Our differences are not over whether or not a third of the angels departed from Heaven, but with the manner of their departure: exactly what circumstances brought it about? Some teachings claim that God Himself placed the angels in question on Earth, yet we cannot find those words in our Bible. Those teachings often link the above passage at Job 38 with Revelation 12 in attempting to construct a working model. Yet the passage in question at Rev. 12 in support of the theory actually seems to say that it was Satan who sent these angels from Heaven! Notice, "...And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon...his tail drew a third of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to earth..."--Rev. 12:3-4; KJV (King James Version). How can God be seen sending one third of the angels to Earth from this passage when the Bible says a red dragon did it? Did the Bible mean "God" when it said "red dragon"? Can a similar pattern of language describing God as a red dragon with a tail be seen anywhere else in the Holy Bible? The text says what it says. The written word of God clearly describes a supernatural creature of dominant power bent on evil as the perpetrator who sent one third of the angels to Earth--not God!

The IVP-New Biblical Commentary states: "The enormous red dragon is identified with Satan...His tail swept a third of the stars...a victory of the devil over angelic powers..." Additionally, the Anchor Bible Commentary says: "Doubtless, the stars which his tail sweeps down are the fallen angels..." These scholars understand that the stars represent some type of angels. Lucifer must have sent these angels to Earth after becoming Satan. It's most difficult to consider God being the personage who sent those angels to Earth when Scripture portrays the "red dragon" as the one who accomplished this act.

Previous to the fall, this Lucifer had been promoted to the highest known rank in Heaven below God. The prophet Ezekiel mentions this special status. Notice, "...Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire..."---Ezek. 28:14; KJV. This super-angel was permitted to walk freely in Heaven with a very special status as guardian there.

The word anointed as it is used in Ezek. 28:14 basically indicates a special religious rite being applied to the declaring or setting apart of a person (or thing) as sacred, or having some special status. Regarding humans in this specific application, we see anointing performed on kings, prophets, and priests as a way of officially declaring them as set apart and blessed of God in their special office. It is in this sense that we can safely consider Ezekiel to be describing Lucifer as having originally been appointed to some very special status of high rank in Heaven.

The word cherub refers to a special class of angelic creature. Most of these types of angelic beings are seen possessing wings and are widely held to be more awesome and powerful than the other more common variety of angels. It is this particular variety of angelic being which guarded against anyone entering again into the garden of Eden after Adam and Eve were banished (Gen. 3:22-24). Examples describing the nature of these beings can be seen in the book of Ezekiel throughout chapters 1 and 10. Lucifer was also one of this special order of spirit beings. The statement regarding Lucifer as the anointed cherub implies a special status above all others in the angelic realm as no other is ever said to have been anointed to such a position.

The use of the word covereth in describing Lucifer's office in Heaven refers directly to his position at God's throne, carrying the sense of defense, or protection. It is the same Hebrew wording used to represent the two cherubim which sat atop the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant. Many rightly see the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant as representing the very seat, or throne of God in Heaven. Peloubet's Bible Dictionary says, "The lid [mercy seat] of the ark of the covenant...was a solid plate of gold...on each of which were figures of cherubim, and represented a kind of throne of God, where he would hear prayer and from which he spoke words of comfort."

Also, Merrill F. Unger's Commentary on the Old Testament states: "That great angel belongs to the order of the cherubim, associated with the throne of God as defenders of divine holiness...Adonai Yahweh addressed him as the anointed cherub that covereth...The Lord declared concerning his exalted position: I have set (appointed) thee so. His great appointment as guarding cherub, or protector was over the very throne of God...Almighty God, of course, needs no such defense. But it is not a question of what God needs, but rather, a revelation about what God has chosen to arrange. The first glorious estate of the cherub-angel, before he fell, is evi- dently described in these words: Thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire..."

