The Satanic Rebellion: Background to the Tribulation

Part 1

Satan's Rebellion and Fall

by Dr. Robert D. Luginbill

http://www.ichthys.com/Default.htm#Rebellion

Outline of the Series:
Part 1: Satan's Rebellion and Fall
Part 2: The Genesis Gap
Part 3: The Purpose, Creation and Fall of Man
Part 4: Satan's World System: Past, Present and Future
Part 5: Judgment, Restoration and Replacement

Outline for Part 1:
I. Introduction
II. Angelic Pre-History
III. Satan's Original Status
IV. Satan's Character, Sin and Fall


Introduction to the Series: This five-part series serves as an essential introduction to the biblical study of eschatology (literally, "last things").⁽¹⁾ It is presented in the manner of strategic overview, that is to say, it takes at one sweep the rebellion of Satan and his angels against God, God's response in creating mankind, Satan's continuing counter-attack throughout human history, and God's answer in Jesus Christ, His final disposition of Satan, resolution of all related issues, and the final termination of human history.

I. Introduction to Part 1: Satan's Rebellion and Fall:

1) Before He Created the Universe, God Existed: Before Satan, before angels, before the creation of mankind, there was God. The triune God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) has always existed independent of man, angels, the universe, or even time itself.

The Word [Jesus Christ] existed at the very beginning, and there was reciprocity between the Word and God [the Father]. This One both existed and enjoyed reciprocity with God from the very beginning.  Everything came into being through Him, and without Him, nothing has come into being which has in fact come into being.    John 1:1-3

This fact is an extremely important one to keep in mind, because as believers in Jesus Christ, we need to remember that for all his terrible power, Satan is still only a creature, operating entirely within the universe of time and space which God has created, and is therefore entirely subject to His sovereign will and omnipotence. By way of contrast, however, our infinite Lord is in no way whatsoever limited by or dependent upon this finite environment of time and space so essential to our existence, and to the existence of all His creatures, including Satan and the fallen angels:⁽²⁾

God, who created the universe and everything in it, even He who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples our hands have made, nor is He ministered to by the hands of men (as if He needed anything from us) - [on the contrary], He is the One who gives life and breath and everything else to us all. Acts 17:24-25

In terms of relative power, therefore, the infinite, omnipotent Lord versus Satan and his coterie of angelic subordinates can not even be termed a "contest" in any reasonable sense of that word. Should it please God to annihilate the devil and his minions, He possesses the power to do so in a nanosecond without the slightest effort. That He has not done so is most revealing of the awesome character of the God with whom we have to do. Satan is allowed to exist, allowed to rebel against the generous Lord who made him, and his rebellion is allowed to run its course, precisely because God loves us so much. For the supreme love that God the Father has for us as demonstrated in the sacrifice on our behalf of His only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, can also be seen in His determination to let us, to let all His creatures, choose whether or not we wish to follow Him of our own free will. Although God loves all His creatures with a perfect love, He does not force any of them to love Him back. When history finally comes to an end, the only creatures, men and angels, who will be with Him forever are those who have chosen it.

In its simplest expression, creature history (angelic and human) is a chance for each of us to demonstrate conclusively whether we are with God or against Him, whether we want to accept and respond to His amazing love (and spend eternity with Him), or instead to reject His love (and spend eternity apart from Him). For us in the world today, that choice is made very simply in the decision to become a follower of Jesus Christ through faith, or instead to reject the indescribable gift of His Son who died on our behalf. The angels, however, have already made their choices, and it is a measure of the genius of our Lord that it is by means of that very rebellion of His arch-creature Satan,

1) that He validates our choice of Him (despite satanic opposition, we still chose Him, so that choice must be genuine),

2) that He demonstrates His love for us (Satan's seduction of Adam brought us all under sin and thus necessitated the sacrifice of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, an act that is the very embodiment of His love),

3) and that He furthers His own glory in the process (allowing Satan's rebellion to run its course only serves to validate God's condemnation of him).

Had we not come through the fiery testing supplied by the devil and his corrupt world system, we would never be able to appreciate God's marvelous provision for us and His deliverance of us from all our trials (2Tim.4:18). Only by allowing us to experience His grace in the midst of the devil's world, can God bring us to the fullest understanding and appreciation of His love for us, while at the same time leading us to a full and genuine love for Him. Thanks be to God for His ineffable and unsearchable wisdom!

2) God's Creation of the Universe: Although He was under no obligation or necessity to do so, God did in fact create the universe we behold today. Before time, in an instant of time, He created time and space and all matter from nothing.⁽³⁾ He did so to provide a temporal and material frame in which we, his creatures, might exist. This then is the purpose of the universe and its creation: to give us and His angels a home and a habitation. For being creatures, we need an environment in which to exist. God is spiritual and infinite, and has no existential need of the finite universe. But He made all things - for us, for our benefit, that we might come to seek Him, to know Him, to choose to follow Him, and to love Him, for He first loved us (Acts 17:26-27; 1Jn.4:19). Much as we human beings desire to share our lives and our love and so bring children into the world, so our heavenly Father has prepared the heavens and the earth for us, His children, for our benefit - and for His glory. We are not toys or pets or any such silly rubbish - we are His offspring (Acts 17:28). The fact that He sent His only Son to share flesh and blood as we do and then to die in our place that we might live is incontrovertible evidence that His creation of us and of all that we see is no accident, but flows directly from the matchless wisdom, purpose and love of our God and Father.

3) God's Creation of Angels: Inasmuch as in the present day we are being bombarded by false information about angels through our popular culture, we need to take a moment to consider the biblical perspective on them. Overall, angels are not particularly prominent in the Bible. Mention of them does not even occur at all in about half of the books of the Bible, and a little reflection (or investigation) will show that they are seldom the focus of events in any biblical narrative. There is a very good reason for this. God has given us the Bible as the standard of our faith and practice here in the world; that is to say, scripture explains how God is dealing with us, and only tangentially examines His dealing with angelic kind. This point is important, because it is no secret that excessive fascination with angels and their activities (especially that which runs far beyond the legitimate information contained in the Bible) has been and continues to be a major stumbling block to believers and unbelievers both, drawing their attention away from the saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (about whom there is so much to learn) to a world of fancy (mis-information about angels and their activities). All this is not to say that some knowledge about the angelic realm is not important and necessary, but the Bible approaches the subject of angels very much on a "need to know" basis: it doesn't tell us all we'd necessarily like to know, but it does tell us all we should know to understand God's plan for the world and for us.⁽⁴⁾ The actions, functions and organization of angels, elect and fallen, will be treated in part 4 of this series, but it will be helpful here to outline some of the basic principles discernible from scripture that have an immediate bearing upon our present study:

a. Angels are an order of creature apart from mankind:

Everything in the heavens and on the earth was created by Him (Jesus Christ), things invisible as well as those visible - whether thrones, authorities, rulers or powers, everything was created through Him and for Him. Col.1:16

One of the more pernicious misconceptions of contemporary, conventional wisdom about angels is the completely fallacious and harmful notion that angels are departed human beings. Nothing could be further from the truth. Scripture is clear about the fact that angels preceded man in God's creation (Job 38:6-7), and that mankind was originally created with less glory and power than the angelic creation (Ps.8:4-5).⁽⁵⁾

b. Angels are finite beings: Despite their obvious present superiority, as created beings, angels are also dependent upon time and space. Though more powerful (2Thes.1:7; 2Pet.2:11), mobile (Gen.28:12) and knowledgeable (2Sam.14:20; Acts 7:53) than mankind, they are neither omniscient (Matt.24:36), nor omnipotent (Rom.8:38), nor omnipresent (Dan.10:13).  Angels are often described as the "host of heaven" and otherwise compared to the innumerable stars (e.g., Job 25:3; Ps.103:20-21; Is.40:26 w. Lk.2:13), but although they are a highly organized group and quite numerous it should be understood that they are finite in number, however large that undisclosed number may be (Deut.33:2; Ps.68:17; Dan.7:10; Heb.12:22; Rev.5:11).

