The Bible makes direct reference to the rebellion, and/or “fall” or “casting down,” of Satan in only two places. There are also two highly metaphorical passages which are taken by some to be veiled or indirect references to this. (See The ‘Fall of Lucifer’: The Scriptural Evidence.) One of those is highly debatable, the other more plausible but still very obscure in details. In addition, the word Lucifer appears only once in the King James Bible, and sound exegesis of the passage in question makes it very clear that it was never intended to be construed as a given “name” for any being, let alone Satan. (For more details and commentary on these issues, see The Devil In the Details.)
And yet Roman Catholic and Protestant authors and artists for over 1500 years have
embellished this extremely sparse information and transformed the results into elaborate
scenarios. Much of the embellishment has been either directly or indirectly related
to material from extra-
An illustration of the “Fall of Lucifer” by Gustave Dore’ from 1866 for an edition of Milton’s Paradise Lost (1667).
Unfortunately, many Sabbatarian authors (those who believe that the observance of the seventh day Sabbath of the Bible is relevant to Christians) of the past 150 years seem to have absorbed these embellished versions and incorporated them into their own writings, rather than return to the simplicity of what is actually in the Bible. This makes for more exciting, entertaining, gripping reading, but is neither sound exegesis nor honest interpretation of the Biblical evidence.
Below are three examples of this. Herbert W. Armstrong and and his son Garner Ted
Armstrong of the Worldwide Church of God wrote in the mid-
Sabbatarian writers in the 21st century who would like to establish credibility for their material in the future would do well to abandon this style of dealing with Biblical topics, and base the details of their teachings on all topics, including “angelology,” on sound exegesis from the canonical scriptures.
What do we know for certain about Satan from what is clearly stated in the Bible? We know he is a powerful supernatural being. We know he is opposed to God’s purposes. We know that he is able to affect humans. We know that he has associate supernatural beings who help him in his efforts. There is a slim bit of evidence, in a metaphor in only one passage, that he was at one time a “good angel” … and that he “went bad.” Trying to be dogmatic about very much beyond that is not dealing honestly with the Biblical record.
Herbert W Armstrong
Mystery of the Ages (1985)
This Lucifer, then, had been stationed at the very throne of God. He was trained
and experienced in the administration of the government of God. God chose such a
being, well-
Continue: “. . . thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.” This is not talking about any human being. But continue: “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity [lawlessness] was found in thee” (Ezek. 28:15).
He had complete knowledge, understanding and wisdom. But he also was given full powers of reasoning, thinking, making decisions, making his choice. And, with all this foreknowledge—even of results and consequences— this superb being, the highest that even God could create by fiat, turned to rebellion against his Maker— against the way that produces every good. He turned to lawlessness. He had been trained in the administration of perfect law and order.
As long as Lucifer continued in this perfect way, there was happiness and joy unspeakable over the whole earth. There was glorious peace—beautiful harmony, perfect love, cooperation. The government of God produced a wonderfully happy state—as long as Lucifer was loyal in the conduct of God’s government.
Incredible Human Potential (1978)
[The following material reiterates some of the same material in the passage above, and includes further considerable embellishment. (Just when the original content of either was written is actually up for question—significant portions of Armstrong's books were admittedly "compilations" from earlier writings, done by his associates.) Some of these embellishments are pointed out in {bracketed and highlighted} comments below.]
What God creates He maintains. What He creates He creates for a PURPOSE. He intends
it to be put to use -
And at this point, it is well to understand the nature of God's original creation:
It is like the unfinished furniture available in some stores. This furniture is "in
the raw" -
So it is with God's creation. It is perfect, but subject to a beautifying finish
which God intended angels to accomplish. The original "unfinished" creation was produced
by God alone. But He intended angels, prehistorically; and MAN, now, to utilize creative
power -
And whether or not it had been revealed to the angels, it was a supreme TRIAL AND TEST. It was to be the PROVING GROUND of obedience to GOD'S GOVERNMENT and their fitness to develop into final finished creation the millions of other planets in the vast universe. {The Bible nowhere says this.} For what is revealed in God's Word indicates that God had created the entire PHYSICAL universe at the same time He created the earth. The seventh word in Genesis 1:1 should be translated "heavens."
