One of the ways to understand the enemy is to know from where he has fallen, and what is his agenda. In the following few messages I would like to bring some understanding on this subject. I believe it has a certain importance, that our lack of knowledge does not destroy us.
In Ezekiel 31 we clearly read how Pharaoh, King of Egypt, fell from his position among the nations. In verse four it says the waters made him great and his feeding program went out and watered all the trees of the garden. It says that the abundance of water shot him up into the heavens and caused all the fowls of heaven to make their nests in his towering branches. Some have understood the fowls of the air to be subordinates under the assignment of certain influences, perhaps being evil in nature. This king-tree was so great that under his shadow dwelt all great nations.
Ezekiel 31:7 Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters. V.8 The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chestnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty. V.9 I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him.
This was by far the greatest, highest, and most magnificent tree in Eden—the garden of God, yet it is speaking about the fall of the Egyptian king. God made him fair by his many branches which caused two significant things to happen. It brought envy from all the smaller trees in the garden, and his heart was lifted into heights beyond his calling. This is the problem with all kingdom conflict to this very day. If this tree was God-created and pomp in stature, why then did it go wrong? Was envy or pride the problem? Both are attuned to each other and yet are enemy companions that bring down some of God’s greatest habitations of the Holy Spirit in a person or in the body of Christ. This happens in heavenly places and it took Lucifer, the anointed one, right out of Heaven and directly into the Hell of his future pit along with a third of the angels. Why did a third of the angels fall? Was it that they envied his place? I believe so. This is the reason there is so much chaos in the kingdom of darkness. They are not one with each other at all. I am not aware that we read anywhere that Satan persuaded the one third to be against God, but we understand that they fell with him. Pride of position and envy for position are the greatest of opposing forces and they destroy more kingdom unity than anything I know. One feeds the other, like Ahab feeds Jezebel and Jezebel feeds Ahab. It is raw Hell-strength against the body of Christ. Consider the suggestion of the serpent to Eve in the garden. God knows that if you eat you will be like God, knowing good and evil. Eve ate, thinking it could escalate her to a higher position.
Can God make something so great that it turns against Him? Can greatness, importance, and prominence destroy a man even if God brought him to that place? Can destruction come by voluntary humility as was the case with the mighty Pharisees? V.18 To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and his entire multitude, saith the Lord God.
How can a created angel adorned with anointing and God’s own holiness, fall and become a hell-devil destroying nations, lands, and multitudes that God made for Himself? How in all of God’s intended creation is this possible? The word is a complex and yet simple one—pride. Does this have anything to do with the pursuit of self-power, self-dependence or self-righteousness? Somehow, Lucifer came to a place where he thought himself needless of dependence. He thought himself equal with God, and furthermore proclaimed that he will be like God and sit in the seat of God. Even the king of Egypt from the garden needed no one else.
Was there a Pharaoh of Egypt way before there was Egypt? The answer seems to be yes. Why was Daniel’s prayer hindered for 21 days by a ruling king of Persia while Daniel was praying from Babylonian territory far away? Are there kings set over things that are invisible, having territorial dominance in the heavens? We might never know all the spiritual technicalities nor understand the oracles of God. However, this is what Lucifer is—he is a legal expert and knows the Word of God far better than many humans.
The root word for Lucifer means: a light-bearer, morning-star. The position, importance, and anointing that he once held is obvious. He had brilliance and intensity so great that it got his attention off his purpose, even in the very presence of God. He considered himself at once to be invincible. He considered himself not in need of God but rather independent of God. He thought himself in a place where he could neither be wrong nor go wrong.
He did it all because he became gifted and of high stature. God made him in that specific way. “I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him.” Can we now see a purpose with Paul’s thorn in the flesh?
