The Fall of Lucifer

Isaiah 14:12-15 “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 sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.” (NKJV)

How did Lucifer fall? Old Testament prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel act as detailed reporters to answer this question. These holy prophets of God spoke to historical events of their day addressing real issues, while yet, as prophets do, looking beyond their own time and peering into the future, seemingly on parallel tracks. Thus, the descriptive words we read address more than one sphere of time and space at the same time. Complicated? Yes! But not when you truly understand the nature and operation of prophetic gifting.

Isaiah and Ezekiel, and other Old Testament prophets, have helped shape our New Testament beliefs about our adversary, the devil, and his beginning, present day activity, and future. Isaiah 14:12-15, as listed above, gives us a look into this blatant fall and assault upon God’s throne.

Jesus Saw the Fall of Lucifer

Jesus, as the eternal Son of God, witnessed the fall of Satan as recorded in Luke 10:18: “And He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning.” The term lightning in Scripture is used to refer to multiple things. Job 36:32 states that God’s hands are covered with glory or with lightning, and He sends it forth to strike the mark.

Stars are used at times as a reference to angels in the scriptures. Lightning is also a very clear depiction of the glory realm of God. So when Lucifer, who was originally created as a majestic angel filled with the glorious, bright dimensions of God falls it makes sense that it came with a crash or strike of lightning. Thus Jesus could say, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like lighting.” Now let me help you with some prophetic interpretation.

Prophets tend to address multiple spheres on parallel tracks at the same time. They would often paint artistically at one moment, weave in a narrative rooted as a historian, and shift their gaze, look up and beyond, and scribe as a foreteller. Thus three spheres appear in their literature as overlapping concentric circles: history past, history present, and history future. So we find terms, cities, and names of people interchangeably used—spiritually, naturally, historically, and future tense. I trust that this will help some in their interpretive skills.

Pride Comes Before a Fall

In this same passage of Isaiah 14, we find the five times Lucifer promoted himself.

“I will. . . I will. . . I will. . . I will. . . I will. . .” This attitude has nothing to do with the Kingdom of God. This kind of self-promotion goes against the “others first” and servant mindset that identifies the Kingdom of God. Pride is something that we each have to deal with in our own lives, is it not?

Understanding your gifting, your calling with God, and being a pursuer of your destiny is one thing, a healthy thing. But self-promotion, self-exaltation, and hubris is another thing, and sometimes there’s a fine line between the two. Right?

Help Is on the Way!

That’s why we need the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. That’s why we need to learn these practical lessons about spiritual warfare so we will not compromise with the false “shining one” who is a deceiver, a fake, and a liar from the very beginning. But always remember, Help is on the way! His name is “The Helper.” His name is “The Holy Spirit.”

We must invite the Holy Spirit, even right now, to come and point out any areas in our lives where we are self-exalting and are standing on common ground—maybe unknowingly—with the powers of darkness. We must allow the blood of Jesus to cleanse us! We are to be grateful for fresh and new opportunities each day to serve Him and others.

We can say confidently that we are more than triumphant conquerors in Christ Jesus as we humbly submit to His Lordship in our lives. To Him be the glory and honor for every victory. Amen and Amen!