Lucifer, the morning star, who is Satan and the devil – Isaiah 14:12

“And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven” Luke 10:18

Satan in the New Testament is a translation from the Greek masculine noun Σατανᾶς (Satanas, Strong’s 2567) corresponding to Σατάν (Satan, 4566). He is understood as the accuser, i.e. the devil and an adversary (one who opposes someone in purpose or act). He is the name given to the prince of evil spirits who  encourages people to sin and incites apostasy from God. He is also believed to be in control of his demons (spirits of fallen angels) who can take possession of people and inflict them with diseases. Satan will be overcome on Christ’s return from heaven and bound with chains for a thousand years. When this time has passed he will walk the earth yet again, but will eventually be given over to eternal punishment. According to Blueletterbible Satan is used 27 times in the KJV (Strong’s 7854).

The question is then if Satan is the same as Lucifer, which is an expression found in Is. 14:12 and is a latin translation of the Hebrew word heylel (Strong’s 1966) – used once in the Bible. The expression “Lucifer, Son of the morning” (KJV) is the translation from heylel ben Shachar (Strong’s 1966, 1121, 7837). The English translation Lucifer derives from the Latin term lucem ferre, which holds the meaning of light-bearer, the shining one, the morning-star, and apart from a good description of Satan (before he fell) it is a close connection to the king of Babylon based on the passage in Isaiah. The unnamed King of Babylon in chapter 14 is condemned in a prophetic vision and is called the “morning star” (Venus is a “wandering star” visible at dawn). It could be a description of an attempt to usurp kingly power, like the failed regency of Belshazzar. Much like Satan, who did the same thing (see Ezekiel below).

Unlike the English expression, the Latin words were not used exclusively to describe this particular person in Is. 14:12. Jerome’s latin translation in the Vulgate is not in error, and he did not use capital letters in the expression (thus not rendering it a personal name). The Septuagint (a Greek translation of the Old Testament) renders the same expression ἑωσφόρος (heōsphoros) which could be translated “bringer of dawn”, which is not too far off from Jerome’s result.

If the bringer of light spoken about (lucem ferre) is not Satan, who is he, and why does the description of him sound like the background of Satan? The king of Babylon did not fall from heaven, but he seems to be compared to a shiny bring being falling from heaven.

Is. 14:11 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.12 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!13 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:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of THE PIT.16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?18 All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house.19 But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet.

“The sons of God” below are angels (see article) and Satan came together with them to approach the Lord God. If Satan is the same as Lucifer, it makes sense that he might have this type of conversation with God. This conversation proves that Satan is a real being, and not an abstract principle such as “sin”.

Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.7 And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.8 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.12 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. See also Job 2. 

More examples from the old testament that Satan can be a real person:

1 Chron. 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

Ps. 109:6 Let thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.

Zech. 3:1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2 And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

But the same Hebrew word can also be used as a principle against God or a “Satanic” (God-hating) being who acts on behalf of Satan:

2 Sa. 19:22 And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?

1 Ki. 5:4 But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.

1 Ki. 11:14 And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king’s seed in Edom.—23 And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah — 25 And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.

This reminds us of the New Testament idea that there are many antichrists but also a specific person/being called antichrist who will appear in the last time. An antichrist is a deceiver, and the highest form of deception is someone who acts against God – such as objecting to Jesus being the Christ and the Messiah (God in flesh). Satan is against Christ, so he is the antichrist.

1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

We also have the famous passage in Ez. 28, which is addressed to the prince/king of Tyrus, with a parallel to Satan who had a similar problem with pride and subsequent defeat and disaster. We can read about someone who has a heart which is lifted up (against God) because of his riches, someone claiming to be God, someone who is perfect in beauty, someone who is extraordinary BRIGHT (repeated several times), someone who shall be brought down to the pit, someone who has been in the garden of Eden covered in precious stones, someone who is a cherub (an angel) and created so by God, someone who was on the holy mountain of God, walking on stones of fire, someone who was perfect in his ways until iniquity was found in him, someone who is cast to the ground by God due to his sin, someone who has corrupted his wisdom due to his beautiful brightness, etc. Clearly this is not the prince of Tyrus, but a comparison can be made when it comes to pride and corruption – and it is also forming a prophesy.

Ez. 28:2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord God; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:—5 By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:6 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God;7 Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.8 They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas.9 Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee—12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. 

The book of the secrets of Enoch (or Slavonic Enoch or 2 Enoch)

The book of Enoch (referred to in the Bible, so of high value) describes the look of the bright angels, and how one angel in particular is thrown out of heaven together with his subordinate angels. The reason for this ordeal is due to this angel’s proud attempt to be equal to God. We can recognize the description from the Bible, where it is describing Satan.

29:2 And from the rock I cut off a great fire, and from the fire I created the orders of the incorporeal ten troops of angels, and their weapons are fiery and their raiment a burning flame, and I commanded that each one should stand in his order.3 And one from out the order of angels, having turned away with the order that was under him, conceived an impossible thought, to place his throne higher than the clouds above the earth, that he might become equal in rank to my power.4 And I threw him out from the height with his angels, and he was flying in the air continuously above the bottomless.

31:4 The devil is the evil spirit of the lower places, as a fugitive he made Sotona from the heavens as his name was Satanail (Satan), thus he became different from the angels, (but his nature) did not change (his) intelligence as far as (his) understanding of righteous and sinful (things).5 And he understood his condemnation and the sin which he had sinned before, therefore he conceived thought against Adam, in such form he entered and seduced Eva (Eve), but did not touch Adam. 

The book of Enoch (or 1 Enoch, or Ethiopian Enoch)

86:1 And again I saw with mine eyes as I slept, Again I looked attentively, while sleeping, and I saw the heaven above, and surveyed heaven above. and behold a star fell from heaven, 2. And behold a single star fell from heaven. and it arose and eat and pastured amongst those oxen.—3 And again I saw in the vision, and looked towards the heaven, and behold I saw many stars descend and cast themselves down from heaven to that first star, and they became bulls amongst those cattle and pastured with them

88:1 And I saw one of those four who had come forth first, and he seized that first star which had fallen from the heaven and bound it hand and foot and cast it into an abyss: now that abyss was narrow and deep, and horrible and dark.

Lucifer is referred to as the morning star, Venus, which is one of the seven wandering stars (and not part of a star constellation). Enoch explains that the future for those independent stars will not be very bright:

1 Enoch 21:1. And I proceeded to where things were chaotic. 2. And I saw there something horrible: I saw neither a heaven above nor a firmly founded earth, but a place chaotic and horrible. 3. And there I saw seven stars of the heaven bound together in it, like great mountains and burning with fire. 4. Then I said: ‘For what sin are they bound, and on what account have they been cast in hither?’ 5. Then said Uriel, one of the holy angels, who was with me, and was chief over them, and said: ‘Enoch, why dost thou ask, and why art thou eager for the truth? 6. These are of the number of the stars of heaven, which have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and are bound here till ten thousand years, the time entailed by their sins, are consummated.’  

Jude 13:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

Origen interpreted such passages as being about manifestations of the devil, and so did  Tertullian. Calvin and Luther, on the other hand, did not – which maybe is not surprising considering the multitudes of new doctrines they have invented.

Jesus is the morning star 

Jesus is also called the morning star, because he is our true permanent bright LIGHT, and he will never lose his brightness the way Satan did. In the new Jerusalem there will not a need for the sun since the lamb (Jesus Christ) will be our light.

The mention of the morning star in the Bible:

Job 38:4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.—7 When the morning stars (boqer Strong’s 1242 + kowkab Strong’s 3556) sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

2 Pet. 1:15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Rev. 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.28 And I will give him the morning star.

Rev. 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Why are both Satan and Jesus Christ both resembling a morning star? Satan seems to have been the brightest of angels before his fall, and he has been chasing the son of God ever since the first pages of the Bible, where we can read about God’s prophesy “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Gen. 3:15).

We can also read about the seed in Daniel which seems to be saying that in the last days seeds will be mixed inappropriately just like they were (due to the fallen angels) prior to the flood (described both in the book of Enoch and the book of Jasher, both books mentioned in the Bible) and which caused God to let the whole earth be covered with water. The next time the earth will be affected by fire.

Dan. 2:43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

Scientists are already now making advanced experimentations with mixing of seeds/sperms. (If you want to read more about the situation with the disastrous mixing of animals before the flood, you can read more in the previously mentioned books.)

The beast in the bottomless pit – who was, is not and yet is

Something else that will happen during the same time is something extraordinary. Someone called Apollyon is presently trapped in the bottomless pit. This place has not yet been discovered during a hike or on the way to work, but some Christians (like Stephen Quayle) believe this pit is situated in Antarctica. Apollyon is believed to have multiple names, and one speculation is Nimrod. (In order to not go down the rabbit hole and make this article too long, I will leave it at that.) Apollyon is described as both a beast and an angel, and also a king and leader of the below described “locusts”.

Rev. 9:1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. ³ And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.— 11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

Rev. 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.— 7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

Rev. 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

Rev. 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Satan in the New Testament

We can read about the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience in Eph. 2:2, the devil disputing with Michael about the body of Moses (Jude 1:9) and most importantly the dragon of the Book of Revelation “who is called the devil and Satan” (Revelation 12:9; 20:2).

Matt. 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Matt. 12:26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

Mark 3:23 And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satancast out Satan? — 26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.

Matt. 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Mark. 8:33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

Mark 1:13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

Mark 4:15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

Luke 13:16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

Luke 12:3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

John 13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

Acts 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Rom 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

1 Cor. 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

1 Cor. 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

2 Cor. 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

2 Cor. 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

2 Cor. 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

1 Thess. 2:18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

2 Thess. 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders

2 Tim. 1:20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

1 Tim. 5:15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.

Rev. 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.—13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.—24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

Rev. 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Rev. 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Rev. 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Freemasonry?

The Taxil hoax is named after Léo Taxil (1854–1907) who claimed that the freemason Albert Pike promoted the idea that Lucifer was God and in opposition to the evil god Adonai. Freemasonry Disclosed,  1897:

“With frightening cynicism, the miserable person we shall not name here [Taxil] declared before an assembly especially convened for him that for twelve years he had prepared and carried out to the end the most sacrilegious of hoaxes. We have always been careful to publish special articles concerning Palladism and Diana Vaughan. We are now giving in this issue a complete list of these articles, which can now be considered as not having existed.”