Lucifer Has Fallen

Lucifer is commonly associated with the prince of darkness; the adversary, the serpent, the Devil, a.k.a. Satan. Only in the last few decades has this association been challenged. The secular world and even many Christians will contend that Lucifer is a misnomer and a poor translation of scripture [1]. After much study I have come to realize that there isn't conclusive Biblical evidence either way. Still I tend to side with many centuries of tradition, but there are convincing arguments otherwise [2]. This is such a heated and endless debate because both sides are right. The name Lucifer applies to both Satan and the fallen kings of the earth, through the common bond of idolatry.

It wasn't until the fourth century A.D. that this name was even used in the Bible. It was first introduced by Saint Jerome in his Latin Vulgate and later preserved by the dedicated scholars and linguists that produced the King James Version. The interesting part is that Lucifer appeared in St. Jerome's translation several times [3] but now occurs in the Holy Sciptures only once. And even then, very few of the modern translations have maintained this choice of wording. Before I continue, let's take a look at where this unholy name appears in the KJV:

This is a very powerful progression of verses. A picture begins to emerge which is used repeatedly throughout God's Word; that of a man so full of self-idolizing power that he becomes consumed with the desire to become like the most High and ascend into heaven to exalt his throne above the stars of God. This man is blinded by his own light, his vision clouded by an unsatiable hunger for power. Although he can't see it, it is made crystal clear where he is headed. Does that remind you of anyone? That's right, the Antichrist. Remember, Satan controls the spirit of antichrist and will take an earthly host to complete his dirty work (think Judas, John 13:27). But more about that a little later...

Back to the name itself. Why did St. Jerome choose Lucifer, why didn't he just use the name Satan if that's what he meant? Like all of scripture, there is purpose. Let's look to the original texts. In the original Hebrew the reference is to Heylel ben Shachar. The first Hebrew word Heylel means morning star, literally the planet Venus; from the root word halal meaning to shine or give light, also quite appropriately, to boast [4]. The second word, ben, means son (of). Shachar translates generally to morning, or properly to dawn [5] (as used in the RSV,NAS,NIV & YLT). During the fourth century when Jerome was translating from the Greek of the Septuagint to the Latin of the Vulgate, the planet Venus was called Lucifer. It was called the same in Roman Astrology [6]. So we see that Jerome made a logical choice of wording in this particular passage and timeframe.

That explains his logic, but why did the KJV scholars preserve the name in Isaiah 14:12 and not in the other verses where Jerome originally included it? I contend that it was preserved to bring light to the nature of Satan and Antichrist, and preserved alone to avoid confusion with the other passages. After all, Isaiah is primarily a prophetic book and not historical in nature. Let's back up a few verses to see why many say that Lucifer refers only to a man:

It is plain to see that these words are directed to the king of Babylon, which at the time was Nebuchadnezzar II. It says right there, plain as day, this verse was directed toward a man, not Satan. This must be corrected at once! (I speak as a publisher.) The correct translation of Heylel should be Morning Star or better yet, Day Star. But wait, isn't Jesus also called the Morning Star and Day Star? He sure is.

Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

In an effort to create a "more accurate" translation (or make a grab for a few more dollars) recent scholars have only caused confusion. I guess they forgot about 1 Corinthians 14:33. Calling the king of Babylon the Morning Star is describing the grace in which he has fallen from. By inferring that this is also a reference to Satan, Isaiah demonstrates the future rise and fall of the Antichrist who comes as the false messiah and bearer of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). I repeat, the reference to the Morning Star in Isaiah 14 demonstrates the state of grace in which Nebuchadnezzar had fallen from and also alludes to the mentality and eventual downfall of Satan indwelling the false Christ; a wolf in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15). Let's see just how much favor Nebuchadnezzar was given prior to his fall:

That was some serious power and blessing bestowed upon Nebuchadnezzar. What did he do to deserve such preference from God? Probably not much, he was just a strong military vessel to serve God's purpose by conquering many lands that had not heeded His many warnings (Jeremiah 25:4). Now the United States has a very strong military and it is of popular opinion that as a nation we are a modern day Babylon (yes, I'm American). Along with that view is the threat of utter destruction to our homeland as prophecized in Revelation 14:8. This may be true in some aspects. We fit the bill as a modern day Babylon in regards to idolatry, confusion, and trade but there are better and more traditionally held views regarding the identity of Babylon the harlot and the city as mentioned in Revelation [7]. The view that the whore of Babylon is the Roman Catholic Church has long been held by great defenders of the faith such as Martin Luther and John Calvin [8] as well as modern day evangelists such as Jack Chick [9]. The U.S. or New York City as Babylon is a very modern view. The view is convincing at first glance but doesn't stand up to close scrutiny. Don't forget all that the American people have done to spread the Gospel and how many faithful Christians still abide here. Remember, no prophesy is of private interpretation.

Even if this new view on America as Babylon was right there would still be the question of timing. Are we now at the begining of Nebuchadnezzar's reign or at the end? It really makes all the differece. In my opinion we have nothing more to worry about than the rest of the world, but could I be wrong? Of course! I am a deprived and rebellious man just like the next. But even if I'm wrong there is still consolation for us Americans. Remember who threw Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah into the blazing furnace in the book of Daniel? None other than the king of Babylon himself, Nebuchadnezzar. And why? For not worshiping his image [10]! God's Son saved them from the fire (Daniel 3:25). This is identical to the beast persecuting the saints in the last days for not worshiping his image or receiving his mark. While we're in the book of Daniel let's take a look at Nebuchadnezzar's prophetic dream which only Daniel could interpret.

