"Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; O cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, that they might gaze at you." (v.17)
In his classic work, Paradise Lost, poet John Milton depicts the rebellion of Satan and a great war lasting three days. On the first two days, Satan and his followers wage war against the unfallen angels under the leadership of the archangel Michael. But on the third day, God the Father sends the Son in glorious power to do single-handed combat with the enemy. The Son rides out in His Father's chariot, and the fallen angels flee heaven in terror. With the omnipotent One at work, there was really no battle at all. Although the Bible does not detail the fall of Satan, Milton's account tells the truth about the power of God. His heavenly throne was never in danger.
Ezekiel 28 reminds us of something we tend to forget: spiritual warfare began in heaven, not on earth. When Satan exalted himself in pride, and challenged God for the rulership of the heavens, and was thrown down (v. 17), he landed on earth as the furious enemy of God and of anyone who bears the name of His Son.
Likewise, the king of Tyre was so proud, he thought he was a god and trusted completely in his own wisdom and wealth. But God would judge him by stripping away his pride and taking away his riches, and would die a shameful and violent death.
Yes Satan is a dangerous enemy and he (and his henchmen) is working overtime in this world today doing whatever they can to commandeer the lives of human beings and create rebellion against God. But Jesus sealed his ultimate fate when He rose from the dead, and has given us everything we need to withstand the devil’s attacks.
The Truth: “Greater is He that is in you than he who is in this world.” (1 John 4:4)
In his classic work, Paradise Lost, poet John Milton depicts the rebellion of Satan and a great war lasting three days. On the first two days, Satan and his followers wage war against the unfallen angels under the leadership of the archangel Michael. But on the third day, God the Father sends the Son in glorious power to do single-handed combat with the enemy. The Son rides out in His Father's chariot, and the fallen angels flee heaven in terror. With the omnipotent One at work, there was really no battle at all. Although the Bible does not detail the fall of Satan, Milton's account tells the truth about the power of God. His heavenly throne was never in danger.
Ezekiel 28 reminds us of something we tend to forget: spiritual warfare began in heaven, not on earth. When Satan exalted himself in pride, and challenged God for the rulership of the heavens, and was thrown down (v. 17), he landed on earth as the furious enemy of God and of anyone who bears the name of His Son.
Likewise, the king of Tyre was so proud, he thought he was a god and trusted completely in his own wisdom and wealth. But God would judge him by stripping away his pride and taking away his riches, and would die a shameful and violent death.
Yes Satan is a dangerous enemy and he (and his henchmen) is working overtime in this world today doing whatever they can to commandeer the lives of human beings and create rebellion against God. But Jesus sealed his ultimate fate when He rose from the dead, and has given us everything we need to withstand the devil’s attacks.
The Truth: “Greater is He that is in you than he who is in this world.” (1 John 4:4)