Radioactive elements and the law of radioactivity prove that there was a time when
MATTER did not exist. GOD is a Spirit. God is composed of Spirit. God was before
ALL ELSE -
So the angel potential was to take over the entire universe -
He intended angels, and now MAN, to have a vital part in the final creation of the
endless universe! (But God may not have then fully revealed this awesome potential
to the angels, for one third of them set out to take it from Him by force, without
first qualifying.) For this far-
Lucifer was the supreme masterpiece it was possible for even the great God to create
as an individually created entity. The Bible reveals the existence of just two others
of the same rank -
God started this Lucifer out with everything going for him. He sealed up the sum
of wisdom, beauty and perfection. He was PERFECT in all his ways from the instant
he was created UNTIL (Ezekiel 28:15) INIQUITY -
He was created gloriously beautiful -
He turned against God's law of LOVE. He became jealous of God, envious, and resentful
against God. He allowed lust and greed to fill him, and he became bitter. This inspired
a spirit of violence! He deliberately became his Maker's adversary and enemy. That
was his choice, not God's -
He directed his supernatural powers henceforth to EVIL. He became bitter not only against God, but against God’s LAW. He used his subtile wiles of deception to lead the angels under him into disloyalty, rebellion, and revolt against the Creator and finally into a WAR of aggression and violence to attempt to depose God and seize the throne of the UNIVERSE.
As long as Lucifer remained loyal and administered the GOVERNMENT OF GOD faithfully, this earth was filled with wonderful and perfect PEACE. The angels were vigorously HAPPY to the extent of joy! The LAW of God's government is THE WAY OF LIFE that CAUSES and produces peace, happiness, prosperity, and well being. Sin is the WAY OF LIFE that has caused all existing EVILS.
The penalty of sin by the angels was not death -
Garner Ted Armstrong
Did God Create a Devil?
[It is obvious that Garner Ted Armstrong basically learned to parrot his father’s speculations about “the Fall of Lucifer,” and just added some of his own embellishments. As with Herbert Armstrong’s material above, some of these embellishments are pointed out in {bracketed and highlighted} comments below.]
There are only three archangels named in the Bible; Lucifer, Michael, and Gabriel. {The being called Satan is never said in the Bible to have been an archangel. For that matter, neither is Gabriel. The word shows up only once in the KJV, connected to Michael in Jude, and to an unnamed angel in Revelation.}
Each one was given authority over one third of all the countless millions of angels which have been created by God. {There is no Bible passage that says this.}
When the earth was first created, perhaps five billion years ago, the archangel Lucifer
was given sole government over the earth. {There is no Bible passage that says this.}
His name meant "light bringer," or "shining star of the dawn." {See The Devil in
the Details for clarification that Lucifer was never the name of Satan or any other
supernatural being.} The meaning of the name carries no connotation of evil, or of
fire. Yet, in the American frontier, matches were commonly called "Lucifers," because
the name of Lucifer was connected to the fanciful (and pagan) doctrine of an "ever-
"Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
"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.
"Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity [sin! lawlessness!] was found in thee.
"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.
"Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom
by reason of thy brightness..." (Ezekiel 28:12-
When the mercy seat of the ancient Ark of the Covenant was built, it was to be overshadowed
by two cherubim; powerful angelic creatures who stand by the throne of God. Lucifer
was called one of the "covering cherubs" in Ezekiel's account. {The word translated
“covering” here actually means “guardian,” and there is no reason why it should be
assumed to refer only to one of these cherubs. Nor is there any biblical basis for
equating the term archangel with cherub. Armstrong was fond of explaining that a
cherub wasn’t a baby angel, but an ox-
Over perhaps millions of years, Lucifer went about as a "salesman," trafficking in
his arguments against God. {Here Armstrong diverges from other speculative authors,
such as Ellen G. White, below. They present Satan quickly responding to an announcement
by God to all the Heavenly Host (this detail is also nowhere in the Bible) that His
Son (in His pre-
In this passage is contained the KEY to understanding where the devil came from!
