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Review  •  The Bible’s Storyline

Lesson 2 — War in Heaven

The series is teaching us to read the Bible the way God intended — to know and follow the main storyline throughout, and to read every book, chapter, and verse asking: “How does this connect to the main storyline?”

The Bible Storyline unfolds God’s unstoppable plan to: •       Defeat Evil •       Restore Creation •       Establish His Kingdom on Earth

Four Questions: 1.    Who is Satan? 2.    Why does he hate me? 3.    What are his plans for me and my family? 4.    What can we do against Him?

Who is Satan?

What are the first words of the Bible?

 

“In the Beginning God”  —  Genesis 1:1

 

• Genesis 1:1  In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

The rest of that chapter goes on to tell us about the seven days of creation when God created earth along with everything in it, including mankind. However, at some point we know God also created the angelic realm, which included a high ranking angel named Lucifer.

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul reminds us that Jesus created everything both in heaven and earth:

• Colossians 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.
• John 1:3  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
• Nehemiah 9:6  Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
• Psalm 148:2–5  Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.
• Genesis 2:1  Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

These verses teach us that God created all the angelic beings; that would include Satan, who was Lucifer. The Bible does show they were created before earth was created, though we do not know exactly how long before.

• Job 38:4–7  Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Satan is one of the angels God created before the earth was formed.

To understand who Satan originally was, we turn to Ezekiel 28:12-14. This passage is one of several places in the Bible where God addresses a human ruler but the language goes far beyond any human being. God is speaking to the king of Tyre but what He describes could never apply to a man. Bible scholars widely recognize that while the surface address is to the king of Tyre the deeper meaning points to Satan himself.

• Ezekiel 28:12–14  Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

He Was Beautiful “Thou sealest up the sum full of wisdom and perfect in beauty” — He was not just beautiful he was the standard of beauty. The phrase “sealest up the sum” means he was the complete model or pattern of perfection.   “Every precious stone was thy covering” — His appearance was like a living display of the most precious things in creation. He was breathtaking to look at.   “The workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee” — Music was literally built into him. He may have been created with the capacity for worship built into his very being.

He Was High Ranking “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth.” Ezekiel 28:14 — The cherubim are the highest order of angels.   Satan was the anointed covering cherub — the highest position an angelic being could hold, standing directly before the throne of God.   “Thou wast upon the holy mountain of God.” Ezekiel 28:14 — Satan had direct access to God Himself.   “O Lucifer son of the morning.” Isaiah 14:12 — His name Lucifer (Hebrew: Helel) means shining one or brightness — a name that reflected his original glory. He was first among the shining ones.

 

He Turned On God

The Bible reveals what happened that turned Lucifer into Satan. We read this in Isaiah 14:12-14 when God is addressing the King of Babylon but the language clearly shows the meaning goes beyond any human and must be referring to Lucifer.

• Isaiah 14:12–14  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

The Five I Wills of Lucifer

Isaiah 14:13-14 records five declarations that reveal exactly what was in Lucifer’s heart when he turned against God. In theological circles these are known as the Five I Wills of Lucifer. Each one builds on the one before it.

“I will ascend into heaven” – Isaiah 14:13 Lucifer already existed in heaven and held the highest position among the angels. But he wanted to ascend to the very throne room of God — to the highest place in all of creation, yet remained unsatisfied and wanted to be God.

“I will exalt my throne above the stars of God” – Isaiah 14:13 The stars of God refer to the angels. Lucifer was already the highest ranking angel but he wanted to rule over all of them with his own authority and reign in God’s place.

 

“I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north” –Isaiah 14:13 The mount of the congregation refers to the heavenly mountain of God — the divine assembly where God presides as sovereign ruler over all of creation. Lucifer wanted that seat for himself. He wanted to sit where God sits and govern where God governs.

“I will ascend above the heights of the clouds” – Isaiah 14:14 Throughout scripture clouds represent the glory and presence of God. Lucifer wanted to place himself above the very glory of God. He wanted God’s glory for himself.

 

“I will be like the most High”  — Isaiah 14:14 This is the root of all five. He wanted to be the Most High. He wanted God’s position, God’s authority, God’s worship and God’s glory all for himself.

