This article is based on Pastor Adrian Rogers' message, From the Palace to the Pit.
"They shall throw you down into the Pit, and you shall die the death of the slain in the midst of the seas." (Ezekiel 28:8)
Who’s the “you” in this passage? The king of Tyre, who lived high, wide, and handsome in a lavish marble and cedar palace. Yet he went from the palace to the pit. God used this historical king to illustrate a being who has been His enemy from the time the earth was formed—Satan himself. As we read Ezekiel 28, you’ll learn where Satan came from, how he became the devil, what he’s capable of, and how God will bring him to an end. He’s gone from the palace and is headed toward the pit.
We’re at war—a bigger war than we realize. It’s not a political, philosophical, or cultural war. Our great enemy isn’t terrorism. The force behind all of these is a system of iniquity. As a child of God, you cannot afford ignorance. We must see who our true enemy is, or we’ll never win the war. Satan isn’t some medieval superstition. Jesus called him “the prince of this world” (John 14:30). We live in a world dominated by a kingdom of evil headed by Satan. But as Christians, we’re citizens of another kingdom, the kingdom of God’s dear Son (Colossians 1:13). We can have victory day by day if we appropriate it.
In Ezekiel 28, you find God speaking to the king of ancient Tyre, a wicked, terrorist king, but God goes right through the king of Tyre to Satan himself, addressing the power behind the throne.
This isn’t unusual in the Bible. You’ll often find God speaking to the devil through something or someone. In the Garden of Eden, God spoke to the serpent, but He was speaking to Satan. When Peter said, “Lord, you’re not going to the cross,” Jesus replied to Peter—but really to the devil—“Get thee behind Me, Satan.” God sees the force behind a situation and speaks to Satan himself. Ezekiel 28 is one example.
The malevolent force behind the world’s turmoil is Satan himself. You must know what you’re up against. This involves you. You’re a target of a sinister, personal enemy. You can’t afford ignorance. It’s dangerous.
"…on the day you were created" (Ezekiel 28:13).
Satan is a created being. This sinister minister of evil was never co-eternal with God. The devil had a beginning.
People sometimes ask, “Why did God ever make the devil to begin with?” Friend, God didn’t create a devil. He created a totally perfect being.
“You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty” (Ezekiel 28:12).
Lucifer (his original name before he rebelled) means “light-bearer.” He was the noblest, most beautiful angel, surpassing in beauty, superlative in wisdom.
"You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold"(Ezekiel 28:13).
"The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you…." (Ezekiel 28:13). His voice was like a great pipe organ, filling the universe with music.
"You were the anointed cherub who covers" (Ezekiel 28:14). The cherubim were the highest order of angels. Lucifer was the leader of leaders.
"I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones" (Ezekiel 28:14). A mountain in the Bible speaks of God’s government. “The mountain of God” indicates this anointed cherub had administrative authority.
"You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created..." (Ezekiel 28:15). If he was perfect, then what went wrong? The last part of verse 15 tells us, "…till iniquity was found in you" (Ezekiel 28:15). So Lucifer was perfect….until…
Look at that word “till.” God didn’t create a devil but a holy angel, giving him free will to choose between good and evil. With His God-given attributes and assets, Lucifer, Son of the Morning, was infected with pride and became Satan, Father of the Night. He had a choice, but because of pride, he chose evil.
If we had no choice, we could neither be praised for doing good nor blamed for doing evil. Without the freedom to choose evil, Lucifer couldn’t have chosen to do good.
Look in Ezekiel 28: 16-18 for pride and see the process of Lucifer’s fall:
By the abundance of your trading, you became filled with violence within, and you sinned; Therefore, I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; and I destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones. Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, that they might gaze at you. You defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude of your iniquities.
Note those two important words:
“Trading” — an unrighteous, dishonest trade. The devil “made merchandise” of his office.
“Sanctuary”—a place of praise. Praise was intended to go through Lucifer straight to God Himself. As the angel orchestrating worship, Lucifer was to transfer praise to God the Father. But Lucifer began holding onto that merchandise, letting praise stick to his fingers.
Puffed up with pride Lucifer said, “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. I will be like the Most High.” Isaiah 14:14
No sooner had he unsheathed his sword of rebellion than Almighty God cast him from Heaven. Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven” (Luke 10:18), because He was there when it happened, thousands of years before Bethlehem.
The devil is into this thing of worship. In Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, Satan even wanted the Lord Jesus to worship him (Matthew 4:4). He believed, “I’m too good, too wise, too great to be anything less than God.”
Though cast out of Heaven, Satan retains some power for a season, by God’s permission.
The world today is under Satan’s power. That’s why we see chaos, bloodshed, and a war on babies. Satan has always warred against the innocent. Baal and Molech, ancient gods, were worshiped by sacrificing babies. Pharaoh and Herod killed babies. What does Planned Parenthood do? Kill babies. Who’s behind that? Abortion is a blood sacrifice to Satan.
Is it hopeless? No. That’s why Jesus came—to die in our place: "…that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil" (Hebrews 2:14).
"They shall throw you down into the Pit" (Ezekiel 28:8).
Jesus’ death on the cross meant that principalities and powers led by the devil (Ephesians 6:12) were defeated—vanquished, even if he hasn’t vanished. What Adam legally gave to Satan, Jesus legally took back by His death, burial, and resurrection. Satan was stripped of his assets and authority.
On the cross, a transaction took place. When Jesus died, Hell thought, “He’s finished!” But the power of Satan was finished. "Having disarmed principalities and powers, He [Jesus] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it [His death]" (Colossians 2:15).
And one day when God assigns him to the pit forever, Satan will never terrorize people anymore. Today Satan has no power over the believer – none! His back was broken at Calvary.
In Jesus, you have authority, if you will use it. If you don’t, you’ve got a big problem. You’re not a helpless victim. Quit saying, “The devil made me do it.” He hasn’t. He can’t.
Don’t be terrified by Satan. Are you saved? Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ? If not, Satan is playing you like a puppet on a string. Choose sides carefully. If you follow Satan, one day you’ll join him in Hell.
Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels, not you. If you go there, you’ll be an intruder.
Understand where the real war is. Our battle is not with flesh and blood but with principalities and powers. Don’t lose the war because you don’t show up for the battle.
Give your heart to Jesus Christ. Pray this prayer:
Dear God, I know that I am a sinner. I know that You love me and want to save me. Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God, who died on the cross to pay for my sins. I believe God raised You from the dead. I now turn from my sin and, by faith, receive You into my life as my personal Lord and Savior. Come into my heart, forgive my sins, and save me, Lord Jesus. In Your name I pray, Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, let us give you some free resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Click here to get those resources.
