Lucifer
QUESTION
I value your take on Isaiah 14. Is that talking about the devil or not? I’ve heard both sides. Also, Luke 10, “I beheld satan as lightning fall from heaven.” Is that in reference to the beginning?
ANSWER
Let’s start off by looking at those verses in context taking special note of some key references:
”And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve, That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth. The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing. Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us. Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. 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. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” (Isaiah 14:3-15)
“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:17-19)
I don’t believe Isaiah 14:12 is directly speaking about the devil, though it does invoke the name “Lucifer” which means “light bearer.” The immediate context indicates a reference to an earthly king of the ancient near east. That said, the language employed seems to parallel Satan’s expulsion from heaven as mentioned in Luke 10:18.
Is Isaiah 14 talking about the devil? Well, that depends on what one intends by “talking about the devil.” Isaiah is speaking about the destruction of an earthly king, not Satan’s expulsion from heaven, so in that sense, “No, he is not talking about the devil.” On the other hand, Isaiah’s language might indicate a metaphorical allusion to Satan’s fall, so in that sense one might say, “Yes, he's talking about the fall of an earthly king by making metaphorical reference to Satan’s fall, and to the extent that he’s using a metaphor of Satan to make his point, he is, in some sense, talking about he devil.” I’m not trying to be clever, but I do think that precision of language eliminates the threat of equivocation where phrases like “talking about the devil” are in use.
I admit that this “allusion to Satan” theory is circumstantial based on the use of similar phrases. I regard it as interesting and perhaps notable, but I would not make definitive assertions on the matter, preferring instead to focus on the main point, that God is in sovereign control over the rulers of this earth and none can stay his hand or say unto him what doest thou. That seems the broader point, irrespective of whether or not Isaiah’s invoking a metaphor. Or so it seems to me.
FOLLOW UP QUESTION
I hate to try and “spiritualize” and put a different meaning than what context is there. What do you think son of the morning means? In my opinion, it is son of THE morning. As in the morning of creation. Maybe I’m way off here. Also, as far as Lucifer being an early king. Is not the devil the prince of the power of the air? Isn’t the devil the prince of this earth? (John 12:31), and hasn’t he ruled it since ancient times? Lucifer means light bearer and we know that Satan is transformed as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11). He tries to have his own congregation, and ascend like the most high. We know that is the devil’s desire from Mathew 4. Then obviously being cast down into the sides of the pit.
I’m not saying Isaiah 14 is for sure only referencing Satan. Isaiah could be talking about both Satan and an earthly king. Every man has got that fallen nature within that is “of” (takes the nature of) the devil. “Your father the devil” and one instance to a known child of God, “Get thee behind me, Satan.”
Just thoughts of mine. Tell me what you believe, and don’t worry about offending me.
ANSWER
I see all the parallels you mention and I make note of them. I accept that they may be metaphorical parallels between Satan and wicked rulers of this earth, but I’m not comfortable asserting that Isaiah is just talking about Satan. Consider this: You made several assertions about Satan (early or earthly king, angel of light, prince of the power of the air, etc.) These observations are true, and may form a parallel, but none of them stand or fall based on how one interprets Isaiah 14. In other words, one can still believe all of those things found elsewhere in scripture about Satan irrespective of how one interprets Isaiah 14. The view that Isaiah is just “talking about Satan” has been held by some over the years, it’s just not one that I am comfortable asserting. That said, when you admit that Isaiah could be speaking of both Satan and an earthly king, my comfort improves.
At the end of the day, it seems there are four positions that one could take:
Isaiah is talking about <insert pagan king>, not Satan.
Isaiah is talking about both <insert pagan king> and Satan.
Isaiah is talking about <insert pagan king> and is using a metaphorical allusion to Satan’s fall.
Isaiah is talking about Satan, not <insert pagan king>.
As for my take on the matter:
I am not comfortable preaching 4 because I don’t believe the allusions are sufficient to create an ironclad case.
I am not comfortable preaching 1 because the allusions do seem to exist even if only as a metaphor.
I am comfortable preaching 3 while recognizing the possibility of 2, but would not be dogmatic about it.
That may not be the most satisfying answer on the matter, but perhaps the way I’ve framed the interpretive scheme above might prove helpful in categorizing your position and those of others in subsequent discussions of the matter.
Good discussion.
- Elder Daniel Samons