Ancient Beings -Satan, Demons and Angels

Before man existed there were, and still are, billions of heavenly creatures identified as "angels". These creatures are vastly superior to man in every way. They have bodies of light and an extremely well developed intellect. There are many other characteristics of this creature, which we will not examine here, but suffice it to say that angels are only creatures (Psa 148:2-5), as we are, and yet they were endowed with natural attributes, which far surpass even the greatest of men.

Angels were created in eternity past, before the creation of the human race or in pre-historic times.  It could have been billions of years ago...we simply do not know actually how long!

Gen 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Now, this is not the beginning of God because God has no beginning; He is eternal!

Nor is this the beginning of the angels because the angels were already around before God created the heavens and the earth; we know that from Job 38:4-7.   

Speaking to Job in Job 38:4-5, the Lord said, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, Who set its measurements, since you know? Or who stretched the line on it?”

Job 38:6-7 “On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars [angels] sang together, And all the sons of God [the angels] shouted for joy?”

So the angels were around before Gen 1:1.  At some time in eternity past, before the creation of the universe, God created the angelic host.  Notice that in Job 38:7, when God laid the foundation of the earth, all the sons of God, not some but all the angels, shouted for joy because they were undivided at that time.  Lucifer and one-third of the angels had not yet rebelled in arrogance, therefore all the angels shouted for joy.

So in Gen 1:1 the universe, the heavens and the earth, were originally created as the domain of the angels.  Here they ruled and performed whatever responsibilities and tasks God had for them.

Pre-historic Satan

Lucifer as a cherub

The most glorious of these creatures was one called Lucifer, Son of the Morning.

"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!"(Isa:14:12)

Lucifer was a class of angel called "cherub", which was the highest ranking class of angel, and he was the highest of all Cherubs, for his appointed station was God's "Anointed Cherub", and his office was standing watch at the "Holy Mountain".

"Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou was upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire." (Ezek:28:14)

There is little in the Bible that explains exactly what Lucifer's duties consisted of, but enough to establish the fact that his was an exalted position among the angelic civilization. He is also described as the most beautiful creature ever to come from God's hand. The verse, below, is a description of an angel with skin that reflected the many faceted hues of various gemstones under intense light, and a voice with mesmerizing resonance. Add to his breathtaking beauty an intellect that can only be described as multi-genius, and powers second only to God, Himself.

"Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy voice were prepared in thee in the day that thou was created." (Ezek:28:13)

The coup attempt

But Lucifer's beauty worked a terrible hardship on him, by his own volition, for he was overcome by the lust to exalt himself, and even to seize the ruling power over God's kingdom.

Satan’s fall from heaven is described in Isaiah 14:12-14 and Ezekiel 28:12-18. While these two passages are referring specifically to the king of Babylon and the king of Tyre, they specifically reference the spiritual power that was behind those kings - Satan.  These men were apparently both at different periods in history, indwelt by Lucifer himself.  The description of events in these sections of scripture could not possibly refer to the actual human kings themselves, therefore most theologians agree that these verses are addressed to Satan himself.

In the Book of Isaiah we get a glimpse of Lucifer's motivation and an understanding of the original, first sin in creation.

The Fall of Satan or the Five "I wills" of Satan (Is. 14:13-14)

"I WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN."

• ascend into = take over
• heaven - refers to the third heaven, the throne room of God.
• This is the arrogance of the CREATURE trying to dethrone the CREATOR.

"I WILL EXALT MY THRONE ABOVE THE STARS OF GOD."

• stars of God - refers to angels (Job 38:7; Jude 13; Rev. 12:3-4)
• This means, "I will rule the angels."
• One-third of the angels fell to Satan.  (Rev. 12:4)
• This is ambition for power and authority.

"I WILL SET UPON THE MOUNT OF THE CONGREGATION."

• mount - refers to the seat of government on earth.
• congregation - refers to Israel.
• This means, "I will rule mankind from Jerusalem."
• Satan is seeking Messianic recognition.

"I WILL ASCEND ABOVE THE HEIGHTS OF THE CLOUDS."

• There are about 150 references to clouds in the Bible.
• At least 100 references to clouds refer to divine presence and glory.
• Satan seeks glory which belongs to God alone.

"I WILL BE LIKE THE MOST HIGH."

• most high - a title signifying possessor of heaven and earth.
• Satan's purpose is to be like the Most High, possessing authority over heaven and earth.

As Eze 28:12 says, Lucifer was the sum total of perfection, yet he wasn’t satisfied, and so he made a decision against the one who had given him all his perfection.  He had everything people ordinarily think would give them happiness.  I think the majority of us would say that if we had perfect brains and perfect beauty in a perfect environment, we would be happy...but we’re just kidding ourselves.  People who have all of these things, or part of these things, always want something else.

They’re not happy...something’s missing!  And do you know what it usually is that they think is missing? POWER! They want power! They want approbation! They want to be recognized!

You see, that’s the power of beauty!  What’s beauty if someone doesn’t say you’re beautiful?  Now, Satan had beauty and brains from the start of his life and he also had authority as the anointed cherub...but he got tired of being second in charge!  He started yawning in perfect environment.  He became bored.  He wanted something more!  He had everything except God’s power and that’s what he wanted!

The first sin ever committed not only gives us some understanding about the one who committed it, but it sets up the norm and the pattern of all sin.  It demonstrates the element in sin which makes it “exceeding sinful” (Rom 7:13), which is the sin of independence, or the choosing of our will over God’s will.  Satan’s independence led to the first revolution and conspiracy in all of the universe.

Angelic Judgment

God was forced to deal with this insurrection, and He did so. But before He judged Lucifer, knowing that billions of other angels actually sympathized with Lucifer, God presented the question to the angels in His world, "Which will you follow; Satan or Me?", and a third of all the creatures in heaven lined up behind the devil. They, too, were beguiled by his superior beauty and intelligence.

We aren't told how many angels fell with Lucifer, but they were very likely in the billions. We have some clues as to the scale of the demonic hosts in scripture. In Rev. 9:14-15 just one of the three demonic armies released during the Tribulation is said to number 200 Million.

In effect, this situation paralleled our own dilemma, in that angels had to choose for or against God. Although the mechanics of our salvation are far different that the angelic path to deliverance, for there was no Savior as we have, the identical issue was at the heart of the matter; The exercise of our volition to either humble ourselves before our Creator, or defy Him. (Heb 2:1-3)

Thus, a dramatic event took place, a "trial" we will call it, in which Satan (translated as "lawyer for the defense"), and his billions of followers, were sentenced to the lake of fire and brimstone. (Matt. 25:41, Jude 13 , Revelation 20:10, 2 Peter 2:4)

But the arrogant leader of the heavenly rebellion had no intention of accepting his fate meekly, for he challenged the ruling of the Almighty, and a conflict began which has continued to this very moment, and will continue for at least 1,000 more years.

To be continued in The Angelic Conflict - Part Two

Compiled and Condensed from the writings of several authors and pastors including J Hampton Keathley , Robert Mclaughlin, Robert Dean, Gene Cunningham, Ric Web, R.B. Theime and Lewis Sperrry Chafer.

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