Lucifer and the King of Tyre
In the above application it will be seen that all these points beautifully and aptly apply. With regard to this king of Tyre, Beecher says: 'In this address to the king of Tyre there are several expressions too high for merely a mortal sovereign. Hence the impression has extensively prevailed that the Holy Spirit regarded the king of Tyre as a kind of image of Satan, and in addressing him uttered things passing beyond the emblem, and applying directly to the reality. Such was the view of Augustine, Jerome, Tertullian, Ambrose, and other early fathers. Indeed, Fairbairn remarks, 'Most of the early commentators have supposed that verses 12–14 were not properly used of the king of Tyre, but mystically of Satan.' —Redeemer and Redeemed, p. 75. 'The cherub is the most exalted of all known emblems, nearest the throne of Jehovah, most vividly connected with his majesty, and identified with his administration. That such was the exalted station originally held by Lucifer, may be considered the established belief. Milton, a careful student of the theology of his own and preceding ages, speaks of Lucifer as 'Of the first,
If not the first archangel, great in power,
In favor, and pre-eminence.' President Edwards observes, 'Lucifer, before his fall, was the morning star, the covering cherub, the highest and brightest of all creatures.' Dr. Hopkins speaks of him as one 'who was at the head of all the angels, and the most noble creature God had made.' And Dr. Dwight calls him 'an angel of pre-eminent distinction in Heaven.'—Id. p. 81. In Isa. 14, we have a description of the same person, under the name of the king of Babylon. 'How art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [Margin, day-star!] How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 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; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.' Verses 12–14. Who is this that has fallen from Heaven? Jesus uses almost the same words in Luke 10:18: 'And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven.' Isaiah says, 'How art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer!' It is evident that they both refer to the same person. That person Jesus calls 'Satan.' This, then, was the original condition of Satan, this, the position which he once occupied—high and exalted, near the throne of God. The Lord created him and placed him there. He was wise, beautiful, holy, and happy. Alas! that sin should come in to destroy such a character! Alas! that rebellion should blot so fair a universe! But so it was. Even while we are contemplating this picture, the scene is changed, oh! how changed! Evil thoughts brood in Lucifer's mind. A dark cloud is gathering. Whispers of discontent are heard, insubordination is talked, till at length, oh! woeful day! rebellion, dark, deep, wicked rebellion, bursts upon the astonished inhabitants of Heaven! Thus we read: 'Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 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.' Then 'there was war in Heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in Heaven.' Rev. 12:7, 8. That Satan was once in Heaven, but apostatized and fell, with many other angels, is abundantly proved by the Bible. Isaiah exclaims, 'How art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer!' Chap. 14:12. Ezekiel testifies: 'Thou hast sinned; therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God.' Chap. 28:16. Jesus says, 'I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven.' Luke 10:18. Peter bears record: 'God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell.' 2 Pet. 2:4. Jude also confirms this: 'And the angels which kept not their first estate,' &c. Verse 6. A very important question now to be determined is, When did this event occur? When did Lucifer fall? Though God has not seen fit to reveal to us definitely the time when this occurred, yet we may be able to get some light on this point by searching the scripture. When the serpent said to the woman, 'Ye shall not surely die,' he told a lie, which showed that he was fallen then. Gen. 3:4. This shows that Satan was fallen immediately after the work of creation was