The origin of Satan -originally Lucifer- is mostly misunderstood even by many Christians. So non-Christians have an even harder time with it.
But the Bible is clear on the subject. We just need to do a better job of explaining what the Bible says.
So who is Lucifer in the Bible?
Satan -the accuser- was created as Lucifer (light-bearer). Lucifer -a cherub- was the most powerful and glorious archangel ever created. And when he rebelled, one-third of the angels followed him.
A cherub is one kind of angel. It’s the most powerful class of angels.
Lucifer was created to praise the Lord, but instead, he rebelled and took one-third of the angels with him.
Lucifer fell due to his great pride in himself. (See my post “What Does the Bible Say about Pride?”)
Even though he was created in perfection, he still fell because his focus was on himself instead of the God who created him.
What Does Lucifer Look Like?
In popular culture, Lucifer is often portrayed as a dark and evil figure.
Unfortunately, some people believe that Lucifer is a force for good. He still shows himself as an angel of light -deceiving many.
Lucifer has been featured in many movies and TV shows and is a popular character in both fiction and non-fiction.
Lucifer is often depicted as a fallen angel in religious contexts. In some cases, he is also seen as a tempter or a figure of evil.
And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. REVELATION 12:10, ESV
In Christianity, for example, Lucifer -after the fall- is called Satan, which means “Accuser.”
In Islam, Lucifer is known as Iblis.
In both Christianity and Islam, Lucifer is seen as having rebelled against God.
In some other religious traditions, such as Gnosticism, Lucifer is seen as a positive figure who brings knowledge and enlightenment.
In different mythologies, Lucifer is often portrayed as a fallen angel or as a demon.
In some stories, he is the ruler of the underworld, while in others he is a bringer of light or a tempter.
Often, he is associated with fire and darkness.
In some cultures, he is seen as a symbol of rebellion or as a figure who represents the dark side of human nature.
Different literary contexts have portrayed Lucifer in many ways.
In some contexts, Lucifer is seen as a fallen angel who is damned to Hell for eternity.
In others, Lucifer is cast as a rebel who stands up against an unjust God. In still others, Lucifer is a tragic figure who is misunderstood and doomed to a life of misery.
Lucifer has been portrayed in different scientific contexts throughout history. In some cases, he has been seen as a bringer of light and knowledge.
And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14
Most recently, however, Lucifer has been associated with the study of the universe and the search for extraterrestrial life.
In this context, he is often seen as a symbol of hope and exploration.
All the above concepts are different ways humans have tried to depict Satan.
To say the least, the inability of a man to know the true picture of Lucifer has made Satan more successful in his plots against man.
To add more to the confusing nature of Satan’s appearance, the Bible says he can masquerade as an angel of light.
Whoever claims they have seen Satan in his real self is confused because he knows how to present himself to people in any way he wants to.
Whatever Lucifer looks like, definitely he is not an ugly creature with long horns and a tail as often portrayed in drawings and videos. Those are ways to show the evil nature in him and what he represents.
The Bible describes Lucifer as a beautiful angel when he was in heaven.
"You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you." Ezekiel 28:15, ESV
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
One common misconception about Satan is that he is the ruler of hell. But the reality is that at the proper time, he will become the principal prisoner of hell.
The Bible tells us that hell was made for the devil and his angels. But people who freely choose to reject the free gift of salvation choose to join Satan in his eternal prison.
Who are the Seven Fallen Angels?
The idea of fallen angels is derived from the Book of Enoch, an ancient Jewish text that is not part of the Bible.
The book tells the story of a group of angels who are cast out of heaven and into a place called Sheol.
These angels, took human wives and had children with them.
The offspring of these unions are called the Nephilim.
There is much debate surrounding the concept of the Seven Fallen Angels. It is found in several religious traditions, including Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
In some Christian cultures, the Seven Fallen Angels are often associated with the Seven Deadly Sins, and they are often seen as being responsible for causing various plagues and disasters.
But the Bible does not teach this.
In Islam, the Seven Fallen Angels are known as the shayatin, and they are believed to be responsible for tempting humans to commit evil.
In Judaism, the Seven Fallen Angels are known as the se’irim, and they are often associated with causing people to become possessed by demons.
