Lucifer is fallen.
Lucifer is, of course, one of the names we give the adversary of our souls. He is also referred to as Satan (from the Hebrew shaitan meaning adversary or accuser), the devil (from the Latin diabolus which is from the Greek diabolos meaning slanderer) or various and sundry other names. I like the above mentioned things - as Lucifer, he was near to God and an angel of light who was cast out of our Father's presence for rebellion; and as the Satan or the devil, he is the main destroyer of our peace and confidence and liberty. He is miserable, and seeks that we all shall be miserable like him. It is against him that we fight on a daily basis - not some unseen or unknown entity, but against a very real and personal being who was in the presence of our Father and was cast out.
It was the great battle in Heaven before we came here that was fought between Michael and his angels and the devil and his. The description is instructive:
Revelation Chapter 12 -
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels.
8 And prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ, for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their own lives unto the death.
The Joseph Smith Translation gives this a little differently:
6 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought against Michael;
7 And the dragon prevailed not against Michael, neither the child, nor the woman which was the church of God, who had been delivered of her pains and brought forth the kingdom of God and his Christ.
8 Neither was there place found in heaven for the great dragon, who was cast out, that old serpent called the devil, and also called Satan, which deceiveth the whole world, he was cast out into the earth and his angels were cast out with him.
9 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ.
10 For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 For they have overcome him by the blood of the Lam, and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their own lives, but kept the testimony even unto death...
We learn later in Revelation that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. It is this spirit of prophecy that Moses wished all of the house of Israel to have. Moses had been in the mountain and had conversed with the Lord. He came out of the mountain and they told him that his face was too bright for them to look at. He had to wear a veil...
It was at that time that the devil came to Moses and demanded that Moses worship him. Moses, who had just seen the Lord, wondered where the glory of the devil was and why one who paled so much in comparison should be worshiped. The short answer is - he shouldn't. Moses then exercised the power that each of us have over Satan: he called on the name of the Lord and rebuked Satan - telling him to depart. Satan has no power over the authority associated with that name and cannot refuse to obey when commanded in the name of Jesus. It is this same power and authority with which we, in the pre-mortal existence, overcame Satan and his angels. It is our testimonies that enable us to overcome Satan. It is our faith in Christ. It is our love and understanding and gratitude and humility that enables us to conquer. For conquer we must, and conquer we will.
Comments