Lucifer and the Logos?
Where did the "Devil" come from? Where did he
get the name "Lucifer?" What does "Lucifer" mean?
And what about the Logos?
What is His Origin? Who
Is He? What is His role in God’s Plan?
What is the
true story of these ancient beings described
in the Scriptures?
How did they become adversaries?
Here is one
of the intriguing mysteries of the Universe
Revealed and
explained!
William
F. Dankenbring
First, let’s look at this being
called “Lucifer” in the Bible.
The word "Lucifer" itself
comes from the Latin, and there is no doubt that Jerome used this Latin word to
translate the Hebrew word "Heylel."
His work in translating the Latin Vulgate was largely based on the
Septuagint, which was the version quoted often by Christ and the apostles, and
later rejected by the Jews because the Christians were using it to great
advantage in arguing that Christ was the Messiah. The original Septuagint (which we do not
really have today, but rather a "reconstruction" undertaken by
Origen) was an authoritative version begun in the days of Ptolemy Philadelphus
circa 250 B.C.
The word "Heylel" in
Hebrew means: "in the sense of
brightness, the morning star" (Strong's Concordance). It is from the root "halal" which
has several meanings: "clear, to
shine, hence to make a show, to boast, and thus to be foolish, to rave, be mad,
glory, shine, etc." The Gesenius
Hebrew Lexicon has for "Heylel," "according to the LXX, Vulgate,
Targum Rabbin (ancient Jewish source), Luther, stella lucida, bright
star, i.e., Lucifer. Nor is this a
bad rendering, for there is added [in the text of Isaiah] . . . and in the
Chaldee also Lucifer (the morning star) . . . in Arab . . . 'a splendid
star.' According to this opinion
'Heylel' would be derived from the root 'Halal,' 'to shine.'"
The Septuagint translates Isaiah
14:12 as follows: "How has Lucifer, that rose in the morning, fallen from
heaven! . . . But thou saidst in thine heart, I will go up to heaven, I will
set my throne ABOVE the stars of heaven:
I will sit upon a lofty mount, on the lofty mountains toward the north: I will go up above the clouds; I will be
like the Most High. But now thou
shalt go down to hell, even to the foundations of the earth"
(Isa.14:12-15). The Tanakh uses the
expression, "O Shining One, son of Dawn." Either way, Lucifer was a
"shining one," and a 'star' that rises in the morning is a
"day star" or a "morning star."
Are
There Two "Day Stars"?
What is the significance of this
fact, since Christ is also called a "day star" (II Pet.1:19) and
speaks of Himself in Revelation
Most scholars conclude that 'Heylel'
comes from the root 'Halal' whose basic meaning is "to shine." However, "shining" can have both
positive and negative aspects. To
"shine" can mean "to boast," "self-glory," rave
on, even so far as being "mad" and "foolish." Certainly, Lucifer became such in his
inordinate ambition and pride, as both Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 show. But the basic meaning of the word is "to
shine," and it is connected in Isaiah with "son of the morning,"
meaning the "morning star."
For "Lucifer," my KJV margin has an alternate reading of
"day star." Again, the
essential meaning is "brightness."
And that appellation is correct.
For in II Corinthians, Paul tells us of "Lucifer," that even
today he appears as "an angel of light" (II Cor.11:14). Christ also verified his brightness, saying,
"I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven" (Luke
"The
Anointed Cherub that Covers"
Lucifer was created as a glorious,
resplendent cherub, one of the highest ranking angelic beings surrounding God's
Throne -- he was even appointed as the "anointed cherub that covers"
the throne of God (Ezek.28:14), and was "perfect in [his] ways" until
wickedness was discovered in him (verse 15).
God said of him, that he "sealed up the sum, full of wisdom, perfect
in beauty" (v.12), and "every precious stone was thy
covering" (v.13). He was a
"work of art." A "masterpiece."
But, God declares, "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy
beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of THY BRIGHTNESS . .
." (v.17).
For these reasons, I find no fault
with Jerome's translation, or the term "Lucifer" as referring to
Satan, on account of his "brightness." The name fits. The other meanings of the name "halal"
also fit him, of course, since he allowed his "brightness" to go to
his head: and he became foolish,
raving, mad, etc.
