Lucifer
Introduction
Today I want you to look with me at something not mentioned very often these days. We seldom discuss this subject seriously, even in church, but we certainly need to. One cannot look at the evil in our world today without asking, “Where is all this wicked behavior coming from?”
Look with me today at our text, found in Isaiah 14:12‑17:
“How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit.
16 “Those who see you will gaze at you,
And consider you, saying:
‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble,
Who shook kingdoms,
17 Who made the world as a wilderness
And destroyed its cities,
Who did not open the house of his prisoners?’
Now, what exactly is this passage of scripture all about? We can ask Jesus to tell us, because He did exactly that as recorded in Luke 10:18. In that text our Lord referred to our text today when He said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” So we know that this passage, and the name Lucifer, refers to Satan and his fall from heaven. The name Lucifer, which Isaiah used, means “brightness” and Jesus spoke of Lucifer, the devil, falling like lightning.
In heaven, we know from scripture, that there are cherubim, seraphim, angels, and an archangel. Also, at one time there was an angel above all angels, and his name was Lucifer. Something went wrong in heaven and Lucifer was removed, and that is what we are considering today. Be assured that the event that happened before Adam took his first breath on earth is important to you and the world this very day. Sadly, very few people know just how important this subject really is in our modern world. If only the curtain could be pulled back so that every one was able to see the machinations going on behind the scenes.
It was Tina Turner who once said, "I'm a Buddhist‑Baptist. My training is Baptist. And I can still relate to the Ten Commandments and the Ten Worlds. It's all very close, as long as you contact the subconscious mind. That's where the coin of the Almighty is. I don't care what they feel about me and my tight pants on‑stage, and my lips and my hair. I am a chanter. And everyone who knows anything about chanting knows you correct everything in your life by chanting every day. People look at me and wonder, 'You look so great - what is it you do?' What can I tell them except I changed my life?"
Anybody here today a Buddhist-Baptist? Tina Turner, who sold millions of records and millions of digital songs in the modern era kept a Buddhist shrine in her house and said that chanting was her path to salvation. Why am I talking about a deceased musician and singer? You see, Tina Turner was an example of the mixing of religious beliefs into any system that a person ‘thinks’ works for him or for her. Since the time Lucifer fell from heaven and the first man and woman were on earth, he has been seeking to turn people away from the true God. He will use anything, including religion, to keep you from Jesus Christ, who is the only way to a true relationship with the living God. In fact, if you look at a number of people who once claimed faith in Christ and then became very famous, you will see how easily they have been led away to a world religion that is formed from a conglomeration of religious beliefs that have been stirred together in the devil's cauldron. They write books, interview religious people who also have a religion made of Satanic stew, and lead many people astray. That, my friend, is the devil's plan - one plan among many he uses in this world to turn people from the Savior, Jesus Christ.
So, let’s look today and several things related to Satan – Lucifer – the devil.
I. The Fall of Lucifer
A. The Reality of a Personal Lucifer
The first thing we must do is realize that the devil exists. It has been said by many preachers that the first thing that the devil desires to do is to convince people that he does not exist at all.
Be assured that all one can know about Lucifer is found in the Bible. Everything outside the Bible which seeks to describe him, if it is not related to some explanation of Scripture, must be considered false. What does the Bible say about him?
1. Thirty-five times he is called devil, which means accuser.
2. Fifty-two times he is referred to as Satan, which means adversary.
3. In the Bible, he is also called the father of lies, as recorded in John 8:44.
4. He also called the lord of death (Hebrews 2:14).
5. John calls him the wicked one in 1 John 2: 13
He has other names, but the point I’m making here is that he is a real personal being. Look at Ezekiel 28:12 and note that he is a created being. The word 'created' comes from the Hebrew word 'bara,' which is the same word that appears in Genesis 1:1 concerning the creation of the heavens and the earth. The word bara is never used of anyone but God, thus Lucifer was created by God and was a covering Cherub, a beautiful angel and was perhaps the highest of all the angels.
