Lucifer's Rebellion
Evil did not originate on planet earth. Before God created earth, he had already populated the universe with other rational beings. The Bible calls these beings "angels," and names several different orders. Angels have often been made to appear as fantasy by those seeking to discredit their existence. Many artists have intentionally or inadvertently supported this by their inaccurate illustrations. Children have often seen the little angels and devils on the shoulders of cartoon characters, made ridiculous in appearance and action. One result of all this is that many people who believe that life exists elsewhere in the universe (even some with superior intelligence to mankind) reject the existence of angels because of their association with fantasy roles. But the angels are not creatures of fantasy. They are simply another form of living creature that has come from the hand of God. The angels, like mankind, were created with free will, and were subject to the same conditions regarding their eternal life. The most prominent of these chose to rebel against God. In order to understand the conditions in which we live today, we need to understand this angel and how he came to rebel against God.
1. |
What did Lucifer hope to accomplish in his rebellion against God? Isaiah 14:12-14 |
Helps and hints: Years ago, as the story goes a great organist performed a piece on a pump organ. After the well received performance, the man who pumped the air commented to the organist, "That sure was a fine job we did, wasn't it?" "WE ?" replied the organist. "You may have operated the machinery, but I made the music all by myself." At their next performance, in the middle of the finale, the helper came out and sat on the front row. As the organ wound down to silence, the organist turned and shouted, "What are you doing out here. Get back in there and PUMP!" The other man calmly replied, "I just wanted to see how you were doing out here all by yourself."
Lucifer became so infatuated with himself that he forgot that he was dependent on God for his very life. Lucifer has not life in himself. He gets it from the same place we do, GOD. He is also subject to God's judgement and will have no more power than we do to escape God's decision.
This passage is the most complete "biography: of Lucifer in the Bible. The passage is outwardly addressed to the "King of Tyrus," an earthly king, but the language indicates that more than earthly realities are represented. Lucifer has used human agents whenever possible in his war against the kingdom of god. Ezekiel, with prophetic insight, sees through this human agent to the real source of activities against God's people. Questions 2-5 highlight some of the information given by Ezekiel.
2. |
What privileges did Lucifer enjoy as a loyal servant of his Creator? Ezekiel 28:13,14 |
3. |
Did God create Lucifer with the seed of sin in his heart, so that it was only a matter of time before he became a "devil?" Ezekiel 28:15 |
Helps and hints: This is a very important question. Sin originated in the heart of Lucifer, as indicated by this passage. But did God therefore "create sin" because He created Lucifer? God DID NOT create sin. But He did create his creatures with the freedom of choice. God could never be content with mere robots. Free will means the power to choose for or against something. Lucifer had the choice to remain loyal to God, or to rebel against Him. He was created with no taint of maliciousness. His rebellion was not the fault of god, but the result of his own free choice.
4. |
What was the cause of Lucifer's desire to rebel against God? Ezekiel 28:16,17 |
Helps and hints: The same thing that caused the first of God's creatures to rebel against Him continues to hold men and women in rebellion against Him today - PRIDE.
Helps and hints: The final destruction of Lucifer will not be the result of a whimsical or vindictive decision by God. Lucifer will be the author of his own destruction. His intentional misuse of the gift of free will undercut the peace and safety of every other creature in the universe.
6. |
What two sins did Christ say originated in the heart of Lucifer? John 8:44 |
7. |
What was the result of Lucifer's effort to seize the throne of God in heaven by force? Revelation 12:7-9 |
8. |
Where was Satan confined when he was cast out of heaven? Revelation 12:9 |
Helps and hints: In the book of Revelation, stars are used to symbolize angels. It would indicate that Satan was able to turn a third of God's angels against Him in his effort to gain the throne.
10. |
After he was expelled from heaven, whom did Satan seek to deceive? Genesis 3:1-6 |
Helps and hints: Satan's rebellion in heaven had failed. But it must have surprised him to find that he still had access to some of God's unfallen creatures. God would allow the loyalty of ALL of His free-will beings to be tested. Although Adam and Eve were forewarned of the consequences of disobedience, Satan was still able to entice them to disregard the warning.
