Lucifer coveted the praise and worship due the infinite Father and
His Son -- he went forth to diffuse the spirit of discontent among the angels.
Lucifer urged, since their natures were holy, that the angels should obey the
dictates of their own will, intimating that the laws that governed heavenly
beings imposed "unnecessary restraint." Ultimately, using deceit and cunning,
Lucifer urged fully of God's angels into open rebellion.
Coveting literally means to want more than what belongs to you. Satan
wanted Christ's position.
"Lucifer" comes from the Latin, LUCIFER, meaning "light bearer." The phrase
"son of the morning" was a common expression meaning "morning star" -- Venus.
"A literal rendering of the Hebrew expression translated 'Lucifer, son of
the morning' would be 'shining one, son of dawn.' The figurative application
of the brilliant planet venus, brightest of all the heavenly luminaries, to
Satan before his fall ... is most appropiate as a graphic illustration of the
high estate from which Lucifer fell." ["Lucifier", SDA Bible Dictionary, rev.
ed., p. 683]
What are the names that Scripture gives to the one who opposes Christ?
What kind
of being was Lucifer when he was created? "Thou was perfect in thy ways from
the day that thou wast created." God didn't create a bad
devil, He created a perfect angel named Lucifer. Lucifer, so perfect, wanted
himself to be glorified... he became evil by choice. What did he attempt to
do in heaven? "I will asscend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the
stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the
sides of the north."
...and there was war in heaven. Michael and His Angels fought against the
'dragon' and that old serpant, Satan, was cast out of heaven, down to earth.
[ REV 12:7-9 ] Satan was cast out into the earth. Once there whom does he
seek to deceive? "Woe to the inhabiters of the Earth." [ REV 12:12 ]
How does Satan deceive people?
Thus, long ago began the great controversy between Christ and Satan, in a
universe that had only known peace and love and harmony.
Can Satan really work miracles? "They are the spirits of devils, working
miracles." Yup.
We must know the real truth so if we
encounter something disguised as the truth (truth + error) we don't fall
for it. And how effective are Satan's deceptions? "If it were possible,
they shall deceive the very elect."
There you have it, he'll
confuse and confound the cream of the crop, if they let down their guard...
Alas, they already have.
God could have easily destroyed Lucifer at any time, but the unfallen beings
needed to clearly see that Lucifer was wrong...
Sin had to be given time to grow, so that the heavenly beings and all the
inhabitants of the universe might see it for what God knew it would become.
The earth is the only world on which sin has been permitted to run rampant. It
will run its course until a point of self-destruction, showing where sin leads.
We are a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
The entire universe watches what the fallen Lucifer has wrought... Do we know
there are other worlds (yes, plural)? "He (Christ) made the worlds."
Yes, there are other worlds out there, according to the Bible.
With whom does Satan wage war in the last days?
With "the woman (church)... which keeps the commandments of God, and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ." So we know what Satan is striking against.
If we know that sin is here to cultivate and grow, and we know that the
rest of the universe is existing in peace, and that a cleasing process is
coming; it is reasonable to extrapolate that we will not reach out in space
to other worlds until after the cleansing, thus preventing the spread of sin.
Extensive space travel will not be achieved until after the return of Christ.
... an interesting side thought.
Is the devil in charge of hell-fire?
Satan knows he's going to be destroyed. And in an attempt to get even with
God, is going to take as many of God's creations down with him as he can.
Satan doesn't play favorites; he'll use you, if you let him. You don't need
to join Satan to be against God, you simply need not to be for God, and Satan
is content.
a Little Better
Before his fall, Lucifer was the first of the
covering cherubs, holy and
undefiled, but he came to indulge a desire for self-exaltation.
Lucifer, serpent, dragon devil, Satan.
Satan appears as "an angel of light."
His ministers appear as ministers of righteousness.
...he does not appear as an evil being by professing to have great
light and truth.
"And the devil that deceived them was
cast into the lake of fire." REV 20:10 "I will bring thee to ashes upon
the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee." "And never shalt thou be
anymore." EZE 28:18,19. Absolutely not. The devil will be cast into the
fire and it will turn him to ashes.