It has been debated over the centuries whether angels are spiritual or material, and the common opinion has, more often than not, come down in favor of the former on account of such passages as Hebrews 1:7 & 14. Indeed, angels, as depicted in scripture, are not subject to many of the material restrictions under which we labor. They apparently do not grow old, or hungry or tired. They can, on occasion, even enter into human bodies (as in cases of demon possession: Lk.8:26-39), and are, for the most part, completely invisible to us, even as they go about their work in our world (or mischief as the case may be). These and other facts speak to the immaterial aspect of their nature. However, angels can at times appear in bodily form (as in the case of the announcement of Christ's birth: Lk.2:8-15), and can also affect the material world with great power (consider the angels who control the winds: Rev.7:1-3). These further facts, taken in conjunction with their subordination to time and space discussed above, makes it clear enough that angels, though "spiritual" in substance, are not excused from being vulnerable to certain material restrictions and restraints as well. For example, they can be confined and made subject to the compulsion of God's judgment (as in the case of the final disposition of the fallen angels: Matt.25:41).

A brief consideration of the future, post-resurrection bodies we are destined to receive (after the pattern of our Lord, Jesus Christ) will be helpful in this connection.⁽⁶⁾ Man is a spiritual, as well as a material creature (more about this in part 3 of this present series), but while our present body possesses an earthly materiality, we are told (and shown by the example of Christ in resurrection) that our coming body will possess a heavenly materiality. As the apostle Paul puts it, "[the human body] is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body" (1Cor.15:44). Now we know from the example of Christ that this "spiritual" body is still a body in every sense of the word: Jesus was still discernible to His disciples, talked, walked, even ate with them; and when doubting Thomas finally saw Him, Jesus commanded him to "thrust your hand into My side" - in no small part to demonstrate the true materiality of our Lord's new "spiritual-body". Corporeality, the possession of a true body, is thus a hallmark of the human being, before and after resurrection. Such is not the case for the angels, however. In Luke 24:39, our resurrected Lord appearing to His frightened disciples assures them that "a spirit (pneuma - the same word used for angels in Heb.1:7 & 14) does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." This absence of true corporeal substance on the part of the angels is at the root of many of the differences between us: our spirits are willing, but our flesh (now) is weak and a major source of the temptations that confront us, temptations to which the angels are oblivious (for example, they have no need for money). In a curious way, however, the very absence of sensual experience that only a true body can supply was apparently no small contributing cause in the fall from grace of many of Satan's angels (see section IV below).

c. Angels are temporarily superior to mankind in many ways: Having established that angels are creatures too, and that they are not possessed of infinite power and ability, it is important to acknowledge that their power and ability is considerable, especially in comparison to mankind. First and foremost, angels are not subject to death (Lk.20:36), nor do they reproduce (Mk.12:25), leading us to the conclusion that their number has been the same since their collective creation. That is not to say, of course, that the fallen angels will not be subject to separation from God forever and eternal punishment (an event which, in the case of human beings, is termed the "second death": Rev.20:14 w. Matt.25:41). So while mankind is enjoying a sequential residence on earth (generation following generation), angelic kind has been experiencing a continuum of existence in heaven, even before the creation of Man. This longevity, combined with the fact that they are not subject to the restraints and necessities of time and space that encumber mankind, undoubtedly contributes to their superior knowledge and wisdom. Yet we should point out that, by its very essence, the angelic nature is superior to our present earthly human nature in terms of appearance, intellect, power, mobility and authority (2Pet.2:11). Such, however, will not always be the case, for just as our Lord (who is our precursor in the resurrection) is superior to angels in every way, including all aspects of His humanity (Heb.1:4 - 2:18), so also we are destined to share that superiority with Him in our resurrection (1Cor.6:3; Heb.2:5).

d. Angels are similar to mankind in several important ways: Despite their present, relative superiority to mankind, as fellow creatures of God, angels share some important attributes with us. Like us, they possess personality and individuality (as evidenced, for example, by joy: Job 38:4-7; Lk.15:10; desire: 1Pet.1:12; and choice: Jude 6). And like us, they are created to serve and worship God for His glory (Ps.103:20-21; 148:2; Matt.4:11; Heb.1:14; Rev.4:8). As in the case of human beings, this service and worship is not compulsory, but something God desires from angelic kind of their own free will (exactly as He desires our free will allegiance to Himself through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ). This proposition implies what is elsewhere in scripture made very clear: while most angels have chosen to continue following and serving their Creator, some have rejected Him, and are destined to pay the consequences of their action (Matt.25:41). These two groups of angels are traditionally referred to as elect and fallen angels (based upon 1Tim.5:21 and Is.14:12 respectively). As to the fallen angels, we know from specific scripture references (e.g., Job 4:18; 2Pet.2:4; Jude 6) as well as and from their association with Satan (whose fall we shall explore below) that their "fallen" status is not the result of some arbitrary decision of their Creator; rather it is a direct result of their own, individual choices to reject Him and His authority. This moral accountability, then, is the most important similarity between angels and humans: we have both been given an existence wherein the primary issue is our choice to follow (or reject) God.

The differences between the character of our choice and their choice is entirely explainable by the differences in our respective natures. Angels, originally existing in a holy state, made their decisions long ago, before the creation of Man. We human beings, however, are limited as to life-span (not to mention our geographic, intellectual and physical constraints). Even more significant is the fact that we are born sinful, and as a result must choose to turn away from sin toward God (through faith in Jesus Christ) in order to be saved. The angels, by contrast, were all created holy, and, as a result of this quite different nature, faced a very different choice: to remain loyal to the Lord of the universe, or to choose instead to turn away from God and join in Satan's sinful rebellion.

God's ineffable wisdom shines clearly through in this distinction of choices presented to us on the one hand and to our angelic fellow creatures on the other. Angels are by nature such that their ultimate decision of whether or not to stay faithful to God seems to be the sum of themselves from eternity past to eternity future. That is to say, they are not subject to the temporal restraints, limited knowledge and deceptiveness of the flesh that produces in us the capability of "changing our minds" (whether towards repentance or apostasy). The very longevity, intellect and ability which angels possess apparently produces a certainty and resolution of decision-making that is largely unaffected by historical developments. As human beings, we have all experienced the change of perspective which the passage of time can produce - a factor of our gradually increasing knowledge, experience, and, one would hope, wisdom. Angels, vastly superior in intellect and knowledge at the point of creation, have already logged thousands of years of existence - and that without experiencing the process of maturing and aging. This is not to say that they can't learn or be surprised by the unfolding of God's plan in human history, but it does seem to indicate that their perspective is more universal, spiritual, even eternal - it is a perspective little changed from the beginning to the end of time on account of their unique nature. Angelic decision-making seems to encompass or "straddle" time in a way we temporal creatures cannot fully appreciate. Therefore angels (who start out perfect and either are confirmed in their loyalty-perfection or lose it when they rebel and fall) seem to have made their decision about the Lord once and for all. They do not have "changes of heart" like we human beings sometimes do, turning to the Lord (or, sadly, away from Him on occasion), precisely because their nature is different from ours. So while these fellow creatures of God share with us the fact that the central issue in their existence is to choose for or against the Lord, the manner in which they have done so is different from the manner in which we do so.

Indeed, the idea that we can change our minds (repent), and, more importantly, that God can find a way to accommodate our repentance and provide for our deliverance from sin is a source of surprise and fascination to the angels, for just as we have a difficult time seeing things from their perspective, so they cannot fully appreciate our point of view, not being creatures of spirit and body as we are. And how could they? They are creatures for whom repentance is an impossibility (just as backsliding is). Whereas, in the case of Man, we start imperfect and in need of help (salvation, as provided through Christ's sacrifice). In the process of "working out our salvation" a number of twists and turns may very well take place. Being subject to a finite, temporal life, to pressures and temptations that are part and parcel of being in the flesh (especially the corrupted flesh), being under fire from the angelic dimension (would Adam and Eve have sinned without Satan?), and being most limited in our knowledge under the best of circumstances, we find ourselves in a very different position from our angelic brethren - not perfect creatures who must refrain from choosing the wrong path, but imperfect, already condemned creatures who must choose to accept the gracious gift of life in Jesus Christ in order to lay hold of eternal life.