Even though the story of the seven fallen angels was part of Christian mythology, it is not documented in the Bible.
The Bible did tell us that Satan and all the angels that supported his rebellious act were driven out of heaven by angel Michael and other angels of God.
The Bible did not mention the names of the angels, and they are more than seven because it was recorded that Satan had one-third of the angels of heaven on his side. To say that they are seven is false and not biblical.
Also, the Bible did record in the book of Genesis 6:2 (NKJV), that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful, and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.
Some Bible scholars have explained this to mean that some angels had an unholy union with humans and gave birth to giants who promoted evils and all manners of wickedness on earth.
That provoked God to anger and made Him destroy the first world with the flood.
The truth is, the doctrine of the seven fallen angels has no basis in the Bible and we must not believe it or take it as part of God’s message for us.
The doctrine is found in the book of Enoch which is not part of the Holy Bible.
Enoch is found is an apocryphal book. It’s part of a compilation of books rejected by Jews and Christians for thousands of years. It was only accepted by the Catholic church in the 16th century and some Orthodox churches.
We should be careful about what we read.
There are 66 books in the Bible: 39 in the Old Testament, and 27 in the New Testament.
These books are all inspired by God, and they are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16, KJV).
See my post "How Many Books were Removed from the Bible?"
We should know that right from creation Satan has been trying to inject his lies into the hearts of men. He has tried all means to achieve this.
One of the ways he does this is by using false doctrine which the Bible has warned us will characterize the last days.
We should keep our knowledge and faith within the limits of what God allows us to have. What is in the Bible is sufficient to make us perfect in all things and to lead us to the Kingdom of God in the end.
Who is Lucifer’s Father?
The concept of Lucifer’s father is a pagan concept that has been around for centuries.
This is not a Biblical concept.
The Bible warns us not to believe or accept any teaching that is rooted in paganism, they are part of Satan’s strategies to take people’s attention away from God and bring them under his authority.
God created Lucifer as one of the angels in heaven.
He was a special being with beautiful features and high authority. He was not begotten hence he has no father.
Angels do not reproduce. So angels cannot become mothers and fathers.
Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.”
Matthew 22:29-30, esv
Erroneously some people claim that God is the Father of Lucifer. But this is just a pagan mythology and nothing can be farther from the truth.
The Bible says in Genesis that God created man in his own image. But it never says that about the angels.
Satan is the exact opposite of God and what He stands for.
If like begets like, God could never be the Father of Satan.
Many people have tried to ask the question “Why did God create Satan?”
The answer is God did not create Satan, that is, the devil. He created an angel who because of his rebellious evil intentions became Satan.
Satan stands for –and is the embodiment- of everything evil.
He introduced sin into the world and made man rebel against God, just as he did in heaven before he was driven out.
He has been working hard to frustrate and destroy God’s plan and purposes on earth.
The Bible reveals in the book of Job that he walks to and fro through the earth to tempt people and encourage them to continue to live in disobedience to God.
In 1 Peter 5:8 He goes about as a roaring lion looking for whom to devour.
His ultimate plan is to kill, steal, and destroy. That he has been doing from the beginning.
God cannot be the father of the arch-enemy of his prized creation – man.
Rather He is the father of Jesus Christ the Savior of the world. Jesus did not hide this while He was on earth during His earthly ministry.
He said,
"Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." John 14:9b, ESV
He lived for his Father all His earthly life and demonstrated such unequaled obedience and dedication to God that made God-the-Father say, “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” (John 3;17).
The Bible tells us that Satan is the father of lies.
He told the first lie in the Garden of Eden which led to the fall of Adam and Eve, and the separation of man from God.
Satan has many children among those who tell lies and live by falsehood. That is why Revelation 21:8 says “all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.”
We should not make Satan our father; rather we should obey God and make Him our father so that His divine plans can be fulfilled in our lives.
What Does Lucifer Mean?
Lucifer, who is also known as the Devil or Satan, is a fallen angel who was cast out of heaven for his rebellion against God.
The word Lucifer is derived from the Latin translation of the Bible by Jerome.
His name means “light-bearer” or “morning star,” and he is often associated with the planet Venus –which often appears in the morning.
