O Lucifer
THE SERPENT
O Lucifer! Invariably almost every individual I know automatically associates this name with Satan, or the devil, or by a peculiarly affectionate term to some – as slew foot? Many claim to know him as that “Old Serpent.”
Since he is presumably the same serpent that mysteriously appears in the Garden of Eden, it seems as though we should be able to uncompromisingly identify him and understand his origin to be from the Book of Genesis.
The Bible gives us a solid reference of the serpent as being the most subtle beast of the field. It is esoterically significant that he is not only a beast, but that he is also of the field; his subtlety is renowned and speaks for itself. We know by the account given in Genesis that he beguiled the woman concerning the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge good and evil; subsequent canonized scripture calls him the “Father of Lies,” presumptively, because of that very incident. Not really! John’s gospel in reportedly reporting what Yeshuah was teaching doesn’t really say the serpent is the “Father of Lies.” To the unlearned the term has rather become an acceptable rendering of words that may have been intended. Inasmuch as there had never been a lie concocted and recorded prior to that infamous account in the Garden, it may be safe to assume this is why The Old Serpent became the Father of Lies.
However, when one is called a liar by another it is for different reasons, and sometimes the so-called liar has yet to tell a lie because he simply speaks from another level of understanding.
SATAN
Satan is just another name for the serpent, according to popular, long term acceptance. Right? The King James Version of the so-called Old Testament gives the Hebrew word שׂטן for Satan; its usage in the scriptures is a mere 27 times. The term is used specifically as Satan just 19 of those aforementioned 27 occurrences; another six times in use denotes it as adversary. Its usage concludes as adversaries once and as withstand once. The word for Satan is a noun that clearly incriminates the personality as “one who withstands” or is an “adversary.” This noun comes from the verb meaning “to be or act as an adversary,” “to resist,” or “to oppose.” Oddly enough beloved שׂטן doesn’t even appear anywhere in scripture until I Chronicles 21:1, here it states, “Satan stood up against Israel ….” That which is written establishes, and initially brings to light, that the opposition of Satan as “adversary” pertains to Israel and NOT YHVH; at least as this story goes. It is equally interesting to note that this same opposition as “adversary” can be found positioning in the mind of King David. This very same David was, of course, the one known as “the man after God’s own heart.”
Satan devised a way to influence David’s heart, or more precisely the intent of his life. We need not rehearse the entirety of that particular Bible story; however, it behooves us to attach to it, our understanding – “for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” From the mind, or stimulus of thought, the heart gathers intent; intent then becomes the course of action, or as we say “the deeds of flesh.”
So then, via the mind, Satan dwells within the human heart as an adversary to the directives of God. On one occasion Jesus spoke to his fledgling disciple Peter saying, “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense to me.” He said this in direct response to what Peter delivered from within his heart. Peter derived this delivery from the shallow, natural or carnal mind, not from the deeper sense associated with a soulful or spiritual reflection. So then we acknowledge that the carnal understanding of a man is enmity with God, representing the flesh and not the Spirit; yet both attributes come from the ONE GOD. Just as Satan attacks Israel through the mind of David in order to “withstand” YHVH, he tries to attack Jesus through the mind of Peter for the same purpose. Since Jesus possessed the inward anointing he did not allow Peter to influence his actions and Satan lost the battle. Be sure and note who actually suffers the consequence in each of these scenarios; it is the one that allows the intrusiveness of the enemy to rest awhile. So then Satan must be equated to “the evil intention” that must be exposed for what it really is, and that being the challenge to the “good intention.” Satan cannot be construed as a solitary individual who is desperately trying to keep up with everyone he can coerce to say “The Devil made me do it!”
In studying the Book of Job we learn a great deal concerning Satan’s ability, his activities, and his unhindered access to the VOICE of YHVH. As believers, New Testament scripture admonishes us not to be ignorant of Satan’s devices. We learn from this heralding account in Job that without God’s permissiveness Satan can do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. This should prove to us that every adversarial action that comes our way is sent with the blessing or cursing of God.
We learn that Satan’s presence, in the presence of the Sons of God, who are in the presence of God – divides them before God! Everything that Satan did as “adversary” to the patriarch Job was merely an attempt to separate him from his allegiance to the Most High God.
