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A Mystery – When did God create the angels and when did Lucifer fall?

 

The Problem:
Genesis 1 does not mention the creation of the angels specifically and also doesn’t mention the fall of Lucifer. Satan (Serpent) appears in the Garden of Eden and thus must have fallen prior to the fall of man but the fall of Lucifer is not mentioned anywhere in Genesis.

Common thought:
Some believe that the angels were created before Genesis 1:1 and the fall of Lucifer occurred prior to this beginning.

I Disagree.

Why?

Firstly, let’s consider the verse:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)

Please consider the following points:

(i) The verse mentions the words “beginning” and “created”

This means that God began to create from this beginning only. To suggest that God created before this beginning is arguing a Scripturally non-existent argument even contradicting the word “beginning” which was written with respect to “God creating” in the first verse of the Bible.

(ii) Angels are not mentioned in Genesis 1:1

Angels could be created together with the ‘heavens’ mentioned in this verse. The earth’s inhabitants were created more slowly across the days which unfolded as described in Genesis 1.

That is, angels could have been created together with the heavens or somewhere during the creation days of Genesis 1 but the specific time when this occurred is not mentioned at all.

(iii) Why couldn’t the fall of Lucifer have happened prior to Genesis 1:1?

The answer is found within the ‘fall of Lucifer’ verses itself;

Note: (I use the Latin translation of ‘Lucifer’ here for simplicity where ‘Lucifer’ = ‘shining one’ = ‘son of the morning’ = ‘day star’ in other translations),

please consider:

“How hast thou fallen from the heavens, O shining one, son of the dawn! Thou hast been cut down to earth, O weakener of nations.

And thou saidst in thy heart: the heavens I go up, Above stars of God I raise my throne, And I sit in the mount of meeting in the sides of the north.” (Isaiah 14:12 – 13, YLT)

Please notice that Lucifer fell from the “heavens” & wanted to ascend into the “heavens”. This means that the “heavens already existed” at the point of the ‘fall of Lucifer’.

Thus, the ‘fall of Lucifer’ must be “after” the “heavens” were “created” (in Genesis 1:1) —> though not mentioned in Genesis 1! (No fall of angels existed before the heavens were created as the verses show).

Likewise, the creation of angels too though not mentioned but makes sense likewise to be during a time period somewhere in Genesis 1.

The heavenly beings were glad when God created the ‘foundation’ of the earth:

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding,” (Job 38:4)

“When the morning stars sang together
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:7)

(iv) All Things Created

The Angels which are part of “all things created” (please notice this phrase in verse below) —> are found within the “heavens and the earth” (this phrase too) —-> agreeing with the “Beginning” of “creation” (nothing before it except for God) as described in Genesis 1:1 though not all ‘details’ were revealed earlier as it is written in verse below clearly:

“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:16)

Let’s not forget that He Will Reconcile “all things” (mentioned or defined in Colossians 1:16) which is “all things created” as we see this Astounding Fact just four verses later:

“and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in the heavens.” (Colossians 1:20)

*Let us note carefully that the words “earth” and “heavens” occur in each of the verses Genesis 1:1, Colossians 1:16 & Colossians 1:20 binding them beautifully to reveal “His Will” of “Reconciliation of All Things” therein.

Here’s a nice verse too (‘heavens of heavens’):

“Thou art He, O Jehovah, Thyself — Thou hast made the heavens, the heavens of the heavens, and all their host, the earth and all that are on it, the seas and all that are in them, and Thou art keeping all of them alive, and the host of the heavens to Thee are bowing themselves.” (Nehemiah 9:6)

 

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