B. The Rebellion of a Pride-filled Lucifer
So what happened to this great angel that merited his fall from heaven? It is interesting to look at the name Lucifer, which means 'morning star.' But the Hebrew word translated Lucifer is pronounced 'hey'lel' and is the root word from which we get our English word 'hallelujah.' In Satan's brightness and beauty there arose a desire in his heart to receive the hallelujahs designed only for God!
Also, we note in Ezekiel 28 that Lucifer was beautiful. He is not ugly as portrayed by most representations of him in movies, cartoons and dramas. The Bible states clearly in 2 Corinthians 11:14 that he masquerades as an angel of light. In other words, he comes to tempt and mislead with a false light of beauty and attractiveness. He is a master of manipulation.
C. The Removal of a Perverted Lucifer
When Lucifer attempted to take the place of the Lord in heaven, he was cast out of his lofty position and hurled to the earth. He lost his place of glory in the presence of God and the holy angels, which was not a loss which could be recovered, for he was removed forever with no chance or way of redemption from his rebellion.
II. The Fight with Lucifer
A. His Military Might
In Revelation 12 we read that one-third of all the angels followed Lucifer in his rebellion against God, and they too were cast out of heaven with him. This means that he came to earth with an army of fallen angels, and he has used them since to fight against the Lord and to keep people from bowing to the true God.
Look at 2 Peter 2:4: “For (if God) did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment…” (Parentheses mine)
Note also Jude, verse 6, “And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day…”
In other words, the Bible is replete with examples that reveal that Satan was cast out of heaven and the angels who followed him were also cast down to the earth. Listen my friend, Satan and his angels are reserved for judgment! No one in his or her right mind would willing wish to follow them. Yet, Satan works with his army in a secret way to deceive the world.
B. His Malicious Mission
We see in Isaiah 14 that his mission is to take the throne of God, for he desires to be in God's place. He hates God and desires to break God's heart. You see, Satan knows that God loves mankind and thus he seeks to condemn as many of us as possible to his same fate. He wants us separated from God and he hates it when we praise God and worship Him. He despises hearing us pray.
Have you ever wondered why so many people hate the name “Jesus?” It was interesting to me many years ago when prayer became anathema in our schools and public places, that prayer was accepted for a while, as long as one didn’t mention the name “Jesus” in the prayer. Why? Because Satan hates the name of Jesus. He knows that through Christ people have forgiveness and a place in heaven – the place Satan threw away. He will do all he can to keep you from believing in Jesus and trusting Him for salvation.
C. His Malignant Methods
So, how does the devil go about this work of keeping people from the Lord? He attempts to blind the lost. He fills the heart with wickedness, just as he did to Judas as recorded in John 13:2. Note also that he works the same way in the kingdom of God. In the early church in Jerusalem he entered the hearts of Ananias and Sapphira and caused them to lie to the Holy Spirit and the Church (Acts 5:3).
One of the major tools of Satan is to deny the Word of God. He did that in the Garden of Eden with Eve. When Eve told Satan what God said, Satan asked, “Did God say?” From the beginning he sought to distort and destroy God’s Word. Satan is constantly casting doubt upon the Bible!
Abraham Lincoln once told of a farmer trying to teach his son how to plow a straight furrow. In the time‑honored tradition, he told the boy to keep his eyes on some object at the other end of the field and plow straight for it. The boy started plowing and the farmer went about his chores. When he returned after several hours to check on the boy's progress, he was shocked to find instead of straight rows something that looked like a question mark. The boy had obeyed his father's instructions. He had fixed his eyes on something at the other side of the field - a cow. Unfortunately, the cow had moved! Evidently, that father forgot to tell his son to look for a stable object, one that wouldn't shift or move around. That's one mistake we don't have to make. We can fix our eyes on Jesus who never changes, and upon God’s Word which is established in heaven forever.