It is interesting to note that out of those 19 times that שׂטן (saw-tawn’) is used as a noun and translated as the proper name of Satan, 14 of those 19 is in the Book of Job; this should prompt any serious scholar to delve deeply into that exposé concerning the supposed epithet of Lucifer to be presented here at all.
The record assert that the Lord Jesus Christ tells the eleven disciples “All power is given unto me in heaven, and in earth.” Jesus makes this intriguing statement after his rising from the grave; however, it does not mean, nor did he insist that “He” alone possesses ALL power and that no other souls have access to the same power. However, it does suggest having an adequate authority over Satan, one that is accessible to us all, I might add.
We learn that these words recorded in Matthew was in fact written originally in Aramaic; therefore, Jesus used one specific word to express the power he referred to. The word is שׁלט or shelêṭ and it means: have the mastery, have power, bear rule, be ruler. This power as stated above suggests having an adequate authority over our “adversary” Satan.
Unbelievable as it may seem to some who give Satan more than his due, Satan does not have exclusive power; He only has power to do what God allows him to do. That is the extent of Satan’s power; nonetheless, within his allowances he has all power at his disposal, but with certain, specific, and permissible guidelines attached. This cannot be emphasized enough; and so we will touch upon this aspect of satanic behavior further in this treatise.
He can attack you, resist you, and accuse you; at nearly every juncture you reach he can be your adversary; however, all is within the limitations of his dispatch. So then, with our approval or not, everything that Satan does is at the behest of the ONENESS of God.
The New Testament teaches an enormous volume of knowledge concerning Satan. Once again the analysis begins with the term used to identify him. The Greek word is Σατανᾶς or as Satanas in its transliterated form. It means the same as it does in Hebrew inasmuch as it derives its origin from the very word studied above; it means adversary.
We learn this adversary has the power to tempt men and to bind women; he can hinder our life in multitudinous ways and he has a desire to sift men’s hearts. He can cause men to tell lies like Ananias and others to seek lying signs and wonders. It is here we return to the extent of his power; scripture informs us that he is able to work with ALL POWER in performance of these signs and wonders. This is possible because that ALL POWER was relinquished unto him through the evil intention that resides in the hearts and minds of men. The teaching states that Satan uses the powers of darkness – hidden things – secret things. He is a teacher according to scripture, that he has followers, with some of them becoming his own messengers. He can destroy the flesh when included in the orders of his sending forth, just as he did after he entered into Judas Iscariot. Also within the teaching concerning Satanas is the fact that he can gain an advantage over one and possess that one. He can be a thief, and because of his ability to possess another, he can cause the other to be a thief as well.
So then ALL that Satan is we can be also. The Revelation explains he has a seat where he reigns and runs a synagogue for hypocrites that claim to be Yehudim or Jews and are not. Jesus explains how he saw Satan fall from heaven as lightning; denoting his own transference into an angel of light. Once again a reminder is in order concerning factual knowledge, that just as the word of God is sent forth as lightning, so it is when Satan fell “AS” lightning; he is sent at the instant Jesus sees him.
All these ominous asseverations may be discouraging but there is considerably more in the records concerning Satan. It is possible to drive him away, it is possible to resist him, it is possible to rebuke him, and it is possible to cast him out! That pretty much sums it up! We have the power to bind him in heaven and to bind him in earth.
THE DEVIL
The Greek word used in the New Testament for devil is diabolos, which specifically means a transducer, a slanderer, or false accuser; it doesn’t appear in scripture until the episode of the Spirit leading Jesus into the wilderness, “to be tempted of the devil.” Incidentally this is when Jesus saw that aforementioned peculiar lightning fall to earth. From this very experience of being led into temptation Jesus teaches us to pray that God lead us NOT into temptation as HE is known to do. Additionally, there are three other Greek words rendering devil, but they refer to the recognition of demonic spirits, within individuals.
In the Tanakh or the Old Testament, as so many have grown accustomed to calling it, the references translated and referring to “devil” all concern sacrifices made to devils, or demons, but mostly the same word translates as “goat” – primarily. It immediately becomes evident once again that the names assigned unto Lucifer, in laymen’s as well as clergymen terms, suggest that he is almost an equal spiritual force that is at odds with God assuming the name of “devil.” He battles for control of the minds of men; he is everything that suggests evil. Yet he resides in a certain controlled proximity of everything that suggests good.
