QUESTION: Is it scriptural to refer to Lucifer in Isa. 14 as Satan?
ANSWER: The answer to your question is, No. Lucifer is not Satan. But inasmuch as many Christians have assumed that Lucifer is Satan, a more detailed answer is called for, also an explanation of what or who is meant by "Lucifer."
The confusion regarding Lucifer is due to a mistake by the translators. The original word should have been translated "bright star," or "morning star"; but these scholars chose rather to transliterate the word; that is, to merely spell the original word in English letters. That is what "Lucifer" is. If it had been translated into "bright star," no one would have supposed it to be Satan's personal name. The future beast of the Roman Empire will astonish the world; he will dazzle mankind and appear to usher in a new day for the earth. Men will feel that at long last they have a man who will bring in peace and order to a troubled scene. The Lord Jesus is the "morning star" of the New Testament who will appear for His own while it is yet dark and before He will shine forth as the sun in supreme majesty. The beast will so astonish men that they will say "peace and safety," and "who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?" But their hope will be short-lived; for Christ, the coming One, will cast the beast into the lake of fire and destroy his armies before He sets up His world kingdom. And even before He appears, the awful judgment of the great tribulation period will come upon all the earth, especially on the kingdom of the beast.
Before examining Isa. 14, let us notice the 13th chapter, where the destruction of the old Babylonian kingdom of the Medes and Persians was foretold. The 12th verse of that chapter is often misunderstood. There we read, "I will make a man more precious [scarce, or rare] than fine gold." This is often interpreted as Christ, but instead it is the Babylonian soldier. The kingdom would be overthrown regardless of its former military prowess.
When we come to the 14th chapter, we find that which is yet future. But it is not the destruction of the old kingdom. It is rather the complete overthrow of the last holder of Gentile supremacy-the end of the "times of the Gentiles." These times of Gentile domination over the Jews—God's earthly people—began when God turned them over to Nebuchadnezzar for chastisement. At that time God permitted His earthly house to be destroyed, and a large portion of the people to be taken prisoners to Babylon. From that day to the present, the Jews have been subject to Gentile control. Even today with the Jews back in Palestine, they have not their old city with its notable sites; and their borders are being watched by a Gentile mixed armistice commission.
To understand the "times of the Gentiles," we should understand the second chapter of Daniel. There Nebuchadnezzar was given a most informative dream. The man seen in his dream is "the man of the earth," of Psalm 10:1818To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress. (Psalm 10:18). He is the Gentile overlord who came in in God's judgment upon His earthly people for their idolatry. This image had
a head of gold—Nebuchadnezzar;
breast and arms of silver—Medes and Persians;
belly and thighs of brass (or copper)—Grecians;
legs of iron—Romans;
feet of iron and clay mixed—the future revived Roman Empire.
We are plainly told by God that Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold. Each subsequent world empire was inferior to its immediate predecessor. But while grandeur decreased from gold to silver, to brass, to iron; strength increased, as iron is stronger than gold.
Now it is not without precedent in Scripture for God to call a subsequent state by its original name. Thus in Isa. 14:44That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! (Isaiah 14:4): "That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon." This will be the last holder of Gentile supremacy which began with Nebuchadnezzar. And the last holder of that God-given supremacy (that does not say that the holder may not misuse the power) will be the beast of the revived Roman Empire. It is not improbable that this man is alive today, only awaiting the time for him to step forth publicly into the world arena. This man will have "a look more stout than his fellows," and will blaspheme God and those who dwell in heaven; perhaps this indicates that he will realize that the true Christians, the objects of his hateful rage, have gone to heaven and are out of his reach. He is described in Rev. 13 and 17.
This is the "king of Babylon" of Isa. 14 He will be allowed by God to reach the pinnacle of world power, which he will abuse as man reaches the culmination of the "day of man." In him and his joint workers, man's wickedness and defiance of God will reach its zenith, only to be toppled into the abyss of torment.
The spirit of the coming "king of Babylon" is already widely diffused in the world; it marks the "last days." Here is the language of the coming "beast" of the Roman Empire: "I will ascend into heaven... I will exalt my throne... 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." vv. 13, 14. This is the language of a man; it is man in rebellion against God, in defiance of God. Five times he says, "I will." And is not this the character of the day? I will travel about the universe; I will go to the moon; I will not be deterred by any god; I am master of my own destiny. This at least is the language of the heart of man as he reaches for the summit, only to be plunged into the great vortex of the wrath of God. "The mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north" is the place assigned by God for His Messiah. See Psalm 48:22Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. (Psalm 48:2).
Then as we read in Dan. 2, the stone cut out of the mountain without hands (Christ coming in power) will smite the image upon its feet—that is, the last form of the Roman Empire—and break all the nations in pieces to make room for His world kingdom which will be administered by Him as man for God's glory. He, the only one who ever had a right to say, "I WILL," said, "I delight to do THY will, 0 My God." The fall of man began with man's exercising his own will, and man's day will conclude with defiance of God, and self-deification. God looked down before the division of languages and saw the works that the children of men were doing, and said, "Now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do." How must God see the brazen effrontery of the present day!
In Isa. 14:99Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. (Isaiah 14:9), Sheol (the Hebrew for the Greek word, hades) speaks in a soliloquy. Sheol denotes the souls separate from the bodies, but still conscious. When the beast is brought low, others in like state will speak in reverie, "Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; that made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof?" vv. 16, 17. "The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low; and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day." Isa. 2:1717And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. (Isaiah 2:17).
Today it is "O taste and see that the Lord is good"; but soon will grace give way to judgment. As it is said in Isa. 14, "I will sweep it with the besom [broom] of destruction." At the present moment the Lord is waiting patiently for souls to be saved; but He has promised just retribution to this world for their sins, and for rejection of His Son who came in grace to save sinners. Judgment is decreed; it is on its way; the day is set, and the Judge appointed. We say with the poet to any unsaved soul, "Why wilt thou linger... God's wrath upon thee... judgment so nigh."