the rebellion of lucifer against God

[john Stefan]

Why did Lucifer rebel against God to become Satan? What was his motivation? And why did God not just kill Lucifer when that rebellion started instead of just casting him and the fallen angels out of heaven itself?

 

[bobinfaith]

Good morning, John;

Good question. In my personal study and understanding of Lucifer are in these Scriptures;

Isaiah 14:12–14, 12 “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.’ - NKJV

Ezekiel 28:17, 17 “Your heart was [a]lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you. - NKJV

Lucifer was a high angel (Cherub) elevated by God. But Lucifer exposed his pride and ego because of "his own thought of splendor." I find this hard to grasp how the angels also had free will to choose obedience or disobedience, in this case the rebellion of Lucifer.

Notice how many times "I will" is expressed by Lucifer's desires in Isaiah.

In my personal response of why didn't God destroyed Lucifer right then and there? Had God destroyed Lucifer the rest of the angelic hosts would obey God out of fear instead of His love.

What I also question is when did Lucifer's name change to Satan in the Bible?

These Scriptures lead me to my own application to live in obedience over disobedience.

God bless you, John, and your family.

Bob

 

[john Stefan]

Good morning, John;

Good question. In my personal study and understanding of Lucifer are in these Scriptures;

Isaiah 14:12–14, 12 “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.’ - NKJV

Ezekiel 28:17, 17 “Your heart was [a]lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you. - NKJV

Lucifer was a high angel (Cherub) elevated by God. But Lucifer exposed his pride and ego because of "his own thought of splendor." I find this hard to grasp how the angels also had free will to choose obedience or disobedience, in this case the rebellion of Lucifer.

Notice how many times "I will" is expressed by Lucifer's desires in Isaiah.

In my personal response of why didn't God destroyed Lucifer right then and there? Had God destroyed Lucifer the rest of the angelic hosts would obey God out of fear instead of His love.

What I also question is when did Lucifer's name change to Satan in the Bible?

These Scriptures lead me to my own application to live in obedience over disobedience.

God bless you, John, and your family.

Bob

Hello Bob
Thank you very much for your reply my friend. However I do wish to add that lucifer seemed to be one of God's most holy created beings if you know waht I mean. Like he was the top man of God himself at the time in the army of angels. And as I see it that is exactly what was the case since Lucifer seemed to be God's second in command until he became Satan and rebelled against God himself.

kind regards John Stefan

 

[David]

Why did Lucifer rebel against God to become Satan? What was his motivation? And why did God not just kill Lucifer when that rebellion started instead of just casting him and the fallen angels out of heaven itself?

The Bible doesn't give us every detail about Satan's rebellion, but it does reveal something about the pride that leads a creature to think he can take the place of the Creator.

Look at Isaiah 14:12-15. The passage is directed against the king of Babylon, but listen to the language being used. Five times we find that determination to exalt himself. “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God... I will be like the most High.”

Now think about that. He wasn't satisfied with the position he had. He wanted something that belonged to God alone. And that is what pride does. It takes a creature who owes his very existence to God and convinces him that he deserves the glory of God.

Ezekiel 28:12-17 speaks against the king of Tyre, describing extraordinary beauty, wisdom, and a heart lifted up with pride. Both passages have been connected with Satan's fall, but we need to recognize their stated contexts rather than claim they explicitly give us his complete history.

What we do know is that Paul warned against being lifted up with pride and falling into “the condemnation of the devil” (1 Timothy 3:6). Jesus said, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven” (Luke 10:18). And Revelation 12:7-9 describes the dragon and his angels being cast out of heaven.

But here is where your second question becomes important. Why didn't God simply destroy Satan when he rebelled?

The Bible doesn't tell us why God chose not to destroy him immediately. And I don't believe we should invent an explanation where God hasn't given one.

But understand something. Just because God hasn't carried out His final judgment doesn't mean Satan has escaped it. A delayed sentence is not an overturned verdict.

Peter tells us that God did not spare the angels who sinned but reserved them for judgment (2 Peter 2:4). Jude 6 confirms that judgment is awaiting them. And Revelation 20:10 tells us Satan's final destination, the lake of fire.

