fallen archangel” (Every-
man’s Encyclopaedia).
Personification
The assumption reg-
arding Lucifer is, of
course, based on the
belief in the personality
of “the Devil” and
“Satan”. The Bible uses
personification – and this
is very different from attributing actual
personality.
In conclusion, does Ezekiel refer to the “Devil”
in a former state of “beauty”? Again, a reading
of the context will show that the prophet
makes no such reference. Ezekiel 28 refers
solely to the ancient city of Tyre and to its
decline and fall.
The truth will never be learned by taking
passages out of their context and making them
apply to circumstances of imagination. The
truth as to the “Devil” and “Satan” is not diffi-
cult to discern and articles in these Booklets
will seek to show true Bible teaching on what
is an important doctrine, the right under-
standing of which is essential for salvation.
Above: Silver Shekels from ancient Tyre
13
Lucifer
In all this there was no
need whatever for the
interference of any
super-human monster of
power, certainly not of
any “fallen angel”. It is
in Milton’s “Paradise
Lost” where such an idea
will be found. It is not
any teaching of God’s
inspired word.
To what then does Lucifer refer? The context
is perfectly clear. The prophet addresses (ver.
4) the king of Babylon, and speaks of the time
when his oppressive subjection of God’s
people was to cease: “In the day that the Lord
shall give thee rest from thy sorrow and from
thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein
thou wast made to serve, that thou shalt take
up this proverb AGAINST THE KING OF
BABYLON.”
A Great King’s Downfall
Then, in figurative language, is the fall of
Babylon described. The “whole earth is at
rest.” The “trees rejoice”; the kings of
nations, already in the grave, rise to welcome
the Babylonian monarch; he is like a star that
falls. The great king had aspired to world
dominion; he sought, as it were, Divine
equality (how like the later power described
by Paul in 2 Thes. 2 – the latter day Baby-
lonian, Papal, power). Verses 4 to 15 vividly
describe the rise and fall of the king and
nation of Babylon, and in the end the prophet
asks, “Is this the man that made the earth to
tremble, that did shake kingdoms?” (ver.16)
The word Lucifer is not a translation of the
Hebrew at all. The marginal rendering of the
word is “day star”. The revised version substi-
tutes this for the word Lucifer. The figure is
this of a star – “the bright morning star.”
“Lucifer” is the Latin name for the star
“Venus”. The word in the latin means, “light-
bearer” and it is recorded that “The church
fathers attached the name to Satan – and thus
the word has come to be used to denote the
An Ambassador
in Chains
C
an we not think of Paul smiling
somewhat whimsically as he dic-
tated the words, “an ambassador in
chains” ? An ambassador was sacro-
sanct. He should not be imprisoned but
sent back to the power he represented.
Nero did not recognise Christ or His
ambassadors. But the embassage was to
all, rulers and ruled, and imprisonment
did not restrain Paul from discharging
his mission. He spoke boldly to those
who visited him; he sent letters to those
far away. And his work, in God’s arrang-
ing, has been imperishable.
Bro John Carter