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ISAIAH CHAPTER 14
I) [Isa 14:1-11]:
(v. 14:1 NIV) "The LORD will have compassion on Jacob; once again he will choose Israel and will settle them in their own land. Aliens will join them and unite with the house of Jacob.
(v. 14:2 NIV) Nations will take them and bring them to their own place. And the house of Israel will possess the nations as menservants and maidservants in the LORD's land. They will make captives of their captors and rule over their oppressors.
(v. 14:3 NIV) On the day the LORD gives you relief from suffering and turmoil and cruel bondage,
(v. 14:4 NIV) you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has come to an end! How his fury has ended!
[Sennacherib, the now dead tyrant king of Babylon]
(v. 14:5 NIV) The LORD has broken the rod of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers,
(v. 14:6 NIV) which in anger struck down peoples with unceasing blows, and in fury subdued nations with relentless aggression.
(v. 14:7 NIV) All the lands are at rest and at peace; they break into singing.
(v. 14:8 NIV) Even the pine trees and the cedars of Lebanon exult over you and say, 'Now that you have been laid low, no woodsman comes to cut us down.'
(v. 14:9 NAS) 'Sheol from beneath is excited over you to meet you [the oppressor, Sennacherib, the now dead tyrant king of Babylon, (v. 4)] when you come; it arouses for you the spirits of the dead, all the leaders of the earth; it raises all the kings of the nations from their thrones. [a sarcastic figure of speech, for there are no thrones indicated as existing in Sheol]'
[The Hebrew word sh@'owl ["sheol"],
incorrectly rendered "hell" in the KJV actually refers to the
place of conscious life after physical death, which location has been
stipulated as a pit in the lower regions of the earth
]
(v. 14:10 NIV) They [the dead ex-leaders of the world in Sheol, (v. 9)] will all respond, they will say to you, 'You [Sennacherib] also have become weak, as we are; you have become like us.'
(v. 14:11 NAS) Your pomp and the music of your harps have been brought down to Sheol; maggots are spread out as your bed beneath you and worms are your covering."
[Referring to the dead corpse of his physical body which was buried in a common grave and not in the customary tomb for a king, having been assassinated by his sons and purposely not given a kingly burial in a tomb, (vv. 19-20). The physical site of his dead body in a common grave covered with worms and maggots is portrayed in contrast to the conscious conversation with him which was going on in Sheol with other dead kings: a different place from the grave].
II) [Isa 14:12-15]:
(v. 14:12 YLT) "How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! "
At this point in chapter 14 the subject switches from the king of Babylon who is portrayed as fallen in physical death to Sheol, in the depths of the earth, to the same fate as other rulers, to a rebellious angelic being as if the latter were somehow responsible for the former's cruel rulership on earth.
The Hebrew word "heylel" rendered "Lucifer" in the KJV literally means light bearer, or morning star which the latter most readily fits the context since such a light bearer is portayed as coming from heaven above and is referred to in verse 12 as "son of the dawn" which implies a light bearer above the earth at dawn, i.e., a morning star. The planet Venus is often referred to as the morning star.
The term Lucifer in fourth century Latin was a name for Venus, the morning star. The Latin word Lucifer is composed of two words: lux, or in the genitive form used lucis, (meaning "light") and ferre, which means "to bear" or "to bring." So, the word Lucifer means bearer of light as does "heylel" in the Hebrew. Hence the name Lucifer has been adopted over into English to mean "light bearer" and in specific contexts such as Isa 14:12, refers to the fallen angel, later named Satan, as rendered in a number of key versions, (KJV, NKJV, etc.).
On the other hand, since the beginning of verse 14:12 describes a morning star having fallen from heaven; and since stars don't occupy the heaven where God's throne resides; and since a star would destroy the earth if it fell to it; then we can conclude that verse 12 is figurative, with a literal meaning behind it. "Heylel" is further described as having fallen from heaven to the ground, i.e., to the earth resulting in weakening the "gowy" literally people or nations, i.e., mankind, corroborating an angelic being. Hence we can conclude that verse 12 portrays an angelic being who has fallen from his residence in heaven, evidently having committed some kind of offense toward God, i.e., sin; was cast down to earth where his actions caused mankind to weaken, i.e., become sinful]
(v. 13 NIV) You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.