Unger certainly understood Scripture to have portrayed Lucifer as being from the highest order of angels, and placed as chief guardian of God's throne in Heaven. One translation states it thusly: "...You were the anointed cherub with overshadowing [wings]. I placed you so that you were on the sacred hill of God, and you walked amidst the flaming stones..."--Ezek. 28:14; NBV (New Berkley Version). It is unavoidable to conclude anything less than Lucifer being placed as guardian and protector of God's throne in Heaven, at some point in the far reaches of history's antiquity. This must have been prior to man's creation and clearly cannot mean that Lucifer's first estate was ever on Earth.

Those who think God sent the angels below often insist that the book of Jude speaks of an Earthly home as the first abode for the angels who sinned, yet Scripture never says such a thing. Notice, "...Remember the angels who did not stay within the limits of their proper authority, but abandoned their own dwelling place..."--Jude 6; TEV. Some link this passage with Job 38 and Rev. 12 in promoting the idea that Lucifer and one third of the angels were placed on Earth by God to do a work before man was made and placed there. Regardless, the text never says what some have thought in the past. Since angels were present to see the first spark of Earth's creation process initiated (Job 38:7), then it's wholly impossible for their first dwelling place to have ever been man's planet. Their first home was in the spirit realm. Who would argue against that? Everything at our disposal suggests that Lucifer's first home could not possibly have been Earth.

As previously stated in the introductory section of this booklet, Rev. 12:3-4 indicates that a red dragon symbolic of an already fallen Satan was the personage responsible for wrongly sending one third of the angels from Heaven to Earth. Jude speaks of this departure from Heaven, and not one from Earth.

Before continuing we must address an objection that some would raise regarding a peculiar statement at Ezek. 28:13, which states, "...Thou hast been in the garden of God..." Some declare this statement to be a proof-text in determining that Lucifer was appointed to rule over Earth, yet there is no assurance this statement ever intended Adam's garden to be the garden in question. Unger says, "It is inconsequential whe- ther Eden, the garden of God refers to a primal Eden or the Eden of Genesis 3. Satan has been in both." Unger undoubtedly sees the possibility of Ezekiel's Eden to have been some other garden than Adam's in Genesis. Numerous other scholars see this Eden situated in Heaven.

When we came to the realization that Scripture portrayed Lucifer as having been appointed to the very special role of guarding God's throne in Heaven we were immediately struck with a burning desire to know why God would have needed the protection in the first place. As Unger commented above, it makes little sense that Almighty God would actually need protecting. Nevertheless, a reasonable explanation for why God would have placed Lucifer as guardian at His throne does exist. If one takes into consideration God's pattern of allowing freedom of choice by not creating the angels and mankind like robots, one comes closer to answering this very important and far-reaching question.

To understand why God would have appointed Lucifer to be the guardian of His throne, we must first consider a repeating pattern of how God deals with other created beings who possess the freedom of choice. God gave angels and humans that characteristic of volition by which we are all free to make choices for ourselves. We see how Adam and Eve were both placed in a garden on Earth where they were to be fruitful and multiply, with the strict warning not to eat from a particular tree. Did God force them to obey? Certainly not. Did they sense God's constant and immediate presence in their lives throughout each minute of every day? Not according to the Biblical account. A reading of the events in Genesis reveals that God left our first parents alone in the garden after giving them knowledge and instruction, allowing them to be tempted--and they chose the wrong path. The end result was banishment from their paradise.

That shows us this pattern: God withdraws His presence from the awareness of His created beings, leaving them an opportunity to prove which path they will choose. It is a repeating pattern that God utilizes throughout the entire Bible as a means of testing the character of His created beings. Christians today live under this same pattern. The individual is called and responds by choosing God's way. They see His ways in the Bible and respond by following the example of Jesus Christ in their everyday lives and by working to overcome the world around them. Yet none has actually ever seen God. That is living faith.

We have been left to choose right from wrong after coming to a certain amount of knowledge and instruction. God remains hidden and watches to see if each individual will live faithfully, being led by the Holy Spirit according to His written word. This is God's pattern as seen in Scripture, evidenced throughout the Old and New Testaments. God's nature of dealing with His created beings ap- parently remains consistent throughout all times (Heb. 13:8).

