The darkness upon the earth in Genesis 1:2 is not referring to evilness. This verse provides a simple, accurate description of the forming of planet earth. In the beginning, the earth’s surface was dark covered with thick clouds. Light could not penetrate the thick covering around the planet. Therefore, the face of the earth was dark.

But does the Bible give us any information about when Satan did fall from God’s grace? We believe that his fall was a process. Reflect, for a moment, back to when God was alone. What was He thinking about? The scriptures tell us that God is Love (1 John 4:8). Love wants to give to other sentient beings. 

When God began his creation, He decided to create beings with free moral agency, those who would worship and love God of their own free-will. However, God also knew that free agency could permit one who would oppose God and cause chaos, pain and suffering in his family. To make a long story short, step number one occurred when Satan became the first to oppose God in his heart (Isaiah 14:13,14 “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer…For thou has said in thine heart…I will be like the most High”). The next step was when Satan began to act sinfully. Ezekiel 28:13-16 describes Satan’s fall from heaven. “You were anointed as a guardian cherub (in the Garden of Eden)…You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub…”

Satan began his lying deceptions in the garden of Eden with Eve. Genesis 3:4, “And the serpent (Satan) said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die…” John 8:44, “…He (Satan) was a murderer from the beginning…When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” Finally, when Satan plotted and killed Jesus, he openly demonstrated he was unrecoverable.  His end will ultimately come after the Millennial Kingdom when he will finally be completely destroyed. (Isaiah 14:15,16; Ezekiel 28:18,19; Revelation 20:10)