The Controversy of the Universe

Looking again at the authority of God, we need to take a deeper look at what the Bible records concern it. So, let's begin in Isaiah 14:12-15, the fall of Lucifer and Ezekiel 28:13-17, the account of the king of Tyre. We start with Isaiah, “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High. Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit." (Isaiah 14:12-15)  Next, we move to Ezekiel. 

"You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you. By the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; and I destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones. Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, that they might gaze at you." (Ezekiel 28:13-17) (Note: in this account, the law of double reference is used for Lucifer. That is, scripture having a double meaning, using one thing but referring to another)

Now let us look closely at what has transpired. Isaiah 14:12-15 deals with, Lucifer, now Satan, violating God’s authority while Ezekiel 28:13-17 emphasizes his trespassing against God's holiness. To offend God's authority is a rebellion far more serious than that of offending God's holiness. Offending God’s holiness or sinning is a matter of conduct, whereas offending God’s authority is a matter of principle. Jesus tells us, "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come." (Matthew 12:31-32)

In context with this passage, Jesus cast out demons by the authority vested in Him through the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees rejected this and said that Jesus’ authority was through Beelzebub, that is Satan. The first part of this passage is sin against God’s Holiness, the latter is rebellion against God’s authority. So, Isaiah’s report is Satan's intent of setting his throne above the throne of God thereby violating God's authority. It was not the act of sinning that caused Satan's fall, it was his act of rebellion against God’s authority. It was rebellion which God condemned. Now we understand why Samuel says, "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry." (1 Samuel 15:23) Rebellion and Satan are synonymous.

The controversy of the universe is centered on who has the authority. Although believers have the authority over Satan and all of his forces, any conflict that we may have with Satan is the direct result of our attributing all authority to God; therefore Satan’s approach to believers is the same as it was in the Garden of Eden. He makes his appeal to the flesh, that is, the five senses, especially the mind, will and emotions, trying to turn believers from the truth, one being, that all authority has been given to Jesus in heaven and earth. Please remember this, Satan is not afraid of believers who preach God’s Word. His greatest fear is those who understand and are completely subject to God’s authority.

God has purposed to manifest His authority to the world through the church, through each and every believer. He uses His power to maintain His authority, therefore, His authority is the hardest thing to come up against. Notice how the crowd responded to Jesus as He taught, "Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." (Mark 1:27) Due to the believers oneness with Christ (John 15:5) we too must know and operate in the same authority as Jesus did during His earth walk as the Son of man. So, before a believer can understand and properly use God’s delegated authority, he or she must fully comprehend and be subject to God's authority. Grace and Peace be with you...