SON OF THE MORNING 3

 

In Clouds of Glory by Greg Collins

Chapters 13-23 of the book of Isaiah are known as the “burden” chapters. They contain gloomy pronouncements of judgment upon nations of Isaiah’s time, ancient Babylon in particular. Prophecies about Babylon are of a dualistic nature because ancient Babylon is a shadow and a type of present-day Babylon, or the world.

The burden of ancient Babylon was its curse to extinction. Under Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon became of the most remarkable cities of the ancient world. Isaiah predicted in Chapter 13 its total devastation and desolation (vs 19-22). While some ancient cities such as Jerusalem, Damascus, and Jericho, still exist today, Babylon steadily declined after the conquest by Cyrus and by the first century after Christ it lay deserted and in ruins and has remained so until this day. (see the Old Testament Student Manual Book 2 p 154)

Spiritual Babylon shall likewise become a waste and desolation when the Saviour returns and ushers in the Millennial reign (Revelation 18). Isaiah did not only predict this devastation but also the extinction of the Prince of this world, “Lucifer, Son of the Morning” (Isaiah 14:12-15).

Isaiah predicted that “Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah” (13:19) and so it was. Nebuchadnezzar, its king,  was certainly buried in great splendour but there is no grave found for him today in the ruins of Babylon.

So likewise will, Satan, Son of the Morning, never have a grave , a tomb or monument of any kind though he is king and ruler of the great world-wise and history-wide empire  of spiritual Babylon. His demise will begin at the beginning of the Millenium when he will be bound and will not have power to tempt any man (D&C 101:28):

“We talk about Satan being bound. Satan will be bound by the power of God; but he will be bound also by the determination of the people of God not to listen to him, not to be governed by him. The Lord will not bind him and take his power from the earth while there are men and women willing to be governed by him. That is contrary to the plan of salvation. To deprive men of their agency is contrary to the purposes of our God….

“The time is not far distant when great judgments will be poured out upon the wicked inhabitants of the earth….and the wicked will be destroyed. Their destruction means the destruction of Satan’s power. The righteous will be left, and because of their righteousness the Lord will have mercy upon them; they, exercising their agency in the right direction, will bring down His blessings upon them to such an extent that Satan will be bound.”  (George Q. Cannon, Gospel Truth, 1:86-87; see also 2 Nephi 30:18; Ether 8:26)

When the thousand years of the Millenial reign are ended, and men again begin to harden their hearts and begin to deny God, Satan will be loosed briefly and will take that opportunity to deceive the nations and gather his forces right before the final battle with Michael and his armies when he will be permanently overcome   (Revelation 20:1-3,7,8; D&C 29:22; 88:111-116)

Isaiah described his fall from the lofty aspirations to be like the most High to being brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit, where all who see him devoid of his power  would marvel at his demise:

“They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; that made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof…..?

“All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, everyone in his own house; but thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people; the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.”   (Isaiah 14:14-20)

And Christ shall reign upon His throne forever…..a life well lived, the price willingly paid, a glorious victory at His feet laid.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

SON OF THE MORNING 1

 

Get Thee Hence Satan by Carl Heinrich

Some years ago I wanted to know what the ‘Son of the Morning’ title meant so I elicited the meaning of it from a friend who is well versed in scripture. This was his understanding: “While there is not much written about Lucifer and his being ‘the son of the morning’, it is interesting that in the only two places in the scriptures (at least that I can think of; Isaiah 14:12-20 and D&C 76:25-27) where the name Lucifer is used there is also a reference to him being ‘a son of the morning’.

“My presumption is that the term ‘morning’ refers to the fact that he was born early on as a spirit offspring of the Father. Perhaps he might have even been second born vs his brother who was firstborn. We have so many fascinating stories among the great patriarchs of having two competing sons vying for the firstborn birthright and it almost seems as though these stories are a continuation of that which started in the pre-mortal life with the Saviour and Lucifer.

“You can even get that sense from a statement in D&C 88:115, about Lucifer having as his goal that of displacing of his brother from his throne. It seems likely from the two scriptures above and one in Luke 10:18 that Lucifer (whose name means ‘Light Bearer’ or perhaps a ‘Shining One’ and in the Hebrew Bible could be translated as ‘son of dawn’ or ‘son of morning’) had progressed greatly and was in fact a ruler and had authority of some kind (D&C 76:25-26; Isaiah 14:12-20).” (Larry Keeler, Feb 6, 2023)

The Latin word ‘lucifer’ comes from the Latin words luc-and-fer, which mean ‘light and ‘bearing’ respectively. Lucifer was a sprit son of Heavenly Father and led the rebellion in the pre-mortal life seeking to dethrone the Father and His Christ. He fell and was banished to this earth with his followers (Isaiah 14:12; Luke 10:18; 2 Nephi 24:12; D&C 76:25-29). After his fall, he became Satan and the devil (D&C 76:25-29; Moses 4:1-4).

He is the thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). Jesus proclaimed him to be a liar and a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44). In his first epistle Peter warned that we should be sober and vigilant because our adversary the devil was a roaring lion who walks about seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). Paul warned that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world and against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). This is the way he accomplishes his work:

HIS THREE DOCTRINES:

No punishment for sin

Nothing after death

He does not exist

HIS LIES THROUGH RATIONALISATION:

Just once won’t hurt

No one will know

Everybody is doing it

HIS VALUE SYSTEM:

Selfishness

Self-indulgence

Immediate gratification

HIS SALES TECHNIQUES:

Pacifying

Flattering

Lulling

HIS GOAL:

To steal our spiritual identity

To kill our faith in God

To destroy our commitment to Christ

HIS WORLDLY ENTICEMENTS:

Power

Popularity

Praise

Lucifer, or Perdition as he was also called in pre-mortal life, where he was so mighty he was in authority amongst us, would have to be the biggest tragedy known to man. Such a great tragedy that we wept over him when he was lost. Not only him but also one third of the host of heaven, no doubt siblings we loved and were close to who were overcome with the charm and persuasion of one such powerful liar of influence (D&C 29:36,37; Revelation 12:4,9).

 

He was the Son of the Morning,

His pride yielded irreversible cost

In the beginning we sorely wept

When his soul was forever lost.

 

Like a thief in the night,

He now seeks to steal, kill and destroy.

He is the collector of ruined lives,

The Master of ravaged souls.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN