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You may have noticed that the title \u201cBright Morning Star\u201d is used to refer to both Lucifer [Isa. 14] and to Jesus [Rev. 2; 22:1-15, 2 Pet. 1:19] in the Bible. So, which is it?<\/p>\n
First, let\u2019s examine the Isaiah passage since this is, chronologically, the first reference we find to the \u201cBright Morning Star\u201d in the Bible. This is the passage where the term is applied to Lucifer.<\/p>\n
For example:<\/p>\n
\u201cHow you have\u00a0fallen from heaven,<\/em> There are a couple of things we need to point out here in this passage. First, the word \u201cLucifer\u201d does NOT appear anywhere in the entire chapter. At least, not in the most reliable translations we have.<\/p>\n So, where did Lucifer get connected to this person in Isaiah 14? That would be our friend King James where we read:<\/p>\n \u201cHow art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!<\/strong> how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!\u201d<\/em> [Is. 14:12, KJV]\n<\/p> What\u2019s fascinating is that the Hebrew word \u201cheylel<\/em>\u201d is what the KJV crew translated as \u201cLucifer\u201d as if it were someone\u2019s name, but that\u2019s not what the word means. This is why later [and more accurate] English translations of this passage say:<\/p>\n \u201cHow you have\u00a0fallen from heaven,<\/em> The term \u201cLucifer\u201d is the Latin word for \u201clight-bringer\u201d or \u201cmorning star\u201d and translators appear to have confused that terminology with someone\u2019s name. The rest is history.<\/p>\n So, if \u201cheylel<\/em>\u201d is not someone\u2019s name, what does it really mean? Well, according to the Hebrew lexicon, the term is best translated as \u201cbright\u201d, not \u201cLucifer.\u201d<\/p>\n Secondly \u2013 and this is pretty important if you ask me \u2013 even if we believed the name\/term \u201cLucifer\u201d actually did<\/em> belong in this passage, we need to notice that this part of the chapter is addressing the King of Babylon, and the verses after these address the nation of Assyria, and after that the nation of Philistia. So, in context, this chapter is not about Satan or Lucifer at all. It\u2019s a series of warnings to Babylon, Assyria, and Philistia, respectively.<\/p>\n Also, we need to note that it is not \u201cLucifer\u201d who is called the \u201cKing of Babylon\u201d [as if \u201cKing of Babylon\u201d were some sort of metaphor for Satan], but it is the \u201cKing of Babylon\u201d who is being addressed and [perhaps] referred to as \u201cLucifer\u201d [at least in the KJV translation].<\/p>\n This is significant: Lucifer is not called the King of Babylon. It\u2019s the King of Babylon who is being compared to Lucifer [at least in the KJV]. So, we\u2019re not talking to or about Satan\/Lucifer here. We\u2019re reading a warning from God to the King of Babylon. Period.<\/p>\n Now, we should probably also mention that the term \u201cLucifer\u201d appears only once in the entire Bible. This is only in the KJV translation, by the way. So, \u201cLucifer\u201d is not a scriptural name for Satan. It\u2019s the Latin term for \u201cmorning star.\u201d<\/p>\n Hopefully we\u2019ve made that point.<\/p>\n Next, we need to look at the other 3 references in the New Testament for Jesus as the \u201cBright Morning Star\u201d and these are found here:<\/p>\n \u201cSo\u00a0we have\u00a0the prophetic word\u00a0made\u00a0more\u00a0sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to\u00a0a lamp shining in a dark place until the\u00a0day dawns and the\u00a0morning star<\/strong> [Christ] arises\u00a0in your hearts.\u201d [2 Pet. 1:19]<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI, Jesus, have sent\u00a0My angel to testify to you these things\u00a0for the churches. I am\u00a0the root and the\u00a0descendant of David, the bright\u00a0morning star.<\/strong>\u201d [Rev. 22:16]<\/em><\/p>\n \u201c\u2026as I [Jesus] also have received\u00a0authority\u00a0from My Father, and I will give him [who overcomes]\u00a0the morning star.<\/strong>\u201d [Rev. 2:27-28]<\/em><\/p>\n Bottom line: the Greek word \u201cphosphoros<\/em>\u201d used in these passages is the \u201cMorning Star\u201d \u2013 literally the planet Venus as seen before the dawn \u2013 is identified with Jesus.<\/p>\n In the New Testament, every association with the \u201cMorning Star\u201d is always a good one and the only person ever identified with the Bright Morning Star is Christ. Period.<\/p>\n So, in conclusion, the Bible never equates the \u201cMorning Star\u201d with Satan. Lucifer is not a reference to Satan. It\u2019s the Latin term for \u201cMorning Star.\u201d The Isaiah passage is a warning to the person who was the King of Babylon at the time. His name wasn\u2019t \u201cLucifer.\u201d The passage poetically describes this human king as someone who believed he could ascend to the heavens, but will soon be brought low and humbled.<\/p>\n Jesus, according to the New Testament, is the \u201cBright Morning Star\u201d who will rise, shine, and illuminate our hearts with truth.<\/p>\n Satan is not Lucifer. Lucifer is not the Bright Morning Star. Jesus is.<\/p>\n Case closed.<\/p>\n **<\/p>\n Keith Giles and his wife, Wendy, work with\u00a0Peace Catalyst International<\/a>\u00a0to help build relationships between Christians and Muslims in El Paso, TX.\u00a0 Keith was formerly a licensed and ordained minister who walked away from organized church over a decade ago to start a home fellowship that gave away 100% of the offering to the poor in the community. Today he is the author of several best-selling books, including\u00a0<\/em>\u201cJesus Undefeated: Condemning the False Doctrine of Eternal Torment<\/em><\/a>\u201d which is available now on Amazon.<\/p>\n
\n O\u00a0star of the morning<\/strong>, son of the dawn!<\/em>
\n You have been cut down to the earth,<\/em>
\n You who have weakened the nations!<\/em>
\n\u201cBut you said in your heart,<\/em>
\n \u2018I will\u00a0ascend to heaven;<\/em>
\n I will\u00a0raise my throne above the stars of God,<\/em>
\n And I will sit on the mount of assembly<\/em>
\n In the recesses of the north.<\/em>
\n\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u2018I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;<\/em>
\n I will make myself like the Most High.\u2019<\/em>
\n\u201cNevertheless you\u00a0will be thrust down to Sheol,<\/em>
\n To the recesses of the pit.<\/em>
\n\u201cThose who see you will gaze at you,<\/em>
\n They will\u00a0ponder over you,\u00a0saying,<\/em>
\n \u2018Is this the man who made the earth tremble,<\/em>
\n Who shook kingdoms\u2026\u201d<\/em> [Isaiah 14:12-16]\n<\/p>
\nO\u00a0star of the morning<\/strong>, son of the dawn!\u201d [Is. 14:12, NASB]<\/em><\/p>\n