He was a very beautiful, powerful and important cherub (angel) who had a position of great authority even covering the throne of God. The reference to the workmanship of his “tabrets and pipes” may indicate he was a chief musician in heaven (Ezekiel 28:12-17). Just like man, Lucifer was created – spoken into existence by the Word of God (Jesus Christ, cf. John 1:1-3, 14). At his beginning he was perfect. But apparently he became proud and sinned by rebelling against God, “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee” (Ezekiel 28:15).

Lucifer walked in the garden of Eden before he sinned (Ezek 28:13). He would have seen all that God had provided for man as well as man’s worship of God. The Bible is clear about what turned Lucifer into Satan: it was his desire to become God. “…For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High…” (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezek 28:17-19). As far as we know, it was at this moment that sin entered the universe.

Satan, apparently with as many as a third of the angels (Rev 12:4), has been at war with God ever since. But, because Satan can’t hurt God he tries to hurt anything God loves. You’ve seen the scenario in many a movie – well that has been “the plot” for Satan’s reason to exist. Man was created in the image of God so man became Satan’s primary target. Satan knew earth and man well. When he saw his opportunity he beguiled Eve. Adam willfully sinned and that decision brought death and sin into God’s creation for the first time (Romans 5:12). By the way, if you or I were Adam we would have done the same thing!

Now it is important to understand at this point that sin was not “created” by God. Satan would have you think that the goodness of God is struggling to keep the strength of evil and sin at bay. But that is not the case. Sin is not the antitype (opposite) of righteousness. For example, if you recall from your high school science class, light and darkness are not opposite forces; darkness is the absence of light. Neither are heat and cold opposite; cold is the absence of heat. In the same way sin is not an opposing force, per se, to God. Sin is the absence of righteousness and holiness. We are sinners because we have come short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23).

Satan remains the prince and god of this world (John 14:30; 2 Cor 4:4). He accuses Christians before the throne of God (Rev 12:10). A Christian who willfully remains in sin is in danger of being turned over to Satan for chastening and perhaps even the destruction of the flesh (Job 1:6-11; Like 22:31-32; 1 Cor 5:5; 1 Tim 1:20). It is important to emphasize that it is just the destruction of the ‘flesh’ here as neither Satan nor anyone else can keep a child of God out of Heaven (Rom 8:38-39).