WHEN LUCIFER LEFT HEAVEN
I Peter 5:1-11
Dr. Larry Petton
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SCRIPTURE TEXT – I PETER 5:1-11
1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed:
2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;
3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
QUOTES ABOUT THE ENEMY
“We know that if evil can enter our cities through our negligence, evil can leave our cities through our diligence. Indeed, it is possible to put the foreign armies of hell to flight”. – Francis Frangipane
“The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayer-less studies, prayer-less work, and prayer-less religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.” – Samuel Chadwick
“Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on Earth.” – John Wesley
“On a recent trip to Haiti, I heard a Haitian pastor illustrate to his congregation the need for total commitment to Christ. His parable: A certain man wanted to sell his house for $2,000. Another man wanted very badly to buy it, but because he was poor, he couldn't afford the full price. After much bargaining, the owner agreed to sell the house for half the original price with just one stipulation: He would retain ownership of one small nail protruding from just over the door.
After several years, the original owner wanted the house back, but the new owner was unwilling to sell. So, the first owner went out, found the carcass of a dead dog, and hung it from the single nail he still owned. Soon the house became unbearable and the family was forced to sell the house to the owner of the nail.
The Haitian pastor's conclusion: "If we leave the Devil with even one small peg in our life, he will return to hang his rotting garbage on it, making it unfit for Christ's habitation." - Dale A. Hays
“Two 6-year-olds struggled with the problem of the existence of the devil. One boy said, "Oh, there isn't any devil." The other, rather upset, said, "What do you mean, there isn't any devil? It talks about him all the way through the Bible!" the first replied, "Oh that's not true, you know. It's just like Santa Claus, the devil turns out to be your dad." - G. Lewis
LAUGHING AT THE ENEMY
1. Writing in Moody Monthly, Carl Armerding recounted his experience of watching a wildcat in a zoo. "As I stood there," he said, "an attendant entered the cage through a door on the opposite side. He had nothing in his hands but a broom. Carefully closing the door, he proceeded to sweep the floor of the cage." He observed that the worker had no weapon to ward off an attack by the beast. In fact, when he got to the corner of the cage where the wildcat was lying, he poked the animal with the broom. The wildcat hissed at him and then lay down in another corner of the enclosure. Armerding remarked to the attendant, "You certainly are a brave man."
"No, I ain't brave," he replied as he continued to sweep. "Well, then that cat must be tame." "No," came the reply, "he ain't tame." "If you aren't brave and the wildcat isn't tame, then I can't understand why he doesn't attack you." Armerding said the man chuckled, then replied with an air of confidence, "Mister, he's old--and he ain't got no teeth!" - Carl Armerding
2. A man was going to Halloween party one night dressed in a devil’s costume. On the way to the party it started to rain and storm, so he decided to take shelter in the nearest building which just happened to be a church where a revival meeting was taking place. As soon as he walked through the door, everyone turned around to see who was coming in late. When they saw him, they began to scream and scatter like a covey of quail.
3. One lady got caught in her pew and fell down in the midst of all the confusion. The man decided to go check on her and make sure she was okay. He slowly made his way over to where she was. With him standing there looking down at her, the fearful lady said, "Mr. Devil, I’ve been a member of this church for over 30 years, but I want you to know that I’ve really been on your side the whole time!"