Obviously, God created this great archangel with FREE MORAL AGENCY! He was not an
"automaton," going about zombie-
Notice Isaiah's account of Lucifer's rebellion: "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
"For thou hast said in thine heart [his innermost being -
"I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
"Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit" (Isaiah 14:12-
This whole world was like a beautiful Garden of Eden! {This is nowhere in the Bible.}
Most likely, it was populated with billions of creatures — a pre-
Geologists know there were mammoth catastrophes in the past; gargantuan upheavals of the rocks, huge floods, glaciers, earthquakes, volcanic explosions, and even meteors, impacting the earth. A current theory for the sudden disappearance of the dinosaurs is that a huge meteor smashed into the earth, so enshrouding it with dust and debris that the sun was blotted out, and all life died suddenly.
For centuries, geologists have puzzled over the "sudden die out" of the dinosaurs
and other creatures who walked this earth perhaps billions of years ago. Our coal
and oil deposits are "fossil fuel," proof of a lush, verdant, richly-
Since Lucifer was corrupting his angelic companions, did he also corrupt the animals
of the earth? Could he have caused the earth to become overrun with huge carnivores,
who were preying on other species? Why, since Lucifer is pictured as a "serpent,"
and a "dragon" in the Bible, were so many of the dinosaurs possessed of serpentine
heads, and dragon-
Did God endow Lucifer with limited creative powers? Probably not, but yet, IF Lucifer's
angels possessed animals, and if such possession caused not only "selective breeding"
among the dinosaurs, but the increasing tendency for death and destruction (i.e.,
becoming flesh eaters rather than herbivores), such a scenario would perhaps answer
a few questions. {This is more pure, utter speculation … God created flesh eaters
in the Adamic creation … why assume that is “evil”? In addition, the kind of changes
necessary for an herbivore to become a flesh eater would be truly on the level of
inter-
Probably, the answers to these and other like questions will not be given until the Kingdom of God is established on this earth, and God reveals to human minds the mysteries of the billions of years prior to Adam's creation. However, certain clues give indications. For one thing, God IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF CONFUSION (I Corinthians 14:33). Yet, the world was in total confusion; the continents sunken beneath raging seas; thick, impenetrable clouds blotting out the sun, when the creation week, which was the REforming, the REcreation of the earth, took place. {This is reading far more into the Greek word translated “confusion” in the I Cor passage than appears warranted. The use of the word there has to do with “instability, tumult, commotion, confusion” among people in a human setting, not a description of geophysical conditions. Its opposite is peace, a situation of stability among people, again not a description of geophysical conditions.}
It is futile to attempt to know the unknowable, so exactly how the dinosaurs died,
and, more importantly, WHY, may remain a mystery. One thing is sure, that pre-
The Original "STAR WARS"
Finally, after a vast period of time, Lucifer was ready. Having now completely convinced his angels that they should follow him in his war against God, he attempted to mount up a huge angelic army, and overthrow God!
Probably, he convinced himself that Michael and Gabriel would also follow him. He was doomed to bitter disappointment. {Once again, there is zero evidence in the Bible for any of this.}
Notice, "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
"And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan,
which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were
cast out with him" (Revelation 12:7-
Remember, Jesus Christ said, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven!" (Luke
10:18). Christ was THERE, in His pre-
In an earlier "star wars," Lucifer attempted just that! {But he just admitted the Revelation scenario is future … and there IS no scenario elsewhere in the Bible describing any of this.}
What IS a "war in heaven"? Merely an exchanging of words? A clash of wills? Look at the EVIDENCE in our universe, and in our own galaxy and solar system. What do you see?
Look at the lifeless, pockmarked, airless, waterless face of our moon. Even a 10 power pair of binoculars shows many of the huge meteor craters, some of them over one hundred miles across! Look at the poisonous atmosphere of Jupiter, or the thick clouds obscuring Venus, or the rings around Saturn. Look at the lifeless, rocky, empty face of Mars.
Then, consider the billions of pieces of space junk and debris. Every day, thousands of these pieces come hurtling into the earth's atmosphere, the vast majority of them burning up and turning to dust as friction destroys them, others landing on earth as meteorites.
Consider the many comets, including several which have been discovered in fairly recent times, which are in a vast orbit around our small dwarf star we call the sun.
Except for our beautiful blue-
Our earth presents proof of such massive, destructive forces acting upon it in the past.
The Bible itself begins with the earth completely covered by a global flood! One must not assume tidal action was suspended all during the indeterminate period when all the continents were covered with water. Geologic evidence of island and mountain building, both from coral polyps and from volcanic action, tend to indicate that there may have been any number of emergences and submergences of the tectonic plates over a vast period of time.