God tells us in his inspired word and transferred to his servants, to “resist the devil,” and he will flee; “Neither give place to the devil.” In these inspirations we learn the devil has a condemnation, a snare, and even children; furthermore, “He that commits sin is of the devil.”
We see then that sin is the only place the devil can gain ground in one ─ NOT IN GOD ─ but through God – in you. The devil apparently has angels under his control, but we learn also to have “no worries” in that there is an everlasting fire prepared for them all. When folks inevitably learn of the origin of those particular angels they will undoubtedly be surprised. We certainly hope you yourself are not one influenced by evil and under the devil’s control.
The word of God speaks emphatically concerning the hope awaiting them who have not known the “Depths of Satan.” In other words, those who do not possess certain teachings that turns their mind or consciousness of thinking, and therefore their doings, over to a reprobate status ─ to believe a lie, and to be damned forever. Forever needs to be clarified as meaning an age after an age. Forever is not an age without end; for it falls within the parameters of time considerations and all measurements of time have a conclusiveness attached to it – it ends. If one is damned in this life one will be damned in the next life until discovery provides the way of redemption. Furthermore, this judgment of having a lie sent to you comes directly from God, in an indirect fashion; however, the fitting release of this determination is never without cause or effect. The recovery, if at all … during the assigned age of such a predicament, is well AFTER great hardship and woe takes its toll; the better solution is an obvious avoidance beforehand.
Notice that the discourse returned to Satan in the context of discussing the Devil. It is because, as it turns out, the entire lot, “The Serpent,” “the Devil,” and “Satan” seem to be the same one; although we never discussed “The Serpent” as the “Old Serpent” by his Hebrew name – nachash.
Revelation 12:9 and the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Revelation 20:2 and he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.
Aha … looks like he is ALSO the DRAGON; but is he Lucifer!?
SON OF THE MORNING
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! Isaiah 14:12
Lucifer is from the Hebrew word הילל pronounced heylel, meaning “light bearer” and refers to terminology indicating morning star or shining one. Heylel comes from the root word halal, meaning to shine; additionally, it also has a connotation of “to make a show” or “to boast.” Now from the root, in the sense of brightness, and more specifically “clear” without any defining color, to the final expression – Lucifer means primarily to be shiny, or bright; however, throwing it back into the root word of halal, it can also mean “made a fool of” or “to act like a mad man.”
Son of the Morning, The Morning Star, and The Daystar each finds expression in describing Lucifer.
Now what most people are not aware of is that the word Lucifer is in the scripture only ONE TIME. That’s right! There is only a single reference made to Lucifer, but is he the devil; is he Satan; is he that same “Old Serpent?”
Wasn’t Lucifer the name of an angel, who rebelled against God eons of millennia ago, in some far off region, called heaven? At least this is what thousands and thousands of self-proclaimed Bible scholars have taught as truth for ages and generations.
We have one question. Where pre-tale did any of them find such an idea within the very copies of the so-called canonized versions of the Bible that they vociferously defend? They got it from one another. They got it from old wives tales, and fables gone by. Handed down from one untoward generation to another, the confusion continues its sprouting from the root of its error. This is not to say that legitimate and secret oral teachings, all of which transfer orally, are without proper merit; however, the contrast of right and wrong, true and untrue, speaks for itself. The theurgy involved in particular homiletical pervasions becomes self-evident; its permissive use approved when providing an avenue toward understanding.
There is not a single iota of proof in the Bible to support such the fantasy mentioned above. Of the holy prophets’ of God, none reference a tale of such a happening before the keeping of historical records. Of the holy apostles of God, none give credence to the story of Lucifer’s rebellion as it currently finds expression. It is upon the apostle’s and prophet’s revelation that our faith is said to rest, thereby establishing us in Christ. How is that none of these great men of God had no understanding concerning the age old story of Lucifer’s fall from grace?
Perhaps he hasn’t really fallen yet.
YHVH’s commission of Isaiah as prophet was unique to say the least; he comprehensively portrays to us an entire picture of God’s purpose for creating man; that being ultimately for relationship with his creator. In speaking of the so-called authoritative standing of the 1611 Kings James version, 66 books exist in proper order; Isaiah’s book records his insights in 66 chapters according to translators. His rendering takes us directly into the knowledge of the seventh millennium; an extended time of peace on earth in the coming kingdom, wherein righteousness reigns immeasurably throughout a great time of teaching.
