Satan's Wise Plan
The key weapon of warfare is to know what is in the mind of the adversary. When we see what Satan is thinking then we will see why God is doing what He is doing in the execution of a reconciliation program in the dispensation of grace and even in the prophetic program.
Read Isaiah 14:1-16
Isaiah 13 describes the wrath and Isaiah 14 describes when the millennium comes. The first three verses of Isaiah 14 tell of the setting of Israel back in their land. In the kingdom, Israel will have restoration, peace and joy. This kingdom will be set up after a great time of judgement.
Starting in Isaiah 14:4, we read about the taunting Satan will endure when his plan of evil is brought to nothing, from the nation Israel (v4-8) and from the inhabitants of hell (verses 9-12). The reason for this mocking and taunting is that Satan made a boast about the thing he planned to do.
(Isaiah 14:13-14 KJV) 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: {14} I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Satan said some things in his heart. Isaiah 14 is not the description of the sin of Satan. Ezekiel 28 says that His pride led him to devise a plan to exalt himself and that led him to devise a scheme and a program of rebellion against God. Isaiah 14 gives the details of this plan.
We do not want to miss the details of this plan because it is what Satan is executing in time today. This plan is what Satan is using to exalt himself and it is this plan that God will bring to utter destruction.
Satan’s Mindset: His Goal
5 I will’s
1) Ascend into heaven
2) Exalt my throne above the stars of God
3) Sit upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north
4) Ascend above the heights of the clouds
5) Be like the most High
The first "I will" is the introduction to Satan’s plan. The next three are the specifics of what Satan thinks he will do and gives the details of how he will accomplish this plan. The last I will is the ultimate goal Satan hopes to achieve.
Ascend Into Heaven
Ascend has the idea of mounting up, like ascending (mounting) a horse. It is to be in control. Satan’s plan is to ascend into heaven and assume control. He wants to ascend into the heaven to take a position of authority.
(Ezekiel 28:11-15 KJV) Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, {12} Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. {13} Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. {14} Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. {15} Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Who was in Eden? God, Adam, Eve, and Satan were the ones in Eden.
Who is the King of Tyrus? Prophetically the King of Tyrus is associated with the guy in Isaiah 14. Satan is the god of this world and all kings are under his rule and authority. This passage is really about Satan.
Verse 14, this creature, Lucifer is a cherub who had a specific function that God gave him to do, he was the anointed cherub. Revelation 4:6-11 describes the throne of God and the four creatures around the throne. There was one more cherub, the anointed cherub, that was above these four (that covereth).
Lucifer, as the anointed cherub, was the light bearer; angels need light in order to function. This is why they are called stars in the Bible, they need light. In Jude, we read that they are chained in darkness as punishment.
The cherubim’s function is to guard the holiness of God.
In verse 13, we read tabrets, percussion instruments like a pipe organ, were inside the anointed cherub. He is a musician, the heavenly choir director. The most beautiful of God’s creatures, the wisest and God exalted him and put him in this position to use all of the creative genius that God instilled in him for one purpose: to devise ways to lead creation in glory and glorification and sing praises unto God: to bring God glory! The wisest and most beautiful you will ever be when you bring glory to God.
Exalt My Throne Above the Stars of God
This reveals Satan’s desire to be equal to God.
(2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 KJV) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; {4} Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
That Day refers to the day of Lord Jesus Christ which is the outpouring of God’s wrath. Satan’s desire is to exalt himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped. When the Antichrist sits in the temple, it is to show himself as God. This is Satan’s final objective: to be as God.
The issue is that of a throne; who is going to rule? This throne is the one that is over the universe. A throne represents a position of rule and authority. Satan wants to have a position of rule and authority in connection with the stars of God (angels).
(Job 38:1-7 KJV) Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, {2} Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? {3} Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. {4} Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. {5} Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? {6} Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; {7} When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
The angels shouted for joy when God created (Genesis 1), Lucifer was gone at this time. The morning stars are angels.
(Revelation 1:20 KJV) The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
(Revelation 12:4 KJV) And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
(Revelation 12:7 KJV) And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
The stars of God are angels. In Isaiah 14 we read that they gain dominion over the heavenly government. Satan was taking the government of the heavenly places and caused that government to be under his authority. He wants to be the chief ruler; the one to whom everyone will come and say, "I will serve you".
Sit Upon the Mount of the Congregation
The issue here is dominion over the angelic realm. God told Adam to go out and have dominion over the earth.
(Hebrews 12:18-25 KJV) For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, {19} And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: {20} (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: {21} And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) {22} But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, {23} To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, {24} And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. {25} See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
Hebrews 12 shows the contrast between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. The old was given at Mount Sinai. Mount Sion is the heavenly Jerusalem, it is the mount that is in heaven.
(Job 1:6 KJV) Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
The sons of God are angels and Satan was among them. If Satan had iniquity in him, how did he get in God’s presence?
The sides of the north is a place, it is where the angels come together to give account of their stewardship of what God gave them. Satan comes and gives account and declares, "MY plan is better than your plan." To give account of one’s self is to be under another’s lordship.
(Psalms 82:1 KJV) A Psalm of Asaph. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
Judge among the gods (angels), on the mount of the congregation. Satan wants the angels to bend their knee to accountability to him.
Ascend Above the Heights of the Clouds
The heights of the clouds associates with God in heaven and the worship of God.
(Isaiah 6:1-4 KJV) In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. {2} Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. {3} And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. {4} And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
This passage is describing the throne of worship.
Heights, is the high places in the heavenly places. Baal worship is done in the high. Satan wants more than the angels’ service and accountability but also their worship.
Be Like the Most High
There are three thrones that Satan will try to take over:
- Ruler and governing of the universe
- Throne of lordship
- Throne of worship
He wants to be the prince and the God. Satan has a specific set of objectives that will cause him to reach his goal to be like the most High.
What does Satan mean when he says that he will be like the most High?
(Genesis 14:19 KJV) And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
When Satan says that he want to be like the most High, he is saying specifically that he wants to possess the heaven and the earth. God, in His capacity as God, is being possessor of heaven and earth - the universe.
Earth is the command center of the universe; out from the earth goes all authority and all the rest of God’s dealings with man. Satan says that he ought to be the one to control this so he will take over the thrones that controls the universe, possess the heaven and earth and be like the most High God.
In essence, Satan says that he is wiser than God and God responds by saying, "Watch how I will take the wise in his own craftiness!"