Only a few English Bible translations use the word “Lucifer.” The King James Version (KJV) and the New King James Version (NKJV) are notable for using the word “Lucifer.”
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!
If you click on the link to Isaiah 14:12 above, you can compare a number of different translations. Other translations use the words “ Day Star” instead of Lucifer.
Which Bible Translation is the most accurate one? See my post on the Most Accurate Translations of the Bible.
In Isaiah 14:12-15, this fallen angel is described as being cast down from heaven because of his pride and arrogance.
In 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 6, we are told that this fallen angel led a rebellion against God and was then cast out of heaven along with the other rebellious angels.
Revelation 12:7-9 describes a war in heaven in which the dragon (Satan) was defeated and cast out of heaven. These passages allude to the fall of Lucifer and indicate that he is now the ruler of this world.
When Lucifer rebelled, he became known as Satan and was cast out of heaven.
Then he set up his kingdom in the heavenlies somewhere between heaven and earth.
His purpose is to frustrate God’s plan on earth since he failed to achieve his plan in heaven, that is, to take the place of God.
He knows that God’s ultimate plan in creation centers around man.
He hopes to put a permanent separation between man and God. He tempted Eve in the garden of Eden to start his plan of getting man to rebel against God.
He knows that the Lord’s eyes are so pure that they cannot behold sin and that as long as he can keep humanity permanently in sin, he could achieve his goal. He also attacks God’s people with physical and spiritual warfare.
A few key verses give us some insight into what the devil’s plan might be.
In John 8:44, Jesus says to the Pharisees, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires.”
This suggests that the devil plans to do evil and lead people away from God.
In 2 Timothy 2:26, Paul says that the devil “is holding them captive to do his will.”
This implies that the devil’s plan is to keep people in bondage to sin and away from the freedom that comes from following Jesus.
So, we can see from these verses that the plans of Satan involve leading people away from God and into sinful behavior.
Ultimately, the devil’s plan will fail and he will be destroyed by God (Revelation 20:10).
Why did Lucifer Fall from Heaven?
The Bible tells us that Lucifer occupied an exalted position in heaven among other angels. He was created by God for a unique purpose, going by all the features God put in him.
The Bible describes him as a being with wonderful features.
“For every stone of great price was your clothing, the sardius, the topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the emerald and the carbuncle: your store-houses were full of gold, and things of great price were in you.” (Ezekiel 28:13, ESV).
Lucifer was not only beautifully created, but God also put all kinds of musical instruments in him according to Ezekiel 28:13.
This made many people believe that Lucifer used to lead the choir in heaven.
All of these endowments must have gotten into his head and made him believe that he can be like God and that he can receive the same praise, worship, and adoration reserved only for God.
With his heart full of pride he said, “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 highest” ( Isaiah 14:12-14).
He succeeded in gathering one-third of the angels in heaven to his side, and they plan to wage war against God and the angels loyal to Him.
War broke out in heaven, and Michael led the angels of God to fight against Lucifer and his angels.
The forces of Satan were defeated and driven away from heaven. There was no more place for them in the kingdom of God.
“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! (Isaiah 14:12, ESV).
Lucifer’s fall from Heaven symbolizes the human capacity to sin and rebel against divine authority. It also demonstrates the destructive consequences of sin and how it can ultimately lead to one’s downfall.
Final Thoughts
We can learn some lessons from what had befallen the angel Lucifer who is now Satan. First, no matter who we are, or what we have, we must never forget our source.
We must remember and acknowledge the God who made us. We must obey Him and do His will always because He has the power to take away the “endowments” that are making us proud.
Also when Satan realized he has lost everything, and that his fate is already sealed, he plans to take as many people as possible with him.
That is why he is going about like a roaring lion looking for whom to devour. God had prepared hell fire for him and his angels, but as many people that wish to follow him, and obey him will also suffer the same fate.
Let us beware so that we would not become his victims.
Christ is Knocking at the door of our hearts. He has died and shed His blood for the remission of our sins.
That is the only power that can deliver us from the bondage and yoke of Satan.
Surrender to Him today, and you are guaranteed eternal life in the kingdom of God.
Is your Faith Founded on Fact? Have you committed to follow Jesus?