The accuser of the brethren is Satan. He contended earnestly with Michael over the body of Moses (Jude 9). Revelation 12:3, 4 states, “And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth.” These stars refer to the fallen angels that were cast out with the devil.
Satan was no longer welcome in the heavenly courts. But, although he was cast out of heaven, he apparently was not confined entirely to this earth. Job 1:6; 2:1 states: “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.” “Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord.” These verses show that Satan was not entirely confined to this earth at that time but had limited access to other places.
In Revelation 12:10 John again said that “the accuser of our brethren is cast down.” At the cross when Jesus was crucified, Satan’s character was fully revealed. Witnessing the scene, the heavenly host lost any remaining sympathy for him. Since then, he and his evil angels have been confined to this earth.
The angels watched Satan’s actions toward Jesus and in putting Him to death, we are told: “When Christ came to the earth in person, Satan’s fiercest warfare was directed against Him. But by causing the Son of God to be crucified, Satan struck a blow at himself. When Christ died on the cross, Satan’s death-knell was sounded. His deceptions were narrowly watched by the inhabitants of the unfallen worlds, as he, in disguise, worked in such a way that he thought he could not possibly be detected. But he was left to follow his own course, to condemn himself by his own deeds. And before the cross of Calvary he stood revealed in his true character. When Christ cried out, ‘It is finished’ (John 19:30), the unfallen worlds were made secure. For them the battle was fought and the victory won. Henceforth Satan had no place in the affections of the universe. The argument he had brought forward, that self-denial was impossible with God, and therefore unjustly required from His created intelligences, was forever answered. Satan’s claims were forever set aside. The heavenly universe was secured in eternal allegiance.” The Review and Herald, March 12, 1901.