God had a plan and purpose in His Creation of man. He even planned for man's redemption and salvation before the foundation of the world. (1 Peter 1:18-21) I have been asked, "Why did God make man and then let him fall into sin?" To understand this, we must first understand the history of Satan, the first sinner. John makes this point in 1 John 3:8, "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."

Again, Jesus said, "[The devil] was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." (John 8:44)

In Ezekiel 28:12-17, it is readily seen that the king of Tyrus is, and can only be, an allegory of Lucifer. This passage describes one who was full of wisdom, perfect in beauty, created with music and one of the anointed cherubs that covered the mercy seat in heaven. He was perfect in all his ways from the day that he was created, until iniquity was found in him. He had been in Eden, the garden of God, and upon the holy mountain of God. This can be neither literally nor figuratively about the actual king of Tyrus, but God uses this man as a type of Lucifer, the fallen cherub.

Lucifer was not content to be what God made him, and wanted to exalt himself. He was unfaithful and rebellious and God cast him out of heaven. Consumed with, and corrupted by, pride, his rebellion disrupted the beautiful harmony of heaven and caused a third of the angels to leave their habitation with him. (Jude 6, Rev. 12:3-4)

God said to him in Ezekiel 28: 16, "Therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire." Jesus witnessed this event, saying "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." (Luke 10:18)

It is hard to think that Satan was once a beautiful angel in Heaven, created to the praise and glory of God. His pride and rebellion against God caused him to lose his place, as it is written in Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."

By the prophet Isaiah, God declared, "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." (Isa. 14:12-15) The name Lucifer literally means "morning star" and is the name Satan had in heaven, before his fall.

We know, of course, that the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ, is The Bright and Morning Star. (Rev. 22:16) Isn't there only one morning star?

No. God asked Job, "Where wast thou ... when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (Job 38:7) This verse shows us that there were more than one morning star, and that they existed at one time in harmony, bringing joy to the heavens: Lucifer, the morning star, and Jesus, the bright and morning star. These two overshadowed God's throne in heaven. But Jesus, alone, was the faithful witness.

Lucifer lost his heavenly estate, and his right to both the name and the position he once possessed. He became Satan, which means adversary, for he is now the adversary of God and His creation. We have this warning, in 1 Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour." He became the accuser of the brethren, as with Job. To overcome the wicked one, we must be strong and have the Word of God abiding in us. (1 John 2:14)

Revelation 12:7-12 tells how the dragon (Satan) was cast out and there was no place found for him anymore in heaven. This foretells a time when he can no longer accuse the brethren before God. The ultimate end of the Devil is found in Revelation 20:1-10.

Jesus came "to seek and save that which was lost." Jesus declared the replacement of Lucifer in Rev. 2:26-28. He said, "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: ... And I will give him the morning star."

Then, once again shall the morning stars sing together, and the sons of God shall shout for joy, for our great God made the heavens to be a place of rejoicing. "Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Let the heavens rejoice." (Psalms 96:6, 11) We are looking forward to that great and glorious day!