KEY BIBLE VERSES ON SATAN
Genesis 3:1-14 -- He was disguised as a serpent
Isaiah 14:12 -- He was Lucifer, son of the morning before the fall
Ezekiel 28:14 -- He was the anointed cherub
1 Chronicles 21:1 -- He tempted David to do evil
Job 1:7-2:10 -- He accused and afflicted Job
Zechariah 3:1-9 -- He opposes Israel
Matthew 4:3 -- He is the tempter
Matthew 12:24 -- He is the prince of the demons
1 Timothy 4:1-6 -- He instigates false doctrine
Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:10-11 -- He perverts the Word of God
Matthew 12:22-29 -- He works in demon possession
Zechariah 3:1 -- He is the Adversary
Luke 4:13 -- He is the devil, the slanderer
John 13:2 -- He caused Judas to betray Christ
Acts 5:3 – He seduced Ananias to lie
2 Corinthians 4:4 -- He blinds people spiritually
1 Peter 5:8 -- He seeks to harm believers
Ephesians 6:11-12 -- He heads a celestial hierarchy of evil
Ephesians 2:2 -- He indwells the unsaved
John 8:44 -- He was branded "a liar" and "the father of lies" by Jesus
2 Thessalonians 2:9 --He works diabolic miracles
John 8:44 -- He is a murderer
John 12:31; 14:30 -- He is the prince of this world
Luke 13:16 -- He blinds people physically and spiritually
Matthew 25:41 -- He is a fallen angel
Matthew 13:19 -- He snatches away the Word
Revelation 20:1-3 -- He will be bound during the millennium
Matthew 13:39 -- He is "the enemy"
Matthew 13:38 – He is "the evil one"
Ephesians 6:10-20 -- He is routed by Spirit-directed prayer
1 Peter 5:8-9 -- He is overcome by faith
1 Thessalonians 2:18 -- He hinders God's will in believers
Revelation 12:9 -- He is the deceiver
Revelation 12:9 -- He is the dragon, that old serpent
Luke 10:18 -- He fell from Heaven
Luke 22:31 -- He viewed Simon Peter as a target
Revelation 2:9 -- He has a synagogue of legalists who deny God's grace
John 3:8 -- His children are unsaved
Matthew 25:41; Rev 20:10 -- His ultimate fate is the Lake of Fire where he will burn forever and ever. Amen
STRATEGIES OF SATAN
1.Strategies of Satan with unbelievers:
1) Blinding the minds of the unregenerate (2 Cor. 4:4).
2) Snatching away the good seed of the word (Matthew 13:19).
3) Lulling the unbeliever into a false sense of security (Luke 11:21).
4) Laying snares for the unwary (2 Timothy 2:25-26).
5) Masquerading as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:13-14).
6) Deceiving those whose minds are not subject to the Word of truth (Rev 12:9).
7) Mixing truth with error (Matthew 13:25-8).
2.Strategies of Satan with believers:
1) Annihilate the church or neutralize its witness from within (Acts 5:1-6).
2) Virulent persecution from without.
3) Smother its witness by according it great popularity.
4) Disturb the unity of the church by creating discord and division
5) Subversion of the church through apostasy and heresy (2 Peter 2:1-2).
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED ABOUT SATAN
The New York Times reported a study about the diminishing belief in the devil among Americans. Two-thirds of Americans do not believe in the devil as a living entity. In a randomly selected survey of over 1,000 Americans, pollsters asked whether they agreed that Satan is “not a living being, but a symbol of evil.” Sixty-two percent agreed with the statement. That means nearly 149 million Americans believe that Satan has no influence, but that Satan is just a symbol of evil.
Corrie Ten Boom once said, “The first step on the way to spiritual victory is to recognize your spiritual enemy.”
THREE ENEMIES OF THE SOUL
• THE WORLD – system of evil and ungodly values in this present world
• THE FLESH – not our skin, but our sinful, selfish, carnal nature that we were born with, thanks to Adam (Romans 5:12).
• THE DEVIL – not the cartoon character guy, but a real, personal creature who is the Father of lies and the leader of the Kingdom of Darkness, which opposes everything that is good and godly. Jesus faced him in the Wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11) and you face him and his angels in your daily life.
WHO IS SATAN?
I had a friend who pastored in Texas years ago who was going door-to-door to invite people to church and to know Christ. The pastor knocked on one door and an elderly woman answered. He said, “I am here to invite you to our church and to tell you about Jesus Christ. “ The woman said nothing.
The pastor, unsure of what to say next, then said, “Ma’m do you know Christ?” The woman said nothing.
The pastor stood there in silence for the longest moment. Then, he smiled and said, “Well, ma’m, if you don’t know Jesus……then do you know the Devil?”
The woman’s face lit up! “Do I know the Devil? I should! I’ve been married to him for 40 years!!!!!”