What
is intriguing, however, is that Christ Jesus also is referred to in Scripture
as "the day star." In fact, in
the Latin Vulgate, the Greek word phosphoros is translated in II Peter
1:19 in reference to Christ as "day star" -- but the very same word phosphoros
is used in Isaiah 14:12 where it is translated "Lucifer"! Thus both Satan and Christ are described as phosphoros! Do they both, then, have as one of their
names, "Lucifer"? Although
both could be called "Lucifer," which is merely Latin for
"Light-bringer," the word Lucifer has come to be applied to Satan, to
make it clear which being is referred to.
Let's understand this.
In II Peter 1:19 we read: "We have also a more sure word of
prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, AS unto a light that
shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the DAY STAR arise in your
hearts."
Christ is the true "light"
(John
It is certainly interesting that both
Lucifer, the "son of the morning" and whose name also means "day
star," and Christ the Son of God , who is referred to as the "day
star" in II Peter 1:19, both are called "day star." Obviously, BOTH had and have incredible
"brightness." Both
"shine." Both would have the
same "root" in this sense. The
Englishman's Greek Interlinear translates the Greek in II Peter 1:19 as
"morning star" -- as a reference to Christ. Lucifer, too, was called "the son of the
morning" (Isaiah 14:12), or "son of dawn." The Amplified Bible refers to him as,
"How are you fallen from heaven, O light-bringer and day-star, son of the
morning!" (same verse).
Why
are both Lucifer and Christ or the Logos spoken of as having the SAME TITLES --
in one sense, one could even say THE SAME NAME?
Obviously "Lucifer" merely means
"Light-bringer." That is one
of Christ's names. Interestingly, the
first thing that God created in Genesis 1 was "light" (Gen.1:3). Is it not possible that in the original,
FIRST CREATION, that the first thing God the Father created was Light?--
that is, "beings of light" or "light bringers"?
The Origin of the Logos of God
Christ Himself admitted that the
Father was greater than He (John 14:28).
He admitted that the Father was (and is) "the only true God"
(John 17:3), who sent Him. He calls
himself "the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the
creation of God" (Rev.3:14). Did
the Logos have a "beginning"?
The Greek word translated "beginning" in this verse means
"first in a series," as its primary meaning. The same truth is indicated in Colossians,
chapter one, where we read of Christ's pre-existence: "Who is the image of the
invisible God" (Col.1:14). Now an
"image" is a copy, or a "likeness" -- not the
original! Continuing: "Who is the image of the invisible
God, the FIRSTBORN OF EVERY CREATURE" (Col.1:15). Notice!
The One who became Christ Himself was an image of the True God --
a reproduction, or "copy." As
such, we read in the book of Hebrews, He was made "the brightness of his
glory, and the EXPRESS IMAGE OF HIS PERSON" -- or character
(Heb.1:1-3).
Thus Christ or the Logos was the
"firstborn of EVERY creature."
He was the firstborn of God -- the first to "qualify"
to become a very "Son of God" and a member of the Godhead, aeons
ago,
when He proved Himself and His loyalty to the Father -- the Father proclaimed
Him to be His "Firstborn."
This was not automatic. Character
is never "automatic." It is
based on choices, decisions, and actions.
Thus the One who became Christ, aeons ago, was created out of the
Father's own essence, of His own Spirit, to be His companion -- a "Mighty
One." When He proved Himself, He
was granted powers from God the Father to sit with Him in His Throne -- He
became a Co-Regent with the Father. He
became "very God," as the Father is "God," because the
Father proclaimed Him to be His "Son," and gave Him authority over
all things, and imparted to Him authority as Co-Creator!
Therefore we read of the Logos, that
it was by him "also he [the Father] made the worlds," and who now
"upholds all things by the word of his power" (Heb.1;2-3), who has
also "purged our sins," and "sat down on the right hand of the
Majesty on high" (v.3); "Being made so much better than the
angels, as he hath BY INHERITANCE obtained a more excellent NAME than
they" (Heb.1:4).
At some distant point, before the
Creation as we know it, God the Father created -- or "pro-created,"
from His own essence -- the "Logos."
The Logos, or "Word," grew up, matured, and became the
"Son of God," and eventually God shared His very own authority as
"God" with Him. Therefore, we
read in the book of John that in "a" beginning, as the Greek should
read, there was the Word (Logos), and the Word was with God, and the
Word was [i.e., had become] God (see John 1:1-3).
