WalterandDebbie
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10-29-20-25
What is the Origin of Lucifer and the Logos?
Where did the "Devil" come from? Where did he
get the name "Lucifer?" What does "Lucifer" mean?
And what about the Logos? What is His Origin? Who
Is He? What is His role in God’s Plan?
What is the true story of these ancient beings described
in the Scriptures? How did they become adversaries?
Here is one of the intriguing mysteries of the Universe
Revealed and explained!
William F. Dankenbring
First, let’s look at this being called “Lucifer” in the Bible.
The word "Lucifer" itself comes from the Latin, and there is no doubt that Jerome used this Latin word to translate the Hebrew word "Heylel." His work in translating the Latin Vulgate was largely based on the Septuagint, which was the version quoted often by Christ and the apostles, and later rejected by the Jews because the Christians were using it to great advantage in arguing that Christ was the Messiah. The original Septuagint (which we do not really have today, but rather a "reconstruction" undertaken by Origen) was an authoritative version begun in the days of Ptolemy Philadelphus circa 250 B.C.
The word "Heylel" in Hebrew means: "in the sense of brightness, the morning star" (Strong's Concordance). It is from the root "halal" which has several meanings: "clear, to shine, hence to make a show, to boast, and thus to be foolish, to rave, be mad, glory, shine, etc." The Gesenius Hebrew Lexicon has for "Heylel," "according to the LXX, Vulgate, Targum Rabbin (ancient Jewish source), Luther, stella lucida, bright star, i.e., Lucifer. Nor is this a bad rendering, for there is added [in the text of Isaiah] . . . and in the Chaldee also Lucifer (the morning star) . . . in Arab . . . 'a splendid star.' According to this opinion 'Heylel' would be derived from the root 'Halal,' 'to shine.'"
The Septuagint translates Isaiah 14:12 as follows: "How has Lucifer, that rose in the morning, fallen from heaven! . . . But thou saidst in thine heart, I will go up to heaven, I will set my throne ABOVE the stars of heaven: I will sit upon a lofty mount, on the lofty mountains toward the north: I will go up above the clouds; I will be like the Most High. But now thou shalt go down to hell, even to the foundations of the earth" (Isa.14:12-15). The Tanakh uses the expression, "O Shining One, son of Dawn." Either way, Lucifer was a "shining one," and a 'star' that rises in the morning is a "day star" or a "morning star."
Are There Two "Day Stars"?
What is the significance of this fact, since Christ is also called a "day star" (II Pet.1:19) and speaks of Himself in Revelation 22:16, saying, "I Jesus . . . I am the . . . bright and morning star"?
Most scholars conclude that 'Heylel' comes from the root 'Halal' whose basic meaning is "to shine." However, "shining" can have both positive and negative aspects. To "shine" can mean "to boast," "self-glory," rave on, even so far as being "mad" and "foolish." Certainly, Lucifer became such in his inordinate ambition and pride, as both Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 show. But the basic meaning of the word is "to shine," and it is connected in Isaiah with "son of the morning," meaning the "morning star." For "Lucifer," my KJV margin has an alternate reading of "day star." Again, the essential meaning is "brightness." And that appellation is correct. For in II Corinthians, Paul tells us of "Lucifer," that even today he appears as "an angel of light" (II Cor.11:14). Christ also verified his brightness, saying, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven" (Luke 10:18).
"The Anointed Cherub that Covers"
Lucifer was created as a glorious, resplendent cherub, one of the highest ranking angelic beings surrounding God's Throne -- he was even appointed as the "anointed cherub that covers" the throne of God (Ezek.28:14), and was "perfect in [his] ways" until wickedness was discovered in him (verse 15). God said of him, that he "sealed up the sum, full of wisdom, perfect in beauty" (v.12), and "every precious stone was thy covering" (v.13). He was a "work of art." A "masterpiece." But, God declares, "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of THY BRIGHTNESS . . ." (v.17).
For these reasons, I find no fault with Jerome's translation, or the term "Lucifer" as referring to Satan, on account of his "brightness." The name fits. The other meanings of the name "halal" also fit him, of course, since he allowed his "brightness" to go to his head: and he became foolish, raving, mad, etc.
What is intriguing, however, is that Christ Jesus also is referred to in Scripture as "the day star." In fact, in the Latin Vulgate, the Greek word phosphoros is translated in II Peter 1:19 in reference to Christ as "day star" -- but the very same word phosphoros is used in Isaiah 14:12 where it is translated "Lucifer"! Thus both Satan and Christ are described as phosphoros! Do they both, then, have as one of their names, "Lucifer"? Although both could be called "Lucifer," which is merely Latin for "Light-bringer," the word Lucifer has come to be applied to Satan, to make it clear which being is referred to. Let's understand this.
In II Peter 1:19 we read: "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, AS unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the DAY STAR arise in your hearts."
Christ is the true "light" (John 12:35-36, 46) of the world. Malachi the prophet says of Him, "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings" -- a reference to Christ (Malachi 4:2). The Psalmist declared of God, "For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory" (Psalm 84:11).
It is certainly interesting that both Lucifer, the "son of the morning" and whose name also means "day star," and Christ the Son of God , who is referred to as the "day star" in II Peter 1:19, both are called "day star." Obviously, BOTH had and have incredible "brightness." Both "shine." Both would have the same "root" in this sense. The Englishman's Greek Interlinear translates the Greek in II Peter 1:19 as "morning star" -- as a reference to Christ. Lucifer, too, was called "the son of the morning" (Isaiah 14:12), or "son of dawn." The Amplified Bible refers to him as, "How are you fallen from heaven, O light-bringer and day-star, son of the morning!" (same verse).
Why are both Lucifer and Christ or the Logos spoken of as having the SAME TITLES -- in one sense, one could even say THE SAME NAME? Obviously "Lucifer" merely means "Light-bringer." That is one of Christ's names. Interestingly, the first thing that God created in Genesis 1 was "light" (Gen.1:3). Is it not possible that in the original, FIRST CREATION, that the first thing God the Father created was Light?-- that is, "beings of light" or "light bringers"?
