First Fall from Grace and First War
This is the story of Lucifer or Satan. Lucifer was an anointed guardian cherub. He was blameless til his desire to become like God entered his thoughts. Lucifer in Latin means light-bearer or morning star. He was one of the closest angel to God. Lucifer was described as beautiful, exalted, wise, associated with heavenly glory.
Depiction of Lucifer
Isaiah 14 12-15 “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mound of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend about the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High”.
Lucifer wanted to be God! Did you see how many “I will” statements are in those verses. That is pride. Lucifer thinks of himself as better, higher, greater than God. That is a prideful way of thinking. Pride is the first sin. Sin is anything that goes against God’s nature, will or commands. That could be thoughts, attitudes, actions, or omission (not doing or saying when you know).
There was a King of Tyre that is very much like Lucifer in Ezekiel 28:1 “In the pride of your heart you say, “I am god: I sit on the throne of a god.” The king was a proud man. In Ezekiel 28:12-17 the response to the prideful king is really a response to Lucifer and what happened to him.
“You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite, and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise, and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. 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 chrub from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth…”
Luke 10:18 Jesus said “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
Lucifer was given the name Satan when he sinned. Lucifer did not fall alone. He convenced 1/3 of the angels (stars) of heaven to join him. The angels who fought with Satan are now called demons.
Revelation 12:7-9 Then a war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and the lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down - the ancient serpent called the devil or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to earth, and his angels with him.
There are always consequences to sin!
Why do we need God - We have sinned and without someone to save us from our sins we are forever separated from God. That is why Jesus died on the cross. Jesus is our atonement for sin. His blood covers our sins and makes us holy so God can have a relationship with us. We will talk about this in future posts.