So Satan works through the fallen angels who were cast out with him to carry out his methods of attack.
1. Lucifer Accuses Us
Remember Job, how Satan accused him? He will do the same to you and in so doing seeks to defeat you and discourage you.
2. Lucifer Attacks God's Work
We see this in the way he delayed the answer to Daniel's prayer, and also how he contended for the body of Moses.
3. Lucifer Advances toward a final Confrontation
Satan desire is to have an outright battle with Christ. You see, the devil actually thinks he can win that battle. You might say, "Well, how can he believe that; the Bible clearly teaches that he will lose that war?" Ah, but Satan doesn't believe God's Word! He spreads doubt because He is a doubter. He wants that final battle, and believe me - he wi going to get it. He is not going to like what he gets once he experiences it! His judgment is coming, but not before he sets about creating world chaos and war. We don’t have to look very far to see that even now. The world goes on fighting and killing, and only the return of Jesus will bring this to an end.
(Revelation 16:13‑16 and 20:1‑10)
III. The Finish For Lucifer
The good news is that Satan is finished already, he just doesn’t accept that fact. You see, Satan started it, but God is going to finish it!
A. Lucifer was Defeated at the Cross and Resurrection of Christ
Look at Hebrews 2:14-18, “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.”
How wonderful! How marvelous! Jesus came in human form to do what Adam could not do. Jesus lived above sin, and never succumbed to a single temptation from the evil one. Then, He took our sins to Calvary and rose to give us victory over sin, death, hell, the grave and Satan!
Note 1 Corinthians 15:56-58, “The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
We have the victory in Christ. Satan will do his best to discourage you, mock you, and defeat you, but your victory is sealed in heaven. Your anchor is fixed in heaven. The devil is already defeated – Jesus took care of that at Calvary and the empty tomb!
B. Lucifer is Defeated at the Receiving of Christ
A poor woman who had a hard struggle to make ends meet, and knew what it meant to be stinted for food, was taken on an outing to the seaside. She was delighted with the scene. As she looked out over the vast expanse of waters, tears filled her eyes and she exclaimed, "Thank God for a sight of something there is enough of!" That it was for me when I met Jesus! Thank God for Jesus – He is big enough and great enough to meet all my needs. When I accepted Him, I received something the world and the devil can never take away from me. Victory is found in Jesus alone!
1 John 4:4 tells us that the One in us is greater than the one in the world! The child of God has victory, not in self but in the Savior!
C. Lucifer will be forever Defeated in the Judgement by Christ
Jesus is coming back one day, just as He promised. When He returns, Lucifer, Satan, the devil, or whatever name you choose you use for him, will be dealt with for good. He will eventually be cast into the lake of fire - where he belongs!
Conclusion
Please know this, hell is a real place but it was not created for you. Hell is a place prepared for the devil and his angels, as we read in Revelation 12:9, “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Then we read in Revelation 20:10, “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
God desires for you to spend eternity with Him! That is why Jesus came, lived, died and rose. But, be assured of this, all those who side with the devil must reside with him forever. Satan will not, however, be in charge of hell ‑ in fact, he is to be held there like all others.
All mankind has sided with Satan, for all have rebelled against God (Romans 3:23). But we can come to God through His Son, Jesus, and find peace, forgiveness, victory, abundant life and eternal life. In the end, you have to choose a side. Bob Dylan wrote,
“You gotta serve somebody,
It may be the devil or it may be the Lord,
But you gotta serve somebody.”
Dear friend, who will you serve? You have a choice! It is one my must get right - for time and eternity.
When Jesus cried "It is finished," from the cross, he was stating that the work of removing the curse of sin from all who put their faith in Him was done! But one day Jesus will shout, "He is finished," and He will be speaking of Lucifer, that old dragon, who will never be able to bring the curse of sin and judgment upon another human being in time or eternity!