Whence Cometh Satan? (Part 1 of 3)

A lot of sermons have been preached about Satan. However, I wonder how many people, preachers included, actually know who Satan is and where he came from. Do we know why he is so determined to fight against God and all those who seek to do good in Christ’s name? Do we know why he is so hateful and downright evil?

To answer these questions, we have to go back before the physical creation of the earth, for that is where we first meet the one we call Satan, otherwise known as Lucifer, or the Devil.

There’s a curious verse in the epistle of Jude (KJV) that refers to the “first estate.” Nothing further is mentioned, nor is there any other reference to it in the entire Bible. Even so, I think we can make some assumptions regarding this verse.

“And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” (Jude 6).

Assumption one: While the first estate is not common knowledge among us today, it may have been during the time of the apostles, or else Jude would likely have elaborated upon it.

Assumption two: If there were a first estate, it follows that there is also a second state, or why mention it in the first place?

Assumption three: If there were angels who didn’t keep their first estate, it follows there were angels who did keep their first estate.

Assumption four: If there were angels who did keep their first estate, it follows they would be allowed the opportunity to progress into their second estate, whatever that consisted of.

Assumption five: Habitation refers to a place of residence. Wherever this habitation was, this is where all these angels lived before they left.

Assumption six: Estate doesn’t refer to land holdings, but to a condition—mental, emotional, spiritual and/or material, or even location, or a combination of these things.

Assumption seven: There are at least three specific conditions or estates I can imagine:

1. our pre-mortal habitation (existence in heaven), wherever that was;
2. our present earth-life existence on earth; and
3. our post-mortal existence, wherever that will be.

Each of these conditions, or estates, are different in the following ways:

1. In our pre-mortal existence we were endowed with spirit bodies—what we were before that is not given;
2. In our present earth-life existence, we are given physical bodies of flesh and blood;
3. In our post-mortal existence, we will be given resurrected bodies—glorified and perfected.

Assumption eight: We don’t know what everlasting chains refer to, but I do not believe it stands for everlasting torture, as so much of our classical art depicts. Unfortunately, a lot of this classical art has become part of Christian thinking with regards to hell. I choose to believe Jude is referring to something other than God-administered torture, whatever that may be.

Assumption nine: The angels who did not keep their first estate were Satan and his followers.

Assumption ten: Satan and his angels left their habitation in heaven.

“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And [Jesus] said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” (Luke 10:17-18).

Thus, Satan and his angels fell from heaven. That was the first fall; Adam and Eve represented the second fall. (I’m sure Satan didn’t fall like we would fall down the stairs. More likely, he fell from God’s grace and was removed from heaven, apparently with great speed—as lightning—probably through teleportation. I’m sure God can do that.)

Isaiah had an interesting way to put it:

“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! 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. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” (Isaiah 14:12-15).

Here, the Lord is uttering a proverb against the latter-day king of Babylon (verse 4). The Hebrew suggests a simile or a parable, comparing the king’s arrogance with the arrogance of Lucifer when, in heaven, he sought to exalt himself above even God, so it would seem. In his arrogance, this latter-day king also seems to exalt himself above even God. Could this be the Beast of the Book of Revelation? The Anti-Christ?

Lucifer, now known as Satan or the Devil, is the source of power of this last king of Babylon, which city, signifies the seat or central place of evil. This king shall follow Lucifer down to whatever hell is.

These verses give us a clue as to why Lucifer was cast out of heaven. However, it’s hard to imagine how anyone could be so brazen as to think he could exalt himself above the very God who created him—and to his face, no less! Yet, these verses certainly suggest this.

Still, it seemed to go far beyond this arrogance:

“And 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. 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. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” (Revelation 12:7-12).

It’s apparent that Lucifer wasn’t satisfied with merely having a differing opinion. It would seem he wanted to force his opinion on the rest of the children of God. Yes, Lucifer was as much a pre-mortal child of God as you and I were and are. Hard to imagine, isn’t it? Yet, it’s true. We all come from the same place. We all have the same Father, else heaven was invaded by Satan and his angels. Right?