Introduction
In the article “The Rise of Iniquity! Who Was Satan? – Ezekiel 28“, I will explore the origin of Satan and the events that marked his fall from heaven. I will investigate the nature of this being who, despite being considered a perfect angel, gave in to pride and rebellion. Throughout the text, I will analyze biblical passages such as Ezekiel 28, Isaiah 14, and Revelation 12 to understand how iniquity took hold of the heart of this angelic being. In addition, I will discuss the interpretations surrounding his identity and the impact of his rebellion on the spiritual history of humanity.
A Little About Satan
The existence of a supernatural being, known as “Satan” or the “devil“, is for many a legend, or even a popular belief. For others, it is so real that they even worship him.
The Bible mentions his existence, and Christians consider him significant. He also appears in the Jewish religion, although his interpretation is different from that understood by Christians. The Quran presents a similar figure, known as “Iblis“.
During the Middle Ages, an image was created regarding Satan. The image that emerged was that of a reddish demonic being with horns and a long tail, holding a trident in one hand, reigning over a fiery underworld called “hell“. This was one of the images created and transmitted by many during this period, and unfortunately, it still has a place in the minds of many people. The worst of all is when they associate this image with a biblical belief belonging to the Christian religion. In today’s study, we will analyze some texts from the Bible related to this topic. I will try to identify who was and who is this character described in the Bible.
Unlike the Quran, which identifies this being with the name “Iblis“, the Bible does not provide his real name. He is identified only as “devil” and “Satan“. Both words are not proper names that identify this being. From the original Hebrew, the word “satan” simply means “enemy” and “adversary“. These terms can be used for any person or group that identifies itself as someone’s “enemy“.
The Name: Lucifer
Many Christians also apply the proper name “Lucifer” to this character. However, it is worth noting that this name is not of biblical origin, even though one of the Bible translations presents this name in a single verse of the Bible (Isaiah 14:12). This name does not appear in the oldest manuscripts and was added later in future Bible versions by the well-known “church fathers“. The origin of the name “Lucifer” has its etymology in the Latin language, not in the original languages in which the Bible was written (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek).
The King of Tyre Parallelism
With this information in mind, let us now analyze some biblical verses about him. A well-known and widely used text about Satan is from the prophet Ezekiel 28:11-17. Let us read:
Ezekiel 28:11-17 – “The word of the Lord came to me: Son of man, take up a lamentation against the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the Lord God says: You are the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every precious stone covered you: the sardius, the topaz, the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, the jasper, the sapphire, the carbuncle, and the emerald. Your settings and your ornaments were made of gold; they were prepared for you on the day you were created. You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked among the stones of the highest splendor. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until iniquity was found in you. By the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence within you, and you sinned. Therefore I will cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God; I will destroy you, O covering cherub, from among the stones of fire. Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I set you before kings to behold you“
The reader must have noticed that the text above is addressed to the “King of Tyre“. It is not an explicit text about the person of Satan. However, the characteristics present in this text are not entirely applicable to the king of Tyre himself. This is because the message was inspired by God. Within the message given to the king of Tyre by the prophet Ezekiel, the same message will also contain explanations about other parallel events.
In other words, the message given is doubly applicable in different situations. This pattern of interpretation is present in several biblical texts. This duality of information ends up generating much controversy in religious circles, especially in the debate on issues between Christians and Jews. However, prophetic interpretation and divine inspiration will be studied at another time. For now, I would like the reader to consider this methodology as the basis for this study.
Analyzing the Text
Let’s extract some important information that we read from the text above:
- “Shot” was considered the “signet of perfection, full of wisdom and beauty“
- It is said that he was present at the “Eden, garden of God“
- His garments contained a variety “of all precious stones” (9 in total), and in the “shine of the stones you walked“
- Had “ornaments” of “gold“
- Outside “created“
- He was “anointed guardian cherub“
- It remained “on the holy mountain of God“
- He was “Perfect” from its creation until the day when “if iniquity was found” in your heart
- Multiplied your “business“, and his interior was filled with “violence“. Because of this “you have sinned“
- It was released for “out of the mountain of God“
- Because of its splendid “beauty” and “splendor“, “Your heart rose up“, and yours “wisdom” you have been corrupted
- It was placed “before the kings” so that you were contemplated
There is a lot of information above that does not apply solely to the “King of Tyre“. A human being, idolatrous and pagan as he was, the “King of Tyre“, could never be considered “Perfect“. He was not created, nor was he in the “Eden, the garden of God“, which God created and destroyed with the flood. The term “cherub” is used to describe a species and classification of angelic beings. The king of Tyre has never been in the “holy mountain of God“.
