"And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth; and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit."--_Revelation ix. 1._
It is reasonable to believe that all intelligent beings are morally free; and if free, are on probation. Intelligence, will-power, free agency, and probation are logically inseparable, regardless of place or environment. Without question, in the natural world this is true, and therefore must be true in the spiritual world. That men, angels, archangels, and redeemed spirits never attain a state of character beyond the possibility of free choice is a most fearful responsibility.
But for the imperialism of intelligent will, the _fall of angels_ is unreasonable, improbable, impossible. Just how temptation can assail the inhabitants of heaven--the land, we are told, "where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest"--is beyond all human comprehension. Startling as this truth appears to be, the Bible teaches it in unmistakable language.
"Lucifer, son of the morning," an archangel, a great being, created in holiness, standing near the Throne of God. His name means "light bearer," indicative of his glorious office. We can scarcely imagine such honour, such power, such distinction. Just what the high-calling of "light bearer" was, as it was performed under the highest commission in the universe, the Book fails to tell us; but the office of Lucifer was surely the peer of Michael or Gabriel, if not above them in rank. Brilliancy and splendour radiated from his person.
May we dare, not altogether by the imagination, to venture into that remote, prehistoric time when the Second Person of the Trinity--the Anointed One--the Logos, a being of perfection, made in the image of the invisible God, became a Manifestation. That One of whom "the whole family in heaven and earth is named"; sharing the glory and honour equally with the Father, on a throne in the heavenlies. Milton and others believe that the presence of this Manifestation aroused in Lucifer a consuming spirit of ambition and envy; he at once aspired to the place and power which God reserved for His only begotten Son.
We get still another side-light on the personality of Lucifer, when we consider his gigantic scheme. Aaron Burr planned the overthrow of his country, and dreamed of rulership; such a vision were impossible in the mind of any but a master of assemblies--an empire builder. Lucifer saw himself a ruler above that of a Creator, as "all things were made by Him." No wonder the inspired exclamation concerning him: "How art thou fallen, O Lucifer." When the climax of his overthrow came, he "fell like lightning out of heaven." The honourable cognomen is now lost forever; the glory of holiness has given place to the dishonour of despair. In the language of the poet, he "preferred to rule in hell rather than serve in heaven." This light bearer of Paradise is still a prince, but in the dark regions of endless woe; "ruler of the darkness of this world."