An intimate scrutiny of the 14th Chapter of Isaiah reveals that this reference to Lucifer is specifically about the King of Babylon. While much, regarding this intrigue begs lengthy comment, space forbids the elaboration to run concurrent in this composition. For a more comprehensive understanding we suggest reading our book entitled BODILY REDEMPTION.
Quite frequently scholars refer to Satan as having fallen from grace and their point of reference is “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer?” Again by way of reminder, this shallow viewpoint equates Satan and Lucifer to be the same entity. How could Satan have fallen from grace, when within the point of our limited scripture reference it says grace comes through Jesus Christ? Satan has never been in Christ, that is to say the “anointing,” in the sense of accepting it as the sufficiency in which we trust daily. He may have been in grace, avoiding the consuming fire, when he came as recorded in Job, in the center of the sons of god that presented themselves in the presence of YHVH; this presence always includes the abiding attribute of grace.
Where was Satan in Noah’s day when one man alone found grace just prior to the flood? The judgmental incident of the flood points directly to the present day accumulations of wickedness by earth’s inhabitants.
Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noah, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man.
The law came through Moses, but grace came through Jesus, in the sense that, the poorly understood import of the revelation of grace remains hidden, until the reveal, of its next installment at Calvary. So then in this context of grace, how could Satan have fallen from it before it is given? Whereas God winked in times past, concerning ignorance, he now commands all men everywhere to repent. It is only through repentance that makes our application for grace one of validity; and we read nowhere of Satan as the head archetype having ever repented.
Yes … Lucifer is a name given unto Satan, however, only in the broadest sense, because it is a future name ─ not a past name. Humble opinion submits this conjecture for consideration.
LUCIFER IS NOT LUCIFER YET!
Although we have repeatedly made this statement for a number of years, it continues to fall headscratchingly upon deaf ears and very few people actually attempt to understand it. So then to a degree, I will attempt to qualify the statement in a portion of allotted space.
Lucifer said: I will ascend into heaven ─ indicating that he was not there at the time of the intent; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God (additional intent) ─ meaning the stars were set in the fourth day of creation, and there was never any mention of Lucifer, or the devil, or the serpent until the seventh day (although nachash came to exist the fifth day as it pertains to our understanding); I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation (additional intent) ─ the congregation was not gendered until the birth of the promised son unto Abraham, in the natural; and unto the woman through Mary, in the spiritual. This congregation was to come, as some interpret it, as a fulfillment in part of the promise made in Genesis 3:15 unto the woman in the garden, and points to her redemption.
Lucifer may very well be the final expression of nachash the serpent, however, the serpent is not the intermediate expression of Lucifer.
“… For Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
Satan was not an angel in the beginning folks; he transformed himself into an angel. The “OLD SERPENT” in the garden became Satan or the Devil. He is just like the grubby little caterpillar that transforms himself into a beautiful butterfly. No matter how beautiful the outward array may become, the heart of the grubby caterpillar still beats within. Jesus taught the multitudes that those who trust in their own righteousness are as whited sepulchers, full of dead men’s bones. They are as clouds without water, and as broken cisterns, with some as brute beasts brought into the light for the purpose of destruction; the running list fulfills its own agenda.
Man is the only creature that was made in the image of the Elohim. When Satan desired to be “Like the most High,” he needed a plan of endeavor in which to scheme his deception. Since he was a beast having no inner soul of soul, he could never hope to be like God. He had to invade the flesh of mankind in order to achieve the deception. He has cocooned within the carnal mind of man for ages, and it is from the carnal, natural man, that he shall spring forth as Lucifer ─ Son of the Morning. This is his final deceptive act. When loosed for a season, after his binding during the great millennial reign of Godly teaching, he will presume himself, through his agents, to be in possession of the knowledge that he too can be like God. The operative word here is knowledge.
