Question:
Kindly state the definite cause for Lucifer’s defection and subsequent rebellion. Is there a specific statement in the Scriptures about his casting out of the heavenly home with his deceived adherents? Revelation 12:4–9 seems to be allegorical. Why has he been allowed to continue in rebellion and usurpation of government on the earth to the awful detriment and destruction of God’s creatures?
Answer:
It is a long question, which we must answer too briefly.
- If there were a real cause for sin, sin would be excusable. There is no cause for sin, and the beginning of sin 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 Ezekiel 28:11–19. That 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.” Isaiah 14:12–14. To pride is added unholy ambition, which would dethrone God to attain its object. But how it found a place in his heart, we don’t know.
- 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. See Revelation 12:9.
- God suffers this awful lesson of sin and its consequences to the universe, that all His intelligent creatures may learn for all eternity that sin—the transgression of God’s law—unrestrained works out inevitably misery and woe and crime and disease and death. If God had, in the beginning, cut off the transgressors, 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 until the great Judgment Day shall vindicate God and prove that might is not right, expediency is not right, deception is not right, but everlasting might is.
