August 9, 2021
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. Psalm 90:2
Does the Bible supply us with historical information from a time previous to the creation of our world? The answer is yes. We are given glimpses that reveal the beginning of the great controversy: the war that began all wars.
And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. Revelation 12:7
The word translated war is from the Greek “polemia” meaning a war of words (the root from which we derive the English word “politics”). That dragon refers to the once beautiful angel, Lucifer; a covering cherub (Ezekiel 28:14), perfect in [his] ways… (v.15). He was in the highly exalted position of covering the throne of God which contains God’s eternal law of love, the foundation of His government. This is represented in the earthly sanctuary’s ark (Exodus 25:10-21 & Hebrews 9:4). The heavenly ark, of which the earthly is a copy and shadow (Hebrews 8:5) is seen by John the Revelator in Revelation 11:19. The word translated “cover” means to protect and keep. So not only did Lucifer protect God’s law, but he also kept it. He was perfect in his ways…till iniquity was found in him (Ezekiel 28:15). The Biblical definition of iniquity – or sin – is transgression of the law, or lawlessness (1 John 3:4). Where did sin begin? In Lucifer’s heart. This is a sober reminder to lay my heart open before God, that He might reveal to me, before probation ends, that which I am too often unable or unwilling to detect in myself.
For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Isaiah 14:13-14
We know from the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness following His baptism that the desire of the wicked one has always been to receive worship that is due only to God (Matthew 4:9, Luke 4:7). The prophet Ezekiel was given a vision of the future showing Satan as he is being brought to judgement. God Himself is speaking:
Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, that they might gaze at you. Ezekiel 28:17
Who are these kings?
“Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:4b-6
. . . . to be continued tomorrow . . . .