When I was a child growing up in Sunday School, we used to sing a chorus named “Everybody Ought To Know”. Everybody ought to know who Jesus is! And that’s certainly true. But we also need to know who Satan is, too!
THREE KEY FACTS ABOUT SATAN – EZEKIEL 28
1. HIS PERSON – Ezekiel 28:12-15
2. HIS PRIDE – Ezekiel 28:15-18
3. HIS PUNISHMENT – Ezekiel 28:15-18
1. SATAN’S PERSON
I had a seminary professor I loved and admired who did not believe in a personal Devil. He often said, “You really need to drop the letter D and just say Evil.” He went on to say, “Larry, sometimes, the way people talk, it almost makes you believe there is a PERSONAL Devil!” It’s amazing how someone so learned can miss the truth of Scripture so far.
Jesus cast a personal Devil out of Heaven.
Job battled a personal Devil for his life.
Jesus faced a personal Devil in the Wilderness.
Jesus defeated a personal Devil on the Cross.
Paul fought against a personal Devil in his ministry.
You are facing a personal Devil right NOW in the battle for your soul!
Notice how Ezekiel describes a PERSONAL Devil in Ezekiel 28 with the usage of the personal pronoun, “YOU”:
v. 12 – “You were the seal of perfection”
v. 13 – “You were in Eden”
v. 13 – “You were adorned”
v. 13 – “Your settings were made of gold”
v. 13 – “You were created”
v. 14 – “You were anointed”
v. 14 – “You were ordained”
v. 14 – “You were on the holy mount of God”
v. 14 – “You walked among the fiery stones”
v. 15 – “You were blameless”
v. 15 – “You were found with wickedness”
v. 16 – “You were filled with violence”
v. 15 – “You sinned”
v. 17 – “Your heart became proud”
v. 17 – “You corrupted your wisdom”
You, you, you, you, you! Do YOU get the point of Scripture???
YOU don’t talk this way to an impersonal force. YOU don’t talk this way to an idea. YOU don’t talk this way to a theological concept. YOU don’t talk this way to something nonexistent. YOU don’t talk this way unless it is to something who is someone. It is personal.
Not only is Satan personal, he is also ANGELIC. He is an angel according to the Bible (Isaiah 14). There are several characteristics of angels in Scripture:
• They are created beings.
• They are not gods.
• They were apparently created all at one time.
• They were created to bring God glory.
•They do not have a living soul like humans.
• They do not marry.
• There are not more that are being created apparently.
• They only understand AUTHORITY.
• They do not know what humans think.
• They are invisible, but can manifest.
• They can possess objects, things or people.
• They were not omnipresent, like God.
• They are not omnipotent, like God.
•They had a division in Heaven and one third of all the angels left with Lucifer.
•They are in two groups today: heavenly angels and demons.
2. SATAN’S PRIDE
Notice how Isaiah picks up on the egotism of Lucifer in Heaven as the main reason for his fall from glory (Isaiah 14, NIV). We discover that Lucifer had an “I” problem? Notice how many times he says, “I”:
• “I will ascend”
• “I will raise my throne”
• “I will sit enthroned”
• “I will ascend above the clouds”
• “I will make myself like the Most High”
Lucifer, whose name means, “Morning Star”, was the leader of praise in Heaven according to Ezekiel 28. Somewhere at some point in history past, Lucifer got tired of giving praise to the Lord and became envious. Somewhere at some point in history past, he said in his heart, “I will be God.” As a result, he led a rebellion in Heaven against God. The first church split was in Heaven! He took one third of the angels from Heaven (Revelation 12:1-4).
When we are filled with pride, we invite rebellion into our hearts, just like Lucifer. Notice how the Bible compares our rebellion to Satan in I Samuel 15:23: “For rebellion is the sin of witchcraft, and to break the word of the Lord is iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected thee from being king”.
These are the poignant words of the prophet, Samuel, uttered to sinful Saul, who clearly disobeyed the Lord as King of Israel. It clearly teaches that rebellion against the Word of God for a believer is the same thing that drove Satan to rebel against God in Heaven. Note: It is interesting that “witchcraft” in the New Testament comes from the Greek word, pharmakeia, from which we have our English word, “pharmaceuticals” or drugs.
