by Rick Combs
In our last post, we explored the awesome truth that our God is Love. His desire is to not only dwell, but also commune with his creation.
Then tragedy struck. Satan rebelled!
Isaiah 14:12-14 presents what was in his heart when sin was found there in ages past. This is the formulation of his plan and what Satan is after.
“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! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High”.
Lucifer was the most beautiful of all the angelic creatures and possessed extraordinary abilities and privileges. His beauty and wisdom were unparalleled. In short, Lucifer was the crowning glory of God’s angelic creation. He orchestrated the worship and praise of God by presenting the offerings of praise and honor from the angels to God. Study Ezekiel 28:11-19 for details of this. He was “the anointed cherub that covereth” and led the angelic worship from upon the very mountain of God.
With great privilege comes great responsibility. Lucifer did not handle this well. Through pride, iniquity was found in his heart. He wanted it all…
In our Isaiah 14:12-14 passage above, we see that Lucifer declared “5 I Wills” in his rebellion:
- “I will ascend into heaven” – this involves ascending into the realm above his current abode of the second heaven and into God’s domain of the 3rd heaven and taking up residency there.
- “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God” – he wanted to be the exalted one. To have dominion over creation through his ascendancy over the angelic realm.
- “I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north” – He also desired occupation of another throne namely, God’s Throne located in the sides of the north, the 3rd heaven. There is a mountain in Heaven referred to in Ezekiel 28:14 as “the holy mountain of God”. This is the very mountain upon which God sits to receive the worship of the angels and His creation. Lucifer wanted to sit there.
- “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds” – this is a further ascending to a higher throne. This throne is above the heights of the clouds of God’s Glory that he desired to have. Lucifer wanted to make himself THE object of all worship, praise, and adoration. And finally, his ultimate goal is in sight…
- “I will be like the Most High” – the title “Most High” identifies God as “possessor of heaven and earth” (Genesis 14:18-22). Lucifer wants to be like God in a very particular way. He desires to function as the owner of heaven and earth. The totality of these locations and realms is to be under his exclusive control with all of its’ privileges and authority.
This is the rebellion. He convinced one third of the angels to join him. He no doubt promised them high ranking status in God’s creation, now Satan’s creation as he saw it.
Lucifer became known as Satan – the one who is the deceiver, accuser, and the enemy of God.
This rebellion ruined everything and brought cataclysmic judgment from God upon Lucifer which adversely affected creation. Sin brings forth death. As a result, death spread to all the heavens and the earth. The heavens were filled with water with the earth submerged in and out of the water. We go from Genesis 1:1 to Genesis 1:2. God created the heaven (singular) and the earth. The unity and perfection in Genesis 1:1 is striking. Then we find in Genesis 1:2 chaos and voided emptiness. Earth was uninhabitable. It was drowning in the deep darkness waters in the heavens.
God creates everything in a perfect state (Isaiah 45:18). Now there is chaos and emptiness in His creation with the earth drowning in water.
What a tragedy! For the first time God is separated and isolated from His creation and must exact judgment upon the very creation he loves.
God will deal with Satan and his rebellion. The endgame is to fully restore what was lost and bring reconciliation.
We will look at the results of this rebellion and its resultant tragedy in our next post.
Until then, grace and peace unto you.