War has been declared. The great, governing cherub had become the malignant enemy. Our God was neither surprised nor astonished, for, of course, He knew before it happened that it would happen, and He had His perfect plan ready to be put into effect.

Although the LORD had the power to destroy Satan with a breath, He did not do so. It was as though an edict had been proclaimed in heaven:

"We shall give this rebellion a thorough trial. we shall permit it to run its full course. The universe shall see what a creature, though he be the highest creature ever to spring from God's Word, can do apart from Him. We shall watch this experiment, and permit the universe of creatures to watch it, during this brief interlude between eternity past and eternity future called TIME. In it the spirit of independence shall be allowed to expand to the utmost. And the wreck and ruin which shall result will demonstrate to the universe, and forever, that there is no life, no joy, no peace apart from a complete dependence upon the Most High God, Possessor of heaven and earth."

from: The Invisible War ; The Panorama of the Continuing Conflict Between Good and Evil.
by Donald Grey Barnhouse