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 even though there are arguments to the contrary [2]. This is such a difficult debate because both sides hold truth. 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 the name Lucifer 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 of the Bible.

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's made crystal clear where he's headed.

Does that remind you of anyone? That's right, the Antichrist. Satan controls the spirit of antichrist (Revelation 13:2) and may take an earthly host to complete his dirty work (recall that Satan entered Judas John 13:27). Satan is also cast down in the same way Lucifer was (Revelation 12:9).

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 to associate Isaiah 14:12 with the morning star Venus.

That explains his logic, but why did the KJV scholars preserve the name in Isaiah 14:12 while omitting it in the other verses where Jerome originally included it? This verse was preserved alone to bring light to the nature of Satan and Antichrist. After all, Isaiah is primarily a prophetic book and is not historical in nature. Let's back up a few verses to see why many contend 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.

"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." Revelation 22:16

And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 2 Peter 1:19

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).

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? Not much, but he was certainly a strong military vessel to serve God's purpose by conquering many lands that had not heeded His warnings (Jeremiah 25:4-7).

The United States also has a very strong military and it's commonly argued that North America is a modern day Babylon. This may be true in some respects. We fit the bill in regards to idolatry, confusion, and trade, but there are better and more traditionally held views regarding the identity of the harlot Babylon and the city on seven hills [7].

Back to ancient Babylon. In Daniel 8 Nebuchadnezzar throws Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah into the blazing furnace for not worshiping his image [8]. They are then saved from the fire by the Son of God (Daniel 3:25). This story is very similar 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 [9]. 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.

If we look back to Jeremiah 27:2-3 we see that God gave the King of Tyrus into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. The king of Tyrus is described in great detail within Ezekiel 28. This chapter is also commonly associated with Lucifer.

There are several verses here that make it quite difficult to assign all that is said to a mere king [10], 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 an expensive purple dye which was known as Tyrian Purple. The color purple was therefore 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 [11] (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. 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 [12]. 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 [13]) 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 who are self exalted.

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 [14]. 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 are 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 at 888. 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's an undeniable relationship between the Antichrist, Satan, Lucifer, Baal, 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 except 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 25:4-7; 27:2-3; 27:8-11
• Ezekiel 28:12-19
• Daniel 2:31-45; 3:25
• Malachi 4:2
• Matthew 21:42
• John 13:27
• 1 Corinthians 14:33; 15:41
• 2 Corinthians 11:14
• Ephesians 2:20; 6:13
• 2 Peter 1:19
• 1 John 4:15
• Revelation 2:20; 12:9; 13:2; 22:16

Links referenced in this study: