THE HIERARCHY OF CREATION

Ephesians 6:12 — For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Have you ever wondered—why, after all this time, is Lucifer still in charge in the realm of hell, unchallenged in his leadership over the fallen?

Doesn't rebellion breed rebellion? We see it time and time again here on earth: in nations where one tyrant overthrows another in a coup d'état, and in homes where a rebellious father raises a rebellious son. We reap what we sow. So here’s the question…

Why is Lucifer still the go-to guy for Evil Incorporated?

Given his endless track record of failures, you’d think a few demons might have gathered around the breakroom table, sipping burnt coffee from chipped mugs, and grumbling about “Old Hoof-Foot”:

“We should have told him to keep his mouth shut when we were up there in the heavenlies... and now we’re banished!

We told him to leave that one Jewish kid alone, and now there are millions of them!

Why are we still listening to Satan?

Why don’t we kick his pointy tail out of here?I’m sure Demon Frank, sitting over there, could do a better job!”

Frank lifts his head to peek over the issue of Red Pajama Illustrated he was buried in. He raises one eyebrow curiously.

"Here, here!!!" The shouts of agreement fill the air.

And just like that—a coup erupts in hell. Because if there's one thing rebellion does best... it's inspire more rebellion. Satan is promptly escorted out of his corner office (complete with lava pit view), having once again misjudged those pesky "elect."

A formal notice is immediately dispatched to the Throne Room upstairs via flaming scroll express:

To: The Almighty, Ruler of Heaven, King of KingsRe: Change in Infernal Management

Dear God,

This is to inform You that effective immediately, Satan has been terminated.His performance review cited repeated strategic blunders, failure to contain revival outbreaks, and an overall lack of vision (not to mention the whole "resurrection" fiasco).

Henceforth, all official duties related to corruption, temptation, and general wickedness will be handled by our newly appointed Interim Evil Director—Frank.

Please update Your records accordingly and forward any future smitings, judgments, or plagues to his inbox.

Thank You for Your time and omnipotence.

Warmest malevolence,The Union of Demoniacs

Proudly representing Local 666

(Now with better leadership and fresher brimstone!)

This, of course, never actually happened.Despite his long-standing record of failure and rebellion, Satan’s rule remains unchallenged.

Angels were created with free will. This was made evident in the mass rebellion led by Lucifer eons ago. A third of the heavenly host followed him, falling from grace and becoming eternally subject to his rule. In rejecting the Word of God—their Creator—they bowed their knees to a new king.

And yet, even in their fall from the realm they were created to inhabit for eternity, their status within the angelic hierarchy remained intact. Their positions were not revoked.

Satan continues to rule over his dominion. To his demonic host, he is their archangel—“chief angel” in the Greek—and with that designation come certain privileges that still belong to him alone. The order among created celestial beings wasn’t dismantled by the fall.

We see this clearly in the book of Job. Satan, the accuser of the brethren, is granted an audience with God. His rights as the “god of this world” remained intact. He possessed enough authority to approach the Creator and bring charges against mankind.

But after the Cross, everything changed. That authority was stripped from him—forever.

The only one Satan can accuse now is you—and even then, only if you give him the mic. So don’t. Simply refuse. When his lies come slithering in, don’t entertain them—shut them down. When deception whispers in your ear, don’t be afraid to shout truth in his face.

His time is short.

He is a condemned outlaw, already judged and merely awaiting sentencing. His clock is ticking, and he knows it. But remember: time doesn’t tick in eternity the way it does here. What seems like a long delay to us is, in eternal terms, the blink of an eye.

We are a unique generation. Yes, there is a rising tide of darkness—systems failing, fear on the rise, a heavy sense of foreboding looming in the air. But alongside that darkness is a sweeping, powerful move of the Spirit of God, being poured out across the globe. Never before has there been a generation with so much fulfilled prophecy behind it… and so little yet to be fulfilled ahead.

Of the more than 2,500 prophecies recorded in the Bible, around 2,000 have already been fulfilled in detail—flawlessly.

“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”— Psalm 14:1

I find myself stirred by one thought above all: the Millennium.When I hear about technological breakthroughs or hear a preacher declare Kingdom principles for daily living, I see the Bride—the Body of Christ—being made ready. I can’t help but wonder what our role will be in that soon-coming age. How will we, the redeemed, serve during the earth’s renewal—spiritually and physically? What part will you and I play?

To understand that, we first need to understand who we are. Our authority in Christ is at the very heart of the Church’s destiny. And while much has already been written on our identity in Christ, I want to explore this from a different angle.

To know our authority, we need to understand our place in God’s creation—specifically, where we stand in the hierarchy He established.Let’s start there.

In the beginning, God created.

He crafted life and built a biosphere to hold it. Think of it like setting up a beautiful, intricate aquarium or terrarium. The crowning moment—the whole reason for the setup—is the creature you designed it for: your fish, your bird, your reptile… whatever drew you to create in the first place.

For me, it was reptiles. I once rescued a six-foot-wide glass jewelry case from a closing department store and transformed it into a rainforest habitat. I installed a pond liner, built a working waterfall, and misted the air with an interior sprinkler system. Tropical plants filled the enclosure. It was lush, vibrant—alive.

And when everything was just right, I introduced my Madagascar Day Geckos. They flourished in the world I had created for them. Soon, they laid eggs, and I carefully tended to each one. I still remember the awe of holding a delicate egg as it cracked open, revealing a tiny face and the fragile form of a newborn gecko stepping out onto my hand.

God did the same. He prepared a world—perfect in form and function. And when everything was ready, He created mankind. Not as an afterthought, but as the crowning glory.He formed us in His own image and then did something staggering—He breathed into us His own Spirit.

Before all of this unfolded—before humanity took its first breath—God had already brought forth a multitude of created beings. Among them was a unique and powerful order we know as angels.

Scripture doesn’t offer us a daily diary of angelic routines or heavenly job descriptions, but it does pull back the veil just enough to reveal compelling glimpses into their nature. We learn about their intellect, their rankings, their loyalty (or betrayal), and most importantly, their purpose in the divine order. These beings, brilliant and fierce, were not created randomly—they were created with intent.

But before we dive deeper into the subject of angels and their role in the unseen realm, let’s take a moment to zoom out.

I want us to consider something broader: the various classifications of God’s creation—not through a microscope, but through the lens of redemption.

We can certainly look at creation through the natural lens, the way science does. It measures, observes, and categorizes. But that perspective, while useful, is limited. It is rooted in a fallen world—one that is death-dominated and time-bound. The natural eye sees entropy; the eternal eye sees purpose.

I want us to step beyond the veil of mortality and view creation the way God intended us to: through the lens of the eternal.

This is how life was originally designed—not to decay, but to endure. Not to descend into chaos, but to reflect order, beauty, and the glory of its Creator.

The original blueprint was eternal. And when we understand that, it changes everything.

An eternal point of view is the correct understanding of the original creation and the proper order of things. 

A Note on Classification Systems

It was the Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus (1707–1798) who first organized living organisms based on shared biological characteristics. Later, evolutionary biologist Ernst Mayr would define classification as:

“The arrangement of entities in a hierarchical series of nested classes, in which similar or related classes at one hierarchical level are combined comprehensively into more inclusive classes at the next higher level.”

Yeah, I know—that’s a mouthful. But all it really means is: life is organized in levels. And when it comes to biology, species are ranked.

In the modern classification system, each living thing is categorized across seven major ranks: Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and finally, Species.

The most basic—and widely recognized—is Species. Above that, it’s Genus, then Family, and so on. In recent years, a new top rank called Domain was introduced by Carl Woese, though it hasn’t been universally adopted just yet.

Now, why does this matter?

Because this system is part of a worldview—one that ultimately reduces man to just another animal in the great biological zoo. Science, for all its genius, has managed to fit humanity into a tidy little box... labeled homo sapiens, alongside monkeys, lizards, and microbes.

And the narrative it promotes? That we somehow crawled out of a pond, grew legs, sprouted hair, and eventually became the refined beast known as Man.

But this story isn’t just misguided—it’s strategic.

You see, this way of thinking suits the devil just fine. From the beginning, his mission has been twofold:

1. Destroy the knowledge of God among men.

2. Eliminate the righteous seed.

   
   

And he’s stuck to the plan—from Cain and Abel to the present day.

The moment God declared in the Garden that One would come to crush the serpent’s head, Lucifer has been on high alert, watching every righteous line closely. Abel was upright—so Satan wasted no time ensuring his early exit. That’s been his strategy ever since: cut off those who walk with God. But he is resisted—by the blood of the covenant and the hand of divine protection.

When outright murder didn’t work, his next tactic was deception—to erase the knowledge of God from the face of the earth.

Only seven generations passed from Adam to Enoch. Enoch “walked with God”—and he did so, likely learning at the feet of his great-grandfather, Adam. From there, he fathered Methuselah, whose name means “When he dies, it will come.” A prophetic warning of judgment.

God, being rich in mercy, held back the floodwaters longer than anyone could have imagined. Methuselah lived 969 years—the longest of any man—and, according to Jewish tradition, he died the very year the flood began.

Four years earlier, Methuselah had stood by the grave of his son, Lamech—a father burying a son, knowing the end was near. There must have been a spiritual weight in the air. Judgment was approaching. But so was salvation.

Picture the scene: Methuselah, now old and weathered, finishes helping his grandson Noah put the final pitch on the ark. He wipes his hands, calls his family close, and quietly says his goodbyes. He lays down, closes his eyes, and enters rest. A righteous man departing in peace.

Then God pauses.

For seven days, the heavens are still. A time of mourning is honored. And then—it begins.

The sky weeps.

A drop. Then another.

Judgment begins to fall.

(For a detailed outline of Bible timelines, the lineage of Christ, and a history of the world, please see the research I have finished at www.fullbibletimeline.com)

So here we are—only ten generations removed from humanity’s exodus out of the Garden of God. And now, on this first day of rain, the knowledge of God is preserved in just eight people. And even among them, one is questionable.

Let that settle in.

From walking with God in the cool of Eden... to this. A family on a boat. A planet about to be washed clean. And the awareness of God barely flickering in the world.

When we reflect on Linnaeus and his system of classifying life—Kingdom, Division, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species—a different kind of hierarchy comes to mind. One far older. One far more relevant to the war we fight today.

As Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12:

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

The Apostle wasn’t speaking metaphorically. He was describing a real, structured kingdom—not of this world, yet deeply involved in it.

According to Gill’s Exposition:

• “Wrestle” (παλη) comes from ancient Greek athletic contests—grueling hand-to-hand combat in an arena. The spiritual battle is no less intense.

• Principalities (Αρχας): Chief rulers—first in rank, highest in command within the kingdom of darkness.

• Powers (Εξουσιας): Authorities appointed under them.

• Rulers of the darkness of this world (τους κοσμοκρατορας): The spiritual emperors of this present age—shapers of world systems and ideologies steeped in darkness.

• Spiritual wickedness (τα πνευματικα της πονηριας): Refined, deceptive evil—falsehood cloaked in religious language, morality twisted to serve rebellion.

• In high places (εν τοις επουρανιοις): Not just "up there" but in realms of influence—invisible strongholds that touch governments, cultures, even churches.

Commentators agree: Paul is describing a hierarchy of demonic spirits, each playing their role under their great commander—Satan—whose mission has never changed: prevent the Gospel from spreading, and destroy the souls of men.

These “spiritual wickedness” are the fallen ones—the angels who did not keep their first estate. They were cast out, but they haven’t given up. They roam the spiritual airways, constantly resisting the plans of God and the people of God.

As John Wesley put it:

“The principalities and powers likely remain at the core of their kingdom’s darkness, while others roam—assigned to various provinces of the world. The darkness they bring is primarily spiritual, and their chief aim is to oppose faith, love, and holiness—using both force and fraud to sow unbelief, pride, idolatry, envy, anger, and hatred.”

Some scholars interpret Paul’s phrase “in the heavenly places” (ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις) as “concerning heavenly things.” In other words: we are wrestling not just for survival, but for what is ours in Christ. The blessings of salvation, the inheritance of the saints, the promises of the kingdom—they are contended for. The enemy wants to rob us of what heaven intends to give.

So what does this mean for us?

It means the spiritual realm is highly organized. There is, beyond doubt, a hierarchy among the angelic beings—both faithful and fallen. And it is within this unseen war that we find ourselves.

But take heart—we are not unarmed.

Our culture today urges us to adopt a low view of man—to see humanity as nothing more than another branch of the animal kingdom. And if that were true, the hierarchy of creation might look something like this:

1. God    

2. Angelic Beings (including Satan)    

3. The Animal Kingdom (including man)

Of course, many who hold to this view don’t even believe in God at all—but for the sake of discussion, let’s accept the chart for a moment.

The problem with this perspective runs deep. It diminishes the purpose of humanity and strips away the authority given to us in God’s design. It relegates us to a station no higher than the dirt from which our bodies were formed. It suggests we are here by accident—not by intention. That our existence is random. That meaning is a myth.

But I see things differently.

When we look at life through the lens of eternity, and more specifically, the lens of redemption, a different order begins to emerge. A higher one. A more accurate one.

Man is eternal. He is not merely flesh and blood, but a spirit—an eternal spirit clothed in an “earth-suit.” Unlike the animals, man was not simply spoken into being. He was breathed into with the very breath of God.

As Genesis 2:7 tells us:

“Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

This breath—the breath of life—was divine. Personal. Intimate. Reserved for man alone.

And God did something extraordinary: He brought all the animals before man—not to rule over him, but for him to name. A sign of dominion and spiritual authority.

As David reflected in Psalm 8:3–8:

“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of Your hands; You put everything under his feet…”

Now, many translations render that phrase “a little lower than the angels.” But if you look closely at the Hebrew text, you’ll find the word used is Elohim—the very name of God Himself.

“You have made him a little lower than Elohim.”

In other words, we weren’t made lower than angels—we were made just a little lower than God Himself. This echoes what was spoken at the beginning:

Genesis 1:26

“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, in Our likeness, and let them rule…’”

Man was created in God’s image, given God’s likeness, and appointed to rule over the earth. This is not the language of accident. This is the language of royalty.

Even Barnes’ Notes on the Bible affirm this truth:

“Thou hast made man... in the rank given him, and in the dominion conceded to him... to show the honor conferred on man...”

So if we were to chart the true hierarchy of creation—not by natural order, but by divine design and redemptive purpose—it would look more like this:

1. God    

2. Man    

3. Heavenly Angelic Hosts    

4. Animals and the Earth    

5. Fallen Angels

Man is not a spiritual afterthought. He is God’s prize.

For us, God left His throne and entered into the very flesh He formed. He came down—not as an angel, but as a man—to redeem and restore what was lost.

Philippians 2:8 reminds us:

“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!”

Angels serve Him. And they serve us—not because we are greater than them in strength, but because we are children of the Most High. Sons and daughters of the King.

This is the truth the enemy hates most.

Hebrews 1:13–14 asks a sobering question:

“But to which of the angels did He ever say, ‘Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool’? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?”

This is a clear statement of position. Angels, though glorious, are servants—sent to minister not above us, but for us, the heirs of salvation. And we, the redeemed of God, are those heirs.

Romans 8:19–22 echoes this truth with deep longing:

“For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration... in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning... right up to the present time.”

All of creation is waiting. Groaning. Longing. For us to take our place.

Why? Because we carry the image of the Creator, and through Christ, we are restored to rule with Him.

But not all spirits are aligned with God.

The fallen angels—those cast out from heaven—are outlaws in the spiritual realm. They have no home, no peace, no hope of return. They are restless, constantly seeking, but never finding.

Matthew 12:43 speaks of them:

“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.”

They are the homeless and hopeless of the spirit world.

And their end is already determined.

Matthew 25:41:

“Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’”

They are doomed. Powerless before the man or woman who knows who they are in Christ.

Jesus gave His followers authority:

Luke 9:2:

“He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases.”

Even creation itself will be redeemed as the Bride of Christ—the Church—rises to take her place. But the fallen angels? They have no inheritance, no redemption, no place to call home.

Satan’s goal is to confuse our identity. To make us feel like we don’t belong in the spiritual realm. To reduce us to animals—no different than beasts of the field. Because if we believe we are animals, we’ll never step into the authority we've been given.

He wants to make you afraid of the supernatural, when the supernatural is supposed to be your natural.

As believers, we are not called to be mystified or intimidated by the things of the Spirit. We are born into them.

“Men have mystified and philosophized the gospel of Jesus, but it is as simple as it can be. The secret of Christianity lies in being. It is in being a possessor of the nature of Jesus Christ.”— John G. Lake

Throughout the Bible, whenever man encounters an angel, the response is always the same: he falls on his face in awe or fear. And each time, the angel says, “Stand up!”

But one man stands out—Jacob. He didn’t fall down. He didn’t flee. He wrestled.

He fought through the night, and refused to let go until he received a blessing. Jacob's story is a reminder to contend in the Spirit—to prevail in prayer, to press in for the promises of God. Because they are rightfully ours.

The enemy rejoices when we act like animals, when we live in fear and confusion, unsure of our place.

Imagine this:A mighty elephant—king of the savanna—now trembling in the presence of a mere meerkat. Not trumpeting in power, but shuffling nervously, shrinking back, unsure of its own authority. That image is absurd—and yet that’s how many believers live: unsure, intimidated, confused about who they really are.

But you are not an animal.

You are not a victim of the natural world.

You are not a servant of sin or a slave to fear.

You are a child of God.

As the cartoon Pinky and the Brain would ask, “What are we—mice or men?”

Let me answer: We are not mice. We are not animals. We are sons and daughters of the Most High God.

Let the redeemed stand up.

Let the Church rise.

Let creation see the sons and daughters of God revealed.

This is how the enemy wants us to see ourselves—small, powerless, insignificant. A mere footnote in creation. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

We are not creatures scrambling for survival in a broken world.We are sons and daughters of the Most High God.

We were created with dominion, authority, and purpose. And make no mistake: the enemy trembles when a believer stands confidently in their God-given identity. He fears the moment we remember who we are and whose we are.

Yes, angels are eternal beings, just like us. But there is a distinction—a defining difference in how man was created. A difference that reveals not only God's intentionality but also our elevated place in His heart.

Angels were created as messengers, ministers, and worshipers. But man was made for relationship. We are His image-bearers, His children, co-heirs with Christ. With man came a new classification—a unique creation with authority over everything else God had formed.

Let’s explore the distinct classes of angelic beings, as revealed in Scripture:

1. Seraphim

Isaiah 6:1–7 gives us our clearest image of these fiery beings. Their name means “the burning ones.” They serve in the presence of God, constantly proclaiming:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.”

They have six wings: two cover their faces, two their feet, and with two they fly. They are overwhelmed by the holiness of God and minister in awe before His throne.

2. Cherubim

These are mighty and complex beings. The Hebrew keruvim shares linguistic roots with ancient terms meaning “great” or “mighty.”

In Ezekiel, they are described as having four faces—man, ox, lion, and griffon vulture—with four wings covered in eyes, and feet like those of an ox. They are known as guardians.

We see them:

• Guarding Eden (Genesis 3:24)

• Overshadowing the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:17–22)

• Attending the throne of God (Ezekiel 10:12–14)

They are majestic, awe-inspiring, and unflinching in their service.

3. Archangels

The word archangel combines two Greek words: archē (chief or ruler) and angelos (messenger). An archangel is a chief angel, a heavenly commander.

Only two uses of the term appear in the New Testament—1 Thessalonians 4:16 and Jude 1:9.Michael is the only named archangel in the Bible, portrayed as a warrior, a protector of God's people.

Though the Book of Enoch (non-canonical for most traditions) lists seven archangels—Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Raguel, Remiel, and Saraqael—it is still a significant historical source, quoted even in Jude 1:14–15.

In every case, archangels carry authority and serve in battle and proclamation.

And then, we have one who fell.

Lucifer – The Morning Star

Lucifer was once radiant, full of wisdom and beauty. Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14 describe his exalted place—perhaps even over the worship of heaven itself. He stood among the fiery stones. He was anointed as a guardian cherub.

But pride corrupted him.

He sought to ascend, to claim the throne of God—and for that, he was cast down.He became Satan, the accuser, the deceiver. His fall marks the origin of all rebellion in heaven and on earth.

Now, he roams—defeated but still scheming—to confuse mankind about their position. He hates the redeemed because we are what he will never be: sons, not servants. He lost his place. We are seated in heavenly places.

Let that sink in:

• Angels were created to minister.

• Man was created to rule and commune.

We, the redeemed, are not just witnesses to glory—we are partakers of it.

Satan would love nothing more than to convince us otherwise. To reduce us to animals, slaves to fear and flesh. But when you know your true place, you are no longer intimidated by his lies.

He can no longer diminish you when you walk in your divine assignment.

Let every believer stand tall today—not in arrogance, but in confidence. Not in fear of the supernatural, but in authority within it.

You are not a mouse in a maze.

You are not dust to dust.

You are not a servant of the system.

You are a child of God, created just a little lower than Elohim, and crowned with glory and honor.

Let the enemy see you standing. Let the heavens hear you declaring. Let the world witness you walking in the truth of who you are.

Ezekiel 28:12-15a — You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise, and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created.

It is God who appointed Lucifer to his high place of honor. It is God who passes judgment on him when pride fills his heart. Understanding the class of angels that Lucifer held, we know he was created within the archangel class.

After the fall, Lucifer loses his standing among the remaining heavenly beings. He is no longer allowed to remain in the life-giving presence of the Creator. Yet, through the fall of Adam, he gains authority through man, over the entire creative realm—over all the works of God that He had given into the hands of man.

Satan is seen in the garden deceiving Eve and outright lying about what God had declared would occur by eating from the forbidden tree. The act of disobedience in the garden was a breaking of the covenant with God. It was rejecting God’s Word and believing in another. It was transferring faith in God to faith in another’s word. Here is where Lucifer gains a foothold in the spiritual realm again. He gains authority that was never meant to be his, and through this new authority, he takes his place as the new lord of this earth and the new master over man.

Michael, the Archangel, seems to recognize Lucifer’s new position of authority after the fall of man, as he brings no reviling accusation but rather defers to a higher authority—God.

Jude 1:8-9 — Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. Yet Michael the archangel, when disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, 'The Lord rebuke you!'

This exchange with Michael was post-garden, meaning that Satan had at this time acquired authority in the realm of man, from man. Therefore, it was not Michael’s place to rebuke him. Satan had legal authority in this world, the same as Adam would have had in the garden. It was pre-cross, meaning Jesus had not yet defeated the Devil, wiped the floor with him, and taken the 'keys,' which were a symbol of the authority of this realm. In fact, Jesus makes it quite clear to His disciples before He left in Matthew 28:18 that all authority is His—in all realms, or dimensions.

Again, in Daniel, we see an exchange between angels as Daniel awaits the answer to his prayers.

Daniel 10:12-13 — Then he continued, 'Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.'

Let’s take a look at the fall. Here Lucifer gets it in his head that he will ascend to the mount of the congregation, a place God had prepared in heaven.

Isaiah 14:13-14 — You said in your heart,' I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'

Here we read about Lucifer’s rebellion against God. He sets his sights on a dominion and position that is not his. He seeks to raise his throne—or seat of authority—above the stars of God. The stars have often in Scripture represented mankind, as in the promise God makes to Abraham regarding the righteous descendants to come from him through faith. He desires to sit on the mount of the assembly and make himself like the Most High. This indicates he is not like the Most High—he is not created in His image and is not at all in His class.

It is clear that the thrones among the assembly that he seeks to place his throne among belong to those from:

Revelation 4:4 — Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.

Revelation 11:16 — And the four and twenty elders, who sat before God on their seats, fell on their faces and worshiped God.

These were thrones prepared long before God ever started creating the world we see and live in today. These thrones sat empty until the people they were created for arrived to fill them. These were thrones for man. We are those seated with Christ in heavenly places.

The Fall of Lucifer: A Battle for Authority and Identity

Ezekiel 28:12–15a

“You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God… You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created…”

Lucifer was not some common angel. He was the seal of perfection—anointed, radiant, and filled with wisdom. His covering shone with every precious stone. He walked among the fiery stones of heaven. He was placed in a position of glory by God Himself.

It was God who exalted him, and it was God who judged him when pride was found in his heart.

Though the word archangel is not explicitly used for Lucifer in Scripture, his rank and responsibilities—especially as the guardian cherub who was ordained and covered with beauty and glory—suggest that he was part of the highest class of angelic beings, likely among the archangels.

But with his rebellion came a devastating fall.

Lucifer Lost His Place—but Not His Hunger for Power.

When Lucifer fell, he lost his standing among the heavenly host. He was banished from the presence of God, no longer permitted to dwell in glory. And yet, through the fall of man, he gained access to authority once more—but this time, not from God.

He gained it from man.

In Eden, Satan (in the form of the serpent) deceived Eve, not with force, but with a lie. He questioned what God had said, and she believed the lie over the Word. That moment was more than just disobedience—it was a transfer of faith. Adam and Eve broke covenant with God and, in doing so, surrendered their God-given authority over the earth to Satan.

The Legal Shift in Authority

This gave Satan legal access to the realm God had entrusted to mankind. He became, as Jesus later calls him, “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31).

Even the archangel Michael recognized this. In Jude 1:8–9, we see Michael disputing with Satan over the body of Moses—but notice something profound:

“[Michael] dared not bring a reviling accusation, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’”

Why? Because at that time, Satan had legal authority in the earthly realm. The cross had not yet occurred. Redemption had not yet been purchased. The "keys"—symbols of authority—had not yet been reclaimed by Christ.

Daniel 10: The Battle in the Heavenlies

“Since the first day you set your heart to understand… your words were heard… But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me…” — Daniel 10:12–13

We glimpse the cosmic struggle again in Daniel. A messenger angel is delayed by a territorial principality, and Michael must intervene. This encounter reveals that spiritual hierarchies and demonic authorities were actively operating over regions—because man had surrendered the authority that once belonged to him.

Isaiah 14: Lucifer’s Rebellion and Ambition

“I will ascend…I will raise my throne above the stars of God… I will make myself like the Most High…” — Isaiah 14:13–14

Lucifer’s fall began in his heart. He wanted to ascend above the stars—often symbolic of the righteous in Scripture (cf. Genesis 15:5). He sought to place his throne among those prepared for mankind. He wanted to occupy a place that was never meant for him.

He desired to sit in the mount of the assembly, among the thrones of the redeemed. But he forgot one thing: He was not made in the image of God. He was not a son. He was a created being, mighty, yes—but not divine.

The Thrones He Coveted Were Not Empty Forever

In Revelation 4:4 and Revelation 11:16, we see 24 thrones surrounding the throne of God. These are not angelic seats. These are the thrones of the redeemed—representatives of mankind glorified and crowned.

These thrones were prepared before the foundation of the world, but they remained empty—waiting for those whom God foreknew, called, justified, and glorified (Romans 8:29–30).

Lucifer saw the vacancy, and in pride, he reached for what was not his to possess.

We Are the Ones He Feared Would Take His Place

“God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms…” — Ephesians 2:6

These are the seats we now occupy through Christ. The authority Satan usurped was reclaimed at the cross. Jesus said in Matthew 28:18, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”

And now, He has given it to us.

We are seated with Him. We are not groveling on earth, begging for crumbs. We are ruling with Christ—restored to our original design, to govern in righteousness and walk in unbroken fellowship with the Father.

The Enemy Knows—Do You?

Lucifer fell because he wanted what God reserved for you.He wanted to sit where you are now seated.

This is why he fights with such desperation—to keep you ignorant of your authority, blind to your identity, and afraid to walk in your calling.

But the truth is, through Jesus Christ:

• You are no longer under the dominion of darkness.

• You are not a subject—you are royalty.

• You are not trying to gain a place—you are seated in your place.

The war is won.

The throne is occupied.

The keys have been reclaimed.

And the enemy is a defeated foe with no legal right to your life, your family, your destiny, or your soul.

M. Joseph Hutzler

Eschatologist

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