When was the fall of Satan, and how did it happen?

from the old testament

• God created the angels before the creation of our world (Job 38:6–7).
• Scripture chronicles how one of the angels rose up against God, rebelled, and introduced a second will into the created order (Ezekiel 28; Isaiah 14). Although these passages reference earthly rulers, they also have a spiritual understanding as well.
• At the start of Ezekiel 28, the prophet first addresses a "prince" or "ruler" of the land of Tyre. The historical Tyre was a city of unscrupulous merchants, as well as a center of religious idolatry and sexual immorality. The ruler in question was a man named Ethbaal III, who ruled Tyre from about 590 to 572 BC. Ethbaal (whose name literally means "living with Baal") is described this way: "your heart is proud, and you have said, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas'" (Ezekiel 28:2).
• After denouncing Ethbaal, God directs the prophet Ezekiel to deliver a second condemnation to the "king" of Tyre (a different Hebrew word than used in Ezekiel 28:2); this time, the description seems to be of a completely different type of being, one that is not a mere mortal. God used the occasion of Ethbaal's fall to describe the original condition and fall of Satan. Like Ethbaal, Satan had raised his heart up against his Creator, declared that he would be a god, and was the spiritual king of Tyre and all its idolatry.
• Ezekiel describes Satan as initially perfect, full of wisdom and beauty, and adorned with precious stones, dwelling in Eden and walking on God's holy mountain as an anointed cherub. However, despite his blameless start, unrighteousness eventually corrupted him (Ezekiel 28:12–15). Satan’s location on the "holy mountain of God" speaks of his being involved in the government of God.
• Satan was a "an anointed guardian cherub," an order of angels with the closest access to God, who guarded His holiness (cf. Ezekiel 10).
• Walking "in the midst of the stones of fire" communicates a nearness to God in a place just beneath the glory at the footstool of God (cf. Ezekiel 1:27).
• Ezekiel then explains Satan's fall, and in doing so provides insight into how evil entered God's creation: "You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you. By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries; so I brought fire out from your midst; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you" (Ezekiel 28:15–18). Created a free creature, Satan possessed the ability to choose his actions. Evidently, because of his beauty and splendor, he chose to rebel against God. His sin was a self-caused action that led to his losing his position, his place, and his possessions.
• The Prophet Isaiah provides more details on Satan's hubris: "How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High" (Isaiah 14:12–14). The five "I will" statements made by Satan in Isaiah 14 each take a step toward God, with each new step being greater than the previous. Satan's desire to "climb the ladder" and ascend to heaven may mean that his rebellion began on earth. He desired to raise his seat above that of all the other angels. Isaiah's reference to the "mount of assembly" corresponds to the government hierarchy also spoken of by Ezekiel.
• Satan's longing to ascend above the heights of the clouds means he wanted to usurp the glory of God (God is sometimes pictured in Scripture as coming in the clouds, e.g., in Daniel 7:13).
• Satan's desire to make himself like "the Most High" makes use of a name for God—El Elyon—that literally means "possessor of heaven and earth." Simply put, Satan wanted it all. Instead of getting it all, Satan lost it all. He was reminded that he was but a creature and was cast out of heaven.

from the new testament

• Jesus references Satan's fall from heaven in Luke 10:18, where He says, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven." Jesus confirms Satan’s swift and dramatic fall from his high position due to rebellion, confirming his defeat and loss of authority.

implications for today

With his rebellious act, Satan introduced a second will into God's created order. Now, sadly, there are billions of wills that differ from God's among the human race and among the demonic legions that followed Satan's rebellion (cf. Revelation 12:2–4). Ultimately, we live for our will or God’s will. Living for our will, desiring to live for our sinful ambitions and desires, leads to death (James 1:15). But God, in His mercy, made a way for us to be made right with Him by sending Jesus to pay the penalty for our sin through His death and resurrection (Romans 5:8). By trusting in Jesus and following God’s will, we are not only forgiven but also transformed, receiving new life through the Holy Spirit and the promise of eternal life (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17). As a result, we are no longer bound to our sinful desires but empowered to walk in righteousness, fulfilling God's purpose for our lives (Galatians 5:16–18). Living for God’s will is not only the path to true freedom and peace, but it is also what we were created for—aligning our lives with His perfect plan leads to the abundant, fulfilling life that nothing else can offer (John 10:10). In surrendering to His will, we find the greatest joy, purpose, and hope that lasts for eternity.