’s power over the demons! After such a grand report Jesus was fittingly moved to utter his significant words respecting Satan’s fall, words denoting mastery over that wicked one.
That by his words recorded at Luke 10:18 Christ was not referring to any past literal falling of Satan from heaven becomes apparent upon considering what is said elsewhere in the Bible. At Revelation 12:7-9 we are told about the hurling of Satan and his angels from heaven down to the earth. But this did not occur prior to or during the days of Jesus’ human life on earth. It should be noted that the entire book of Revelation consists of prophetic material. It is not a compilation of past history. Revelation 1:1 indicates this, in stating: “A revelation by Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to show his slaves the things that must shortly take place. And he sent forth his angel and presented it in signs through him to his slave John.” The apostle John received the revelation on the Isle of Patmos toward the end of the first century of our Common Era, completing the writing of it about 96 C.E. That was many years after Jesus Christ made the statement recorded at Luke 10:18.

It appears, therefore, that Jesus had in mind Satan’s ultimately being cast out of heaven when he said: “I began to behold Satan already fallen like lightning from heaven.” This fall was assured by the fact that the seventy evangelizers though mere men on earth had cast out demons in Jesus’ name. To Jesus this was a sign that Satan was sure to fall from heaven in God’s due time. To Jesus it was as if he already saw Satan cast out and fallen from heaven. So even then he could speak of this future event as a certainty, as though he saw it already accomplished. Christ himself, by dying in faithfulness and being resurrected as a mighty spirit creature, would be granted the power to fulfill that prophecy by ousting Satan and the other demons from heaven. In fact, later the exalted Jesus Christ would also abyss and finally destroy these wicked spirit creatures.—Rev. 20:1-3, 7-10; Heb. 2:14; Rom. 16:20.

Answer 2

Jesus was emphasizing His power and authority over Satan. All true believers in Christ have been given the same power and authority in His name. The Lord was probably edifying His disciples and strengthening their faith. Although Satan is a defeated enemy and knows it, God still permits him to live and operate in the heavens -though not the heaven of heavens. The devil's complete defeat will come soon enough but in mean time he's kept on a short leash. Jesus also said Satan had "already fallen", don't forget.

Answer 3

That suggest the theory that Satan was once an angel who sinned and was cast out of heaven. It also suggests that Jesus was with the Father when this happenned. The theory is that Jesus is part of the Godhead and was the creative force that God used to create the heavens and the earth.

Answer 4

Jesus was talking about His commandment; that we are love God ABOVE all things in our life. Since we do not become perfect while in this mortal body, we can only learn to seek His will and follow it as He gives us discernment and power. Luke 12:27-34 27 "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. NIV

Answer 5

My thought, Jesus may have been warning the disciples not to rejoice over having such power for two reasons.
1) He also told them to rejoice that their names were written in the book of life.
2) The battle is not over until Satan is cast down into the lake of fire.

Answer 6

While it could have a few interpretations, the one I find most likely is that he caught a prophetic glimpse of the upcoming defeat of Satan, upon hearing that not only were his diciples successful in spreading the word, but that demons were even forced to obey those with faith in Jesus. Not only was their preaching mission successful, but to go along with their strong faith the diciples now had strong, first-hand evidence that Jesus is Christ, and the beginning of the end of Satan's rule on earth was at hand.

Answer 7

God is the Word, Jesus is the word made flesh so it stands to reason the in some form Jesus saw the original fall of satan

Answer 8

Hi, this is the great Alpha-Omega response from Jesus, it is one of the few times that He revealed His Divinty to the Apostles, another time was on the mountain of Tabor,when He allowed them to witness the Transformation.
Jesus was present in Heaven when satan was thrown down to Hell.

Answer 9

He was referring to a future event.
Jesus was so excited about what was being accomplished, he was already thinking of the accomplishment of Revelation 12:7-9

Answer 10

Satan used to be an arkangel. He wanted to become better than God, and so did 1/3 of the angels. Hell was designed for them, and they fell to hell.