This difference in our natures, in the essence of our free will choices, and therefore in our perspectives about God's dealings with us is critical for a proper understanding of His treatment of angels and men respectively. For it helps to explain the testimony of the scriptures to the effect that angels are actually learning about God from observing the unfolding of His plan of salvation on earth:⁽⁷⁾

1. As seen from their observation of the life of Jesus Christ:

[Jesus Christ], who appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the [Holy] Spirit, was revealed to angels [i.e., was observed by them], was preached among the nations, was believed upon in the world, was taken up in glory.         1^st Timothy 3:16

2. As seen from their witnessing the progress of believers:

I charge you before God [the Father], and Christ Jesus, and the elect angels, that you keep to these [commands] without partiality, doing nothing out of favoritism.   1^st Timothy 5:21

3. As seen from their desire to know about God's plan of salvation:

Even as they foretold this salvation that was to come to you, the prophets of old diligently investigated and inquired about this [gift] of grace, being eager to discover the precise time the Spirit of Christ within them was signifying as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories [of salvation, among other things] that would follow [the cross]. For it was revealed to them that in prophesying these things, they were not so much serving themselves as they were you - and these same things have now been proclaimed to you through those who gave you the gospel through the Holy Spirit, sent from heaven - even angels want to look into these things.              1^st Peter 1:10-12

Elsewhere, we are told that the apostles were made "a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men" (1Cor.4:9), that "because of the angels" women should maintain a sign of authority on their heads (1Cor.11:10), that there is "joy in heaven" over every repentant sinner (Lk.15:10: i.e., from the angels; cf. Lk.12:8-9; Rev.3:5), but that those who reject Christ to worship the antichrist will be tormented "in the presence of the Lamb and His holy angels" (Rev.14:10). Moreover, it is quite significant that angels are recorded as present at all the major events in the life of Christ: His birth (Lk.2:13-14), temptation (Matt.4:11), resurrection (Lk.24:4), ascension (Acts 1:10-11), and return (2Thes.1:7) - a fact which underscores angelic interest in this the most crucial phase of God's plan.⁽⁸⁾

Thus angelic interest in human affairs transcends the completion of their duties and ministries on our behalf (e.g., Heb.1:7 & 14). As they observe human beings escaping the slavery of sin, choosing for God and trusting Him in spite of all opposition, they are "learning" something very important about Him: they see His righteousness, His justice, His power and His love in the mission, sacrifice and victory of Jesus Christ and its effective transmission to believing humanity.

God's faithfulness to us through and on the basis of the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, while essential to our salvation and subsequent spiritual growth, also carries an important "lesson" for the angels. We learn about the faithfulness of God by experience at salvation and afterwards; the holy angels, however, have never had need of salvation, nor have they ever been hungry or thirsty, nor have they ever been in danger or experienced the fear and the grief of death. Because their nature exempts them from most of the pressures that so define our human existence, they cannot learn about the faithfulness of God personally, but can only do so by observation of His great love and mercy to us here on earth as we are bombarded by the devil's attacks. Angels exist by Christ and for Christ, but can only fully appreciate Him (and the Father) by actually viewing the sacrifice of the cross and the playing out of God's plan in perfect faithfulness to human beings who choose to believe.

Thus it is that angelic observation of the working out of God's plan of salvation in human history, both strategically (i.e., the provision of salvation through Christ's incarnation, death, resurrection, ascension, session and return) and tactically (i.e., the imparting of salvation to and support of the progress of individual believers) is a necessary ingredient in God's destruction of the works of the devil and in His ultimate restoration of harmony and order (1Jn.3:8):

1. As seen from the ultimate consummation of all elect angelic and human kind in Christ:

[The Father] has made known to us the mystery He has willed according to His own good pleasure which He purposed in Him[, Jesus Christ], for administering this [present] fulfillment of the epochs [i.e., "these last days"; cf. Heb.1:2; 1Pet.1:10]: namely the incorporation of all things in Christ, things in heaven, and things on earth - Ephesians 1:9-10

2. As seen from the ultimate demonstration to angels through the Church of God's ineffable wisdom in sending His Son to die for us:

This gracious favor has been given to me, the least of His saints: to give to the gentiles the good news of the indescribable wealth [that is in] Christ, and to enlighten everyone as to how this mystery (once hidden from the ages in God who created everything) is now being administered, so that the enigmatically intricate wisdom of God might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms through the agency of the Church. Ephesians 3:8-10

3. As seen from the ultimate reconciliation of all heavenly matters through Christ:

For it was [God's] good pleasure for the fulfillment [of His plan] to reside entirely in [Christ], and so through Him to reconcile everything to Himself (having made peace through Him, through the blood of His cross) - whether things on earth, or things in heaven. Colossians 1:19-20

The three passages above explain (among other things) the effect of God's plan of salvation on angelic affairs: by observing the sacrifice of Christ and God's resultant calling of the gentiles through the formation of the Church of Jesus Christ, the angels learn about 1) Christ's authority and centrality in God's plan (Eph.1:9-10); 2) the breathtaking wisdom of God's plan in sending Christ and calling out the Church (Eph.3:8-10); 3) the ultimate effect of God's plan in reestablishing complete harmony and peace in heaven and on earth based upon Christ's sacrifice (Col.1:19-20).

The point made by the last passage treated above, Colossians 1:19-20, calls for some comment. One element in this angelic "instruction by observation of human history" is, no doubt, the complete refutation of Satan's deceptive (and self-deceptive) assertion of God's inability to confront his rebellion, an assertion used in the first instance to deceive fellow angels and win them to his cause (see section 4 below), and in the second to deceive and ensnare mankind (an operation still very much in progress: see part 4 of this series). Based upon what we know of the fall of Satan and his present modus operandi, we would not be far wrong in reconstructing the essence of this false assumption as follows:

I and my followers shall be free of God's retribution, because if God were to destroy us or otherwise eternally punish us, the completeness and harmony that a God-like universe demands would be forever lost:

1) God cannot replace us (no completeness), and

2) God cannot rehabilitate us (no harmony),

3) therefore God cannot punish us.

How ironic it is that Satan, who knew much better than we the awesome power of God, has been relying all along on the character of God to protect him from the wrath of God! No doubt he thought to put God in an insoluble dilemma: either tolerate the breach in universal order and harmony or rend unity and peace forever by crushing Satan. Satan counted on God's tolerating evil rather than taking an irrevocable step that would permanently mar His creation.  But Satan, who should have had a better understanding than anyone else in the universe of the ineffable wisdom of our God (who planned the beginning and the end of all things before time began and who is therefore incapable of being surprised), failed to take this paramount consideration into account. The present working out of the Father's great plan of salvation in the person of Christ is demonstrating this very fact to Satan and his followers:

1) Replacement: Elect mankind is, in effect, replacing fallen angelic kind in God's universal order (Lk.10:17-20; 1Cor.6:3; Rev.20:4). Though aware of God's ability to produce other creatures, Satan seems to have assumed that such an action would prove futile, because, if given the requisite free will, these new creatures would react similarly to the angels. However, elect human beings (who choose to be saved) are a perfect complement to elect angels (who chose not to sin) and a fitting replacement for the fallen angels who would not choose to be reconciled to God.

2) Rehabilitation: Beyond the issue of choice is the issue of opportunity. Satan also must have reasoned that God would not be able to provide a means to expiate sin. Therefore no rehabilitation (or salvation) of angels would be possible. But the Father's plan of salvation for mankind through the blood of Jesus Christ - God becoming Man - was an event the devil never anticipated. Through the analogy of mankind, the angels are seeing first hand that if any fallen angels would have repented (an action not in their nature as we have seen), God could have provided the means of restoring them to Himself, as indeed He has done for sinful mankind at the highest price of all: the sacrifice of His only Son on our behalf.

3) Satan's Conclusion: The false assumption that God would be unable to restore harmony and completeness to His creation has thus been refuted by His creation and salvation of elect mankind. By making and saving Man though Christ, the Father has, in effect, knocked both props out from under Satan's assertion that God would be unable to punish him for his rebellion. The reconciliation of human beings to God throughout time, paid for historically by Jesus Christ, and picking up momentum as we draw ever nearer to the end of things, has clearly given the lie to Satan's confident assertion. These are surely things even angels want to look into (1Pet.1:12).

This discussion of the original satanic rational (expanded upon in section 4 below) helps to explain Satan's dogged opposition to the inexorable plan of God as it has been working in the lives of men since our first parents were expelled from the garden. For God's deliverance of us through Christ and His promise to us of eternal life in Christ demonstrates unmistakably to all angelic kind that He can and will and is replacing Satan and his followers, the end of which is eternal punishment for their unrepentant rebellion against the One who made them. For as it says in 1^st John 3:8, Christ appeared "to destroy the works of the devil". Satan thus badly misjudged God's character relative to both angels and men, failing to fully understand that the ultimate working out of His love, justice and truth would inevitably result in redemption or replacement, justification or rejection, and reconciliation or punishment (as has transpired for mankind through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ):⁽⁹⁾

God's goodness overflows with love, providing grace for sinful Man:

though evil says a loving God can't condemn,

He did condemn His Son that we might live,

redeeming us in love with the blood of Christ.

