The above verse proves that Satan was not only full of wisdom and perfect in beauty, but also perfect in his ways. In other words, Satan was 100% obedient to God. Satan did not mean to be the devil by doing evil by planning over a period of time. All of a sudden, the inequity was found in him as a surprise even to God. However, as the above statement is in the Simple Past Tense, currently (at the time of this prophecy) Satan is not perfect in his ways before God.
Now look at the 14th verse:(14) Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
The 14th verse has four clauses. Let's look at them individually:
1st clause - "Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth"
This clause is in the Simple Present Tense. This tense is used to express current habitual actions and states. Thus, this clause shows the current state of Satan by the time Ezekiel is proclaiming this prophecy. What is this current state?
Satan is still the anointed cherub that covereth (God Almighty).
2nd clause- "I have set thee so"
This clause is in the Present Perfect Tense. Hence, this clause proves that God has not removed Satan from the state of "the covering cherub", in which God placed him on the day God created him up to the moment Ezekiel is proclaiming this prophecy. Satan remains to function as the covering cherub on the holy mountain of God even during the time of Ezekiel.
3rd clause - "thou wast upon the holy mountain of God"
This clause is in the Simple Past Tense. Hence, Satan is not currently staying upon the holy mountain of God. What does this mean?
Does it mean that God has chased him out of the holy mountain of God or does it mean Satan is willingly not dwelling on the holy mountain of God???
Of course, the 1st and the 2nd clauses have proved the fact that God has not removed Satan from the position of the covering cherub. Hence, it is not right to say that God has chased Satan out of the holy mountain of God. In fact, it is Satan, who is not willingly dwelling on the holy moutain of God even if he remains to be the covering cherub on the holy mountain of God, in the midst of stones of fire.
4th Clause - "thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire"
This clause is in the Present Perfect Tense. It is used here to express an experience Satan has had in the past. In other words, Satan has walked up and down on the holy mountain in the midst of the stones of fire (in the capacity of the covering cherub), but now he is not doing it. What does it mean?
Does it mean that God has asked Satan not to do it?
Not at all. If God has not removed Satan from his position of the covering cherub, it is not right to say that God has asked Satan not to walk up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Again, it is Satan who is willingly not doing this action at the moment.
Now let's look at the 16th verse:(16) By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
This verse shows that Satan has already sinned against God even if God has not removed him from his position of the covering cherub. Further, we can understand that 'SIN' has hindered Satan from enjoying his position as the covering cherub in the presence of God (on the holy mountain of God).
Further, we can notice what God is going to do in the future regarding Satan's position of the covering cherub. Yes, God is now planning to judge Satan by removing him out of his position of the covering cherub. This judgement is yet to come as it is mentioned in the Simple Future Tense. If we carefully look at the judgement God is going to pass on Satan, once again, we can boldly come to the same conclusion that Satan still remains the position as the covering cherub with the permission to go to the holy mountain of God and dwell there by walking up and down in the midst of the stones of fire, even if Satan is not doing so.
Can Satan function as the covering cherub in the capacity of the devil?
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