Nebuchadnezzar's dream has accurately depicted the successive worldy kingdoms throughout the ages [11]. The last of iron and clay is yet to come. It will be the Antichrist's kingdom. And the stone cut without hands will crush this final kingdom along with all those before it. But who or what is this stone cut without hands? None other than the Lord and Saviour Himself, Christ Jesus (Matthew 21:42, Ephesians 2:20). Amen and amen.

Okay, back to Jeremiah and the ancient kings of the earth. If we look back a couple verses to Jeremiah 27:3 we see that one of the kings Nebuchadnezzar defeated was the King of Tyrus. The king of Tyrus is mentioned in Ezekiel, another prophetic book, in a very similiar fashion as Nebuchadnezzar is in Isaiah 14. This is also a common chapter in which Satan (a.k.a. Lucifer) is equated into the mix.

There are several verses here that make it quite difficult to assign all that is said to a mere king [12], hence the association with Satan. The titles of anointed and covering cherub denote a closeness to God as does the description of the precious gems (stones of fire) and the holy mountain of God. In the end, like in Isaiah 14, this king is cast down because of his vain glory (i.e. brightness or splendor, the definitions of halal). The Phoenician city of Tyre was most famous for it's exclusive production and high trade in purple dye which was known as Tyrian purple and identified with wealth and royalty. The word Tyre (or Tzor in Hebrew) means "a rock" and possibly designates it's rocky landscape or even that it once existed as an island [13] (Isaiah 59:18). It's interesting that we see in Tyre the image of a rock (a false Christ) as well as the source of the same purple color that covers the great harlot in Revelation. Now let's see what an earlier king of Tyre was like:

It's no wonder why God would give the descendant of Ahab into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. He was an idolater of the worst kind as was his wife Jezebel [14]. It's also no coincidence that Jezebel was the daughter of the king of Zidon, a city that would also later be conquered by Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 27:3). Zidon means "fishery", depicting false "fishers of men"; condeming human souls through idolatry rather than setting them free through the truth that is in Christ. The names of Jezebel and her father Ethbaal testify to their allegience with the Babylonian/Canaanite storm and fertility god Baal, earlier called Bel, meaning "owner" or "Lord" (the true Lord being Jesus Christ). The name Jezebel also appears once in the New Testament in Revelation 2:20. It is used to warn the church at Thyatira against adultrey, fornication, and idolatrous practices. The terms fornication and adultery as used here have not only sexual implications but spiritual as well.

A derivative of Baal is Beelzebub which like Lucifer is another common name for Satan. Beelzebub means literally "lord of the flies" but it is suggested that this spelling is a derogatory play on the name Baal'zebul which means "Lord of the high places" or "exalted one"; much in the same way Hebrew scribes used "bosheth" (meaning shame [15]) to replace the prefix/suffix "baal" to denote its idolatrous roots. This theory makes perfect sense when compared to the kings of Isaiah and Ezekiel being self exalted. Incidentally, Baal was also known to the Ammonites as Molech, the Moabites as Chemosh, and the Edomites as Dushara. Baal's female counterpart is Ashtoreth, a.k.a. Astarte or Asherah. Astarte was identified with the Assyrian fertility goddess Ishtar (pronounced easter, this is where we get the pagan fertility symbols of the rabbit and the egg) who identified with the planet Venus (the bright and morning star). Astarte was also very similar to the Greek goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite, who in turn was almost identical to the Roman Venus [16]. Venus was known for her many adulterous relationships against her spouse Vulcan, the god of metal-working (idol fabrication perhaps) and the hearth (Isaiah 54:16).

Standing between the earth and the sun is Venus and Mercury. Mercury is the Roman god of communication (including prophecy), trade, and science (all necessary components for the Mark of the Beast). Science says that Venus has an iron core (clay mixed with iron, the feet of Daniel's statue) and a surface gravity of 8.87 m/s2, one less than the number of Jesus. It also had water at one point (think living water) but is now bone dry. Like the spirtual world, the celestial has varying levels of glory (1 Corinthians 15:41). Venus may give some light at dawn but it is just a twinkling amongst darkness. It is utterly drown out by the true day star: the sun (Malachi 4:2, noted as the Son).

There is an undeniable relationship between the Antichrist, Satan, Lucifer, Baal, Astarte and Venus (both the planet and the goddess). The obvious connection is idolatry. Whether it be self-idolization, exaltation of the natural world, or worship of an unseeing, unhearing & uncaring piece of stone or wood, it is an absolute abomination to God and is a direct transgression of the first and second commandments. When the Antichrist comes to force the world into idolatry there will be no hope save for those who wear a breastplate of faith and love and a helmet of the hope of salvation (Ephesians 6:13); the full armor of God, which alone is the Lord Jesus Christ (1 John 4:15).

Verses referenced in this study:

• 1 Kings 16:30-33
• Psalms 148:1-14
• Isaiah 14:4-6; 14:12-16; 54:16; 59:18
• Jeremiah 25:4; 27:3; 27:8-11
• Ezekiel 28:12-19
• Daniel 2:31-45; 3:25
• Malachi 4:2
• Matthew 7:15; 21:42
• John 13:27
• 1 Corinthians 14:33; 15:41
• 2 Corinthians 11:14
• Ephesians 2:20; 6:13
• 2 Peter 1:18-21
• 1 John 4:15
• Revelation 2:20; 14:8; 22:16

Links referenced in this study:

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