Consider the Alps, the Rocky Mountains, the towering Andes — all contain fossil shells which prove such lofty heights were once shallow sea beds.
Once God had recreated the surface of the planet, and created Adam and Eve, what happened next? Where was Lucifer during all the interminable years following his rebellion, and his abortive attempt to overthrow God? He was here on this earth, together with his fallen angels (demons), seeing not a single mountain top nor a single continent. When Jesus cast out a demon, he warned that if the person thus relieved of possession did not become converted, and become filled with God's Holy Spirit, the demon, who would wander in "dry places, seeking rest," would take seven more evil than himself, and, finding the original person's mind "cleaned and swept," enter in to him again, so that the man's last state would be worse then his first. {None of this information about demons from the New Testament gives any hint about the location of Satan and any of his followers before the Adamic creation. In fact, the notion of “dry places” seems the exact opposite of the flooded condition of the world at the beginning of the book of Genesis.}
Ellen G. White
Before quoting E. G. White’s description of “Lucifer” in heaven and of his fall, here is a description by one of her apologists of how it is alleged she came to know these sorts of details. Note that both Armstrongs had descriptions that weren’t anywhere near as elaborate, but they did include all sorts of details, woven into story form as if they were straight from the Bible—but they were not. And yet the Armstrongs didn’t even claim visions! They just played fast and loose with the scriptures, and spun tales.
Either way, none of these three authors had any basis for their dogmatic statements other than their own speculations … or, in Ellen White’s case, the possible delusions of her own belief she was inspired directly by God in her visions. (This has been in debate for many years … many portions of White’s writings have been shown to be direct plagiarisms—sometimes word for word or thought for thought and detail for detail—of earlier writers. So it is not clear if she was deluded—or deliberately deceptive. (For more on this see Plagiarism in the Writings of Ellen G White on the Field Guide to the Wild World of Religion website by the same webauthor as Answers about Angels.)
From “In Defense of Ellen White” by Devon Gray
http://www.incredibletruth.org/defense_eg_white.htm
Whether God required her to have reached a certain mental maturity before giving
her the most important vision of her entire life, is something we do not know. But
it was not until 1858, the year which ushered in her thirty-
It was the weekend of March 13 and 14 that Ellen and her husband attended a series of religious meetings in Lovett’s Grove near Bowling Green, Ohio. The regular meetings were interrupted during the day of the fourteenth when it was decided to conduct a funeral service in the little schoolhouse, which also served as a meeting hall. Delighted to have the Whites with them, those present asked James to address the small congregation. No sooner had he concluded his remarks than Ellen stood up, desiring to add a few words of comfort. After her first few words, she faltered...and stopped in the middle of a sentence. Then it happened. A moment of pregnant silence followed, when suddenly she shouted triumphantly, as if forcing her way through a dark cloud.
"Glory to God...Glory to God...GLORY TO GOD!" this time not fading out as was the usual case when she was taken into vision, but shouted with increasing emphasis.
Startled, the audience tensed and looked questioningly at both Ellen and her husband. Slowly, James White got up from his chair and ever so quietly walked over to his wife, and while her face took on an expression of intense concentration, with eyes gazing unblinkingly into the distance, he faced the congregation.
"She is in vision...my wife is in vision..." he whispered softly to the hushed audience. Cognizant of the fact that he was addressing a number of people to whom Ellen’s Gift of Prophecy was not known, he reverently explained how, since her seventeenth year, his wife was often called into vision, and that each time this happened, she was completely detached from her surroundings. His claim that her breathing ceased while in this condition caused many of them to press forward and crowd around her.
"Bring a mirror," James asked in a low tone, and while holding it close to her mouth, he carefully pointed out that the total absence of condensation on the glass proved that her breathing had stopped. A second test, this time with a burning candle held only inches from her nose and mouth, was made, but not a flicker of moving air disturbed the tranquility of the flame. Stunned, aghast by this unusual phenomenon, the onlookers watched as Ellen slowly made her way through them, gracefully moving her arms, occasionally smiling, and more often giving the impression of staring at scenes transpiring beyond mortal vision, watching secrets that were solely intended for her.