11. |
What did Satan lay claim to as a result of mankind's fall? Luke 4:5,6 |
Helps and hints: God originally created mankind as overseers of planet earth. He gave them "dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." Genesis 1:28. The apostle Paul said, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" Romans 6:16. Adam and Eve gave their obedience to Satan, and he was quick to proclaim his dominion over planet earth. Form this geographical location he would continue his war against God. The apostle Paul later described him as the 'god of this world." 2 Corinthians 4:4.
Helps and hints: God could have destroyed Satan when he first rebelled. But the rest of His creatures would not have understood, not having seen the consequences of Lucifer's course of action. Instead, God allowed Satan to demonstrate what the universe would be like under his authority. The results are written across the pages of human history. When the demonstration is complete, God will safely be able to eliminate Satan without running the risk that His other creatures will serve Him out of fear. Satan is a defeated foe. He knows that he will soon be destroyed, and the universe cleared of the effects of his rebellion. It is sheer desperation that causes him to continue to fight against God. Sin has so thoroughly warped Satan's character that he is beyond the point of no return as far as repentance is concerned. Bitterness, hatred, and selfishness are the only plants that grow in his heart. His hatred for mankind is intensified as he sees men and women return to God and receive the forgiveness that he too at one time could have received.
14. |
What is one place on earth that Satan was unable to penetrate? John 14:30 |
Helps and hints: Satan was never able to penetrate the mind of Christ. From the temptations in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11), to the final attempt to persuade Christ to come down off the cross, Satan dogged the steps of Christ's earthly ministry. Not even by a thought did Christ yield to the rebel angel.
Helps and hints: When Satan caused the death of Christ on the cross, he not only lost his power over those he held captive in death, but he also demonstrated the extent to which sin had corrupted him. He was willing to murder the source of health and strength for all mankind to accomplish his selfish purposes. In this he lost any sympathy he might have had from all who had remained faithful to God. He proved himself worthy of eternal destruction.
Why Does God Permit Suffering?
It was not God who introduced suffering into the universe. It was Lucifer, who became Satan; the devil. It is for the sake of those who will inhabit the universe for all eternity that God allows Satan to demonstrate sufficiently what the true course of sin really is. But you ask, "Isn't it enough? Haven't we seen enough?" Let me ask you: "Has mankind learned their lesson? Is war obsolete? Has crime ceased?" One of the sad facts of life is that some will never learn the lesson! Following in the footsteps of Satan himself, they will carry their rebellion against God to the bitter end. Only God knows when it will be safe to eliminate sin and those who perpetrate it from the universe without allowing cause for it to ever return again. Remember, sin can only enter the universe through the mind of a rational being. It is the result of the misuse of the freedom of choice. God's creatures will retain their free will, but none will ever choose rebellion against God again. The prophet Nahum says, "affiliation shall not rise up the second time."
God will gain and hold the voluntary allegiance of His loyal children for all eternity. He will not do this through fear. He will do it through love. It will yet be proven that every act of God, even the destruction of the wicked, will be an act of love. One indication of God's love is the suffering that He Himself has endured through the entire great controversy begun by Lucifer's rebellion. Even with modern inventions like television, we see only a tiny portion of the suffering in the world. God sees it all, every second, every hour, night and day, without holidays or vacations! It is Satan who enjoys watching people suffer, and not because of his hatred for us. Satan knows how much it hurts God to watch His children suffer, and God is the object of his hatred. To Satan, we are merely pawns in his game. To God, we are the objects of His supreme affections. Even the destruction of Satan can bring no joy to the heart of God. He remembers him as he once was, and as he could have been.
The day is coming when peace, genuine peace, will reign throughout the entire universe. The Bible is the guide to how this peace will be established and how it will be maintained. When God's plan of restoration is completed, the effects of Lucifer's rebellion will be forever gone. The universe will be no better for it. God would have preferred that it never have had to happen. But the universe will be safe from the danger of it ever happening again.
"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Revelation 21:3,4
Source:http://mcdonaldroad.org/bible/study/lucifer.htm
