3437 — Cause of Lucifer's Rebellion
By Editor
Kindly state in your "Question Corner" the particular, definite reason or cause for Lucifer's defection and subsequent rebellion. Is there a specific statement made anywhere in the Scriptures as to his casting out of the heavenly home with his deceived adherents? Rev. 12:4-9 seems to be allegorical. Why has he been allowed to continue in rebellion and usurpation of government in the earth to the awful detriment and destruction of God's creatures? F. O. E. It is a long question, which we must answer too briefly. 1. If there were a real cause for sin, sin would be excusable. There is none, and its beginning is unexplainable. Yet the Bible presents the developments of the motives that resulted in rebellion. Under the figure of the king of Tyre, the Lord speaks thus to the great despoiler: "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness." See Eze. 28:11-19. This was selfishness manifest in pride. Through another prophet the Lord speaks to Lucifer: "Thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I . . . I . . . I will be like the Most High." Isa. 14:12-14. To pride is added unholy ambition, which would dethrone God to attain its object. But how it found place in his heart we know not. 2. Because of his sin Lucifer was cast out of heaven. 2 Peter 2:4 is quite specific, and while the term "dragon" is figurative, the devil and Satan and his angels are not; nor is the earth, nor Christ, who conquered. Rev. 12:9. 3. God suffers this awful lesson of sin and its consequences to the universe that all His intelligent creatures may learn, and learn for all eternity, that sin — the transgression of God's law — unrestrained works out inevitably misery and wo and crime and disease and death. If God had cut off the transgressors in the beginning, who then posed as accusers, Satan's falsehoods against God's justice would have seemed to be true. God's plan has been placed on trial, is on trial till the great judgment-day will vindicate God and prove that not might is right, not expediency is right, not deception is right, but that right is everlasting might.