Q & A: Why is Satan Sometimes Called Lucifer?-KCM
Answer:
Lucifer was Satan’s name before his fall from heaven. It literally means “morning star.” Ezekiel 28:13-15 gives us this picture of Lucifer before his rebellion against God:
“You were in Eden, the garden of God. Your clothing was adorned with every precious stone—red carnelian, pale-green peridot, white moonstone, blue-green beryl, onyx, green jasper, blue lapis lazuli, turquoise, and emerald—all beautifully crafted for you and set in the finest gold. They were given to you on the day you were created. I ordained and anointed you as the mighty angelic guardian. You had access to the holy mountain of God and walked among the stones of fire.
“You were blameless in all you did from the day you were created until the day evil was found in you.”
The Bible says very little about the role Lucifer had before the Fall. We simply know that he was in “Eden, the garden of God” (verse 13) and was a “mighty angelic guardian” (verse 14). The Bible gives the most detail of Lucifer in regard to his fall because this describes for us why he lives in his current state as Satan.
Isaiah 14:12-15 gives an account of his fall: “How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.’ Instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead, down to its lowest depths.”
Lucifer did not want to find his fulfillment and his promotion in God, but rather wanted to exalt himself to a place of independence from God. The origin of evil begins when God, who is good, is pushed away. Lucifer fell from his position when he attempted to elevate his will above God’s will. He went from being an anointed angelic guardian to being the embodiment of evil.
Lucifer’s fall is instructive to us. We must understand that the absence of God causes all things to turn evil and corrupt. For this reason, we must make our relationship with God No. 1 priority. When we put Him first, He adds to us everything else that we need (Matthew 6:33)!
source: kcm.org