Observations as I follow God through the Chronological Bible.

The Chronological Bible begins with a selection of scriptures under the heading “Eternity Past.” A portion from Isaiah 14:12-17 and Ezekiel 28:13-18 address the rebellion of a Cherub named Lucifer that happened before God said, “Let there be light.” An alternate location for these scriptures is placed after God created Adam and Eve.

There are valid arguments for both placements of Lucifer’s rebellion in the timeline. But it’s not my purpose to debate these matters. I believe the initial chapters of Genesis records the restoration of planet earth which suffered a catastrophe after Lucifer and his angels rebelled. I also believe that one purpose for man’s creation is to solve the problem these rebellious angels created. [1]

In Ezekiel 28 God told his prophet to mourn the demise of the human king of Tyre, but the lamentation addresses a being that had access to the Garden of Eden and the “holy mount of God.” The king of Tyre lived centuries after humanity lost access to the Garden of Eden. The being in Ezekiel is identified as a Cherub. Cherubs were winged angels similar to those who covered the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant that Israel built at God’s command.

God anointed this cherub, called Lucifer by Isaiah, and ordained him to be a guardian. Lucifer had everything humanity desires: wealth, beauty and wisdom. But his greatest assets led to his downfall. Lucifer’s beauty made him proud. His pride corrupted his wisdom, and his wealth made him violent.

According to Isaiah, Lucifer’s problem lived in his heart. Lucifer said in his heart. “I’ll go up to heaven and set up my throne above God’s stars. I’ll sit on the mountain far away in the north where the gods assemble. I’ll go above the top of the clouds. I’ll be like the Most High.” [4]  These were Lucifer’s thoughts before they became actions. His thoughts bring to mind scriptures the stress the importance of thinking pure thoughts and possessing a “pure heart.” [3]

Lucifer already had access to the heavens and still has access to heaven. The reason he went to Heaven created the problem. He wanted to set his throne over the “stars of God” and be like God. He never said he would set his throne above God’s throne. The angels who rebelled, which we call devil’s differentiating between the angels who sinned and those who remained faithful, are afraid of God. I doubt he would have been that ambitious. [5]

Lucifer wanted what most of humanity desires–to be more important than others.  He considered himself wiser than others and entitled to better things. He wanted the position Jesus would later teach is obtained through humility, obedience, and sacrifice. God gives grace to the humble and resist the proud. [6] God withheld grace from Lucifer and resisted him with this judgment:

“… I threw you down from God’s mountain in disgrace. The guardian angel forced you out from the fiery stones. You became too proud because of your beauty. You wasted your wisdom because of your greatness. So I threw you to the ground and left you in front of the kings so that they could see you. You dishonored your own holy places because of your many sins and dishonest trade. So I set fire to you to burn you up. I turned you into ashes on the ground in the presence of all who saw you. All the nations who knew you are horrified because of you. You have come to a terrible end, and you will never exist again.” [7]

This judgment reads as though it already happened, but when God speaks he is not limited by time as we are. He calls things that are not as though there were with his words. [8] Lucifer’s ultimate end is an eternity in the lake of fire. [9] An end he has not yet tasted.

Our first image of God in eternity past is a judge, not that of a loving father. His first judgment is against those who have more than enough but are not satisfied, and rebel against his divine order by seeking to exalt themselves above others.

I believe God had more in mind than crushing a rebellion and destroying Lucifer when he said, “you will never exist again.” In those five words, I see the beginning of a costly plan to teach us the meaning of love. I perceive a purpose to eradicate an evil attitude which creates misery and a plan to create within us a pure heart. For God is not willing that any should perish but all should come to the knowledge of the truth. [10]

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[1] My belief that the angels sinned first comes from the events in the Garden of Eden. The serpent tempted Adam and Eve to believe God is a liar, which is evidence sin existed before Adam and Eve sinned. The following scriptures undergird this thought. According to Jude 1:6, there are angels who abandoned the place God gave them. God bound some of these angels in chains until it’s time for them to be judged. The reason I believe God created humanity is to resolve the problem the angels created is seen in Ephesians 3:10 that says God is using the church to make his wisdom known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. 1 Corinthians 6:3 says we will judge angels. Hebrews 2:5-8 reveals man will rule the “world to come” not the angels. Revelation 12 describes a war in heaven that removes the devil and his angels from their place in heaven. Michael the archangel casts them down to the earth where they suffer God’s wrath with rebellious humanity. If God created humanity to replace the rebellious angels, it explains why they hate us.

[2] Isaiah 14:13

[3] Psalm 24:4; Matthew 5:8; 1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:22; 1 Peter 1:22;

Philippians 4:8

[4] Isaiah 14:13-14, God’s Word

[5] James 2:19

[6] James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5

[7] Ezekiel 28:16-19, God’s Word

[8] Romans 4:17

[9] Revelation 20:10

[10] 1 Timothy 2:4