For two long hours she remained in vision, sometimes moving, other times just standing, staring, listening, observing with her spiritual eyes what was being revealed to her. Then came her first deep breath which always signified the beginning of her return to consciousness. Another followed...and then another...slightly bewildered, she glanced at the anxious faces about her and as the memory of her vision became clear, she realized once again that she had been taken into Supreme confidence.
Writing of this vision two years later, she said:
“In the vision at Lovett’s Grove, most of the matter which I had seen ten years before concerning the great controversy between Christ and Satan, was repeated, and I was instructed to write it out. I was shown that while I should have to contend with the powers of darkness, for Satan would make strong effort to hinder me, yet I must put my trust in God, and angels would not leave me in the conflict."
Scores of visions had passed before her; however, this time Ellen was transported into the undeniable dimension of time before and beyond that of recorded history and was made witness to the War in Heaven, the rebellion and fall of Lucifer. Watching the tragedy unfold, she stood appalled and shocked at the infidelity of one who was once an exalted angel.
The files of the Ellen G. White Estate contain all of her recollections of that famous vision, with many passages expressing her emotions of sadness and astonishment as her mind’s consciousness locked in on the prophetic impulses of God."
Note: Noorbergen then goes on for several pages quoting Ellen White and what she saw, starting with scenes in heaven before Lucifer fell and became Satan. Finishing her quotes he then continues with the narrative.
In rapid sequence, the crowning events of Biblical history passed before Ellen’s
mind. In quiet amazement she observed the ancient patriarchs and consecrated prophets
lead the people of Israel; she saw Moses receive the Ten Commandments on the Mount
of Sinai and recoiled in horror as she heard the singing of the apostate Israelites
and watched them dedicate the golden calf. On and on her perception went, and her
mental anguish became more consuming as she personally witnessed the birth of Christ,
only to see it end on a cross, seemingly ignored by heaven. Via the apostolic times,
she gazed with abhorrence at the massacres of the early Christians, then proudly
viewed the work of the reformers. She was slowly brought back to her own times, watching
current history evolve; then transported again—this time into the future—to the events
leading up to the Second Coming of Christ, and was grieved by the heart-
It was indeed a prophetic vision unequaled in both scope and magnitude. She had been taken into full confidence...now it was up to her to act.
The following day, homeward bound on the train, Ellen discussed with James her vision at length and formulated her plans for the writing of the book covering the great conflict as it was shown to her. Her health was reasonably good at the time, and there seemed to be nothing that would prevent her from carrying out this new challenge. It was Ellen who suggested, while passing through Jackson, Michigan, en route to their home in Battle Creek, to make a stop at the home of Daniel Palmer, an old friend. Scarcely had they arrived at the Palmers’, when Ellen underwent a frightening sensation.
"...My tongue refused to utter what I wished to say, and seemed large and numb," she recalled. "A strange cold sensation struck my heart, passed over my head and down my right side. For a time I was insensible, but was aroused by the voice of earnest prayer. I tried to use my left limbs, but they were perfectly useless."
Suffering from a severe stroke, she lost all hope of recovery. However, with her slowly returning strength and renewed faith in her mission, she began to rally and immediately started writing the manuscript, relaying her experiences while in vision at Lovett’s Grove. In June, as she was in the completion stage of her book, she received light concerning what she had undergone at the Palmers’ home.
“I was shown in vision that in the sudden attack at Jackson, Satan intended to take
my life, in order to hinder the work I was about to write,” she pointed out, "but
the angels of God were sent to my rescue.” It was not until September of that same
year that her work was finished and the 219-
Since she witnessed the origin of the struggle for eternal survival, it is no wonder that most of the writings of Ellen White dealt with fundamentally the same subject: that of guiding people out of this degrading dilemma that originated in heaven....
...Whereas her vision of 1863 can be regarded as the most important health-
Here then is White’s description of the prehistoric events she claimed to have seen in vision. There is no question that she went far beyond anything speculated by the Armstrongs, to include even physical descriptions of Satan (“his forehead was high and broad”). One would definitely have to accept her supernatural claims of divine visions, or there would be no reason to believe any of this scenario, since it is even less based on anything in the Bible than were the writings of the Armstrongs on the topic. (Some modern commentators are convinced that much of White’s scenario was adapted from Milton’s Paradise Lost and the writings of other earlier authors.)