The serpent, although subtle, had no formative and conclusive plan when entering the garden; he was just doing what was natural to the flesh, especially when he came to the woman. She represented the next step in YHVH’s plan, the part of which the serpent was not privy to; she was new, virgin, and he came investigating the flesh by the flesh. This same vein of reasoning concludes man still doesn’t really have a plan today; eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage is the extent of most lives lived. The phenomenal aspect causing this is the carnal invasion of the serpent. He is constantly offsetting the latent and supernal spiritual intuition; therefore, until the serpent’s presumptiveness can be readjusted, every man has his own agenda as to what he thinks his responsibility in life should be. Incrementally and through those that allow his influential encampment, the serpent has perverted all of visible as well as invisible creation until he has become the God of this world. Everyone assesses all that they see based on the status quo of every man being right in his own eyes.
Then finally Satan discovers the key through scripture that gives his plan wings! I’ll be like God, he says, because of the great end time teaching concerning the portion wherein it says, “YE ARE GODS!” This understanding is what the word tells us awaits a timely appointment; when man may finally realize through systematic teaching that he is indeed made in the image of God. The perversion of this mystery concerning godliness is that which in conclusion facilitates the eventual identification of Lucifer.
Without controversy ─ great is the mystery of godliness ─ God was manifest in the flesh. It is Christ in you the hope of glory that finishes the mystery spoken of in The Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Lucifer: describes the man that turns the grace of God into lasciviousness, and willfully chooses to live ungodly and unholy ─ AFTER ─ he has known the truth, and has subsequently turned from it. The binding of Satan for a thousand years is when man [mankind in general] receives the meat of the word in the due season of the seventh millennium; it is because of this receiving which is without the influence of confusion, that man shall be without excuse. The beast and the false prophet shall have been out of the land at this time as well. When: for that short appointed time that frees Satan, and he tries to dissuade men of their commitment to faith; we shall see if the so-called “free moral agency” mentality holds its own during the final onslaught.
O Lucifer ─ How art thou fallen?
The King of Babylon was without question Lucifer, for he was the King, or ruler, set over the realm of confusion. Even after the prophet of God warned him, he chose to applaud himself, and not YHVH. Consequently the mind of the beast within overtook him, and he found himself back in the field with the other beasts. Would you conclude he was virtually confused and acting out the deep, recessed genetic origin of having come from a beast of the field? Remember – the meaning of Babylon is confusion, which comes from a root word meaning “to overflow by mixing,” therefore, he was JUST MIXED UP! Confusion – How art thou fallen?
God is not the author of confusion, on the other hand, Satan through man, and man through Satan, has learned to master confusion. Jesus was not hesitant to say to many folks who stood before him, “You are of your father the devil.” The day of a man’s judgment employs an essence and level of knowledgeable scrutiny beyond one’s imagination; to which this indictment by Jesus merely shows as a prelude to exposure. After a man puts his hand to the plough, and once turns back, he is not fit for the kingdom of God. It had been better that he had never known the truth, as the scriptures so firmly testify. As the dog returns to the vomit; and as the sow returns to the mire, so shall the man return to the field should he retain the mind of the beast.
So then here is understanding: unless caught in Satan’s snare, one is not here in the flesh; therefore beloved, recover yourselves. If one fails to do so ─ the term or name of Lucifer may identify that one. How art thou fallen … O Lucifer…? It is hard to understand; nonetheless, one can taste of the heavenly gift and be convinced that there is something more desirable above it. One here in the “spirit of holiness” is the act of recovery.
Lucifer in the context of this study is neither the devil, nor is he that Old Serpent. Lucifer is an illuminated son brought into the great brightness of heaven’s supernal knowledge. The serpent is no one’s son; he was a part of creation which had a specific purpose in helping to reveal God’s true image unto Adam. With relative certainty, I submit to your rumination, that the son, once illuminated by the light, which is the life in Christ or the anointing, who does not walk in the light as he is in the light, then he shall surely fall from grace.
And who shall declare his generation? The generation of Christ. According to the same so-called Authorized Version to which we have referred, Christ as the bright and morning star has been denied offspring in the natural.
He that denies the Son denies also the Father (fatherhood), and inheriting the eternal kingdom shall not be possible unless one can live eternally.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all come unto repentance.
Finally: Acts 2:38-39
Repent and be baptized every one of you onto the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Why I changed the familiar “in” to “onto” in the above scripture is to represent a more accurate translation; that’s another subject. Be well.
View the PDF below as it was originally presented
Essay | Written October 9th, 1993
O Lucifer PDF