Thrones of Scripture
Part 1
These outline notes have been prepared for the student. A chart designed by Mr. Naismith will be found in the January number. It will be a visual aid in the understanding of these “deep things” of God.
Satan’s Throne
A Throne Of Pride
Scripture references: Isaiah 14:12-19. Ezekiel 28:11-19. Satan speaks of “My throne” (Isa. 14:13). He is called the Anointed Cherub (Ezek. 28:14). He is Lucifer, the Serpent of Genesis 3 (Hebrew, Nachash, a shining one).
In Isaiah 14:3-11, the Prophet takes up a proverb, or a speech, against the king of Babylon, and these verses no doubt have reference to an earthly ruler over the Babylonian kingdom. From verse 12 to verse 20 another person is addressed by the name Lucifer, Son of the Morning; and there can be no doubt that Lucifer is Satan, the rebellious prince. As in Daniel 10:13, Michael, the archangel, is described as “One of the chief princes,” and in Daniel 10:21, as “your prince,” (that is, Israel’s prince). Again in Daniel 12:1, as “the great prince that standeth for the children of thy people,” so Lucifer was doubtless the prince among those invisible principalities (Col. 1:16) that stood for the Babylonian nation. Likewise, we read of “the prince of Persia” (Dan. 1:13) who withstood the angelic messenger sent to Daniel, and he could not be the earthly prince of Persia, but the invisible prince (an evil prince) who stood for the Persian nation.
Similarly, in Ezekiel 28 the person addressed as “Prince of Tyrus” in verse 2-10 would doubtless be the earthly ruler, but the person addressed as “King of Tyrus” from verse 12-19 again must refer to Satan, viewed as standing for the people of Tyrus after the overthrow of Babylon.
(Through invisible principalities and powers in heavenly places, good and evil, the conflict of the ages is carried on.)
In the Word of God Satan is revealed as anointed ruler, a rebel prince, and a defeated foe.
An Anointed Ruler: He is prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2), prince of demons (Matt. 12:24), prince of this world (Eph. 6:12. John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). He was called this three times by the Lord Jesus.
When Satan was tempting our Lord (Luke 4:6), he said, “All this power will I give Thee for that is delivered unto me and to whomsoever I will give it.” This was partly untrue, false, but our Lord Jesus did not challenge Satan on that point. He knew that “he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44). Satan is also called the god of this age (2 Cor. 4:4). Snake worship in Eastern countries, and Satan worship in certain European countries bear this out.
A Rebel Prince: Pride is “the condemnation of the devil” (1 Tim. 3:6). He was rebellious; five times over he said, “I will,” and thus exerted his own will against God’s (Isa. 14:12-19). Iniquity was found in him (Ezek. 28:15), but against Satan’s will God asserts five times, “I will” (Ezek. 28:16-18).
Milton wrote:
“The infernal serpent: he it is whose guile
Stirred up with envy and revenge, deceived
The mother of mankind what time his pride
Had cast him out of Heaven, with all his host
Of rebel angels, by whose aid aspiring
To set himself in glory above his peers,
He trusted to have equalled the Most High.”
We read about Satan’s devices (2 Cor. 2:10-11), subtlety (2 Cor. 11:3), wiles (Eph. 6:11), snare (1 Tim 3:7. 2 Tim. 2:26), works (energy, 2 Thess. 2:9).
A Defeated Foe: “The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly” (Rom. 16:20), predicted the Apostle Paul. This victory for us is brought about through the Son of God (1 John 3:8), the Word of God (1 John 2:14), and the panoply of God (Eph. 6:10).