“The Fall of Lucifer” from The Story of Redemption
Lucifer in heaven, before his rebellion, was a high and exalted angel, next in honor
to God's dear Son. His countenance, like those of the other angels, was mild and
expressive of happiness. His forehead was high and broad, showing a powerful intellect.
His form was perfect; his bearing noble and majestic. A special light beamed in his
countenance and shone around him brighter and more beautiful than around the other
angels; yet Christ, God's dear Son, had the pre-
The great Creator assembled the heavenly host, that He might in the presence of all the angels confer special honor upon His Son. The Son was seated on the throne with the Father, and the heavenly throng of holy angels was gathered around them. The Father then made known that it was ordained by Himself that Christ, His Son, should be equal with Himself; so that wherever was the presence of His Son, it was as His own presence. The word of the Son was to be obeyed as readily as the word of the Father. His Son He had invested with authority to command the heavenly host. Especially was His Son to work in union with Himself in the anticipated creation of the earth and every living thing that should exist upon the earth. His Son would carry out His will and His purposes but would do nothing of Himself alone. The Father's will would be fulfilled in Him.
Lucifer was envious and jealous of Jesus Christ. Yet when all the angels bowed to Jesus to acknowledge His supremacy and high authority and rightful rule, he bowed with them; but his heart was filled with envy and hatred. Christ had been taken into the special counsel of God in regard to His plans, while Lucifer was unacquainted with them. He did not understand, neither was he permitted to know, the purposes of God. But Christ was acknowledged sovereign of heaven, His power and authority to be the same as that of God Himself. Lucifer thought that he was himself a favorite in heaven among the angels. He had been highly exalted, but this did not call forth from him gratitude and praise to his Creator. He aspired to the height of God Himself. He gloried in his loftiness. He knew that he was honored by the angels. He had a special mission to execute. He had been near the great Creator, and the ceaseless beams of glorious light enshrouding the eternal God had shone especially upon him. He thought how angels had obeyed his command with pleasurable alacrity. Were not his garments light and beautiful? Why should Christ thus be honored before himself?
He left the immediate presence of the Father, dissatisfied and filled with envy against Jesus Christ. Concealing his real purposes, he assembled the angelic host. He introduced his subject, which was himself. As one aggrieved, he related the preference God had given Jesus to the neglect of himself. He told them that henceforth all the sweet liberty the angels had enjoyed was at an end. For had not a ruler been appointed over them, to whom they from henceforth must yield servile honor? He stated to them that he had called them together to assure them that he no longer would submit to this invasion of his rights and theirs; that never would he again bow down to Christ; that he would take the honor upon himself which should have been conferred upon him, and would be the commander of all who would submit to follow him and obey his voice.
There was contention among the angels. Lucifer and his sympathizers were striving to reform the government of God. They were discontented and unhappy because they could not look into His unsearchable wisdom and ascertain His purposes in exalting His Son, and endowing Him with such unlimited power and command. They rebelled against the authority of the Son.
Angels that were loyal and true sought to reconcile this mighty, rebellious angel to the will of his Creator. They justified the act of God in conferring honor upon Christ, and with forcible reasoning sought to convince Lucifer that no less honor was his now than before the Father had proclaimed the honor which He had conferred upon His Son. They clearly set forth that Christ was the Son of God, existing with Him before the angels were created; and that He had ever stood at the right hand of God, and His mild, loving authority had not heretofore been questioned; and that He had given no commands but what it was joy for the heavenly host to execute. They urged that Christ's receiving special honor from the Father, in the presence of the angels, did not detract from the honor that Lucifer had heretofore received. The angels wept. They anxiously sought to move him to renounce his wicked design and yield submission to their Creator; for all had heretofore been peace and harmony, and what could occasion this dissenting, rebellious voice?
Lucifer refused to listen. And then he turned from the loyal and true angels, denouncing them as slaves. These angels, true to God, stood in amazement as they saw that Lucifer was successful in his effort to incite rebellion. He promised them a new and better government than they then had, in which all would be freedom. Great numbers signified their purpose to accept him as their leader and chief commander. As he saw his advances were met with success, he flattered himself that he should yet have all the angels on his side, and that he would be equal with God Himself, and his voice of authority would be heard in commanding the entire host of heaven. Again the loyal angels warned him, and assured him what must be the consequences if he persisted; that He who could create the angels could by His power overturn all their authority and in some signal manner punish their audacity and terrible rebellion. To think that an angel should resist the law of God which was as sacred as Himself! They warned the rebellious to close their ears to Lucifer's deceptive reasonings, and advised him and all who had been affected by him to go to God and confess their wrong for even admitting a thought of questioning His authority.