The Logos, the One who became
Christ, at this earlier time -- after proving Himself and qualifying through
developing perfect, righteous CHARACTER, which cannot be created
instantaneously -- became the second member of the
"Elohim," or "Godhead" and participated in the creation of
this present Universe (Heb.1:1-3).
Through tests and trials of which we have no direct knowledge, and
through "much tribulation" (Acts 14:22), He qualified at that ancient
epoch to become "Elohim" together with the Father! Therefore, we read in Genesis, chapter one,
"In [a] beginning, GOD [Elohim, meaning "The mighty Ones"]
created the [present] heavens and the earth" (Gen.1:1). We read, further, that God said, "Let US
make man [mankind] in OUR IMAGE, after our likeness" (Gen.1:26). By this time, then, the Logos had qualified
and become a Co-Creator with the Father!
Together they made the Universe, and later mankind, as is depicted in
Genesis, chapter one.
The Logos had become "the
brightness" of the glory of God the Father, and His "express
image" in character (v.3).
Therefore He has become "so much better than the angels," and
"by inheritance obtained [qualified for] a more excellent name than
they" (Heb.1:4). He became God's
true Son by creation, so that the Father said of Him, "Thou art my son,
this day have I begotten thee," and "I will be to him a Father, and
he shall be to me a Son" (v.5).
Paul alludes to the origin of the
One who became Christ, the Logos of God, when he wrote that Christ or the Logos
"is the image of the invisible God," and "the firstborn
of EVERY CREATURE: for by him were
all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and
invisible . . . And he is before all things, and by him all things
consist. And he is the head of the body,
the church: who IS the BEGINNING . .
." (Colossians 1:15-18).
Thus the Logos, who later became our
Saviour and Messiah, assisted the Father in creation of this present
Universe. As we read in John: "In [a] beginning was the Word [Logos],
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him [the present
Universe]; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In his was life; and the life was the light
of men" (John 1:1-4).
But what about this being called
"Lucifer"? Where did he come
from?
The Creation of Lucifer, Another
'Light-bringer'
But what about this other being,
called "Heylel" or "Lucifer"? He was also a "light-bringer," as
his name implies. He was another celestial
being whom the Father created -- "Heylel," or
"Lucifer." He also was a
"son of brightness," "son of the morning," and "day
star," a brilliant, glorious creation of God -- superb in wisdom,
intellect, and beauty. God tells us
about his origin in the book of Ezekiel:
"Thou sealest up
the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
Thou hast been in the
garden of God; every precious stone was thy
covering, the sardius,
topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx,
and the jasper, the
sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold:
the workmanship of
thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee
in the day that thou
wast CREATED" (Ezek.28:12-13).
Lucifer, then, was also
"created." He was a
magnificent, awesome angelic being -- there is no other being in Scripture that
God describe in this spendid fashion.
God says of him, in fact, "Thou art THE ANOINTED CHERUB THAT
COVERETH" (v.14) -- that is, Lucifer was anointed as a special GUARDIAN
of the very Throne of God, a position of the highest trust and importance! He was the "captain" of the palace
guard, so to speak. He, too, was created
as a "son of God," a "son of the morning," in that original
Creation aeons ago. He was present at
the Creation of the existing Universe, when the heavens and earth were created,
for we read that at that time, "the morning stars sang together,
and
ALL the sons of God shouted for joy" (Job
38:7).
So what happened? Can we piece the story together? Are there enough allusions and hints and
pieces of evidence, in the Scriptures and the cosmos, so that we can
"reconstruct" the true story of what happened? Let us investigate this intriguing saga of
the world that was.
An Ancient Competitive Drama
Unfolds
There is very likely far more to the
original story of the Logos and Heylel than we have ever assumed. It is interesting that in the Zodiac, one of
the signs is that of "Gemini," or "the Twins." Why is this?
As Bullinger shows, the celestial Zodiac goes back to ancient
astronomical sources and bears witness in an incredible manner to the plan and
purpose of God.
E. W. Bullinger writes concerning
the sign "Gemini," or "The Twins":
"All the pictures of this sign are
confused. The Greeks claim to have
invented
them,
and they called them Apollo and Hercules. . . The Latins called them Castor
and
Pollux; and the name of a vessel in which Paul sailed is so called in Acts
28:11.
"The
name in the ancient Denderah Zodiac is Clusus, or Claustrum Hor, which
means
the
place of Him who cometh. It is
represented by two human figures walking, or
coming. The second appears to be a woman. The other appears to be a man. It is
a
tailed figure, the tail signifying He cometh.
