FALLING STAR

“Shining morning star, how you have fallen from the heavens!  You destroyer of nations, you have been cut down to the ground.” (Isaiah 14:12 HCSB)

Babylon was a sleeping giant about to awaken.  Although, at the time of Isaiah’s prophecy, Assyria still was the dominant world power, to the south of them, a new order was about to arise.  Isaiah saw that Babylon would overthrow and supplant Assyria.  But, Isaiah also noted in these chapters that Babylon would eventually be judged and wiped off the earth.

Like the tides, there is an ebb and flow of global powers—periodically whipped into fury by a storm—signs of the curse of sin at work.  Yet, the tides are subject to the Creator who established the laws that governed them—so much so that a forecast can be made of the precise moment of high tide and low tide.  Never forget, that in a world that sometimes seems out of control, where impotent men seek to reign, that God is ever in control, moving things to His desired ends, and finally, fully to His glory.

Still, the storms are at times permitted to come, breaking with hurricane force and destruction.  The sovereign God gives Satan and his demonic forces limited freedom to sweep across the planet and move the hearts of men to war and bloodshed.  Pagan Babylon with all its cruel deeds would have the Prince of Darkness whispering in the ear of the King, directing him to lead his armies to battle.  Those troops would eventually make their way to the gates of Jerusalem and batter them down, destroy the Temple, devastate the city and carry away the choice of the population—the best and brightest into exile.  The people of God would turn from God, and God would turn on them.

In prophetic vision, Isaiah foresees all this.  But, he sees even into the distant future when Babylon will rise again.  In the last days, the world will again quake under Babylon—a rebuilt capital of the new world order that is coming.  You can read about it in the Book of Revelation—its devilish power and eventual total obliteration by God’s judgment described there.  Isaiah touches on these events.

But, his vision is not limited to the future.  He looks into the mists of the past, before the dawn of human history, and sees a falling star—the one who is the Prince of the Power of the Air, the god of this world—Satan himself.  His vision enables Isaiah to see into the invisible, spiritual realm where diabolical plans are devised and demonic powers are directed.  Behind the earthly thrones, there are spiritual forces—evil, malignant—with seething hate of God—which they infuse into their human pawns.  Paul speaks of this in Ephesians 6:12, “For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.”

Isaiah sees how Lucifer (a literal rendering of “morning star”) became the Devil.  This one who was the choicest of creation, the highest of the angelic order, became impressed with his glory and succumbed to pride.  In these five, “I will” statements, is expressed the heart of his rebellion against God.

“You said to yourself: ‘I will ascend to the heavens; I will set up my throne above the stars of God.  I will sit on the mount of the [gods'] assembly, in the remotest parts of the North.  I will ascend above the highest clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’" (Isaiah 14:13-14 HCSB)

Falling Star—in that moment every horror and heartache that would descend upon humanity was birthed in Lucifer’s foul soul.  His loathing of God is absolute—but not his power.  He can only do what a sovereign God permits, and the Falling Star will ultimately be cast into the Lake of Fire.  Isaiah records God’s terse response to Satan’s ambitions.  The five, “I will’s” are met with one: “But you will be brought down to Sheol into the deepest regions of the Pit.” (Isaiah 14:15 HCSB)

He is not there yet.  Satan is alive and well on planet earth, as author Hal Lindsey noted.  We see ample evidence of that each day.  In fact, Satan still has some access to heaven.  He must “check-in” so to speak (see Job 1-2).  There will be a time, when he is fully removed, his dirty feet never to walk on those golden streets again. 

Jesus used the words of Isaiah to describe Satan’s downfall.  In connection with the disciples’ deliverance of the demon-possessed, an authority which flowed from the Lord Jesus, He announced, “He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall from heaven like a lightning flash.’” (Luke 10:18 HCSB)  Satan is the Falling Star.

As Luther, in his majestic hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” correctly put it, “For, lo, his doom is sure.”  Now, we wait the universal dominion of Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords—as the Devil still roars and roams the earth in his insatiable appetite for power.

Fast forward to what may not be the too far distant future.  Consider these words about the falling star:

“Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels also fought, but he could not prevail, and there was no place for them in heaven any longer.  So the great dragon was thrown out-the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the one who deceives the whole world. He was thrown to earth, and his angels with him.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Messiah have now come, because the accuser of our brothers has been thrown out: the one who accuses them before our God day and night.

They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not love their lives in the face of death.

Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them!  Woe to the earth and the sea, for the Devil has come down to you with great fury, because he knows he has a short time.” (Revelation 12:7-12 HCSB)

When Lucifer, the shining star fell, there followed him one-third of the angels in his failed rebellion (see Rev.12:3-4).  These once holy beings, became demonic spirits who move at Satan’s command.  They will wage a final, futile war to storm the gates of heaven, but will be once and for all cast out.  The already burning rage of the falling star will become a supernova in its intensity and he will unleash his “scorched-earth” policy.  The bull’s eye will be Jerusalem, and the Jews who have suffered long have one last holocaust to endure.  But, they will.

The fate of the Falling Star which Isaiah alludes to is pointedly predicted by John.

“When the 1,000 years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the sea.  They came up over the surface of the earth and surrounded the encampment of the saints, the beloved city. Then fire came down from heaven and consumed them.  The Devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”  (Revelation 20:7-10 HCSB)

That Falling Star will be eclipsed in the black hole of outer darkness, and the Daystar will dawn, and shine forever!  “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to attest these things to you for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright Morning Star."  (Revelation 22:16 HCSB) 

And He shall reign forever and ever!