(v. 14) I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'
[The reason why an angelic being was thrown out of heaven is made clear in verses 13 and 14: Lucifer aspired to ascend to heaven to raise his throne above the stars of God which most likely refers to angelic beings because the position of inanimate stars in the heavens is hardly something for an angelic being who already has access to heaven and the throne room of God to aspire to]
(v. 15 NKJV) Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the pit.' "
The Hebrew word sh@'owl ["sheol"],
incorrectly rendered "hell" in the KJV actually refers to the
place of conscious life after death, the life of the soul after physical
death which location has been stipulated as a pit in the lower regions of
the earth
Evidently, the subject of this passage has returned to the King of Babylon and his destiny to physically die and have his soul present in sheol, an experience not compatible with the angelic creature Lucifer.
A) [Compare Lk 10:18]:
[Expositor's Bible Commentary, Vol 6; Zondervan Publishing, Grand Rapids, Michigan, pp. 105-106]:
"This passage itself seems to be echoed by the Lord Jesus in Luke 10:18...
[Luke 10:18]:
"[Jesus said] I saw Satan falling from heaven"
...where language applied here to the king of Babylon is used of Satan. Nothing could be more appropriate, for the pride of the king of Babylon was truly satanic.
[Either from demonic possession or influenced by satan through being effected by the world and/or the sin nature of the individual king himself. I would suggest the latter is the greater possibility since there is no stipulation that the king of Babylon was possessed by a demon as the Antichrist will be]
When Satan works his malign will through rulers of this world, he reproduces his own wicked qualities in them, so that they become virtual shadows of which he is the substance. To interpret v. 12 and the following verses in this way means that the passage points to Satan, not directly, but indirectly, much like the way the kings of the line of David point to Christ. All rulers of international significance whose overweening pride and arrogance bring them to ruin under the hand of God's judgment illustrate both the satanic and the Antichrist principles, for these principles are really one. Verse 13 reminds us of the Tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9), though the endeavor to be like God takes us right back to Genesis 3. Here Satan first sought to reproduce in human life his own proud aspirations for equal status with God."
(v. 1) '''''The word of the LORD came to me:
(v. 2) ''''Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, '''This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "In the pride of your heart you say, 'I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.' But you are a man and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god.
(v. 3) Are you wiser than Daniel? Is no secret hidden from you?
(v. 4) By your wisdom and understanding you have gained wealth for yourself and amassed gold and silver in your treasuries.
(v. 5) By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, and because of your wealth your heart has grown proud.
(v. 6) " 'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: " `Because you think you are wise, as wise as a god,
(v. 7) I am going to bring foreigners against you, the most ruthless of nations; they will draw their swords against your beauty and wisdom and pierce your shining splendor.
(v. 8) They will bring you down to the pit, and you will die a violent death in the heart of the seas.
(v. 9) Will you then say, "I am a god," in the presence of those who kill you? You will be but a man, not a god, in the hands of those who slay you.
(v. 10) You will die the death of the uncircumcised at the hands of foreigners. I have spoken, declares the Sovereign LORD.' "
(v. 11) The word of the LORD came to me:
(v. 12) ''''Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: '''This is what the Sovereign Lord says: "You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
(v. 13) You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared.
[Note that the setting beginning with verse is a heavenly one. It cannot be directly refering to the King of Tyre, for he never took residence in the garden of Eden, nor was he adorned with every precious stone prepared at the moment of his creation, nor was he a guardian cherub angel. Hence a supernatural angelic being of great power is in view, who is being addressed here because he is the one behind the evil actions of the King of Tyre heretofore addressed in the previous 10 verses]
(v. 14) You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones.
[Note that a cherub angel was one of supreme authority and importance]
(v. 15) You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.
[Notice that Lucifer, the name of the angelic creature in view, (cf. Isa 14:12-14), was perfect in his ways from the day that he was created, until sin was found in him. Also note that the King of Tyre was not blameless from the day he was created, but born in sin]
(v. 16) Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones.