"The old Coptic name was Pi-Mahi,
the united, as in brotherhood. Not
necessarily
united
by being born at the same time, but united in one fellowship or
brotherhood.
The
Hebrew name is Thaumim, which means united. The root is used in Exodus 26:
24: 'They (the two boards) shall be coupled
together beneath.' In the margin we
read,
'Heb.,
twinned' (R.V. double). The
Arabic Al Tauman means the same.
"We
need not trouble ourselves with the Grecian myths, even though we can see
through
them the original and ancient truth. The
two were both heroes of peculiar
and
extraordinary birth -- sons of Jupiter.
They were supposed to appear at the head
of
armies; and as they had cleared the seas of pirates, they were looked upon as
the
patron
saints of navigation. (Hence the name of
the ship in Acts 28:11). They were
held
in high esteem by Greeks and Romans; and the common practice of taking oaths
and
of swearing by their names has descended even to our own day in the still
surviving
vulgar
habit of swearing 'by Gemini!'" (Witness of the Stars, p.137-138).
One star in the head of one of the twins in the sign of
Gemini is Apollo which means "ruler" or
"judge." Another star in the
head of the other is called "Hercules, who cometh to labour, or suffer. Another star . . . (in his left foot), is
called Al Henah, which means hurt, wounded, or afflicted."
Bullinger interprets the two twins
of Gemini as the two natures of Christ depicted here as "two
persons." One showing Christ as
God, triumphant, ruling, "glorifed for our complete salvation and final
triumph." The other as man, "suffering for our redemption." Although this may certainly be a possible
meaning of the Twins of Gemini, there is another possibility.
Notice. The twin on the left has a club in
hand; the twin on the right a bow and arrow.
Christ is pictured as an archer with bow and arrow (Psalm 45:3-6). He is coming as the "Judge" of the
world (Matt.25:30-31; Acts 17:31; John 5:25-29). This twin, on the right, has a star in His knee
called Mebsuta, meaning "treading under feet." He will tread all His enemies under His
feet!
However, Christ is not pictured as
coming with a "club" in His hand anywhere in Scripture. He is pictured carrying a "sword"
and ruling the nations with a "rod of iron" (Rev.19:15). But never a "club." Is not Lucifer, then, the "twin" on
the left, the one who was the guardian of the Throne of God, the one who
carried a "club"? As an
"anointed cherub that covered" the throne of God, as its guardian,
would he not have held a weapon? And the
"club" symbolizes his authority.
Today, Satan is still the one who carries a club, who uses it to
browbeat, brutally rule, and tyrannize over people, as an
"overlord."
Notice another feature of the sign
of "Gemini." In the picture
illustrated by the Zodiacal sign of "Gemini," the two Twins are
actually depicted as being together, in each other's company, fellowshipping
together, in a condition of peace, tranquility, or "at
rest." The old Coptic name for the
sign, Pi-Mahi, means "the united." Would this not depict an ancient,
primordial time when both Lucifer and the Logos enjoyed fellowship together, in
perfect peace, and were united in purpose, serving the One true
God? This would have been an ancient
time of peace and quiet, throughout the Universe, before Lucifer rebelled, and
declared war on God, and His government, and led one third of the angels in
rebellion against God!
The twin on our left hand, however,
has the star Hercules in its forehead, meaning "labor" or
"suffer," and a star in its left foot, Al Henah, meaning
"hurt," "afflicted," "wounded." Could this not be a reference to the
widespread suffering, hurt, affliction, and pain brought about in the Universe
due to the rebellious activities of this celestial "Hercules," a
depiction of the suffering that Lucifer would cause -- the "Evil
Twin"?
Another constellation in the sign of
Gemini is that of Orion, picturing Christ, "the Sun of righteousness"
(Malachi 4). He will "tread down
the wicked" (same chapter). He will
"tread down our enemies" (Psalm 90:12). Beneath His foot is Lepus, the hare,
or enemy. In the Persian planisphere the
first constellation was pictured by a serpent. In the Egyptian, it is an unclean bird
standing on the serpent, which is under the foot of Orion. Its name is Bashti-beki. Bashti means confounded, and Beki
means failing" (p.141).
