Satan’s Attempt to Be Like the Most High God

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

Isaiah 14:13 – 15 highlights an interesting aspect of Scripture and provides unique insight into the mind of Satan himself. Let’s take a look at the Scriptures:

13 But you said in your heart,

‘I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne above the stars of God,
And I will sit on the mount of assembly
In the recesses of the north.

14 ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.’

15 “Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol,
To the recesses of the pit.

Of course, the opening text of verse 13 is God speaking. He is Judge, Jury, and Executioner. He tells us what He found in Satan’s heart. These are not things Satan declared out loud to the angels. He kept them hidden in his heart, but they were not hidden to God. What was it that Satan literally promised?

Satan promised he would…

• Ascend to heaven
• Raise his throne above the stars of God
• Sit on the mount of assembly
• Ascend above the heights of the clouds
• Make himself like the Most High

Stop and consider these words. Here we have a created being (though most likely the highest of all created beings), who has the audacity to plan his own ascension. Ultimately, he has determined that he would become like the Most High. The fact that he was so blinded by his own proud ambition that he could not see that he was a created being tells us a great deal about Satan. Is it any wonder that Satan has been attempting to fulfill these “I will” promises since he first stated them within his heart?

I believe his first attempt to put these “I will” promises into effect came with the temptation of Eve and Adam (Genesis 3). Satan knew that in order to wrest control from God, Satan would have to gain access to and control over at least part of God’s Creation. He was successful – to a point. I’m sure Satan did not consider the fact that God would find him guilty and hand down a sentence that would ultimately mean his demise. He would, in the end, “be thrust down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit.” That is his final resting place, unless of course, Satan somehow manages to make himself like the Most High.

His second broad attempt was at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11). There, he attempted to build a tower that would reach the heavens. It is possible that Satan, as well as the fallen angels with him by then, knew of what science likes to call “wormholes” that would grant him passage to the upper heavenly realms. It’s also simply possible that this Tower of Babel was Satan gathering all people to himself under one leader. In that case, it was Nimrod, who was already a king and leader (cf. Genesis 10). In either case, Satan was out to prove his point to God, something that God easily ruined for Satan.

I believe since then, Satan has been busy attempting to rebuild a Tower of Babel, but not in the physical sense. I believe Satan has spent thousands of years bringing people together as “one” in thought, religion, government, and societal structure. This will make it much easier for him to completely indwell one coming individual who will be offered the same thing Jesus was offered in Matthew 4. There, Jesus was offered all the kingdoms of the world if only He would bow down to Satan and worship him alone. We know that Jesus rejected without consideration Satan’s temptation. We also know according to 2 Thessalonians 2, the coming “man of sin” (which is not a metaphor), will likely face the same temptation and, unlike Jesus, will succumb to Satan. At that point, Satan will supernaturally endow this coming “man of sin” with all of Satan’s ability. We learn this in Revelation 13:3-4, which states, “And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast.”

Notice that Satan gives his “authority” to the beast (Antichrist). Why does he do this? Because he wants to be worshiped as God is worshiped based on his promises of Isaiah 14. The coming “man of sin” will be the human connection that Satan needs to bring his “I will” promises to fruition. Interestingly enough (and not surprisingly), Satan (playing the part of God the Father), will work in and through the Antichrist (playing the part of God the Son), to make his promises come true.

There have been several individuals throughout history who are “types” of Antichrists. Nimrod was certainly one of them. Later on in history, Antiochus Epiphanes IV was another one. I’ve included a chart I created that helps to visualize what I’m referring to and how the Bible also promotes the idea that Antiochus Epiphanes IV was indeed a type of Antichrist.

It is also noteworthy to understand that Jesus Himself referred to an incident precipitated by Antiochus in 168 BC (cf. Matthew 24). The fact that this incident occurred is what gave rise to the Maccabean Revolt. It is not questioned. What is debated is how/if this incident has any meaning for the future. I believe it is clear from Scripture that Jesus referred back to this event in order to warn people of the future what would occur.

While some believe the event Jesus was referred to was fulfilled in AD 70, this really cannot be the case since nothing that even remotely like the incident that Antiochus caused occurred in AD 70. The destruction of Jerusalem (along with the temple) took place in AD 70, but it really began a few years prior to that in AD 66. Things had been boiling for some time between Rome and the Jewish leaders. Something had to be done or Rome would lose face.

Finally, in AD 70, it was the Roman Titus who oversaw the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple. This was foretold in Matthew 24 and was punishment for Israel’s rejection of Jesus as Messiah. However, if we read Matthew 24 carefully, it can be clearly seen that there is a near/far timeline. Roughly 40 years after Jesus ascended into heaven, Rome destroyed Jerusalem.

Starting with verse 15 of Matthew 24, Jesus begins His discourse on events of the latter days, just prior to His physical return. The verse states:

“Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.”

Note that Jesus refers to what had become known as the “abomination of desolation.” Every Jewish man alive would have instantly understood what Jesus was referring to (which is also why Matthew simply notes in the text “let the reader understand”). Unfortunately, in 2015, we have to dig to understand what that means.

Clearly, Jesus is referring back to the incident in which Antiochus Epiphanes IV – on his return from Egypt and failed military campaign – decides to take out his anger over his loss on the Jews. He goes “up” to Jerusalem and slaughters a pig on the altar. He then takes the blood of that pig and sprinkles it throughout the Holy of Holies. Beyond this, he sets up a statue of Zeus and some historians note that he placed a mask of his own face over the face of Zeus.

In effect, Antiochus did several things. First, he defiled the temple. The sacrifices would need to be stopped until the temple could be cleansed. Second, he declared himself to be God. He wasn’t playing around! He meant it and he wanted to force the Jews to see him AS God. This they did not do.

Jesus is telling us to look for another event like this first “abomination of desolation” that will occur in the future. Nothing like this occurred during the AD 70 destruction of Jerusalem. In fact, the Jewish priests are likely the ones who set the temple on fire so that it could NOT be defiled by the Romans.

We will be back next time to learn more about this event and how it will play out in the future.

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective