And, what does it mean to you and me?
Let's take a look at a passage from the Book of Isaiah:
"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."
Isaiah 14:12-14
Isaiah 14:12-14
There are some people that believe this passage doesn't refer to satan, but instead to the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar. Some are names of historical importance in the apologetics of Christian Doctrine, such as Calvin and Clarke.
I do believe they are wrong, at least in limiting what the Word of God can express.
There is little doubt that these words could well have been used to describe Nebuchadnezzar, as he was a sore enemy of Israel. However, there are many areas where the Bible presents prophecy that has multiple meanings. The key to discerning these areas is to look for harmony in the Scriptures. If there is a passage that is single-ended, it will be very clear in that limit. And, when there is more than one layer to a prophecy's fulfillment, that too will be clear.
We are given descriptions of satan, and the actions of those that follow him.
I do believe they are wrong, at least in limiting what the Word of God can express.
There is little doubt that these words could well have been used to describe Nebuchadnezzar, as he was a sore enemy of Israel. However, there are many areas where the Bible presents prophecy that has multiple meanings. The key to discerning these areas is to look for harmony in the Scriptures. If there is a passage that is single-ended, it will be very clear in that limit. And, when there is more than one layer to a prophecy's fulfillment, that too will be clear.
We are given descriptions of satan, and the actions of those that follow him.
"And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel."
1 Chro. 21:1
"And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."
Job 1:7
"Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?"
Job 1:9
"But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face."
Job 1:11
"And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: [is] not this a brand plucked out of the fire?"
Zec. 3:2
"But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men."
Matt. 16:23
"And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts."
Mark 4:15
"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired [to have] you, that he may sift [you] as wheat:"
Luke 22:31
1 Chro. 21:1
"And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."
Job 1:7
"Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?"
Job 1:9
"But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face."
Job 1:11
"And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: [is] not this a brand plucked out of the fire?"
Zec. 3:2
"But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men."
Matt. 16:23
"And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts."
Mark 4:15
"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired [to have] you, that he may sift [you] as wheat:"
Luke 22:31
There are more, but just in these passages we see satan described as: one that provokes, who has free access to the earthly realm, an accuser, an agent of harm and destruction, someone who is under the command of God Almighty, one who can influence people on earth covertly, a creature that can pervert and hide the influences of the Word of God, a being that can petition God to attack us. As I think you will see, these descriptions show a creature that can be quoted as saying those things we read in Isaiah 14.
So, what we see in the Isaiah passage is an accounting of satan's "Five I Wills."
In wanting to ascend into heaven, he was displaying a desire to have heaven as his home; his base of operations. This sounds sort of innocent enough, until you realize that heaven is the habitation of God Almighty and His family. By wanting this, satan was wanting to have a part in the royal line, without going through the process that such required (such as being God's Son, or being adopted into the family through God's grace, as delivered by the works of Jesus.)
If satan had gotten his way, he would have had his personal position of status (his throne) promoted to the point where he would have been over the "stars of God." The generally accepted interpretation of this is that satan wanted to be in command of the angelic hosts of heaven. He wanted to be the big boss of all the angels. That was a job that belonged to God. Sure, there's something to be said for wanting to take on bigger responsibilities, but this was just insane. And, it was treasonous.
What about sitting on the mount of the congregation? The word that is translated as "congregation" is the Hebrew word "mow'ed." That word is found in a couple other interesting places:
So, what we see in the Isaiah passage is an accounting of satan's "Five I Wills."
- I will ascend into heaven
- I will exalt my throne above the stars of God
- I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north
- I will ascend above the heights of the clouds
- I will be like the most High
In wanting to ascend into heaven, he was displaying a desire to have heaven as his home; his base of operations. This sounds sort of innocent enough, until you realize that heaven is the habitation of God Almighty and His family. By wanting this, satan was wanting to have a part in the royal line, without going through the process that such required (such as being God's Son, or being adopted into the family through God's grace, as delivered by the works of Jesus.)
If satan had gotten his way, he would have had his personal position of status (his throne) promoted to the point where he would have been over the "stars of God." The generally accepted interpretation of this is that satan wanted to be in command of the angelic hosts of heaven. He wanted to be the big boss of all the angels. That was a job that belonged to God. Sure, there's something to be said for wanting to take on bigger responsibilities, but this was just insane. And, it was treasonous.
What about sitting on the mount of the congregation? The word that is translated as "congregation" is the Hebrew word "mow'ed." That word is found in a couple other interesting places:
"In the tabernacle of the congregation [mow'ed] without the veil, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel."
Exo. 27:21
"And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation [mow'ed]."
Exo. 33:7
Exo. 27:21
"And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation [mow'ed]."
Exo. 33:7
When coupled with the "sides of the north", one can derive a possible idea of what satan is after. A "tabernacle of the congregation" that was on the north side of a hill was the temple of God on Mount Moriah, in Jerusalem. Is this satan wanting to be the primary angel over the Jewish people? Is it a desire to sit in the place of God? Is it a lust of his to be seen by God's people? I can't say for sure, but one has to again look at the Bible for harmony with itself. And, this could well be that harmony:
"And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."
Dan. 9:27
Sound like if satan can't have it, he'll have his man destroy it!
Satan wanted to ascend above the clouds. Now, if he had already desired to ascend into heaven, why is he interested in clouds?
Dan. 9:27
Sound like if satan can't have it, he'll have his man destroy it!
Satan wanted to ascend above the clouds. Now, if he had already desired to ascend into heaven, why is he interested in clouds?
"And then shall they see the Son of man [Jesus] coming in the clouds with great power and glory."
Mark 13:26
Mark 13:26
Satan was quite possibly wanting a position of glory even above that of Jesus our Savior! In the eye of his ego, satan believed he was worthy of such glory. After all, he was filled with light, beautiful, talented beyond imagination musically. And yet, ego spoiled it all.
Finally, satan gets to the point he was after all along. He declares that he will be like the most High. It appears that his ultimate goal was to be a co-ruler with God Almighty!
With a third of the angels of heaven joining him, satan led a revolt against YHWH. This ended with the rebels being booted out of their positions of service to God in heaven, and having to take up residency on earth. Even here, God showed extreme patience and mercy towards satan by not destroying him.
Next time, we'll see how satan repays the favor....
Grace and Peace....
Finally, satan gets to the point he was after all along. He declares that he will be like the most High. It appears that his ultimate goal was to be a co-ruler with God Almighty!
With a third of the angels of heaven joining him, satan led a revolt against YHWH. This ended with the rebels being booted out of their positions of service to God in heaven, and having to take up residency on earth. Even here, God showed extreme patience and mercy towards satan by not destroying him.
Next time, we'll see how satan repays the favor....
Grace and Peace....