God's holiness overflows in justice, offering mercy to sinful Man:

though evil says a just God can't forgive,

He did forgive us, by condemning His own Son,

making us righteous through the blood of Christ.

God's faithfulness and truth overflow in life, producing peace with God for sinful Man:

though evil says that a God of integrity can't restore us,

He did make peace between us through His Son,

reconciling us to Himself and granting us eternal life on the basis of the blood of Christ.

e. A balanced perspective on angels: When discussing the topic of angels, their similarities to us and differences from us, it is important that we keep in mind both their present superiority to us, and their eventual subordination. Angels are not to be disrespected (Lk.10:20; 1Pet.2:10-12; Jude 8-10; cf. Rom.13:7), but neither are they to be worshiped (Rev.19:10; 22:9; cf. 2Kng.17:16; Jer.19:13; Col.2:18). This tandem of caveats is especially important in regard to fallen angels. Possessing as they do all the attributes and history discussed above, Satan and his angels are formidable adversaries; and yet at the same time we must keep in mind that they are not the only angels: God counterbalances their evil efforts with the work and ministrations of His holy, elect angels. Therefore, although we are to have a healthy respect for the Adversary and his potential to oppose us (2Cor.2:11; Eph.6:11; 1Pet.5:8), we are not to be unduly terrified by him and his minions. And while we are to have an awareness and appreciation for the positive function of the elect angels on our behalf, we are not to be inordinately fixated upon them (especially since both their persons and their work are invisible to us). In neither case should we "go beyond what is written" in the Bible about angels, whether through excessive fear of Satanic influence or an exorbitant fascination with the ministrations of the holy angels. After all, it is God we are to fear, God we are to love and follow, and it is upon God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ our Lord that we are to fix our gaze while here in the devil's world.

Only do not rejoice in this, that the spirits obey you. But [rejoice] that your names have been recorded in heaven. Luke 10:20

 

II. Angelic Pre-History:

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.    Genesis 1:1a

1) The Creation of Angels: At some undisclosed time following His creation of the heavens and the earth, God created the angels (Ps.148:2-5; Col.1:16). That is to say, at some specific point between the original creation of Genesis 1:1 and the restoration of the earth described in Job 38:4-7 (see section V below)⁽¹⁰⁾ which followed God's judgment of Satan, God created all angelic kind. He created them holy (Deut.33:2; Ps.89:7; Mk.8:38; Lk.9:26), giving each of them distinct duties and definite domains in which to exercise their delegated authority (Col.1:16; Eph.6:12; Heb.1:7 & 14; Jude 6).

2) The Realm of Angels: The realm of angels is often assumed to be the heavens, and to a certain degree this is true, at least at this present time: a) they are often called "heavenly hosts" (1Kng.22:19; Ps.103:20-21; 148:2; Lk.2:13); b) angels are invariably present on the heavenly scene (1Kng.22:19; Job 1:6-7; 2:1-2; Lk.15:7 & 10; Rev.5:11); c) and angels are often identified with the stars of heaven (Job 38:7; Is.14:12 &13; 40:26; Rev.1:20). Since elsewhere in scripture stars are literally stars (cf. Gen.1:16b), it is likely that this designation is a reference to angelic spheres of authority (cf. Eph.1:20-21; 3:10; Col.1:16). Fallen angels, for example, are termed "wandering stars" in Jude 13 (in a comparison to false teachers where the reference to "blackest darkness ... reserved forever" recalls the lake of fire in supernatural darkness prepared for the devil and his angels; cf. Matt.8:12). This term is reminiscent of their failure to "keep their own domain", i.e., choosing to interfere with human affairs in Satan's behalf, they abandoned their ordained, heavenly realm, (Jude 6).⁽¹¹⁾

3) The Three Heavens: What exactly is meant, then, by heaven? When we speak of the heavens in biblical terms, we are referring to the three-fold division of the cosmos beyond the earth: a) the earth's atmosphere ("the sky"); b) the universe at large (i.e., "space"); c) the "third heaven", the abode of God (or "heaven", as it is customarily termed).

In Genesis 1:1a, God's original creation of the heavens (in all three of its parts) and the earth is stated. This, we must emphasize, is original creation, not the restoration of heaven and earth detailed later in the chapter (a topic to be covered in detail in the second part of this series). The Hebrew word for "heavens" used in Genesis 1:1a is shamayim (,ymw), a noun whose form is, significantly, dual in number (i.e., "two" of something as opposed to a single unit, or multiple units beyond a pair). The meaning of the dual of shamayim comes into its full significance later in Genesis chapter one. When God creates a raqiyah (iyqr), or "firmament" (v.6), He later calls it shamayim, or "heavens" as well (v.8). In this instance, the firmament (or heavens) is clearly the atmosphere, for it "divides the waters", that is, those in the deep below from those in the clouds above.⁽¹²⁾

As illustrated by the tabernacle, therefore, Eden (or paradise) is the place where God fellowships with sanctified mankind. It is a place of delight because there is no greater joy than communing with God apart from sin and the troubles of the world we now know. But despite the trials and tribulations that are inevitable for believers in the devil's world, it is also important to note that in this place that is certainly no paradise, God has nevertheless always made it possible for those who would seek Him to "walk with Him" (Gen.5:24). Moreover, in the days of Israel, He dwelt amongst the congregation of believers (Ex.25:8), and today He and His Son dwell in the hearts of those who have believed and so received His Holy Spirit (Jn.14:23; 1Cor.3:16-17; 6:19; 2Cor.6:16). Our fellowship with God now is a foretaste of the bliss and delight of the restored Eden to come, when "the dwelling of God" shall "come to men" (Rev.21:3 & 21:22). It remains to consider in a comprehensive manner all the manifestations of Eden-paradise, in order to lay a sure foundation for our discussion of the original fall of one of God's creatures from that perfect fellowship, namely that of Satan.

    f) Precious Stones (Ezek.28:13): The precious stones mentioned in this verse are indeed additional manifestations of Satan's beauty, but it is likely that they also mark him out as the one who represented the angels before God. The nine stones mentioned in this context bear a striking similarity to those placed on the high priest's breastplate (Ex.28:17-21; 39:10-14).⁽²⁶⁾ In the Exodus context, each of the stones represented one of the twelve tribes of Israel and bore its name inscribed on the gem. Exodus 28:29 states that Aaron (i.e., the high priest) shall wear the breastplate with the stones inscribed with the twelve tribes "over his heart" whenever he enters the Holy Place "as a continual memorial before the Lord"; the verse also calls the breastplate so equipped "the breastplate of judgment". Each of Israel's tribes is thus a precious jewel in God's sight, and was represented before Him in this fashion whenever the high priest entered into the presence of God. Moreover, the breastplate also served the practical function of acting as a means of communication from the Lord in designating specific tribes for specific tasks.⁽²⁷⁾ What we see in Ezekiel's representation of a very similar apparatus on Satan, therefore, should be seen as fulfilling a similar function. As the "anointed cherub who covers" (see below), Satan would have been continually in the presence of the Lord as the prime representative of angelic kind in the same way that our Lord Jesus Christ (symbolically represented by Israel's high priest) has been continually in His presence as the "last Adam" (1Cor.15:45) and "the Son of Man" (e.g., Jn.9:35) since His ascension.⁽²⁸⁾ It is a tragic irony that Satan, who used to represent his angelic brethren before the Lord would go on to corrupt many of them, thus leading them to eternal punishment (Matt.25:41). In contrast to Satan, our Lord Jesus Christ is our guide to eternal life (Heb.2:10; 12:2; n.b., the Greek word archegos in these two verses is better rendered "leader" or "guide" than "author", as some of the versions have it), having paid the price of admission for us with His blood.