(v. 17) Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.
(v. 18) By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching.
(v. 19) All the nations who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.' "
[Expositors, cont.]:
"[This passage] tells us that Lucifer was perfect in his ways from the day that he was created, until iniquity was found in him. Lucifer was a created being. He was perfect until iniquity (lawlessness) was found in him. Lucifer had free moral agency. He would think and reason but somewhere along the line his reasoning became dark and twisted. He thought he could rule better than his Creator. How long after his creation did the seed of rebellion and disloyalty to his Maker take root in Lucifer's mind? How long did it take him to act on his dark thoughts? God doesn't tell us. We do know that Lucifer and the angels were in existence at the creation of the earth and that, apparently, Lucifer, before he turned to evil, had some type of office, or rulership." '
[Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord Zuck, Eds, Victor Books, 1988, p. 1283-4]:
"Ezekiel was not describing an ideal man or a false god in verses 11-26. But his switch from 'ruler' to 'king' and his allusions to the Garden of Eden do imply that the individual being described was more than human. The best explanation is that Ezekiel was describing Satan who was the true 'king' of Tyre, the one motivating the human 'ruler' of Tyre. Satan was in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:1-7), and his chief sin was pride (1 Tim 3:6). He also had access to God's presence (cf. Job 1:6-12). Speaking of God's judging the human 'ruler' of Tyre for his pride (Ezek 28:1-10), the prophet lamented the satanic 'king' of Tyre who was also judged for his pride (vv. 11-19). Tyre was motivated by the same sin as Satan, and would suffer the same fate.
Ezekiel described the beauty and perfection of Satan as God originally created him (vv. 12-15a). He was 'the model of perfection, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.' God did not create Satan as some prime minister of evil. As with all God's Creation, Satan was a perfectly created being - one of the crowning achievements in God's angelic realm.
Satan was given an exalted place; he was 'in Eden, the garden of 'God.' Eden was the epitome of God's beautiful Creation on earth (cf. Gen. 2:8-14). Satan's beauty matched that of Eden: 'every precious stone adorned' him. Ezekiel listed nine gemstones in describing Satan's beauty. These were 9 of the 12 kinds of stones worn in the breastplate of Israel's high priest (cf. Ex 28:15-20; 39:10-13). The precious stones probably symbolized Satan's beauty and high position. God had 'anointed' Satan 'as a guardian cherub' (Ezek 28:14). The cherubim (pl. of cherub) were the 'inner circle' of angels who had the closest access to God and guarded His holiness (cf. 10:1-14). Satan also had free access to God's 'holy mount' (28:14), heaven, and he 'walked among the fiery stones' (cf v. 16). Some associate 'the fiery stones' with the precious gems (v. 13), but the stones there were part of Satan's attire whereas the stones in verses 14 and 16 were part of the abode where Satan dwelt. Others have identified the 'fiery stones' with God's fiery wall of protection (cf. Zech 2:5). They see Satan dwelling inside or behind God's outer defenses in the 'inner courts' of heaven itself. This view is possible, and the word translated 'among' (mitok) can have the idea of 'between' or 'inside.' Whatever the exact identification, Ezekiel was stating that Satan had access to God's presence.
As originally created by God, Satan was 'blameless...till wickedness was found in' him (Ezek 28:15) 'and' he 'sinned' (v. 16). The sin that corrupted Satan was self-generated. Created blameless, his sin was pride (1 Tim 3:6) because of his 'beauty.' Satan spoiled his 'wisdom because of' his 'splendor' (cf Ethbaal's similar problem, Ezek 28:1-2, 5, 7). Satan's pride led to his fall and judgment.
Though Ezekiel presented the fall of Satan as a single act, it actually occurred in stages. Satan's initial judgment was his expulsion from the position of God's anointed cherub before His throne. God expelled him 'from the mount of God' (heaven, v. 16; cf. v. 14). Satan was cast from God's government in heaven (cf. Luke 10:18) but was still allowed access to God (cf. Job 1:6-12; Zech. 3:1-2). In the Tribulation Satan will be cast from heaven and restricted to the earth (Rev 12:7-13); in the Millennium he will be in the bottomless pit (Rev 20:1-3); and after his brief release at the end of the Millennium (Rev 20:7-9) he will be cast into the lake of fire forever (Rev 20:10).
