CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Lucifer
In heaven Lucifer had been one of the
covering cherubs. (Eze. 28:14.) This refers to the two angels who in the
most holy apartment of the sanctuary stood on the ark, covering the
mercy seat. This was doubtless the highest office an angel could occupy,
for the ark and the mercy seat were in the immediate presence of God.
These angels were the special guardians of the law. They watched over
it, as it were. Lucifer was one of them.
Ezekiel 28:12 contains an interesting
statement concerning Lucifer: "Thou sealest up the sum, full of
wisdom, and perfect in beauty." The meaning of the expression,
"Thou sealest up the sum," is not entirely clear. The reading
is capable of varied interpretations. It seems evident, however, that
the intent is to show the high position and exalted privilege that were
Satan’s before he fell. He was a kind of prime minister, a keeper of
the seal.
As in an earthly government a document
or law must have the seal attached to it in order to be valid, so in God’s
government a seal is used. God seems to have apportioned to the angels
their work, the same as He has given to man his work. One angel is in
charge of the fire. (Rev. 14:l8.) Another angel has charge of the
waters. (Rev. 16:5.) Another has charge of "the seal of the living
God." Rev. 7:2. Although, as stated above, the reading of Ezekiel
28:12 is not entirely clear, some feel justified in translating it,
"Thou attacheth the seal to the ordinance." If this position
is tenable, if Lucifer were prime minister and keeper of the seal, it
gives an additional reason why he should wish to substitute his own mark
for that of God’s seal when he left his first abode.
That Satan has been very active against
the law is evident. If God’s law is a transcript of His character, and
if this character is the very opposite of Satan’s, Satan stands
condemned by it. Christ and the law are one. Christ is the law lived
out, the law become flesh. For this reason His life constitutes a
condemnation. When Satan warred against Christ, he warred also against
the law. When he hated the law he also hated Christ, Christ and the law
are inseparable.
An interesting statement is found in
the fortieth psalm. Christ speaking, says, "I delight to do Thy
will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart." Verse 8. Though
this is doubtless a poetic expression and should not be pressed too far,
it is interesting, nevertheless, as an indication of the exalted
position of the law. "Thy law is within My heart." A stab at
the law is a stab at the heart of Christ. A stab at the heart of Christ
is a stab at the law. At the cross Satan so intended. But God meant the
outcome to be otherwise. The death of Christ was a tribute to the law.
It immeasurably magnified the law and made it honorable. It gave men a
new vision of its sacredness and worth. If God would let His Son die; if
Christ would willingly give Himself rather than abrogate the law; if it
is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one jot or tittle
of the law to fail, how very sacred and honorable the law must be!
When Christ died on the cross He had
demonstrated in His life the possibility of keeping the law. Satan
had not succeeded in leading Christ into sin. Possibly he did not expect
to be able to do that. But if he could have induced Christ to use His
divine power to save Himself, He would have accomplished much. Had
Christ done so, Satan could have claimed that this invalidated the
demonstration God intended to make, namely, that it was possible for men
to keep the law. As it was, Satan was defeated. But till the very last
he continued the same tactics. Judas hoped Christ would free Himself,
thus using His divine power to save Himself. On the cross Christ was
taunted: "He saved others; Himself He cannot save." But Christ
did not falter. He could have saved Himself, but He did not. Satan was
baffled. He could not understand. But he knew that when Christ died
without his having been able to make Him sin, his own doom was sealed.
In His death Christ was victor.
But Satan did not give up. He had
failed in his conflict with Christ, but he might yet succeed with men.
So he went to "make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep
the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."
Rev. 12:17. If he could overcome them he might not be defeated.
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