The fullest light on this mysterious subject is presented to us in highly symbolical language in Ezekiel 28, where we read of the Prince of Tyrus and the King of Tyrus, the latter very definitely being a description of Satan, the former his human understudy. Satan ever seeks expression through human agents, hence the connection between the Prince of Tyrus and the King of Tyrus in this chapter.
So we find the Prince of Tyrus using very extravagant, blasphemous language. This is seen in the rebuke administered to him: “Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God” (Ezek. 28:22Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord God; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God: (Ezekiel 28:2)). This is what Satan aimed at, to be God and to sit in the place of supreme power, and this is what his human understudy aims at.
The Prince of Tyrus was clearly a man, but when we come to the description of the origin of the King of Tyrus, we can only come to the conclusion that it describes the origin of Satan himself.
“Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the emerald, and the carbuncle and gold; the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day thou wast created” (Ezek. 28:12-1312Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. (Ezekiel 28:12‑13)).
This is a highly symbolic description of a creation of wondrous power and beauty. Tabrets (timbrels) and pipes (flutes) — musical instruments commonly used in the East at weddings and feasts — show this creature was created to utter God’s praises. Note too how the precious stones are more or less identical with the gems that glittered on the high priest’s breastplate (Ex. 28:17-2117And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row. 18And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. 19And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. 20And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings. 21And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes. (Exodus 28:17‑21)).
Then we are told he was the anointed cherub that covers, a word used for the cherubim covering the mercy seat. He walked upon the holy mount of God. He was perfect in all his ways till iniquity was found in him. “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee” (Ezek. 28:1717Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. (Ezekiel 28:17)).
Could this be a description of anything but the fall of Satan? He was evidently the highest creature that God in His wisdom created. Alas! Pride was his ruin, and pride is designated in Scripture as “the condemnation of the devil” (1 Tim. 3:66Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:6)).
This then we believe is the Scripture revelation to us of the origin of Satan and his fall. The details are few and scanty, but what we do know is very impressive and awe-inspiring. For such a wonderful creation of God to fall from his high estate, carrying with him a mighty following of angels, is terrible to contemplate.
J. Pollock (adapted)
The King of Babylon
In like manner the king of Babylon, who is described in Isaiah 14, is but Satan’s instrument, only the human agent is not so distinguished from the source of his power as in Tyre. In the judgment on Babylon, we do not have the distinction between the city and the judgment on its king: “The golden city ceased,” and the king who said, “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds” yet is to be “brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit” (Isa. 14:4,14-154That 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)
14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (Isaiah 14:14‑15)). He is also called Lucifer — (daystar) or son of the morning. And when he is laid low, the earth is at rest. Does not this look onward to millennial rest when Satan will be bound for a thousand years (Rev. 20:1-31And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. (Revelation 20:1‑3))?
The king of Babylon and the prince of Tyre use similar language. The king of Babylon said, “I will be like the Most High,” and the prince of Tyre said, “I am God.” But why the distinction between the king and the prince in the judgment on Tyre? And why is there the blending of Satan with his human agent in the judgment on Babylon? Perhaps because idolatry and persecution which were developed at Babylon are more Satanic, and the human instrument more completely in his hand. Another reason might be that the riches of Tyre will one day be used for the Lord, whereas the judgment on idolatrous Babylon is that it will never be restored.
Thus we see Satan using all the forces of this world — its rule and order, its religion and its commerce — to blind the eyes of the lost to their ruin. Only the grace that came by Jesus Christ can open the eyes of the blind. Infidelity and the absorbing power of riches are leading men on to destruction. But the worst form of idolatry is yet to be developed. The world is preparing for the man of sin. By means of commerce evil spreads, and the great manipulator of this world’s forces brings all together and mixes or crystallizes them in the golden cup of great Babylon.
R. Beacon (adapted)