   g) Tabrets and Pipes (Ezek.28:13): The KJV's rendering of these next two Hebrew words is, though archaic in terms of its vocabulary, essentially accurate (not so many more modern versions, including the NIV, which try to take these words as meaning settings and mountings for the jewels mentioned above). We may, if we wish, substitute "tambourines" and "flutes", but the essential meaning is the same: from the day of his creation, Satan was endowed with a golden musical apparatus, instruments of percussion and wind, that made him uniquely qualified to sing the praises of God. It is a tragic irony that Satan, a creature specifically designed for praising God, should devote his existence to cursing Him instead, and suffer the consequence of being eternally cursed. In contrast to Satan, Christ became a curse for us (Gal.3:13; Rev.22:3), that we might exist for the praise of God (Eph.1:6; 1:12; 1:14).

    h) Anointed (Ezek.28:14): The word translated here as "anointed" (mimshach) and the word for Messiah (mashiach) come from the same Hebrew root (xwm, mashach) and are very close in meaning. Both indicate "to be consecrated through the process of anointing". In ancient Israel, it was the custom to anoint with oil both priests (Ex.28:41), and monarchs (1Sam.10:1; 16:1 & 13) at the inception of their offices. Such anointing marks God's choice of the individual in question, and is symbolic of His power and support. The oil of anointment itself represents the Holy Spirit (cf. 1Sam.16:13), whose guidance, encouragement and enlightenment would be especially important for those commissioned by the Lord for spiritual or temporal governance (i.e., Ps.51:11). This appears to be the meaning in our context. Satan was not anointed with a literal oil, but was given a special measure of the Holy Spirit to aid him in his capacity of supreme angelic being. This anointing marked him out as God's number one creature. It is a tragic irony that Satan, having been thus commissioned into such a unique position of trust, giving him such an incomparable opportunity for fellowship with and assistance from God, should betray that trust and reject Him entirely, only to seek his own aggrandizement. In contrast to Satan, Christ (whose name means "anointed one") accepted the Father's commission without reservation, humbling Himself to the point of death on the cross for our sakes, that we might receive the gift of the Holy Spirit for faithful service to the true Messiah.

    i) Cherub (Ezek.28:14): There is a considerable difference between the image conjured up by the word "cherub" in our culture and the creatures designated by the biblical word cherubh (bvrk). Biblically speaking, cherubs are among the highest ranking and most privileged of the angels, for they are blessed with extraordinary access to the presence of the Lord. What we know of Satan's unique, pre-fall status as a cherub is to be garnered from the description of the cherubs who replaced him (described elsewhere in scripture).⁽²⁹⁾ Cherubs take the lead in worshiping God (Is.6; Rev.4:8b; 5:8 & 14; 7:11-12; 19:4), act as intermediaries for God in His regal manifestations (Rev.6:1-7; 15:7), and, perhaps most significantly, control access into His presence and fellowship (a duty most strikingly evident from their guarding of the "way to the tree of life" after Man's expulsion from the garden: Gen.3:24). Not surprisingly, therefore, the cherubs are usually seen in close connection with the throne of God, that is, as we have seen above, His mobile "chariot-throne" (represented by the ark of the covenant; cf. Ex.25:17-20). God sits "enthroned" between the cherubs (Ps.80:1), and it is there "between the cherubim" that He met with Moses (Ex.25:22). The seraphim of Isaiah chapter six, and the "living creatures" of Revelation (especially Rev.4:6ff.) are representations of these same creatures. In all of these instances, the creatures depicted are multi-winged angels, closely associated with God's throne, engaged in worshiping Him as they shield (and sometimes propel) His chariot throne. Though some would make the living creatures and seraphs separate orders of angelic beings, it is more likely (given their identical functions and similar descriptions) that these additional names are merely alternate designations for this highest angelic rank. For instance, the living creatures, whose multiple faces bear an undeniable similarity to the cherubs of Ezekiel, praise God with the refrain "holy, holy, holy" in the exact manner of the seraphs of Isaiah ( Is.6:3; Rev.4:8b). The Hebrew word seraph ([rs) most likely means "burning ones" and this designation matches well the description of Ezekiel who notes that "the appearance of the creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches" (Ezek.1:13; for this fire imagery compare Deut.4:24; Ps.104:4; Ezek.1:4; 10:2; 28:14; Rev.4:2-6).⁽³⁰⁾ These unique angels, then, guard the throne of God, protecting His holiness against all that is profane, controlling access to His presence (compare their depiction on the veil that guarded the holy of holies of the tabernacle: Ex.26:1, 31). It is a tragic irony that Satan, having once been entrusted with this guardianship of God's holiness, should now, by his own treachery, be fated to an eternal existence shut off from the presence of God, seeking in the meantime to deny mankind access to the Father which was once his special prerogative. In contrast to Satan, Christ by His loyal fulfillment of the Father's plan in sacrificing Himself for us has gained for us access into the holy place, past the cherubim, and into the presence of the Father (Rom.5:2; Eph.2:18; 3:12).

   j) He Who Covers (Ezek.28:14): The primary reference for this passage is Exodus 25:20, where the cherubs who stand above the mercy seat of the ark of the covenant (the representation of God's throne) are said to spread their wings and "cover" the seat (the same Hebrew verb, sachach, being used in both contexts). This same verb is also used of the veil "covering" the holy of holies (Ex.40:3; 21). The main idea here is one of "shielding" or "protecting" as can be seen from the use of the word in the Psalms (e.g, Ps.5:11; 91:4; 140:7). Satan's original position can thus be described as that of the ultimate "imperial guard", charged with warding off all that is profane from the exquisite holiness of God (the function now, as we have seen, of numerous cherubs). It is a tragic irony that Satan's position as a bulwark against the profane has been altered by his own rebellion into that of a promoter of all that is detestable to God's holiness. In contrast to Satan, Christ kept Himself completely chaste from sin, so that in fulfillment of the Father's plan He might "become sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2Cor.5:21).

   k) On the Holy Mountain of God (Ezek.28:14): This is a reference to the perfect, original earth (see section II.6.a above). Satan's place in the pristine perfection of God's original creation was compromised by his rebellion and he has thus exchanged this blessed habitation for the ultimate condemnation of the lake of fire (Rev.21:10). In contrast to Satan, Christ, by enduring the condemnation of the cross on our behalf, has opened the way into the true holy of holies for us, that is, into the presence of the Father, and has thus forever vouchsafed our place in the ultimate restored paradise (Heb.6:19-20).

    l) Walking Amidst the Stones of Fire (Ezek.28:14 & 16): Mentioned only here in scripture, the "stones of fire" would appear to be memorial stones, along the lines of the gems on the high priest's breastplate (see section III.f above). But in contrast to the collective reference of the gems on the breastplate (as with the gems worn by Satan), these "stones of fire" seem rather to represent the remembrance of individual angelic beings before the Lord. We see parallels for this function in the foundation jewels of the New Jerusalem (one for each apostle: Rev.21:14-21), and in the "white stone" that is given to everyone who "overcomes": a name is written on this stone "which no one knows save he who receives [it]" (Rev.2:17). The fact that the very memory of Satan will be obliterated (i.e., "I will destroy you from the midst of the stones of fire" in v.16; cf. the use of 'abhadh here and in Deut.12:3 & Is.26:14) argues for this interpretation. The stones, then, would serve, for angels, a purpose similar to that of the "book of life" for believers (cf. Ex.32:32; Dan.12:1; Lk.10:20; Rev.20:15). That these stones should be "fiery" is perfectly understandable when we consider the natural affinity of angels for fire as described elsewhere in scripture (Ps.104:4; Is.6:6; Ezek.10:2). It is a tragic irony that Satan should abandon his special place amidst these memorials to the Lord's personal remembrance of every holy angel and embark instead on a mission of alienating from God as many angels and men as he could. In contrast to Satan, Christ offered Himself as a memorial before the Father to bring to repentance and salvation all of mankind (Eph.5:2).

Conclusion: Satan was the top-ranking angelic creature, blessed with extraordinary offices and privileges which were never to be paralleled again (except in the person of Christ, an issue we shall explore in part 5 of this study). His preeminent status begs the question of why he would jeopardize (let alone renounce) such an exalted status. The sad truth is that all these benefits and blessings were not enough for Satan. He wanted more, wanted the only thing with which he had not been entrusted: rulership of the universe. It was not enough for him to be guardian of the throne of God; he wanted to occupy it as well.

