In Ezekiel 28:12-19, God gives us a lengthy explanation of the creation of Lucifer and his fall from heaven. Since the devil is our mortal enemy who is intent on dragging our souls down to hell it’s a good idea to know all we can about his history. Knowledge is power. All people on the earth, especially Christians, should become familiar with the above verses so we know more about our adversary. In eternity past God created Lucifer as the most powerful angel God ever created. In addition to great power, God gave Lucifer great wisdom and beauty. God anointed Lucifer as the guardian cherubim angel responsible for protecting God’s holiness. Lucifer was above every other angel in heaven. Lucifer means, “the light bearer or the shining one.”
Luke 10:18 – (Jesus speaking) – I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
Lucifer looked upon his great power, wisdom and beauty and became full of pride. Lucifer thought he should be higher than God. Lucifer thought that he should actually replace God. Lucifer’s pride was the original sin and he became the first sinner in God’s universe so Lucifer was cast out of heaven. God didn’t create the devil. Lucifer was an angel in heaven who made the free will decision to sin which resulted in his fall from grace. Lucifer became the devil on his own accord. As the first fallen angel, Lucifer is now known as Satan. Satan means “adversary.” Satan is the adversary of both God and man. On the last day, when Jesus judges heaven and earth, Satan and his demons will be sentenced to eternity in the lake of fire created for him and the other fallen angels who sinned against God.
Isaiah 14:12-14 – 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! 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; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.
Angels are spirit beings like God and have no physical form. Angels who sinned against God were kicked out of heaven and thrown to the earth and we call them demons and Satan is their leader. Satan is a real person with a real personality. Satan is intelligent and very cunning. Satan has read the Bible so we should all do the same in order to protect ourselves from him. Satan has a will, an agenda and a desire to harm us. The Bible says Satan is full of wrath against God and us. When Satan rebelled against God he was able to convince a third of the angels in heaven to join his rebellion.
These fallen angels are now on earth as demons and they are intent on our destruction. Imagine the amazing persuasion skills Satan must possess to have convinced a third of the angels to rebel in heaven. We’re talking about millions of angels in the presence of God every day who know his glory and majesty. It’s staggering to the imagination that such a feat was pulled off. Satan’s ability to persuade is matched only by his great organizational skills as he coordinates his forces of darkness on the earth bent on our destruction. Think how powerful angels are. In the Old Testament a single angel of God killed all the firstborn of Egypt in one night during the Passover. Another time an angel killed 185,000 Assyrian troops besieging Jerusalem in one night. Fallen angels still have angelic power. God is just not allowing them use their powers overtly in our physical realm. Demons are only allowed to attack us mentally. Only the protection of God and his Word can save us from utter destruction from the forces of darkness. Praise God for his mercy and grace!
Revelation 12:12 – Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.