His sin was a self-caused action that led to his losing his position, his place, and his possessions. Evidently, because of his beauty and splendor, he chose to rebel against God.
#Fall fall fall fall cherub free#
Created a free creature, Satan possessed the ability to choose his actions. Here we have the answer to how sin came into creation. So I brought fire out from your midst it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you" (Ezekiel 28:15-18). By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries I cast you to the ground I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you. Your heart was proud because of your beauty you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. However, Ezekiel then explains Satan's fall, and in doing so provides insight into how evil entered God's creation: "You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. Walking "in the midst of the stones of fire" communicates a nearness to God in a place just beneath the glory at the footstool of God (cf. His location on the "holy mountain of God" speaks of his being involved in the government of God. Also, Satan is a "covering cherub," an order of angels with the closest access to God and who guard His holiness (cf. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you'" (Ezekiel 28:12-15).Įzekiel describes Satan as a being created in perfection. I placed you you were on the holy mountain of God in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. On the day that you were created they were prepared. You were in Eden, the garden of God every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings.
#Fall fall fall fall cherub full#
Like Ethbaal, Satan had raised his heart up against his Creator, declared that he would be a god, and was the spiritual king of Tyre and all its idolatry.Įzekiel describes Satan's initial state this way: "Thus says the Lord GOD: 'You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. It appears God used the occasion of Ethbaal's fall to describe the original condition and fall of Satan. Ethbaal (whose name literally means "living with Baal") is described this way: "your heart is proud, and you have said, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas'" (Ezekiel 28:2).Īfter denouncing Ethbaal, the Prophet Ezekiel is then directed by God to deliver a second condemnation to the "king" of Tyre this time, the description seems to be of a completely different type of being, one that is not a mere mortal. The ruler in question was a man named Ethbaal III, who ruled Tyre from about 590 to 572 B.C. The historical Tyre was a city of unscrupulous merchants, as well as a center of religious idolatry and sexual immorality.
Although some Bible commentators believe these portions of Scripture do not refer to the fall of Satan, many other theologians are convinced they do.Īt the start of Ezekiel 28, the prophet first addresses a "ruler" of the land of Tyre.
Scripture chronicles the events in two Old Testament passages: Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14. Using poetic language, the Bible describes how one of the angels rose up against God, rebelled, and introduced a second will into the created order. There was, in effect, still just one will in God's creation.īut then something happened that changed everything. At the outset, at least, the angels' wills were perfectly aligned with God's. This apparently was done before the creation of our world (Job 38:6-7). In eternity past there was God alone, and there existed only one will at that point – God's. When was the fall of Satan, and how did it happen?