Such descriptions can only refer to another being, even if someone said these words to the king of Tyre. Certainly, these words applied and were analogous to the king of Tyre, but they cannot be understood literally. Given such details, it is interpreted that divine inspiration also referred to this other being, who had an angelic nature, as he was identified as a “cherub“.
Cherubim: Angelic Beings
Beings of Spiritual Nature
The Bible tells us that God created human beings from the dust of the ground (Genesis 2:7). The physical nature of human beings is clay. We are creatures of “flesh“. The Scriptures mention other groups of beings that God created, and they have a nature different from ours. God calls them “angels“, “seraphim“, and “cherubim“, and their natures are spiritual:
Angels:.
Hebrews 1:7 – “And concerning the angels he says: He makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire“
Hebrews 1:14 – “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?“
Seraphim:.
Isaiah 6:2 – “Seraphim stood above him; each had six wings; with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew“
Cherubs:.
Ezekiel 10:7 – “Then a cherub stretched out his hand from among the cherubims toward the fire that was between the cherubims; and he took it and put it in the hands of him who was clothed in linen; and he took it and went out“
The Lord’s Creation is Vast!
God’s creation is vast and varied. In our world, we can contemplate this diversity. There is a great diversity of plants and animals, each according to its own species. The same is true for beings of a spiritual nature.
God is organized in His creation. He has laws that establish how everything should be. In His governance, He also assigns a certain hierarchy and responsibility to each of His created beings. There are celestial beings who are closer to God and others who perform specific tasks.
Lessons from the Earthly Sanctuary
The Ark of the Covenant
In the construction of the Earthly Sanctuary, the Lord gave Moses the pattern for how the entire Sanctuary, its furniture, and utensils were to be created (Exodus 25:8-9, 40). Of all the furniture, the “Ark of the Covenant” was the most important. The Sanctuary was to be divided into three parts: the Courtyard, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place. The “Ark of the Covenant” was to be placed precisely in the Most Holy Place of the Earthly Sanctuary. In that place, God manifested Himself once a year, on the Day of Atonement, also known as “Yom Kippur“. This demonstration was called the “Shekinah” and represented the presence of God. It took place on top of the “Ark of the Covenant“, in a piece called the “mercy seat“. The following description is given about this piece:
Exodus 37:8 – “One cherub on the one end of one side, and the other on the other end of the other side; of one piece with the mercy seat he made the cherubim on the two ends of it“
The Cherubim on Top of the Ark of the Covenant
According to God’s instructions given to Moses, the mercy seat was to have two cherubim, one at each end. The construction of these cherubim had very important symbolic meaning, as did the entire construction of the Earthly Sanctuary and the rituals practiced throughout the year. The cherubim were in a position of reverence, and both faced the center of the mercy seat, the place where God manifested Himself once a year. Furthermore, within the “Ark of the Covenant“, there were three things stored: God’s Law on two tablets of stone, the manna, and Aaron’s rod.
It is possible that these two cherubim are symbols of the cherubim that surround and act directly with God in heaven, close to His throne. In chapter 6 of the book of Isaiah, we find the seraphim surrounding the throne of God. Later in the book of Ezekiel and in Revelation 4, we find the activity of other cherubim also surrounding the throne. In any case, the symbolism found on the mercy seat indicates the existence of at least two beings acting closer to God.
The Rise of Iniquity
The Anointed Guard
The text from Ezekiel 28 that we read earlier mentioned the “cherub” as having a specific position. He was called the “anointed guardian cherub“. It wasn’t just any cherub, but the one who was responsible for the “anointed guard“. There was something he was responsible for, which set him apart from everyone else. Certainly, the “cherub” mentioned in Ezekiel 28 is related to the office and position of one of the cherubim symbolized above the mercy seat.
In addition to all the glory he possessed, having been considered the “signet of perfection, full of wisdom and beauty“, and having a variety “of all precious stones” in his garments, this cherub was in direct contact with Almighty God. Despite having been created “perfect“, at a given moment, “iniquity” arose in his heart.