One of the elements of Satan's sin was his widespread 'dishonest trade.' The word for trade comes from the verb rakal which means 'to go about from one to another.' Ezekiel had used that noun in speaking of Tyre's commercial activities (Ezek 28:5). Does this mean Satan was operating a business? Obviously not. Instead, Ezekiel was comparing the human 'prince' of Tyre and his satanic 'king.' So Ezekiel used a word that could convey a broad meaning. Satan's position in heaven involved broad contact with many elements of God's creation much as the prince of Tyre's position enabled him to contact many nations.
Though Ezekiel was describing the 'ultimate' ruler of Tyre, Satan, the purpose of the lament was to speak of the city's destruction. So he began to blend the characteristics of the satanic king with the human ruler. Satan would be cast 'to the earth' (v. 17), and the king of Tyre would also be cast down 'before' other 'kings', his enemies. Satan's ultimate destiny will be the lake of fire (cf. Rev 21:10), and the defeat and the death of the human ruler of Tyre was pictured as being 'consumed' by 'fire' (Ezek 28:18). Both Satan's and Tyre's defeats would shock those nations who had followed them. They would be appalled because of Satan's and Tyre's 'horrible end' (cf 27:35-36).
B) THE ACCOUNT OF LUCIFER'S (SATAN'S) FALL
[http://www.teleport.com/~writers/RELIGIOUS/angels01.html]:
1) LUCIFER - THE COVERING CHERUB
a) [Ezek. 28:12-15]:
Consider what God says in Ezek. 28:12-15. He is here talking about Lucifer in earlier times, before sin was found in him.
"You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in the Garden of Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones."
What does God mean, the anointed cherub who covers?
b) [Ex 25:18-20]:
In Exodus 25 God described His throne to Moses, who was to make a physical representation of it. Verses 18-20
"And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim at the two end of it on one piece with the mercy seat. And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another; the faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat."
Notice that the wings of the cherubims were to cover the mercy seat. Lucifer, apparently, had, at one time, the awesome privilege and responsibility of being established, or placed, by his Creator at the very throne of God! .
2) LUCIFER'S SIN
What happened to the very Chief Aid that God had placed at His throne? Did Lucifer, who was created perfect, but with freedom of choice, allow evil to enter into his heart and mind?
a) [Ez 28:15]:
"You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you."
What iniquity, or sin did Lucifer commit? Did he want to take over the very throne (rulership) of God?
b) [Isa. 14:12-14]:
"How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest side of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High."
c) [Rev. 12:4]:
Consider also the first part of Rev. 12:4 Speaking of the firey red dragon, who can be no one other than Satan the Devil, it says,
"His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth."
Notice that the dragon's tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth.
d) [Rev. 1:20]:
Are angels sometimes referred to as stars?
"The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches,".
It seems that when Lucifer, who wanted the Number One Seat of Authority, stormed the heavenly throne a third of the angels were at his side. They tried to take control of the universe. As a result, a great spiritual battle took place.
3) SINNING ANGELS CAST OUT
What happened to Lucifer and the angels who tried to storm God's throne and take control of the universe? Were these sinning angels cast back down to the earth?
a) [Luke 10:18]:
"And He said to them, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.' "
b) [2 Pet. 2:4]:
"For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment. . ."
God forced the sinning angels back down to the earth where they are still awaiting their final judgment. But it was Lucifer, whose name was changed to Satan, who was ultimately responsible for their rebellion, and therefore Satan who is guilty of causing them to be cast back down to the earth.
c) [Isa. 14:12]:
"How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations."
Lucifer had been created perfect, but through his own choice, allowed sin to enter into his thinking process. Through his persuasive ability he persuaded a third of God's holy angels to join him in his rebellion. He was overcome and cast down to the earth where he is presently at work "weakening the nations".