Doctrine of the Angelic Conflict, part 5 – The first sin. Eze 28:12-17.

Title: Doctrine of the Angelic Conflict, part 5 - The first sin. EZE 28:12-17.

 

3. God’s greatest angelic creature made to be closest to Him and most beautiful and gifted and the tragedy of arrogance.

 

The Angelic Conflict is the result of “star of the morning, son of the dawn, anointed cherub who guards God’s person as precious” falling in arrogance, rejecting God’s reconciliation and challenging God’s +R and +J.

 

Ezek 28:11 Again the word of the Lord came to me saying,

 

Ezek 28:12 "Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord God,

"You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

 

Whatever his name was he was the most beautiful creature to come from the hand of God. His title tells of his magnificence.

 

ISA 14:12

"How you have fallen from heaven,

O star of the morning, son of the dawn!

 

Star of the morning - the last visible star at dawn and therefore the brightest star in the sky dispelling darkness and signaling the light - planet Venus.

 

Venus reaches its maximum brightness shortly before sunrise and shortly after sunset, for which reason it has been referred to by many ancient cultures as the morning star or evening star.

 

Venus is classified as a terrestrial planetand is sometimes called Earth's "sister planet" owing to their similar size, gravity, and bulk composition (Venus is both the closest planet to Earth and the planet closest in size to Earth). However, it has been shown to be very different from Earth in other respects. Venus is shrouded by an opaque layer of highly reflective clouds of sulfuric acid, preventing its surface from being seen from space in visible light. It has the densest atmosphereof the four terrestrial planets, consisting mostly of carbon dioxide. The atmospheric pressureat the planet's surface is 92 times that of Earth's. With a mean surface temperature of 735 K (462 °C; 863 °F), Venus is by far the hottest planet in the Solar System. It has no carbon cycleto lock carbon back into rocks and surface features, nor does it seem to have any organic life to absorb it in biomass. Venus may have possessed oceans in the past, but these would have vaporized as the temperature rose due to the runaway greenhouse effect. Venus's surface is a dry desertscape interspersed with slab-like rocks and periodically refreshed by volcanism.

 

pic Venus surface

 

And isn’t it intriguing that Venus is very similar to Earth in size but it is a fiery place with an atmosphere full of sulfuric acid with maximum surface temperatures over 850 degrees F. Could it be that Venus was once beautiful and now it is condemned and what was once the light that led the other angels in worship is now a symbol of the lake of fire.

 

Furthering the intrigue is the Muslim symbol of the crescent moon and star.

 

Moon god - Sin. Star - Venus.

 

The star and crescent first appears in archeological finds associating it with the Moabites and thus a symbol combination associated with the descendents of Ishmael. It was adapted by many cultures afterwards and now is a symbol on the flags of several Muslim countries.

 

ISA 14:12

"How you have fallen from heaven,

O star of the morning, son of the dawn!

 

Ezek 28:12 "Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord God,

"You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

 

Verse 12 establishes an analogy between the magnificence of Lucifer and the glamour of the King of Tyre. This type of analogy is common in Hebrew writing: the same principle occurs in the Messianic Psalms where David makes statements about himself which apply prophetically to the Messiah.

 

Ps 16:10

For Thou wilt not abandon my soul to Sheol;

Neither wilt Thou allow Thy Holy One to undergo decay.

 

This is evidence to the fact that God created the beings of the spirit world in ranks and orders, putting this anointed spirit at the top. If we examine the words carefully through a lens we will see that he was a king, a prophet, and a priest. [sound familiar?] This gives another meaning to “new born King.”

 

This is evidence to the fact that God created the beings of the spirit world in ranks and orders, putting this anointed spirit at the top. If we examine the words carefully through a lens we will see that he was a king, a prophet, and a priest. [sound familiar?] This gives another meaning to “new born King.”

 

We will look at angels more closely, but it is clear in several passages that they were created in ranks with the cherub and seraph at the top.

 

Lucifer upon his creation was placed by God as the highest, most beautiful, most powerful and wisest of the creatures of God.

 

Ezek 28:13 "You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz, and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx, and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, Was in you. On the day that you were created They were prepared.

 

We see satan indwelling the serpent in the earthly garden of Eden, but in verse 13 he is unfallen. Adam’s Eden was described as a garden of trees and vegetable growth, while this Eden is a place of rare mineral beauty.

 

We see in Rev 21 that the future eternal city is a jeweled city, though there are 12 stones, while only nine here. It seems the jeweled city of the past is replaced by the jeweled city of the future. The location of Lucifer’s Eden is not given and is therefore not important.

 

It is not necessary, of course, to conceive of these as literal jewels, although they could be if God wanted them that way. Typology is frequent in the scripture and should be interpreted intelligently, however, prophecy is always to be interpreted literally. Here the stones are symbols most likely. Since in this study we will encounter a lot of typology and analogy I quote C.S. Lewis,

 

 “There is no need to be worried by facetious people who try to make the Christian hope of ‘heaven’ ridiculous by saying that they don’t want ‘to spend eternity playing harps.’

 

And I quote Donald Barnhouse:

If you can’t understand books written for grown-ups, then you should not talk about them.

 

What is important about the garden is that it was perfect and possessing only singular will; the will of God.

 

Then we have a bit of confusion in the translation of what is in the NASB as settings and sockets. the workmanship of your settings and sockets, Was in you. On the day that you were created They were prepared.

 

 “settings” - toph = tambourine or timbrel; “sockets” - neqeb = setting, bored hole, pipe. Indicates that he led angels in song worship.

 

Principles:

Lucifer was created and so had a definite beginning, which ends the argument of the eternal duality of good and evil. Evil had a beginning.

 

The other principle of importance is that that which shows Lucifer’s magnificence from the moment of his creation. He awoke in the first moment of his existence in the full-orbed beauty and power of his exalted position; surrounded by all the magnificence which God gave him. He never had known a lesser moment.

 

Lucifer never saw himself as anything less than exalted above all angels by God and had no experience or other witness of the result of opposing God’s will.

 

He saw himself as above all the hosts in power, wisdom and beauty. Only at the throne of God itself did he see more than he himself possessed, and it is possible that even that was in some sense not full visible to the eyes of the creature. Certainly there was no outward evidence that would show him the futility of opposing a second will to that of God. There was no example of sin in the universe. This in no way excuses his rebellion, but when we come to the account of his outbreak we can, perhaps, in spite of our sinful minds, understand a little better how the insurgence came about.

 

Ezek 28:14 "You were the anointed cherub who covers, And I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire.

 

Continuing to devise the pre-fall existence of Lucifer, it says that he was put on the holy mountain of God.

 

 “mountain of God” - a symbol for the government of God. Lucifer was made ruler over the creation of God.

 

This should not seem odd, as now, after the fall of man; he is the ruler of the earth or cosmos for a time.

 

This is perhaps the greatest of titles that any angel could be given before the fall, “the anointed cherub who covers.”

 

 “anointed” - mimshach = outstretched to cover, chosen king, elected, set apart for a function.

 

This is a cognate of mashiyach or messiah and it has the same meaning of a special chosen one who is exalted as king. From his creation Lucifer was in a position of rulership and the highest election in God’s kingdom. As we will see, the seat of his throne was on the earth, but with the most access to the third heaven than any other. All was given to him at his creation as a privilege and honor.

 

The scene of satan’s government before his fall, the mountain of God, and after his fall, planet earth, becomes the theater of the angelic conflict.

 

And he will reign here until he is put under the feet of Christ and how long that may be is up to the Father alone.

 

 “covering” - to screen, to hedge in, to cover, to protect.

 

The mercy seat didn’t need protection and neither did the Son of God, the anointed One, as before the fall there were not any enemies of God, nor would God need the protection of any creature even after the fall. It’s the other way around.

 

I liken this word to tereo of the NT - meaning to guard something as precious. We are commanded to guard the word [keep the word] which does not imply that the word of God needs my protection, but rather than I need to protect its preciousness in my soul.

 

Therefore, satan was allowed the most intimate access to the throne of God and he was given the privilege of guarding the doctrines of the Anointed One in his heart.

 

An anointed cherub who guards the things of God as precious indicates Lucifer as a priest unto God and as such he led the other angels in worship of God.

 

In support, we see other angels that are around the throne of God who lead the worship in heaven:

 

REV 4:9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever,

 

REV 4:10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

 

REV 4:11 "Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed, and were created."

 

REV 5:11 And I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands,

 

REV 5:12 saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing."

 

REV 5:13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever."

 

REV 5:14 And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen." And the elders fell down and worshiped.

 

The ark of the covenant contained two cherubs whose wings covered the mercy seat, as beholding and ministering to the future work of Christ in sacrifice.

 

Ex 25:20

And the cherubim shall have their wings spread upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings and facing one another; the faces of the cherubim are to be turned toward the mercy seat.

 

These specific instructions have the faces of the cherubim beholding the golden mercy seat where the blood of the sacrifice would be sprinkled. Beholding the sacrifice is a priestly function.

 

Don’t let it escape your mind that the mercy seat is a direct result of his rebellion. There is no need for it without the fall of man, but because of him, we now have two cherubs covering the ultimate act of love that will satisfy righteousness and justice and restore the fallen. I can’t imagine the anger and rage that he has every time he saw that ark or heard of it as it was a constant reminder that he was easily replaced.

 

God doesn’t need any of us. It is a privilege and an honor to serve Him.

 

As soon as you start thinking that, “God needs me,” then arrogance has taken control of your soul and you are in danger from the very first sin.

 

Also, in:

Ezek 28:18 "By the multitude of your iniquities, In the unrighteousness of your trade, You profaned your sanctuaries. Therefore I have brought fire from the midst of you; It has consumed you, And I have turned you to ashes on the earth In the eyes of all who see you.

 

We see that Lucifer had sanctuaries indicates both worship and priesthood. And much like the priests in Israel it would seem that Lucifer received the worship of God from the other angels, all of which were underneath him, and presented it to God’s throne above him.

 

His place, his sanctuaries are described by stones and fire upon the mountain of God, and yet we see something very similar.

 

Ezek 28:14 "You were the anointed cherub who covers, And I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire.

 

I quote Pember from Earth’s Earliest Ages:

“The mountain of God is the place of His presence and visible glory, where His High Priest would, of course, stand before Him to minister. The stones of fire may, perhaps, be explained as follows. We know that the station of the cherubim is just beneath the glory at the footstool of the throne (EZE 1:26).”

 

Ezek 1:26 Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli [sapphire] in appearance; and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man.

 

Now when Moses took Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel up the mountain of Sinai to see the God of Israel,

 

Ex 24:9 Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel,

 

Ex 24:10 and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire [lapus lazuli in EZE 1:26], as clear as the sky itself.

 

Ex 24:11 Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they beheld God, and they ate and drank.

 

Ex 24:12 Now the Lord said to Moses, "Come up to Me on the mountain and remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandment which I have written for their instruction."

 

Ex 24:13 So Moses arose with Joshua his servant, and Moses went up to the mountain of God.

 

Ex 24:14 But to the elders he said, "Wait here for us until we return to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a legal matter, let him approach them."

 

Ex 24:15 Then Moses went up to the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.

 

Ex 24:16 And the glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud.

 

Ex 24:17 And to the eyes of the sons of Israel the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the mountain top.

 

Ex 24:18 And Moses entered the midst of the cloud as he went up to the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

 

“This paved work of sapphire glowing with devouring fire is, perhaps, the same as the stones of fire; and if so, satan’s presence in the midst of them would indicate his enjoyment of the full cherubic privilege of nearness to the throne of God.” [end quote]

 

Ezek 28:14 "You were the anointed cherub who covers, And I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire.

 

So we see in Israel, mimicked what once was in the past when there was but one will in God’s the universe and one high priest, king, and prophet or communicator of God’s word to all His creation. At Sinai you have a mountain, cloud [glory], sapphire, and fire describing where God is and where He communicates His will to Moses so that Moses may communicate that will to all of Israel. Lucifer was given the same privilege.

 

And not only with Moses, but with the family of Moses, Aaron, we have the line of high priests having full access to the Holy of Holies which represented the third heaven and where the Shekinah glory dwelt. The Tabernacle was set up to represent the three heavens; earth’s atmosphere, the stellar universe, and the abode of God. Lucifer had access to all three just as the high priest did. Every time satan saw this it was a reminder of what he lost and how easily he was replaced and even replaced with a creature which was far less of a specimen then he was.

 

I quote Barnhouse from The Invisible War:

We thus see that he stood between God and the creation. All of his authority was derived from God and God worked through him. Here, in the presence of God, Lucifer brought the worship of a universe of creatures and received those commands from the Almighty which, as the prophet of God, he transmitted to the worshiping creation. All was order, all was harmony. There was only one will in the universe and that was the will of God. Only one will. That fact constitutes the difference between eternity and time. In eternity there is none but the will of God; in time there is more than one will. [end quote]

 

It is important also to realize that but a single will existed in the universe until only recently. Unnumbered ages existed between the fall of the angels and the restoration of the earth, as well as unnumbered and unknown ages where angels were all in harmony, unfallen, and then we know since God is the only eternal, that He enjoyed fellowship within the Trinity back into the infinite past. Therefore, a few thousand years of rebellion is but a comparatively recent event. And when it happened, it happened in the heart and mind of the most blessed angel and is only recorded here in verse 15.