Cast Down ∙
You were blameless in all you did from the day you were created until the day evil was found in you. – Ezekiel 28:15
Isaiah 14:12-14
12 How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the world’s nations.
13 For you said to yourself, “I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods, far away in the north.
14 I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.”
The Nature of Darkness and Evil: A Thought-Provoking Illustration
A story often shared on the Internet, though its authenticity remains uncertain, provides a compelling perspective on the nature of darkness and evil. The narrative involves a university professor who enjoyed challenging his students with difficult, often illogical questions. On one occasion, a student turned the tables on him with a profound inquiry.
The student asked, “Does darkness exist?”
The professor confidently replied, “Of course it does.”
The student countered, “You are wrong, sir; darkness does not exist. Darkness is, in reality, the absence of light. Light we can study, but not darkness. In fact, we can use Newton’s prism to break white light into many colors and study the various wavelengths of each color. You cannot measure darkness. Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present.”
According to the story, the student was Albert Einstein. While the veracity of this claim is debatable, the point remains clear: darkness does not exist as an independent entity. It is merely the absence of light. Complete darkness occurs only when light is entirely removed. This concept aligns with the biblical account of creation, where light was the first thing God created. Genesis 1:3 states, “Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”
The Goodness of Creation
When the Father created the universe through the Lord Jesus Christ, everything was declared to be very good. Colossians 1:16 affirms this truth: “Through [Christ], God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see, such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.”
Similarly, Genesis 1:31 declares, “God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!” This raises an important question: if everything God created was good, where did evil come from?
Evil is A Subtraction – Not An Addition
Evil, like darkness, does not exist as an independent entity. It is the absence of goodness. Just as darkness results from the subtraction of light, evil arises when goodness is removed. The existence of evil is not an addition to creation but a consequence of the absence of God’s goodness.
The Scriptures do not detail the origin of Satan or evil spirits; instead, they emphasize their existence without speculating about their beginnings. As E. F. Murphy notes in Handbook for Spiritual Warfare, the Bible emphasizes the fact of their presence rather than the specifics of their rebellion.
Free Will and the Fall of Humanity
Both angels and humans were created with the ability to choose, which is known as free will. The Fall of Adam and Eve occurred when they decided to disobey God, rebel, and sin. Genesis 2:16-17 records God’s command: “But the LORD God warned him, ‘You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden, except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.’”
Their disobedience, as described in Genesis 3:1-7, led to the loss of their innocence and goodness. They became sinful, fallen creatures, introducing sin into the world.
The Fall of Lucifer
The Scriptures offer glimpses into Lucifer’s fall, the angel who became Satan. Ezekiel 28:12-18 and Isaiah 14:12-14 describe events that transcend the earthly kings mentioned in the opening verses of these chapters. These passages portray Lucifer’s rebellion, his punishment, and his expulsion from heaven. Although he no longer resides in heaven, Lucifer still has access to it, as seen in Job 1:5-6.
Ezekiel portrays Lucifer as an “anointed cherub” of incredible beauty and perfection until sin was found in him. Ezekiel 28:15 states, “You were blameless in all you did from the day you were created until the day evil was found in you.” His rebellion led to his corruption and fall. Notably, Lucifer had been in Eden, as described in Ezekiel 28:13.
The exact timing of Lucifer’s fall is not explicitly stated in the Scriptures. However, by the time he appears in Genesis 3, he is already a fallen, sinful being. This suggests that his rebellion occurred during the period between the act of creation and his encounter with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
A Kingdom of Light Overcoming Darkness
The story of darkness and evil highlights the transformative power of God’s light. Through Christ, believers are moved from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. This exchange of sin for goodness reflects God’s grace and redemptive power. Colossians 1:13 beautifully expresses this truth: “For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his dear Son.”
The narrative of creation, fall, and redemption emphasizes the profound truth that, although darkness and evil exist, they will be ultimately overcome by the light and goodness of God.
REFLECT & PRAY
Prone to wander, Lord; I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love; here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.
Father, I recognize that I am a fallen person, inclined toward evil and darkness. Thank You for transferring me from the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of Light. Thank You for exchanging my sin for Your goodness.
INSIGHT
The Future Tribulation and the War in Heaven
The Scriptures predict a time of great suffering and tribulation, often referred to as the 70th week of Daniel. While the specifics of this prophetic period will be discussed another day, it is crucial to recognize that this event has not yet happened. During this future period, Satan will be permanently expelled from heaven and cast down to earth.
Revelation 12:7-9 describes this dramatic event: “Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon, the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world, was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.
This passage highlights a pivotal moment in the cosmic struggle between good and evil, where Satan and his followers are decisively defeated and cast out of heaven.
The Rebellion of Angels
The Scriptures reveal that some of the Father’s holy angels aligned themselves with Satan, switching their allegiance. However, the Bible does not explicitly state when this rebellion occurred or refer to these angels as “fallen angels.” Additionally, while it is commonly believed that one-third of the angels joined Satan in his rebellion, this idea is not directly stated in the Scriptures either. Instead, it is inferred from Revelation 12:3-4, which provides some support for this interpretation: “Then, I witnessed in heaven another significant event. I saw a large red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, with seven crowns on his heads. His tail swept away one-third of the stars in the sky, and he threw them to the earth. He stood in front of the woman as she was about to give birth, ready to devour her baby as soon as it was born.”
The “red dragon” in this passage is identified as Lucifer, as confirmed in Revelation 12:9: “This great dragon, the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world, was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.”
Many interpret the “third of the stars” swept from heaven by the dragon’s tail as representing the angels who rebelled and were cast out with Satan. These angels are often referred to as fallen angels, demons, evil spirits, or unclean spirits.
The Timing of Events: A Future Perspective
While the interpretation of fallen angels and their rebellion is widely accepted, it is important to consider a key point. If Revelation 12 refers to a future event, then the anticipated expulsion of Satan and his angels has not yet occurred. This raises questions about the common assumption that one-third of the angels have already fallen.
Despite this, the idea of fallen angels and their connection to Satan has become deeply rooted in Christian thought. This belief is often accepted without question, even though the Bible does not explicitly state it. So, why is this idea so widespread?
The Influence of Tradition and Literature
The widespread belief in fallen angels and the idea that one-third of the holy angels rebelled can be partly traced to Western Christian tradition. A major influence on this tradition is John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost, written in 1667. This literary masterpiece vividly depicts Satan’s rebellion and the fall of his followers, shaping the imagination and theology of many generations of Christians.
Although Paradise Lost is a work of fiction, its vivid depiction of Satan’s rebellion has greatly shaped how many people interpret the biblical story. It has embedded the idea of fallen angels and their connection to Satan into Western Christian culture, even though these ideas are not explicitly detailed in the Scriptures.
A Balanced Perspective
The Scriptures highlight the reality of spiritual warfare and the existence of Satan and his followers. However, they do not give full details about the origin or number of fallen angels. As children of the King, it is essential to distinguish between what is clearly stated in the Scriptures and what has been influenced by tradition and literature. While Paradise Lost offers a compelling narrative, it should not be equated with biblical truth. Instead, it reminds us of the creative ways humanity has tried to understand and interpret the mysteries of the spiritual realm.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯5-2-22
© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 