 

Five declarations. Five acts of defiance. This was a deliberate calculated rebellion against the throne of God driven entirely by pride. And it would change everything.

After Lucifer’s rebellion, God cast him out of heaven along with 1/3 of the angels who had joined him in the rebellion. He is now called Satan (meaning adversary) or the devil (meaning slanderer or accuser).

Why Does He Hate Me?

The Bible does not specifically say Satan hates you and me, but it does describe him as our enemy who is walking about seeking whom he may devour.

• 1 Peter 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

Why does Satan hate mankind? The most practical answer is that Satan hates mankind because he hates God. And man is made in the image of God:

• Genesis 1:26–27  And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Satan is God’s adversary, therefore he attacks mankind and seeks to destroy us. He wants to separate us from God. And that is why he advances his attacks against mankind.

What Are His Plans for Me & My Family?

To answer this question we return to the creation week. Mankind was created to have a relationship with God and to Image God — to reflect what He is like in our character, thoughts, words and actions while having an active relationship with Him. Then mankind was to go forth and fill the earth with God’s image. When Satan was successful in getting Eve to sin, the relationship mankind had with God was broken, and God’s image in mankind was also broken.

Side Note:  Notice the lies Satan used to convince Eve to eat the fruit. He told her God was lying and that if they ate the fruit they would become like God! That is the last of the “I wills” from his rebellion. “I will be like the Most High.” — Isaiah 14:14

 

What Does This Mean for Me and My Family?

Satan is a murderer — he plans to keep you from eternal life. – John 8:44  He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Satan plans to steal your life, joy, relationship with God, and destroy you. John 10:10 – The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

 

Satan plans to lure you into sin and accuse you to God.- Revelation 12:10  For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Satan plans to devour you and your family. 1 Peter 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

 

He plans to deceive you — this is how he accomplishes his goals.- 2 Corinthians 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

What Can We Do Against Him?

The Bible is clear that we have real power against Satan and that power comes from God. Here is what scripture tells us to do:

 

Submit and Resist James 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Submit to God first. Then resist. The power to resist comes from our position under God.

Put On the Armor Ephesians 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. God has given us everything we need to stand firm. Truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, the Word of God and prayer.

 

Use Spiritual Weapons 2 Corinthians 10:4  The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.   God has given us weapons mightier than anything Satan can bring against us — prayer, the Word of God and faith.

Overcome by the Blood of Jesus Revelation 12:11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.   John 16:33  In the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world.   Jesus overcame Satan at the cross and the outcome of this war is settled. Our job is to stand firm in what He won.

Satan in the Bible’s Storyline

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is the story of God advancing His unstoppable plan while Satan attempts to stop it.

 

In Heaven

Satan rebels against God and is cast out of heaven. The war begins but God remains on His throne. Ezekiel 28:16, Isaiah 14:12.

 

In the Garden

Satan brings his war to earth and attacks mankind. God had already purposed before creation to send a Redeemer and He makes that promise known immediately — the seed of the woman will crush the serpent. Genesis 3:15.

 

Throughout the Old Testament

Satan works constantly to destroy the bloodline through whom the Redeemer would come. God preserves that bloodline at every turn. Whether it was the flood, Goliath or Haman — every attempt to cut off the promise fails.

 

At the Cross

Jesus comes as the promised Redeemer and defeats Satan decisively. “And having spoiled principalities and powers he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in it.” Colossians 2:15.

 

In the Church Age

Satan continues to wage war against God’s people. God equips every believer with spiritual armor, the power of the Holy Spirit and the authority of Jesus Christ to stand firm. Ephesians 6:10-18.

 

At the End

Satan is cast into the lake of fire permanently and God’s original purpose for creation is fully realized — mankind imaging Him and living in unbroken fellowship with Him on a restored earth forever. “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone.” Revelation 20:10.

 

Application

Step 1

Read the Bible with this truth in mind. Understand every story as connecting in some way to Satan trying to destroy God’s creation BUT God actively redeeming and restoring it.

 

Step 2

Look beyond the Bible stories to the reality that the same enemy in the Bible stories is actively walking about this earth seeking to destroy you and your family.

 

Step 3

Live in an active relationship with God and seek in everything you do to Image His character and holiness. Fill the earth with His glory.