I Will Be Like the Most High
The text of Ezekiel 28 does not go into detail about the “iniquity” in his heart. Regarding this, we find information in another text:
Isaiah 14:12-14 – “How you have fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you have been cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend into heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, in the farthest parts of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.’“
The idea of prophetic inspiration applied to the king of Tyre in Ezekiel 28 can also be applied to the message given to the king of Babylon in the passage of Isaiah 14:12-14. Although the message in these verses was given to the king of Babylon, we find some characteristics that do not apply exclusively to the king. Therefore, we can understand it as having a double meaning.
The Morning Star
About the “morning star, son of the dawn“, it was said that “you fell from the sky” and “you were thrown to the ground“. The text of Ezekiel also commented on something similar: “I threw you to the ground” (Ezekiel 28:17). Everything indicates that the duplicity of interpretation is being applied to the same being. Analyzing the text of Isaiah, we can extract the following information, just as we did previously:
- It is identified as the “morning star, son of the dawn“
- It fell “from the sky” and was “thrown to the ground“
- It was responsible for weakening “the nations“
- It had a desire in its heart to ascend “to heaven; above the stars of God” to exalt its “throne“
- It would sit on the “congregation hill“
- It would rise above the “highest clouds“
- It would become “similar to the Most High“
In the text of Ezekiel, the cherub remained “on the holy mountain of God“, but had been expelled and thrown out of the “mount of God“. In the text of Isaiah, this being wanted to establish his “throne” on the “congregation hill“, above the “God’s stars“, and become “similar to the Most High!” Here is an observation worth making.
The Meaning of Stars
The word “stars” in the Bible, when written within a prophetic context, often symbolizes “angels“, as shown below:
Revelation 1:20 – “The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches“
Given these descriptions, we can identify the cause of the emergence of “iniquity” in the heart of this cherub. From all indications, pride arose in his heart, and he desired to reign on the throne of God, becoming “similar to the Most High“. He wanted to rule over all the angels created by God! This cherub was not content with the position he held. He already had great privileges, for he was the “anointed guardian cherub“. Unlike many others, he was on God’s side and attended to Him personally. But he allowed this desire to take hold of his heart, and he went ahead with his plans to try to get what he wanted.
The Beginning of a Rebellion
In the book of Revelation, the apostle John describes a vision he received from God. It presents a war in heaven between two groups of celestial beings. Let us read:
Revelation 12:7-9 – “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they prevailed not, neither was their place found anymore in heaven. 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“
In John’s vision, he saw a battle taking place in heaven. We will not analyze when this battle occurred, but rather, we will consider only the content of the verse read above. There were two groups. On one side, there was “Michael and his angels“, and on the other side, “the dragon and his angels“. It is said that this last group no longer prevailed in heaven, and they were cast down to the earth. The “dragon” seen in the vision is symbolic, and as the text itself explains, it symbolizes “the Devil, and Satan“. Along with Satan, other angels were expelled from heaven. Therefore, the second group that was cast out of heaven consisted of Satan as the leader, along with many other angels who followed him in this battle.
Note that in this text, it is described that he was “cast down to earth” and that “his place was no longer found in heaven“, and “his angels were cast out with him“. The language used here is similar to what we read in Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14. All of this indicates that “Satan” is the same “cherub” described in Ezekiel 28.
Who was Satan?
Contrary to what many people think, Satan is not a being with horns, a long tail, and a trident in his hand. He was an angelic being, great in wisdom, and was at God’s side for a long time. He was created perfect by God and received great privileges in heaven. Similarly, all the other angels who followed him in the rebellion he caused are identified in the Bible as “demons“. Obviously, they are not mythological beings with horns either! This image was created to distort the biblical reality of what is taught about them. Demons were once heavenly angels. They were also perfect creatures of God, but they were deceived by a cherub who wanted to sit on God’s throne. Satan and his demons are spiritual beings, and they were cast out of heaven and now live on our earth. They have a different physical nature than we do because they are spiritual beings.
Up until this moment in this study, we have not analyzed the strategy used by this cherub to try to occupy the throne of God. But one thing is certain: he managed to cause a great rebellion in heaven and deceived many angels into siding with him against God. Despite his desire to take God’s throne, he was unable to carry it out in heaven and was cast down to earth.
In the next study, we will analyze the strategy used to cause this rebellion, as well as the involvement of our planet in this war that originated in the sky.
May God bless us!