Look at Job. Satan couldn't simply do whatever he wanted. God placed limits on what he was permitted to do. Even in his rebellion, Satan never became God's equal.

And that brings us to something we ought to remember. God says in Isaiah 46:10, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.”

Satan may rebel against God's authority, but he cannot overthrow it. He may oppose God's purposes, but he cannot defeat them. And he may continue his work of deception for a time, but he cannot escape the judgment God has already declared.

The creature doesn't get to decide when the Creator carries out His judgment.

God does.

And when that appointed time comes, Satan will not have the final word. God will.

 

[Yesua888]

Isaiah 14:12–14, 12 “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.’ - NKJV

This is a question that has come for me many times, thanks John for bringing it up, and Bob for pointing us to Scripture for answers.

"How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!"

and then

"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.’"

The way I read this, is that God read Lucifer's heart, and saw how he intended to "weaken the nations", and decided to act then and there, by casting him and his angels out of heaven.

There may appear to be a gap between the Serpent in the garden, and Adam & Eve, regarding punishing Lucifer.
I think Lucifer had already been punished by being cast out of heaven, and Adam and Eve had disobeyed God,
therefore mankind were cursed through this disobedience, and the plan was to multiply His people on the Earth, then send His only Begotten Son, Jesus to save those who believed in Him.

Ezekiel 28:17, 17 “Your heart was [a]lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you. - NKJV
Lucifer was a high angel (Cherub) elevated by God. But Lucifer exposed his pride and ego because of "his own thought of splendor." I find this hard to grasp how the angels also had free will to choose obedience or disobedience, in this case the rebellion of Lucifer.

As I read this, God knew what was happening to Lucifer, and knew his heart, knew his intensions ... God knows all, especially our future. Nobody is above God, and nobody can fool God.

 

[David]

This is a question that has come for me many times, thanks John for bringing it up, and Bob for pointing us to Scripture for answers.

"How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!"

and then

"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.’"

The way I read this, is that God read Lucifer's heart, and saw how he intended to "weaken the nations", and decided to act then and there, by casting him and his angels out of heaven.

There may appear to be a gap between the Serpent in the garden, and Adam & Eve, regarding punishing Lucifer.
I think Lucifer had already been punished by being cast out of heaven, and Adam and Eve had disobeyed God,
therefore mankind were cursed through this disobedience, and the plan was to multiply His people on the Earth, then send His only Begotten Son, Jesus to save those who believed in Him.



As I read this, God knew what was happening to Lucifer, and knew his heart, knew his intensions ... God knows all, especially our future. Nobody is above God, and nobody can fool God.

I agree that God knew what was in Lucifer's heart. Nothing is hidden from Him, and no one can deceive Him. Hebrews 4:13 tells us, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”

But I think we need to be careful about establishing a timeline that Scripture does not clearly give us.

Isaiah 14 speaks directly about the king of Babylon, and Ezekiel 28 addresses the king of Tyre. There is language in these passages that raises questions about Satan's rebellion, particularly the pride and desire to exalt himself. But neither passage plainly gives us the complete history of Satan's fall.

We do know that Satan was already deceiving Eve in Genesis 3. We also know that Jesus said, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven” (Luke 10:18). And Revelation 12:9 identifies him as “that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world.”

What we need to be careful about is assuming we know exactly when every event happened and how they all fit together when Scripture has not given us those details.

As for Adam and Eve, they were held accountable for their own disobedience. God judged the serpent, the woman, and the man in Genesis 3. But even in that judgment, God gave the promise concerning the seed of the woman who would bruise the serpent's head (Genesis 3:15).

And I agree with your final point. God knew everything that was happening. Nothing caught Him by surprise.

What stands out to me is that Satan's deception did not overturn God's purpose. God had already determined to accomplish salvation through Jesus Christ, as we see in 1 Peter 1:19-20.

There is much we can learn from these passages, but I believe we should be careful to distinguish between what God has actually revealed and what we are trying to piece together ourselves.