Is "Lucifer" the angel "Satan?"
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Is Lucifer — Satan, in the Bible? (Ezekiel 28:11-19)
++The word ”Lucifer” is not in most manuscripts.
++The Hebrew word for “Venus,” who was known in mythology as "the morning star," was found there in Ezek. 28.
++That word for “Venus,” translated into Latin, is “Lucifer.”
++However, “Lucifer” is not a proper name given by Scripture, for the angel, “Satan.”
The Faithlife study Bible says it well, "Ezekiel 28:11–19 (FSB): 28:11–19 The second section of the oracle is described as a lamentation addressed to the king of Tyre. The imagery draws on mythological motifs to attribute primordial and angelic traits to the king: He is placed in the garden of Eden(compare Gen 2–3) and called a guardian cherub (Ezek28:14).
Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same;for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil.Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake.For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
The of Tyre was one who abused his God-given role to protect and resisted his authority — God. The descriptions of his splendor and arrogant pretensions echo Isa 14:12–14, which also blurs mythological imagery and idioms with a lament over a foreign king."
Both of these passages are full of idiomatic imagery, used in poetic form, to describe the arrogance of these kings, but...
++The content attributed to these kings being human is difficult to ignore.
++Most likely, the poetry's intent is to attribute the characteristics of original sin and original purpose that has been squandered to these kings, as the Supreme example of such attitudes and actions.
It would be like the phrase, "that guy's a rock." It doesn't mean he is literally a rock, but that he has given-attributes characteristic of such.
What it does show is the forces of evil that is influencing these kings as it poetically relates them to such primordial considerations, much like the angelic warring in the background talked about in the book of Daniel. It seems just a poetic glimpse behind the "curtain" between us and the Spiritual realm.
The Intervarsity Press (IVP) Background Commentary says, "Isaiah 14:12–13 (IVPBBCOT): 14:12. morning star. The Hebrew word behind this translation, helel, is not used anywhere else in the Old Testament. Many interpreters, ancient and modern, see it as a designation of Venus, the morning star. It is this interpretation that was behind the early Greek translation of the term, as well as the Latin Vulgate’s luciferos (shining one, i.e., Venus). Most modern interpreters believe that Isaiah is using a well-known mythological tale as an analogy to the failure and consequences of the king of Babylon’s rebellion and arrogance, but no known literature matches the details of Helel’s rebellion.
14:12. son of dawn. Dawn (shaḥar) was often personified in the Old Testament and was a known deity in Phoenician and Ugaritic inscriptions.
14:13. rebellion in heaven in the ancient Near East. Some have seen some similarity between the story of Helel and a Ugaritic tale concerning the god Athtar. In Baal’s absence, Athtar attempted to sit on his throne (rule in his place) but found he was not up to the task and subsequently took his place in the netherworld. Though Athtar’s name may have a similar meaning to Helel, he is not the son of Shaḥ>ar(as Helelis described), nor is he thrown down from his attempt to sit on Baal’s throne. Neither is the attempt itself an act of rebellion. The theme of revolt against the gods is, nevertheless, a familiar one. One of the best examples from ancient literature is the Myth of Anzu, where a lion/bird creature attempts to steal the Tablet of Destinies by which the gods governed the world. Anzudecides to take supremacy of the world and the gods by stealing the tablet from the chief god, Enlil. He utters a series of “I will” statements just as the king does here: “I myself will take the gods’ Tablet of Destinies. The responsibilities of the gods I will seize for myself. I will establish myself on the throne and wield the decrees. I will take command over all the Igigi-gods.” Boastful arrogance was typical of the antagonist in this type of account.
14:13. stars of God. The word used for God here is El. While this is sometimes used to refer to Israel’s God in the Bible, it is also known as the name of the chief god in the Canaanite pantheon. In the Old Testament the word “stars” occasionally refers to angels of the heavenly court (Job 38:7), while in Ugaritic and Mesopotamian texts it would describe astral deities."
Question:
++Will demons be in heaven? The Bible says that all who believe will go to heaven.
++James says that demons believe and tremble, just like the gathered, unsaved nations (all the heavens and earth) in Joel 3:16.
++If all who believe will go to heaven, how do demons fit into that?
So, will demons be in heaven?
++Easy answer: Scripture seems to indicate they are now, but some day will not be.
++Demons and Satan had their start in heaven and seem to have access to God, to some extent.
Job 1:6-8 Question: Who are the “Sons of God?”
New American Standard Bible.(has 10 occurrences of the phrase in 10 articles)
Genesis 6:2 [Genesis 6:2] daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were (ben Elohim)
Genesis 6:4 [Genesis 6:4] those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they (ben Elohim)
Job 1:6 [Job 1:6] 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the (ben Elohim)
Job 2:1 [Job 2:1] 2:1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the (ben Elohim)
Job 38:7 [Job 38:7] morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 “Or who enclosed (ben Elohim)
Matthew 5:9 [Matthew 5:9] peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who have been (huios theos)
Luke 20:36 [Luke 20:36] anymore, for they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 37 (huios theos)
Romans 8:14 [Romans 8:14] led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit (huios theos)
Romans 8:19 [Romans 8:19] eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected (huios theos)
Galatians 3:26 [Galatians 3:26] a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 (huios theos)
Literally: “ben Elohim” in the Hebrew and “huios theos” in the Greek should be interpreted as “son (or plural/child or plural) of God.”
Angles: mal’ak (Hebrew & Caldean versions), abbiyr (Hebrew), elohiym (Hebrew [gods]), shinan (Hebrew), aggelos & isaggelos [like an] (Greek), --none of which is found in any of the passages listed above, but the phrases listed in the above texts in the original are all “ben Elohim” and “huios theos.” Any translations reading “angel” into the passage instead of “Sons/Son/Children/etc. of God” is interpreting rather than translating, such as the case in Job 1:6, Job 2:1, and Job 38:7. This is not a critical issue, but aids to one’s understanding of the difference in various versions.
The demons believe, will they go to heaven?
++Easy answer: No, although they have access temporarily, they have a different eternal destiny.
++James 2:19 –believing causes them to tremble
++Acknowledging the existence of God is different than saving faith
++Saving faith is not only acknowledging His authority over you, but surrendering to His plan for you.
Is it because the demons are not saved?
++Easy Answer: Yes, because they are not saved like we have the opportunity to be.
++2 Peter 2:4 –Reserved for judgment
++Jude 6 –Reserved in chains for judgment
++Revelation 12:7-10; ch. 20 –Knowing God, they will never surrender to God’s authority and plan.
If all who believe will go to heaven, how do demons fit into that, since the Bible says they “believe?”
++Easy Answer: They believe in the existence, but not in God’s authority or plan – they surrender to neither the original, nor the redemptive, authoritative plan of God.
++They do have access to God currently, at some level
++Their belief leads them to fear, but they didn’t accept, nor ever will
++Their lack of that kind of “belief” has sealed their fate eternally
++Our participation in accepting God’s plan for us seals our fate eternally
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
Conclusion: 2 Corinthians 2:14; 9:15
We have become heirs of the riches of Christ through redemption, secured by our accepting God’s redemptive plan for us through His Son, by grace through an act of faith through which we surrender to God’s authority and right to judge, ability to save, and willingness to save us. Satan and demons have not.