The brightest star in the body of the hare has a Hebrew name, Arnebo,
which means "the enemy of Him that cometh." Other stars in it are "Nibal, the
mad; Rakis, the bound (Arabic, with a chain); Surgia, the
deceiver" (p.141).
The plan of God is depicted in the
heavens. The mysterious Zodiacal sign of
"Gemini," or "The Twins," is far more meaningful than we
have ever imagined! More evidence of
this amazing story, however, is found in the strange appearing ritual of the
"two goats" which lie at the center of the stage of the holiest day
of the year -- Yom Kippur.
The
Mystery of Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement
In
Leviticus 16 we read: "And he [Aaron, or the High Priest] shall take of
the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a
sin offering . . . And he shall take the two goats, and present them BEFORE
THE LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two
goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat [Heb., Azazel]. And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the
LORD's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering" (Lev.16:5-9). This goat pictures Jesus Christ, who took
upon Himself our sins and died for us (II Cor.5:21; Heb.9:28, 10:1-12).
What about the other goat, which to
all appearances, looked identical to the first goat? "But the goat, on which the lot fell to
be the scapegoat [Azazel], shall be presented alive before the
LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat [Azazel]
into the wilderness . . . And Aaron shall lay both hands upon the head of the live
goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel,
and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of
the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the
wilderness: and the goat shall bear
upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat into the
wilderness" (Lev.16:10-22).
This goat pictures Lucifer, or Satan
the devil. He is the one ultimately
responsible for all sin and rebellion in the Universe. He is the one who led mankind astray,
beginning with Adam and Eve. He is
" murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there
is no truth in him" (John 8:44). He
is "the god of this world [who] hath blinded the minds of them which
believe not" (II Cor.4:4). He is
"the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the
children of disobedience" (Eph.2:2).
He is "the great dragon . . . that old serpent, called the Devil,
and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world" (Rev.12:9).
At the beginning of the reign of
Christ and the Kingdom of God, this old serpent, Lucifer or Satan, will be
taken "away by the hand of a fit man" -- an angel -- "into the
wilderness." The apostle John
writes, "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the
bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil,
and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless
pit [Greek abyss], and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he
should deceive the nations no more . . ." (Rev.20:1-3).
Now let us examine this picture of
the scene depicted on the Day of Atonement.
On the Day of Atonement, two goats are selected, seemingly equal and
both spotless and without blemish (Lev.16:5).
Aaron was to "cast lots" upon the two goats, to select between
them (God doing the actual selecting, of course, by using this method). One goat would become the one who made
atonement by shedding his blood, a type of Christ, the Logos; the other would
become the "Azazel," or 'scape-goat,' who would bear the sins of all
the people, into the wilderness.
According to Jewish tradition, the Azazel goat was led into the
wilderness, and there was thrown over a cliff to the jagged rocks below, where
he was in this manner killed. This goat
represented Satan the devil, who will be bound (Rev.20:1-2), and then
ultimately destroyed (Rev.20:10, Heb.2:14).
If you have not read it, be sure to write for our article, "Will
Satan the Devil Be Punished Forever?"
The
Real Lesson for Us!
What, then, is the real lesson in
the Day of Atonement, in the drama using the two goats? Notice!
Both the Logos, and Lucifer, were originally "light bearers."
Both were "day stars." Both
were "shining stars of the morning."
One became the Messiah, laying down His life for our sins. The other became a wicked, devious, deceitful
and destructive being, known as "Satan" or "Adversary," who
rebelled against God. One submitted to
the loving direction and government of the Father. The other "twin" rebelled, and
attempted to seize the throne of God and occupy it himself (Isaiah
14:12-14). There is an incredible lesson
in all this, for us, today!
In other words -- our future destiny
is up to us! The choice is OURS
to decide! As God says to us: "See, I have set before thee this day
life and good, and death and evil; in that I command thee this day to love the
LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments and his
statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee . . .
“But if thine heart turn away, so
that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away to worship other gods, and
serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish . . . I
call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before
you life and death, blessing and cursing:
THEREFORE CHOOSE LIFE, that both thou and thy seed may live"
(Deut.30:15-19).
God commands us to CHOOSE which way
we will go! He commands us to choose life,
but in so doing He leaves open to us the option of choosing the other way
-- the way that may seem good and feel good but ends in DEATH!
(Prov.14:12; 16:25).
Sibling
Rivalry
Interestingly, the Scriptures have a
great deal to say about the mystery of "twins." We have all heard of "sibling
rivalry." We all are familiar with
"jealousy" among children.
Cain and Abel were "twins" -- the first two human beings ever
born of a woman (Gen.4:1-2). One was
righteous; the other became a murderer, and slew his twin brother! (Gen.4:3-8).
Jacob and Esau were also twins. They even struggled between themselves while
in Rebekah's womb (Gen.25:22). Esau
became a "cunning hunter," but Jacob was a "plain man"
(v.27). Esau looked good on the outside,
and impressed his father; but Rebekah loved Jacob (v.28). Esau was a man given to his lusts and
desires, and even despised and sold his "birthright" to Jacob (verse
30-34). Eventually, Esau became a mighty
man of evil and deceit, despising his parents.
Eventually Jacob, after going through years of suffering, trials and
tribulation, became a true man of God, and wrestled with the "Logos"
or Son of God, and his name was changed to "Israel," meaning a
"mighty champion of God," or "One who prevails with God."
Are Cain and Abel, and Esau and
Jacob, Biblical examples of the proverbial "good and evil twin,"
counterparts to that ancient celestial drama in heaven when the Logos and
Lucifer also vied as sibling rivals, and one was found righteous, and the other
became mad with jealousy and rage, and became "The Adversary"?
Do not these historical events in
the Scriptures tell us something about the origin of the Logos, and the origin
of that being called Lucifer?
Family Intrigue in Heaven
Let's be plain -- and blunt. The Logos, who became Christ, succeeded
wonderfully in fulfilling God's plan and purpose. He was brilliant, loyal, honorable, and
righteous -- developed the very perfect character of His Father, God. On the other hand, the one called Lucifer,
also a light-bringer in the beginning, later rebelled, and put his own
interests ahead of those of the Father -- he became a powerful Adversary -- now
known as Satan the devil. He was so
devious and seductive and smooth that he convinced one third of the angels to
follow him, and led one third of the angels into sin and rebellion against the
Most High God (Rev.12:3-4). He became
the "father of liars," and was a "murderer from the beginning"
(John 8:44).
Obviously, in the court of heaven, long
ago, there was sordid and foul intrigue surrounding the Throne of God -- at a
distant time long before there were any men on the earth.
No wonder Job wrote of God,
"Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints [Hebrew, holy ones, which
can refer to angels]; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight" (Job
15:15).
No wonder God is so concerned about
righteousness and purity in the "new heavens and new earth." As Peter was inspired to write, "But the
day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens
shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent
heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be
dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conduct and
godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall
be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look
for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look
for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace,
without spot, and blameless" (II Peter 3:10-14).
The
Record of Ancient Rebellion
A clue to what happened aeons ago
may be found in Genesis, the first chapter.
In verse one we read that "In [a] beginning, God [Elohim] created
the heavens and the earth. And the earth
[became] without form and void [tohu va vohu, or in a chaotic condition,
as a wasteland]: and darkness [became]
on the face of the waters" (Gen.1:1-2).
The word translated "was" here in the King James Version also
means "became," and is translated such in Genesis 19:26 of Lot's
wife: "and she became a
pillar of salt." Originally, when
God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was NOT "without form and
void," according to the prophet Isaiah.
He quotes God as saying:
"For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that
formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it NOT IN
VAIN [i.e., not in tohu va vohu], he formed it to be inhabited" (Isa.45:18).
In other words, at some distant time
or epoch before this present Creation, this time of Man, as we know it, and see
it, and study it, today, including the stars and galaxies in the heavens, which
all began, astronomers tell us, in a great creative act known as "The Big
Bang," there was a previous Creation, in which God the Father
created "light," and began a process of creation similar to that
described in Genesis 1 and the six days of "re-creation," following a
period of "chaos and confusion" described in verse 2 (Hebrew tohu
va vohu). In this earlier creation
God first made angelic beings (the creation of which are not described in the
"re-creation" events of Genesis 1).
These "angels" are mentioned in Job as existing BEFORE the
present earth was created. We read: "Then the LORD answered Job . . . Where
wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? . . . When the morning
stars [plural] sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for
joy?" (Job 38:1-7).
