by Judith A. Brumbaugh
© 2001, RFI
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The Word of God is God's revelation of Himself. The contents of the Bible and the mechanics of how it is written are something that no man on this earth can fully comprehend. However, we are told by God that "... he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6) The more diligently we study, the more understanding the Holy Spirit will give to us.
The focus of this article is a passage so misunderstood that many have actually changed the wording from
the Hebrew manuscripts to try to make it 'fit' their
limited understanding (Isaiah 14:12). However, it is a very serious offense to
rewrite God's Word. We're told by God that if anyone changes His Word,
God will deem him a liar; He will add plagues unto him and will "...
take away his part out of the book of life ..." (Proverbs 30:6,
Revelation 22:18, 19). In the box below is how Isaiah 14:12 is translated into English reflecting two
different streams of Bibles. That on the left reflects the
King James' translators; that on the right, the new
versions' translators.
In the Hebrew from which the Old Testament is
translated, nowhere in verse twelve does the word for
"star" (kowkab) appear. The word for "morning/dawn" (shachaar) appears only once as shown in the
KJV, not
twice as most new versions incorrectly indicate (see the
box below). The Hebrew word for star is used many
other times and correctly translated as "star(s)," in the
new versions as well as in the KJV, such as in Isaiah
14:13, Numbers 24:17, Amos 5:26 and Job 38:7. It is
Lucifer who is fallen from heaven. Lucifer/Satan/Serpent
/Devil, "more subtil than any beast of the field" has
crept into houses unaware and even into modern Bibles
camouflaging himself as Jesus Christ, the Morning Star.
This change has been made either directly or in a footnote
in most new versions of the Bible.
The Word of God is so miraculously written that It
acts as Its own concordance and reference, either directly
or MORE IMPORTANTLY, contextually (what the surrounding Scriptures and cross-reference
verses teach).
We don't need to become Hebrew/Greek scholars, but to
diligently study the Word as It has been given to us. The
Word of God does not contain doctrinal error; however,
because we don't have full illumination of the Scriptures,
we can be led astray by man's reasoning rather than by
depending upon correct interpretation from the Holy
Spirit of what has been recorded for our instruction. The
Old and New Testaments are so closely tied together.
We can often use both to answer Biblical questions such
as "What is the difference between Lucifer and the Morning Star?" and thus determine the correct translation.
Who is the Morning Star?
"I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." (Revelation 22:16) Jesus Christ is the bright and morning star.
Who is the day star?
"... This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed ... until the day dawn, and the day star [Jesus Christ] arise in your hearts." (II Peter 1:17,19) Jesus Christ is the day star.
Who is Satan?
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." (Revelation 12:9)
Who is Lucifer?
"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!" (Isaiah 14:12) In this instance, Lucifer is a synonym for Satan, the serpent, the Devil - all the same person. Correct usage should be determined by context - what is written in the Word.
Why did Lucifer fall? Scripture very clearly tells us. He became very prideful. "For thou [Lucifer] hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars [kowkab] of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I [Lucifer/Satan] will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High [God]. Yet thou [Lucifer/Satan] shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit." (Isaiah 14:13-15)
We can tell by definition, but more importantly, by context, that Jesus Christ is not the one who fell and is not the one who "shalt be brought down to hell." It is an act of blasphemy to replace the Creator of Heaven and earth, the morning star with Lucifer, the evil, fallen angel, Satan. Jesus Christ never fell and never will. Depraved man falls and tries to pull others into his pit of deception: "Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." (Romans 1:32)
Lucifer is a prototype example of several people in
the Bible as well as many today who fall prey to lustful
desires who, even when blessed abundantly by God, turn
against Him. It began with Adam and Eve who, like
Lucifer, fell prey to the desire to be their own "gods" and
to exalt themselves above God by rejecting His Word.
Even God's chosen people, the Israelites did the same:
"How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have
forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods:
when I had fed them to the full, they then committed
adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the
harlots' houses. They were as fed horses in the
morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's
wife." (Jeremiah 5:7,8) Millions today are "neighing
after their neighbor's wives - and possessions"!
A reading of the entire 14th chapter of Isaiah and a parallel example in Ezekiel 28 will help students of the Word to understand the dual message in Isaiah 14:12. This is the same writing technique used in Hosea wherein God related two scenarios with one set of Scriptures. Gomer, Hosea's wife, played the harlot by marrying another man and having affairs. God told Hosea to go after his wife, buy her back and love her as He had loved Israel, His spiritual wife, who had done the same thing.
In both Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28, we are given information about Lucifer, the fallen angel (Satan, the Serpent, the Devil) as well as prophecy with two Old Testament historical events. Leaders in both Babylon and Tyrus (Tyre) became filled with pride over their human wisdom and accomplishments. They began their "race of life" well, but then fell prey to lusts of the flesh and left God out of their lives. "Thou has been in Eden the garden of God ... Thou art the anointed cherub ... Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee ... Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness ... Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities ... (Ezekiel 28:13-15, 17,18)
In chapter 14 of Isaiah we have the foretelling of the fall of a seemingly indestructible power - the Babylonian kingdom. King Belshazzar stripped surrounding cities of their wealth through great oppression and cruelty. He became very prideful and "haughty, or "pomp" as we're told in 14:11. "Thy pomp is brought down to the grave ... the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee." This prophecy of Belshazzar's death was given by the prophet Isaiah some 200 years before it actually happened. In verse 12, the analogy to Lucifer is given as he, too, had become caught up in pride: "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!" King Belshazzar had become a Lucifer, just as we say today that people who are manipulative and wicked - who follow the pattern of Judas who betrayed Jesus - are "Judaizers."
In a creative writing style, an analogy is made between the sin of Babylon and Tyrus with that of Lucifer, the once beautiful, perfect, brilliant angel who at one time served God in all his splendor. Belshazzar and the prince of Tyrus, like Lucifer, forgot who had created them. They were overcome with distorted thinking that their success was due to their efforts rather than being an outgrowth of what God had allowed through them.
Man has many ways of trying to become the creator ("I will be like the most High.") by reshaping God's Word as exemplified by Lucifer, Adam and Eve, the Israelites, Belshazzar, the King of Tyrus and those today who "neigh" after others' possessions and/or refuse to bow their knees to God's written Word, the Holy Bible. We must not change the Word to fit our limited under-standing or to fit our lifestyles of sin. Just as those who are born again are sons of God but not the only begotten Son of God, we must not in any way try to make ourselves equal with God by rewriting His Word(s) or misapplying His precepts as did Lucifer, else we "... be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit." (Isaiah 14:15)
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NOTE: RFI's position on Bible versions is that the King James Bible is the most doctrinally sound ENGLISH translation, especially in areas of (1) the deity of Jesus Christ and (2) marriage and divorce.
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