It is pride that is the force behind our sin problem. We want to have our way. We don’t want to do God’s will. Did you hear about the clever salesman who closed hundreds of sales with this line: "Let me show you something several of your neighbors said you couldn't afford!" That’s pride.
I love how President Abraham Lincoln pointed out to Americans that our pride can cause our nation to suffer:
“We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.”
- Lincoln’s Proclamation of a day of National Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer, 1863.
During the Battle of the Wilderness in the Civil War, Union general John Sedgwick was inspecting his troops. At one point he came to an open space over which he gazed out in the direction of the enemy. His officers suggested that this was unwise and perhaps he ought to get back under protection. "Nonsense," snapped the general. "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist--."
A moment later Sedgwick fell to the ground, fatally wounded.
3. SATAN’S PUNISHMENT
Pride goes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). It was certainly true in the case of Lucifer. Ezekiel 28:17 simply says, “So, I threw you to the earth.”
In Luke 10:18, Jesus made a startling statement: “I saw Satan fall like lightning”. How could He make that statement?
Jesus is God in flesh (John 1:1-4). He was the One who booted Satan out of Heaven! Lucifer is not in Hell today, He is in the earth. Notice the names for the Devil that are found in the New Testament. They indicate where Satan is today – here on earth fighting us.
• The Devil – John 8:44
• Our Adversary – I Peter 5:8
• The Tempter – Matthew 4:3
• The Prince and Power of the air – Eph. 2:2
• The God of this World – Ephesians 2:1-2
HOW MANY ANGELS LEFT HEAVEN WITH LUCIFER?
Let me say this again and again:
• On the subject of when angels were created, God is silent.
• On the subject of when Satan was cast down from Heaven to earth, God has not chosen to tell us.
• But, on the question, “How many angels left Heaven with Satan?” We have a clear word from God in
Revelation 12:3-5:
“And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.”
Revelation 12 describes the original rebellion of Satan in Heaven with symbolic imagery. The word, “stars” is often a reference to angels in the Old Testament. John reveals to us that ONE-THIRD of the angels left Heaven with Lucifer when he was cast to the earth. So, how did this happen?
Many people believe it was started by GOSSIP that was spread among angels by Lucifer himself. Can’t you just see it? “Hey, Gabriel! It’s Lucifer. Do you have time to talk? How do you feel about the way God is running things? You know something……if I was in charge, things would be a whole lot better!”
I have seen that very spirit of division in the church. I know that Satan is a trouble-maker and a divider. Nothing hurts a church body more than a tale-bearer and a gossip.
However, did Satan start a rebellion in Heaven by gossip? I think it is doubtful. I believe there is a much deeper truth here. Notice the forcefulness of Revelation 12:4: “His tail drew a third of the stars of Heaven and THREW THEM to the earth.”
That is forceful. That is power. That is a situation where there seems no recourse. Could it be that the angels had no choice?
KEY QUESTION: Could it be that Lucifer was given authority over this one-third of the angels and they had to follow him?
I started asking those questions after I finished seminary and my doctoral work. I had always assumed that Satan stirred up a rebellion in Heaven by going angel to angel and speaking against God’s authority.
Then I saw something in Scripture that made me think. It was the words…….ONE THIRD. Why wasn’t it half or a fourth? Why not one tenth? I asked myself these questions repeatedly. And then it came to me.
THREE MAIN ANGELS MENTIONED BY NAME
There are three main angels in the Bible who are mentioned by name.
(1) Michael – the warrior angel (Rev. 12:7-9)
(2) Gabriel – the messenger angel (Luke 1:26-38)
(3) Lucifer – the beautiful angel of worship (Ezekiel 28:1-14)
The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are mentioned by Jesus in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). The Trinity is seen clearly at the Baptism of Jesus in Matthew 3. The Father speaks from Heaven. The Son is baptized by John. The Spirit descends upon Jesus to anoint His ministry.