In this earlier created world,
Lucifer was apparently put in charge of one third of the angels, and was given
a throne to rule from on this earth. The
Scriptures speak of his having a "throne" (Isa.14:13), and of his
seeking to rise "above the heights of the clouds," which are in the
earth's atmosphere, indicating his throne was on earth. Ezekiel verifies this since he alludes to the
fact that this being was "in Eden, the garden of God"
(Ezek.28:13). Lucifer apparently was
given charge over nations of angels at that time. That creation may have paralleled or been
similar to this present creation in some respects, but with angelic beings
inhabiting the earth, not human beings.
Even as this present "creation" is destined to be consumed
with fire and melt away, so that ancient creation suffered a similar fate,
causing destruction and chaos, due to the presence of sin and wickedness,
lawlessness and rebellion, in the ranks of the angels (Rev.12:3-4).
When these events transpired we have
no knowledge. The original rebellion
could have occurred millions or billions of years ago, with sporadic outbreaks
since that time, leading to various periods of cataclysm, destruction, and
death, as is evidenced in the geologic record in the rocks, and in the
cataclysms and destructions in outer space.
The "God of This World"
However, the real key to
understanding what has happened is in the Scriptures. We are told enough in God's Word to know what
we need to know, and whom we need to worship and obey. Satan has attempted to counterfeit everything
God has done. He has appointed himself as
a "god of this world" in place of the true God (I Cor.4:4). He has deceived all nations, at least for the
time being (Rev.12:9). He is, in many
respects, a counterfeit Christ, and has made himself the Messiah of this
world.
It is therefore, judging from his
origin, and his nature, no strange thing that he should have the same name or
title as the true Christ -- for he was a "light bringer," and today
he is a counterfeit, false "light bringer" (II Cor.11:13-15), as are
his ministers. The name or term
"Lucifer" in Latin, or "Heylel" in Hebrew, could be applied
to either "Lucifer," or "Christ," as both are called
"day star," or "light-bringer," or "morning
star." The Greek term phosphoros
is used of Lucifer's name in the Septuagint translation of Isaiah 14:12,
and the same word phosphoros is used as a title or description of Christ
in II Peter 1:19! Why is this?
The reason is obvious: BOTH were
"light bringers" or "morning stars"! But one has gone into evil and has become a
wicked counterfeit. He gave in to the "dark
side of the force," and becamethe epitome, the essence of, pure
undiluted evil. But the other has
become the essence of obedience to God, a perfection of character, the living Torah,
and therefore has been appointed as the promised Messiah and Redeemer and
Saviour of mankind! One sought to become
God by force, and failed miserably. The
other became a "Son" of the Father, one of the Elohim, the
"Mighty Ones," an exact image of the "Father," becoming
God's "Anointed One"!
The Awesome Plan of God
How awesome is the plan of God! Think of it!
Lucifer, at one time, may well have had a "chance" to qualify
to inherit the Kingdom of God. But he
"muffed" it. He "blew
it." He disqualified himself in
every way.
Yet, today, he still wants to become
"God." So he has set himself
up as a competing "deity," a "god" of this world, which he
leads into worshipping him in all the pagan religions and counterfeit cults
around the world. He has been worshipped
as Baal, Mithras, Thor, and Bel, and under innumerable guises and names. He is worshipped as Shiva, today, among the
Hindus. He is even worshipped by
millions of Christians who follow his pagan practices and believe his pagan
doctrines -- under the disguise of "Christianity."
The apostle Paul warned us plainly,
"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his
subtilty, so your minds should become corrupted from the simplicity that is in
Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth
ANOTHER JESUS, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit,
which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not received, ye
might well bear with him" (II Cor.11:3-4).
Yes, Satan even claims to be the Messiah, and even uses the name
"Jesus" -- for he is "another Jesus," whom Paul
warned about.
This new revelation about the
relationship between the Logos, and the one who became Satan, aeons ago, may
seem startling, and even shocking. But
let's put aside prior assumptions, and just look at the facts. If you have not read them, be sure to read
our articles "Who or What Was Jesus Christ
before
His Human Birth?", "Who Is The Only True God?", "What Do
You Mean, Christ the 'First-born of Every Creature'?", "Is God
Reproducing Himself?" and "The Mystery of God." They will further open your eyes.
How mysterious are the ways, and
truths, of God, and His ways past finding out!
As the apostle Paul wrote, "O the depth of the riches both of the
wisdom and knowledge of God! how
unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counselor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall
be recompensed unto him again? For of
him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen" (Romans 11:33-36).