IV. Satan's Character, Sin and Fall:

    1) Satan's Character: As Ezekiel 28:15 states in unequivocal terms, Satan was created "blameless". This is a critical piece of information, because through this scripture we are assured that his decision to sin was not some inevitable action originating with God, but was instead a free-will decision on Satan's part. Satan was created without sin, and with no necessity to sin. He and he alone is the one who bears the complete responsibility for all the trouble he has brought upon his fellow angels, upon humanity, and upon himself. God bears none of the blame for Satan's fall. Satan took the opportunity of using the free will God gave him to reject God and follow instead the path of evil.

As is the case with all of us, Satan's decision to eschew God and all that is good and true, meant that he would necessarily follow the path of evil and of the lie. Make no mistake - there is no middle ground. Ultimately, no one is entirely independent in his actions. We only choose the master we will serve, be it good or evil, truth or lie, God or Satan. Thus the choice-issue that confronts human beings today is in its essence the same as that which confronted Satan before human history ever commenced. Like that primeval super-creature, we too must choose whether we will follow God, accepting the truth He has made available to us, or reject Him, accepting instead the devil's lies.

The issue of choice in Satan's case is of the most critical importance (as indeed it is with every one of God's moral creatures). Satan had to be given the chance of rejecting God and His truth just as Adam and Eve did, just as you and I do. Without the opportunity of rejecting truth in a tangible and meaningful way, there would be no genuine choice, no true free will. A situation where His creatures praise Him and follow Him simply because there is no other option is clearly not what God desires or intends. The free will God has provided to His creatures is inextricably bound up with the choice of accepting or rejecting Him, but the choice is real and legitimate nonetheless. According to any other scenario, we would be little more than robots, and morally indistinct from the animals.

God's provision of free will to His creatures has not been effected without stupendous cost. Endowed with the option of rejecting Him, all too many angels and humans have availed themselves of this dubious opportunity. And the loss is not ours alone: to redeem sinful mankind from the disastrous decisions of our first parents, God would have to pay the ultimate price in the death of His own dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, on the cross. The ultimate victory, of course, will belong to God, as all will eventually acknowledge Him, whether from choice or from necessity (Is.45:23; Rom.3:19; 14:10-11; Phil.2:10-11).

Though originally blameless, Satan made the mistake of using his freedom to choose "freedom from God". But such a prospect is wholly illusory: "freedom from God" means in truth only slavery, captivity to sin and death, and so to Satan (Heb.2:14-15 cf. Is.14:17; 61:1; Jn.8:34). For "to whatever you give your allegiance, to that you are enslaved" (Rm.6:16; cf. 2Pet.2:19). As L.S. Chafer has observed, the issue for us all is "independence from God" or "oneness with God": as creatures we can't ever actually attain the former, but are free to choose the latter. Satan started with a pristine and blameless character, but in declaring his independence from God, he embraced the lie perforce, and become the very father of it (Jn.8:44).

   2) Satan's Sin: In Paul's instructions to Timothy regarding the necessary qualifications of pastors, he concludes the section by warning that the candidate should not be a neophyte (i.e, one newly in the faith and spiritually immature). Otherwise, Paul says, the man might easily "become puffed up (i.e., blinded by arrogance) and so fall into [the same] condemnation as the devil [did]" (1Tim.3:6). In Paul's caveat here, pride, that is, an unwarranted sense of superiority, creates a breeding ground for further sin. This was certainly so in Satan's case. His exorbitant pride over the qualities and attributes given him by God (Ezek.28.17) led to further corrupt thinking and plotting (Is.14:13-14; Ezek.28:17b), and finally to action: full scale rebellion against God. The substance of this corrupt thinking, a pattern of thought completely divorced from reality given God's graceful generosity to him and the absolute folly of opposing Him, is recorded for us by Isaiah:

For you said in your heart, "I will ascend heavenward. I will set my throne above the stars of God. And I will take my seat on the mount of assembly on the sides of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. I will be like the Most High God. Isaiah 14:13-14

All five of these famous "I wills" of Satan speak to the same objective: replacing God's rule over the universe with his own. However, we can glean some specifics about Satan's intentions from each:

"I will ascend heavenward": Not "to heaven" as we have seen (see section II.6.a above). The primordial Eden, it will be remembered, was on earth. Furthermore, the "heights" of the mount of assembly were apparently dizzyingly high so as to make this expression quite apropos (see "above the heights of the clouds" immediately below, and compare the massive dimensions of the New Jerusalem, some fifteen hundred miles high: Rev.21:16).

"I will set my throne above the stars of God": These "stars" are the other angels, as we have seen (cf. Job 25:5; Ps.103:20-21; Is.40:26 w. Lk.2:13). There is no indication that Satan had any such throne. As we have seen, he was the cherub-guardian of God's throne, a throne which he sought to usurp. His current throne, or rulership of the world, will be held only temporarily.

"I will take my seat on the mount of assembly on the sides of the north": See 6a above for similarities between this description and Jerusalem. Here Satan imagines his moment of installation as supreme ruler in the place of God.

"I will ascend above the heights of the clouds": As with "stars", "clouds" too has a double meaning, refering both to height and to the other angels (for clouds are often used to describe the assembled armies of God: Dan.7:13; Matt.26:64; 1Thes.4:17; Heb.12:1; Rev.1:7). This thought reprises the first "I will" and acts as a solemn asseveration of the plan contained in the first three "I wills". In non-poetic language it is equivalent "Yes, I will indeed do this thing."

"I will be like the Most High God": This is the essence of Satan's plan and his desire, directly expressed without further equivocation. The statement, a prophetically inspired quote of Satan's actual thinking, removes any doubt about the fact that he was indeed aware of the consequences of his actions. Satan meant to replace God and so take all His glory to himself. As is so often the case in human experience, this pattern of thinking eventually led to action and to overt sin, thus bringing about Satan's rebellion and fall.

    3) Satan's Fall: If chapter fourteen of the book of Isaiah describes the development and expression of Satan's mental state, culminating in his launching of a rebellion against God, Ezekiel chapter twenty-eight describes the process of putting his arrogant plan into practice, albeit in largely reverse order, tracing the matter backward at first from the result to the cause (vv.15-17), before more fully explicating the charge against Satan in verse eighteen. It will be helpful to translate and briefly analyze these verses in their sequential order before moving on to a full consideration of Satan's coup d'etat, his revolutionary platform, and the scriptural names given to him which mark out his character for all to see, branding him as a deceiver and an opponent of the Lord God Almighty.

Your heart became haughty because of your beauty, [and so] you destroyed your wisdom on account of your splendor. So I cast you to the earth, and I made a spectacle of you before kings.    Ezekiel 28:17

Arrogant pride, attributed specifically to Satan's high esteem for his own appearance, is at the root of the thought pattern whose course we saw Isaiah chronicle. Persistent and obsessive preoccupation with his own loveliness over time had a corrupting influence upon Satan's whole mental attitude, neutralizing, then effectively destroying his conscience, his character and his wholesome fear of God (cf. Eph.4:19; 1Tim.4:2). The judgments described in the second half of the verse are perfectively future, that is, it is a fate so certain (since it has been decreed by God) that it is described as already having happened. The first half of the judgment, being "cast to earth", will be carried out during the second half of the tribulation, the so-called "Great Tribulation" (Rev.12:7-13). The second half of the prophecy, becoming a "spectacle before kings", refers to Satan's final disposition into the lake of fire (Rev.20:10). Satan destroyed the wisdom God had given him and ungratefully rebelled against God, therefore God will destroy him. He who would be king shall be humbled before God's appointed royalty by the King of Kings (cf. Rev.21:24).

In your extensive conspiring, you were filled with wickedness, and you sinned. So I cast you from the mountain of God as one profaned, and I blotted out [your memory] from among the stones of fire, O covering cherub.     Ezekiel 28:16

Satan's conspiracy is first explicitly mentioned here, that is, his active attempt to carry out his plan of the five "I wills". The Hebrew word rachal (lkr), translated here as "conspiring", has the two-fold meaning of repetitive motion ("trading" or "trafficking") and of slandering. In the context of Satan's activities, it fits our notion of conspiracy quite well. As arrogance led to perverted thinking (v.17), now we see these mental attitude sins blossoming into the overt activity of canvassing his fellow angels for support, slandering God in the process, an activity characterized by Ezekiel as "wickedness". Satan was attempting to besmirch God's reputation to gain adherents and further his own goals, but God here declares another fitting judgment on Satan: the future obliteration of any remembrance of him, let alone his reputation, and his physical expulsion from the place he feign would occupy as ruler of the universe.

