In the beginning of the book of Job, Satan is there. Satan is in the presence of the protagonist. “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.” (Job 1:6) Satan just shows up out of nowhere and when asked where he has been he answered, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” (Job 1:7)
Who is Satan and where has he been? Some people think of Satan as a cartoon character with horns and a pitchfork, others view him as an abstract force of evil. Although we aren’t real sure what Satan looks like, from future readings we know who he is. Basically, Satan was once an angel named Lucifer, who was the most prominent of the other angels. He wanted to have the same power as God, God didn’t agree and kicked him out of Heaven. We don’t receive this information about Satan until the New Testament. Where has Satan been throughout the Old Testament? We see him in Genesis as the serpent, and possibly a few more hints of him but he is never actually mentioned until now. Was he behind all of the corruption throughout the book of Judges? We don’t know, but what I want to know is does he have access to heaven?
I would assume that entering into Heaven wouldn’t be an easy task for someone that is full of evil and wants the power of the protagonist. The text isn’t clear whether or not he can come and go as he pleases, or only by the approval of the protagonist.
Was he approved to enter Heaven, because the protagonist knew that he would win the argument with Satan over Job? Satan was stating that Job only worshiped God, because God blessed him with wealth. Job refused to curse God even after his wealth was taken. I am sure at this point the protagonist laughed to himself. So did he allow Satan to return a second time because he knew what Job’s actions would be? Well, Satan appeared before God again and stated that is was only because Job had his health that he worshiped God. And as we already know the protagonist won this argument as well.
Can Satan just show up when he wants to? As difficult as it may seem, yes he can. If we read ahead, actually the last book of the Bible, we see that Satan does in fact have access. Revelations 12:10 states “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.”
Until this happens in the final years of time, Satan has access to the protagonist and Heaven. But at the midpoint of the Tribulation, Satan will finally be barred from entering into the presence of the Protagonist. Since we do not know when this will happen, we do know that the time period during the book of Job is before this event in Revelations. So if the Bible is chronological order and this Tribulation hasn’t already occurred, then Satan does have access to Heaven.
Old Testament 