The Father is not the Son or the Spirit. The Son is not the Father or the Spirit. The Spirit is not the Father or the Son. He is one God, three distinct persons.
The Father, Son and Spirit were all witnessed at the Baptism of Jesus in Matthew 3. The Father spoke from Heaven. The Son was baptized. The Spirit anointed Him and descended upon Him gently like a dove. No one can fully comprehend the nature of God (Romans 11:33-34).
The Father, Son and Spirit comprise the Triune Godhead and that’s how God made us in His image (I Thessalonians 5). We are trichotomous beings. We are one, but, yet we are three – spirit, soul and body.
If each person in the Godhead is Divine, then that means that each person in the Godhead is WORTHY OF PRAISE. The Father is not more God than the Spirit or the Son. They are one and they are each divine. Each one is worthy of praise.
Could it be that the angels were the original praise team in Heaven who brought glory to God based upon a divided responsibility? This is just speculation. No one knows for sure.
COULD IT BE THAT…….
One third of the angels were assigned to bring praise to the Father.
One third of the angels were assigned to bring praise to the Son.
One third of the angels were assigned to bring praise to the Holy Spirit.
Now, watch this:
• Michael, the Warrior, is strong, like the Father.
• Lucifer, the Beautiful One, connects to the beauty of the Son.
• Gabriel, the Messenger, connects to the Spirit, the Messenger in the Godhead.
FATHER - MICHAEL
SON – LUCIFER
SPIRIT – GABRIEL
If this theory is correct, then each Archangel was given 1/3 of the angels to bring worship to the person of the Godhead over them. If such a case were true, then They were under Lucifer’s authority. They had to follow His lead.
And they are still under his authority. They do what he directs.
They carry out his game plan to kill, steal and destroy as Jesus described in John 10:9.
THINK OF IT. If this happened in Heaven in the beginning, then there is a gap in Heaven left by Lucifer and his one third of angels. Who fills that gap? You might be surprised.
WHO TOOK SATAN’S PLACE IN HEAVEN?
If Lucifer left Heaven, then there was a gap that was left. John tells us that there were more than 100 million angels in Heaven, so that would leave a big gap in the worship that was to be given to the Son of God.
“Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders” (Revelation 5:11).
CONSIDER THIS….
Who would take the place of Lucifer and his angels? Who would bring praise to the Son of God? The Father had Michael and his warrior angels. The Spirit had Gabriel and his messenger angels. Who would be chosen to worship the Son?
The Father had a plan. Look at what the Bible says about that plan for His Son:
“All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast -- all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world” (Rev. 13:8).
1 Peter 1:18-20 – “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.”
THE BRIDE OF CHRIST
The Bride is the Church. The Bride is every believer in Christ. The Bride is going to married to Christ. The Bride is longing to see her Beloved.
What is the main reason for the existence of the Bride of Christ today?
Some say it is evangelism.
Some say it is missions.
Some say it is to build the Church.
Some say it is to meet the needs of others.
Some say it to teach true doctrine.
Ephesians 1:12 tells us that the reason why we were chosen is to be “THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY”. In other words, our highest calling on earth as the Bride of Christ is to bring glory and praise to the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ by our lips and by our lives.
That is WORSHIP…….and that is exactly what was missing in Heaven when 1/3 of the angels left with Lucifer.
Can you see who we are in the Church? Our highest calling as the Bride of Christ is WORSHIP. We took the place of the angels who followed Lucifer.
One of these days in Heaven, we will worship at the feet of Jesus and be wed to Him at the Lamb’s Supper (Rev. 4-5). When we all get to Heaven, think of the things we WILL NOT be able to do any more.
• We can’t witness to lost people.
• We can’t send missionaries.
• We won’t be printing Bibles or books.
• We won’t be laying hands on the sick.
• We won’t be casting out demons.
• We won’t be serving those who are needy.
But, one thing will last forever………..
WE WILL BE WORSHIPPING OUR SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, AS LORD OF ALL!!!
Here is a scene of what Heaven will look like from Revelation 5:8-14:
8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.
9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!”
The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
- Dr. Larry Petton