Many of Lucifer's sympathizers were inclined to heed the counsel of the loyal angels and repent of their dissatisfaction and be again received to the confidence of the Father and His dear Son. The mighty revolter then declared that he was acquainted with God's law, and if he should submit to servile obedience, his honor would be taken from him. No more would he be intrusted with his exalted mission. He told them that himself and they also had now gone too far to go back, and he would brave the consequences, for to bow in servile worship to the Son of God he never would; that God would not forgive, and now they must assert their liberty and gain by force the position and authority which was not willingly accorded to them.
The loyal angels hastened speedily to the Son of God and acquainted Him with what was taking place among the angels. They found the Father in conference with His beloved Son, to determine the means by which, for the best good of the loyal angels, the assumed authority of Satan could be forever put down. The great God could at once have hurled this archdeceiver from heaven; but this was not His purpose. He would give the rebellious an equal chance to measure strength and might with His own Son and His loyal angels. In this battle every angel would choose his own side and be manifested to all. It would not have been safe to suffer any who united with Satan in his rebellion to continue to occupy heaven. They had learned the lesson of genuine rebellion against the unchangeable law of God, and this is incurable. If God had exercised His power to punish this chief rebel, disaffected angels would not have been manifested; hence, God took another course, for He would manifest distinctly to all the heavenly host His justice and His judgment.
War in Heaven
It was the highest crime to rebel against the government of God. All heaven seemed in commotion. The angels were marshaled in companies, each division with a higher commanding angel at its head. Satan was warring against the law of God, because ambitious to exalt himself and unwilling to submit to the authority of God's Son, heaven's great commander.
All the heavenly host were summoned to appear before the Father, to have each case determined. Satan unblushingly made known his dissatisfaction that Christ should be preferred before Him. He stood up proudly and urged that he should be equal with God and should be taken into conference with the Father and understand His purposes. God informed Satan, that to His Son alone He would reveal His secret purposes, and He required all the family in heaven, even Satan, to yield Him implicit, unquestioned obedience; but that he (Satan) had proved himself unworthy of a place in heaven. Then Satan exultingly pointed to his sympathizers, comprising nearly one half of all the angels, and exclaimed, "These are with me! Will you expel these also, and make such a void in heaven?" He then declared that he was prepared to resist the authority of Christ and to defend his place in heaven by force of might, strength against strength.
Good angels wept to hear the words of Satan and his exulting boasts. God declared that the rebellious should remain in heaven no longer. Their high and happy state had been held upon condition of obedience to the law which God had given to govern the high order of intelligences. But no provision had been made to save those who should venture to transgress His law. Satan grew bold in his rebellion, and expressed his contempt of the Creator's law. This Satan could not bear. He claimed that angels needed no law but should be left free to follow their own will, which would ever guide them right; that law was a restriction of their liberty; and that to abolish law was one great object of his standing as he did. The condition of the angels, he thought, needed improvement. Not so the mind of God, who had made laws and exalted them equal to Himself. The happiness of the angelic host consisted in their perfect obedience to law. Each had his special work assigned him, and until Satan rebelled, there had been perfect order and harmonious action in heaven.
Then there was war in heaven. The Son of God, the Prince of heaven, and His loyal angels engaged in conflict with the archrebel and those who united with him. The Son of God and true, loyal angels prevailed; and Satan and his sympathizers were expelled from heaven. All the heavenly host acknowledged and adored the God of justice. Not a taint of rebellion was left in heaven. All was again peaceful and harmonious as before. Angels in heaven mourned the fate of those who had been their companions in happiness and bliss. Their loss was felt in heaven.
The Father consulted His Son in regard to at once carrying out their purpose to make man to inhabit the earth. He would place man upon probation to test his loyalty before he could be rendered eternally secure. If he endured the test wherewith God saw fit to prove him, he should eventually be equal with the angels. He was to have the favor of God, and he was to converse with angels, and they with him. He did not see fit to place them beyond the power of disobedience.
"Lucifer" Mythology
in Sabbatarian Circles
