I used to think I knew the answer to this question. He lost heaven, was headed to hell, and wanted to take as many people with him as he could. Simple, right?
How were we to counter his plan? Resist him. Tell everyone about Jesus, get them saved, and then disciple them. Teach them to read the Bible and learn to become more like Jesus. Not so simple, but nevertheless, that’s all we had to do.
But recently, I heard something that has been ringing in my spirit. Did you ever play pinball. If you are good at it, which I’m not, you can get that little silver ball bouncing back and forth between the bumpers – ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. You get the idea. Well, that has been happening inside me.
Let’s go back and look at what the bible says, but from a different perspective.
We know that when God created the angels, He created different kinds. In the bible we read of angels, archangels, cherubim, seraphim, and so on. Satan was an angel – most likely of the highest order of seraphim – in charge of the heavenly worship. His name, Lucifer, means “light bearer.” There is a passage in Ezekiel 28 that addresses the “king of Tyre” that most scholars believe refers to the devil. You can read the whole passage in Ezekiel 28:11-19, but here are a few highlights. This is the Word of the Lord through Ezekiel, speaking to Lucifer.
You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God;
You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.
So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor.
One way we know this wasn’t referring to the literal King of Tyre is the line, “You were in Eden, the garden of God.” The physical king of Tyre was never in Eden, nor did he walk among fiery stones.
In Isaiah 14, we read this, again speaking about Lucifer, this time as the “king of Babylon.”
How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!
You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”
But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit. (Isaiah 14:12-15)
I mention all this to say, Satan was created with great beauty, and he led the heavenly worship, but “his heart became proud” and he wanted worship – just like Almighty God!!!
How could he get the worship he so coveted? He needed a kingdom of his own. A kingdom with his own subjects! This, I believe, is his motivation for all he does.
In the garden of Eden, when he tempted Adam and Eve to disobey God and eat of the forbidden tree, his main goal was not to keep Adam and Eve out of heaven, he wanted what they had – dominion over the earth – his own kingdom! And he got it. Adam and Eve lost their authority because that authority came from submission to God. But they chose to believe Satan, the serpent, who said “Did God really say?” They disobeyed and all creation was subject to Satan’s desires. That is why it says in Romans 8:19-22:
All creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. (NLT)
For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. (NIV)
After Jesus was baptized and Holy Spirit descended upon him, He was led into the wilderness – by Holy Spirit – to be tempted. And Satan took full advantage. Jesus knew why He had come to earth. He knew He would suffer and die to redeem us and regain the kingdom. Satan offered Him a “shortcut.”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Matthew 4:8-9
If Jesus had done that, Satan would have had his desired worship AND kept dominion over the world. Hebrews 9:22 states “The law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” HE WOULD HAVE HAD HIS KINGDOM and us! Thankfully, Jesus saw through the lies and chose AGAIN to obey His Father. He loved us that much!
What would Satan’s Kingdom look like? It would not be a party scene, with no holds barred activities, everyone doing what they want with no restrictions. Remember, Jesus said “the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy.” (John 10:10) Just take a quick look at the evil and pain in this world. Murder, rape, anarchy, cancer, bitterness, grief… and that is a short list. There would be no love, no forgiveness, no joy, no happiness, no friendship, and no light. No free will. No escape. Complete, total darkness with torture, pain and suffering. FOR EVER!
The Kingdom of God is very different. When Jesus told us what the thief wants, He counters all that with the abundant life that he gives. That is why Jesus said to pray “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
That is also why Jesus not only came to pay the price for our sin when He died on the cross, but He came to restore the kingdom.
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15 NIV)
The kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:21 NIV)
El Elyon, the Most High God, King of the Universe,
Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, the Way, the Truth and the Life,
Holy Spirit, the Breath of Life, Our Helper, Advocate and Teacher,
we give worship only to You.
For You only are Holy and Worthy.
Now and forever.
Amen
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