In all your ways you were perfect from the day of your creation until unrighteousness was found in you.             Ezekiel 28:15

In the abundance of your iniquity, in the unrighteousness of your conspiring, you profaned your sacred trusts, so I made fire come out of your midst which devoured you, and I made you like the dust of the earth in the eyes of all who beheld you. Ezekiel 28:18

These two verses, one at the head of this section, and the other at the end of it, both treat Satan's sin and fall in summary form. Verse fifteen takes a subjective viewpoint: Satan was made perfect - God is not to blame for his rejection of God. Nevertheless, by his own actions he became "unrighteous", that is, unqualified for eternal contact and residence with God because of sin. Verse eighteen sums up from an objective viewpoint: Satan's conduct is described as "iniquity" (Hebrew 'aven, ]vi, a strong word for egregious and presumptuous sin and the guilt it incurs); this activity is further described as a lack of righteousness here too but the word 'avel (lvi) is now applied not to Satan himself (as in verse fifteen), but to his deeds, namely, his conspiratorial actions. Once again, the future judgment is described as already having occurred, its eventuality being so certain as to be without doubt. Satan will actually be cast into the lake of fire following Christ's millennial reign (Rev.20:10). Entrusted with the guardianship of the innermost shrines of the Lord, Satan betrayed and polluted his trust, therefore God has decreed that Satan himself shall be desecrated, his pollution incinerated in eternal fire.

    a) Satan's Coup D'etat: As would be usurper of God's throne, Satan found himself in a delicate position. When he conceived his nefarious ambition, he was on his own. Even in his unparalleled arrogance, he must have realized that he would need help if were to successfully dethrone the Lord of the universe. Satan did have some advantages, however. As the preeminent and highest ranking angelic creature (not to mention the most impressive), Satan had considerable influence and authority over the other angels. None would be likely to rebel from the Lord instantaneously on Satan's say-so, but, with proper preparation, it might be possible to sway some of his fellows. Satan's plan was not to overthrow God by force (for such a course of action was a complete impossibility, as even Satan with his inflated sense of self saw clearly enough), but rather to effect a coup d'etat: by winning over the allegiance of the angels, Satan thought to present God with a fait accompli which He would be powerless to reverse. For if the angels were to choose Satan over God, the devil seems to have felt secure that this fact in itself would protect him from divine retribution. This conclusion about Satan's thinking and strategy is, in fact, necessary, unless of course we are to assume that Satan really felt he could overpower God with a band of rebellious angels (and surely the wiles that the preeminent among God's creatures has demonstrated during our own human phase of history show clearly enough that Satan was smarter than that). But why should Satan feel secure from the wrath of an omnipotent God against whom he planned to rebel, simply because of some success on his part in seducing other angelic creatures into following his lead?

The answer to this difficult question lies in Satan's false perception of God's character. Satan realized, of course, that God had the power to crush him and his rebellion instantly and effortlessly. What Satan was counting on, however, was not that he would be able to oppose the omnipotence of God, but that God would be forced, by His own perfect integrity, to refrain from annihilating Satan and his followers. Even as the devil claims today that a truly loving God cannot punish His own creatures and still be consistent with His love,⁽³¹⁾ so in eternity past Satan outrageously staked the success of his traitorous ploy on God's own character. The universe at that time, populated as it was with its numerous angelic inhabitants, was a perfect, harmonious whole. Would God, could God really rend its fabric so drastically and unalterably by condemning Satan to destruction (along with the plethora of angels he was absolutely certain he could convince to follow him)? Satan must have reasoned that without some opportunity for reconciliation, and without some means of replacing what would be lost and thus restoring the perfect whole, his condemnation would be inconceivable because it would be completely inconsistent with the loving, fair, perfect God he knew. But neither of these two necessities would be possible. Reconciliation (and therefore restoration) would be impossible because 1) there would be no way to expiate treason against God, taken as it would be in complete knowledge and understanding of the implications, and 2) by their very nature as we have seen above (I, 3d), the angels who would choose for Satan would do so unalterably once and for all. Replacement also seemed to be an impossible option, inasmuch as angelic kind (as important and meaningful to God as everyone of us believers are: witness the memorial "stones of fire" as treated above) was created corporately and simultaneously: it would seem to have been inconsistent with God's character to begin a new round of partial creation to "patch up" and repair the damage done by the devil.⁽³²⁾ No action God could take in response to the planned rebellion (at least as Satan summed up the situation) would redound to His glory. In the devil's reasoning, therefore, God would find Himself boxed in by the insurrection he was planning, and would be forced by His own perfection to leave Satan be as the universe's new de facto sovereign.

As delusional as Satan's thinking (as we have reconstructed it here) seems to us now, the devil, originally the wisest of God's creatures, had a point. We can see, after all, from God's gracious handling of our own first parents' sin that reconciliation and restoration (and the replacement of a rebellious angelic element with an obedient human one) flow from the very core of who and what our God is. Indeed, none of this has been a mistake, or an afterthought, or a successful minor repair in our present universe - in all that has happened since the original creation of Genesis 1:1a, the Lord's plan has proceeded apace in its perfect, inexorable way. Our creation, and the grace God has shown to us in sending His only Son Jesus Christ to die for us and thus restore us (and thus replace Satan and his legions) have always been central to His plan. For by saving us through this his matchless grace and the gift of His Son, God has thoroughly exposed the devil's lie and gloriously proved His character for all the universe to see.

Satan's arrogance did not prevent him from making a largely correct assumption about the character of God, that He was just and fair. Yet Satan's arrogance blinded him to the obvious fact that no creature could ever anticipate what the Lord Almighty might do in justice and fairness. By creating mankind, and by offering us the choice of salvation through Christ, God is demonstrating to the angels this justice and fairness, as well as the boundless depths of His love: for all who would be reconciled, there is no limit consistent with His character to which He will not go to reconcile them - even to the point of giving His own Son over to death; for all who would remain alienated from Him, He is perfectly able and justified to find others who will choose for Him (and to pass judgment on those who will not). And this last point is more than replacement: the salvation of human beings and our wedding together to Jesus Christ who has Himself come to share our humanity constitutes a restoration of far more than what was originally lost. Oh the ineffable and unfathomable wisdom of our God, who heals what is broken into something stronger, and replaces what was lost with something better! For in the new heavens and new earth where we shall all dwell with Him forever, the blessings which once were will be multiplied beyond our comprehension because of God's boundless love for us His faithful creatures.

It is evident from the events that followed the conception of his plan that Satan was indeed able to bring a large proportion of angels over to his way of thinking about God's probable reaction to any such coup d'etat (an appropriate name for an overthrow of authority based not upon a contest of relative force, but rather political intrigue). For before any of the angels followed him, they would need to be convinced of the prospects of success: had they instead been certain of swift retribution from the Lord Almighty, it is fair to ask how many would have voluntarily enlisted into Satan's cause. There had to be something more, however. Satan's own motive of universal rulership is clear enough, but his potential followers would have to be wooed. Paradise, after all, could not have been so terrible as to force them into rebellion against God for its own sake, and the obvious fact that, in spite of Satan's assurances, at least some element of risk would be involved in betraying God could not have been lost on them. Satan needed a platform, one persuasive enough to convince his contemporaries to throw in their lot with him and take the risk of eternal condemnation.

   b) Satan's Revolutionary Platform: It is apparently a condition common to angelic and human kind alike to want what we don't have, especially if we can't have it. The original example of Adam and Eve vis-a-vis the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is sufficient evidence for this (not to mention the roughly six thousand years of human history since). Perhaps even more important than convincing his would-be followers that rebellion against God would be safe and meet with success was the necessity of a positive platform, a goal that could tempt his audience and incite their lust. But what do angels lack, and what could they possibly want? They are not affected by the elements, as we are, not plagued by disease or the ravages of time, not in any need whatsoever that might incite the lust for acquisition that so inflames mankind. Yet it is precisely in that fact which liberates the angels from all the cares and concerns we humans feel so intensely that Satan found his chief selling point, the prime inducement to his fellow spirit-creatures to gamble their eternal futures and bind their fate to Satan's forevermore: the very fact that angels lack physical bodies.

While we humans possess both a spiritual and a material part, angels, as we have seen, are primarily spiritual creatures (see I, 3c above). The absence of true corporeality (such as we possess) is in many respects a blessing (sparing the angels the pain, suffering and tears which are the common heritage of mankind since the fall), but it seems to have left many of the angels wondering what might have been. For while human beings had not yet been created when Satan launched his campaign to unseat God, it will be remembered that the original paradise from which Satan and his followers fell was on earth (see II, 6a above). And though this is neither the time nor the place to discuss the fossil record that has been such a stumbling block over the years to pure biblical faith, we can at least observe that much of that record no doubt hearkens back to the era we are presently discussing. For the pristine, original earth, though not described in scripture, is unlikely to have been a barren desert. God creates only perfection (cf. Is.45:18). In the absence of other information, we would do well to assume that this original paradise was a wonder to behold in every way, fully furnished with all types of vegetation and, most significant for our present study, an entire complement of animated (if not morally responsible) creatures as well. We can expect that such an order of creation would have piqued angelic interest. For though angels can affect material, they cannot have the rich experience of the material that creatures who are both material and spiritual can have. Without possessing a body, it is impossible to experience the sensual life of the body.

Now from everything we know about the angels from scripture, possession on their part of animals and of humans is contrary to the will and the law of God in every way. Satan observed the curiosity and interest of his fellows and applied the universal principle of sinful motivation treated above: they didn't have bodies and, moreover, were forbidden to possess the bodies of other creatures; therefore they wanted them, wanted to experience first hand the sensual, corporeal life "that had been denied them" (according to satanic propaganda). Clearly, God was not going to stand by and allow a wave of possessions contrary to His commands (much less any program of breeding and genetic manipulation that may be evidenced by the hominid portion of the fossil record: see Part 2 of this series). They only way to "escape" the rather pure spirituality God had "inflicted" on them was to fall in behind a new leader and take what they wanted in defiance of God.

God rained down complete destruction on the world of that time (as we shall see in Part 2), but it is interesting to note that there are number of biblical passages which demonstrate that the lust of his followers for bodies which most approximate their own essential shape is still very much alive:

1. Angels have no strictly material bodies of their own: Without taking possession of the bodies of other creatures, angels are unable to fully experience the material world in any sensual way (see II, 3b above). Paul's list of "bodies" in 1^st Corinthians chapter fifteen mentions "heavenly bodies", but by this he clearly means the planets. Significantly, he does not mention angels. We have also seen above many passages that stress the spiritual (and hence non-material) nature of angels (Heb.1:7; 1:14; 2:14-16 [esp.v.16]). This radical difference from human (and animal) kind helps to explain how they can occasionally be called "gods" (i.e., having more in common with the spirituality of God than the materiality of Man: Ps.8:5; 82:1 & 6). Angels are not "flesh and blood" as we, in our material part, clearly are (Eph.6:12). When our Lord appeared to His disciples and was taken for a ghost, He commanded them to "touch Me and see that a spirit (pneuma) does not have flesh and bones as you see Me having" (Lk.24:39). The word He used, the Greek pneuma (pneuma), is the same word used for angels wherever they are deemed "spirits" (e.g., Heb.1:7 & 14). No stronger confirmation could be asked to show that angels are different from us in this main, crucial point of corporeality (and, therefore, in the enjoyment of all that is sensual).

2. The Serpent of Genesis 3: It is no accident (and by now should come as no great surprise) that when we first encounter Satan in scripture, he has taken possession of a material creature, the serpent. We can assume from the context that this especially "subtle" creature was Eve's special pet, and a perfect vehicle for the devil's seduction. Given the nature of the prehistoric fossil record, we might well wonder whether his choice of the serpent is also due in part to an earlier angelic fascination with reptiles (see part 2 of this series). But was his possession of the creature necessary to accomplish his goal (any more than his possession of Judas was: cf. Lk.22:3)? What we can say is that possession of the bodies of material creatures is part of Satan's normal modus operandi, and indicates that this is more than something the fallen angels "have to do" to accomplish their nefarious purposes. Rather, it is something they dearly desire to do.

3. The Angelic Infiltration of Genesis 6: As both Jude 6 and 2^nd Peter 2:4 make clear, "the sons of God coming in to [mate with] the daughters of men" was a Satanic attack of immense proportions which violated God's ground rules for the resolution of the angelic rebellion in human history (see the upcoming Part 4 of this series where the Gen.6 attack will be treated in detail). The direct mixing of angelic and human seed is clear-cut proof of the desire on the part of Satan and his followers to attain the (for them) unattainable: corporeality.

4. The Legion of Demons and the Swine: In Mark chapter 5, when Jesus cast the demon legion from a single man, these fallen spirits "begged" Him to "send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them" (v.12). There is very little to explain their motivation for this request until we accept that these satanic angels, being deprived of their human home, were desperate to regain some material adobe, be it ever so mean.

5. The Wandering Spirit (Lk.11:24-26): The return of the "wandering spirit" to the man he had previously possessed is a likewise telling case that only fully makes sense when we take into account the "addiction" the fallen angels have to the corporeality which, as part of our nature, we understandably take for granted. The demon goes through desolate places seeking "rest" (i.e., another willing subject to inhabit), but when it is disappointed in this hope, it returns to its "house" (Greek oikos). The terminology used here is significant, for in 2^nd Corinthians 5:2, Paul calls our coming resurrection body, the super-material home in which we shall spend all eternity with the Lord, a "dear-house from on high" (Greek oiketerion, the diminutive of the very word used for house above being used in a [grammatically] familiar sense). Our material abodes, the bodies that house our spirits now and then, are given to us by God, but it is the devil's plan, and his prime inducement to his followers, to take by force the homes that properly belong to others.

Satan's false gospel to the angels who fell with him was one of "deliverance" for their non-sensual state. He found them curious about the experience of material existence, and inflamed this curiosity into outright lust and rebellion, so that they became obsessed with the possession of material bodies, and addicted to the experience (in the same way that many of our fellow human beings are destroyed by drugs). Therefore, the widespread and dishonest trade of Ezekiel 28:16 & 18 is better translated "canvassing" or "campaigning". Satan found his issue and seduced a large part of angelic kind with it. In this his activity is quite similar to that of Absalom in his conspiracy to overthrow his father David, the rightful king. We are told that Absalom used to get up early in the morning and go to greet all who came to Jerusalem for adjudication, praising whatever case they might have (regardless of the justice of it) and swearing justice for all, if only he were to made "judge" (2Sam.15:2-6). By flattery and such false promises, Absalom "stole the hearts of the people away" in very much the same fashion that Satan must have done. The temptation to follow such an attractive leader who was promising them so much (and the assurance of the safety and success of their cause) proved more than many of the angels could resist.⁽³³⁾ Satan always strikes the weakest point in our defenses, and there is always a weak point. Adam and Eve had bodies, but no such vast knowledge as the angels possess, so Satan appealed to their desire for such; the angels had vast knowledge, but no material bodies, and that is where the devil chose to strike. Undoubtedly, the angels had no more real need for material bodies any more than our first parents did for "knowledge of good and evil". Rather than to trust God for what is truly needed, however, it is an all too common creature reaction to decide for ourselves that what we don't presently have is absolutely essential, and to assume that somehow we are being "deprived by God" (though He is really only looking out for our best interests in keeping us from things which are essentially harmful to us).

Conclusion: God's Reaction: How would God react to such high treason against His person and His legitimate rule? When our series continues, we shall chart the unfolding of His perfect divine plan as He disposes of Satan and his rebellion in a breathtaking way, gaining more and more glory at every step and bringing about for His faithful creatures even greater blessing in the end than obtained in the beginning:

* God's judgment on the original earth and its restoration (in Part 2: The Genesis Gap).

* God's creation of Man and Satan's aggressive response (in Part 3: The Purpose, Creation and Fall of Man).

* God's suspension of summary judgment, and Satan’s nefarious world-rule over the course of human history (in Part 4: Satan's World System: Past, Present and Future).

* God's ultimate replacement and final judgment of Satan and his followers (in Part 5: Judgment, Restoration and Replacement).

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Notes:

1. The forthcoming Part II of Essential Doctrines of the Bible in Outline: Eschatology: The Study of "Last Things" will eventually be available as an overview on this topic.

2. For a more detailed look at the essence, nature and character of God, see Part I of Essential Doctrines of the Bible in Outline: Theology: the Study of God.

The Satanic Rebellion Background to the Tribulation: Part 2, The Genesis Gap