Before the creation of man Lucifer, son of the morning, was the highest of God’s creations. But pride entered his heart and he wasn’t pleased to be submissive to his creator. His aspirations are recorded by the prophet Isaiah.
“…I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…I will be like the Most High.” Isaiah 14:13-14
Pride takes place when one uses the term ‘I will’ and attributes what God has provided to one’s own power and effort.
The Isaiah passage above was simultaneously describing the mindset of Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar who was a puppet of Satan who was in turn a puppet of the One who created him.
Recall Nebuchadnezzar also attributed what God had given him to his own efforts as did his puppeteer, Satan.
“…King Nebuchadnezzar…was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, ‘Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?’” Daniel 4:28-30
Recall further that Daniel had previously interpreted another of Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams that recorded the consequences of his pride, i.e. he was to be reduced to a grass eating beast of the field for seven years.
“While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!’ …That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen…until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.” Daniel 4:31-33
After Satan’s humiliating loss evidenced by the Babylonian Kingdom being taken from Nebuchadnezzar and also the humiliating removal of the king of Tyre who was also energized by Satan, one might have assumed that he would have rethought using the words ‘I will.’ Such was/is not the case.
Recall the early days of Jesus’ ministry.
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Matthew 4:1
It is important to begin by noting that Jesus was led by the Spirit, i.e. God the Father had orchestrated the entire experience of His Son being tempted (tested).
“…the devil…showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘all these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.’” Matthew 4:8-9
Of course Jesus replied that only the Lord God should be worshipped and served.
Satan was well aware that what he offered Jesus had been given to him as part of God’s master plan. Satan has no power to do anything that God hasn’t preordained.
Luke recorded that fact as he recounted the testing of Jesus.
“And the devil said to Him, ‘All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish…’”
Luke 4:6
Luke 4:6
It all goes back to God’s powerful ‘I will’ in Genesis.
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed…” Genesis 3:15
Satan will exalt his granted power more than any time in history during the great tribulation following the church age, which is coming to a close. Satan will personally energize the future anti-Christ.
“…and the man of sin (lawlessness) is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
Paul is describing what Daniel referred to more than 500 years before the birth of Christ, i.e. “And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate…”
And Jesus confirmed Daniel’s prophecy as He was describing future history to His disciples:
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place…” Matthew 24:15
Satan’s ‘I wills’ will in God’s timing become ‘I lost’ when he finds himself being tormented in the lake of fire ‘day and night forever and ever.’
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