If we apply this regular pattern in God's mode of operation to our discussion concerning Lucifer's fall, the picture begins to take shape. God provided Lucifer the opportunity to choose, just as God permits the same with mankind today. He appointed Lucifer as guardian of Heaven, which ultimately allowed that super-angel the freedom to prove whether or not it would guard as God commanded. The pattern cries out for a departure on God's part leaving the guardian alone. The only logical sense sees Lucifer being left in charge of Heaven while God departed the scene. God's word clearly said, "...Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so..." The only reason God would have appointed this angel to be guardian in the first place was because He was leaving the scene. No other interpretation makes sense according to all pertinent Scriptures. We wonder why so many have overlooked the obvious. 

In the minds of the angels left behind, it must have merely seemed that God had departed Heaven. God would certainly have been watching very closely even though the parties involved were likely oblivious to His continuing presence. No other conclusion makes sense from the relevant Scriptures for explaining why God would have appointed a guardian or protector of His throne in the first place.

After some have wrongly placed Lucifer and one third of the angels on Earth, it is also generally asserted that a departure from man's planet happened at some unknown time afterward. The story continues with them exiting their earthly setting through some misguided idea of invading Heaven and defeating Almighty God. The main Scripture used in attempting to promote this particular idea comes from the prophet Isaiah. Notice, "...How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into Heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north..."--Is. 14:12-13; KJV. It's promoted that "I will ascend into heaven" pictures Lucifer departing Earth and heading towards heaven.

It's certainly not hard to see how some would consider "ascend into heaven" to be describing Lucifer as entering Heaven from some other place. Nevertheless, close inspection of the text reveals that the word into is not actually a part of the Hebrew text at all. It was merely added by the King James translators, and others. Numerous translations besides the KJV use a modified wording here. Notice, "I will scale the heavens" (New American Bible); "I will scale the heavens" (New English Bible); "I will scale the heavens" (New Jerusalem Bible); "I will climb the sky" (The Jewish Bible-Tanakh); "I will scale the heavens" (New Berkley Version); "I will scale the sky" (The Bible-James Moffatt); "I will scale the heavens" (Holy Bible, Latin Vulgate/Knox); "The heavens will I scale" (Complete Bible-Goodspeed). None of these examples imply an exclusive sense meaning into as anyone can clearly observe. The sense is merely one of climbing.

Consider that "fallen from heaven" and "chopped to the ground" (v.12) cannot possibly be describing a situation where God was placing Lucifer and other angels on Earth to finish some creation work. It says what it says. Lucifer's claims were exclusive to a rising above all authority in a Heavenly setting with a subsequent fall from that perch. Notice, "...How are you fallen from heaven, shining gleam, son of the morn- ing! Chopped to the ground, conqueror of nations! You reflected in your heart, I will scale the heavens; I will elevate my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the Mount of the Assembly, far away in the north. I will rise above the heights of the clouds; I will rival the Most High!"--Is. 14:12-13; NBV.

From the Companion Bible, E. W. Bullinger states: "mount of the congregation = 'Not Zion, but the Divine assembly of judgement. Cp. Pss 75.2; 82.1; Ezek. 28:12-14." Dake's Reference Bible agrees, saying, "The mountain where the congregation of heaven gathers for regular worship." Bullinger further states: "sides = recesses. Same word as in v.15; 37.24, and 1Sam. 24.3, Ezek. 32.23,...the north = This helps us to localize the dwelling place of God."

The whole of the passage is exclusively set in Heaven. Consider: a) a rising to some higher area in Heaven; b) erection and exaltation of another seat atop God's throne; c) above the stars = above the angels; d) Je- sus and the Father surround themselves with clouds in Heaven (Ps. 104:3; Is. 19:1; Da. 7:13)--meaning the entirety of Isaiah's statement appears to speak exclu- sively of a Heavenly context.

If guarding God's throne in Heaven is the only place where we can be certain that Scripture assigns to Lucifer a specific home (Ezek. 28:14), then it is extremely difficult for us to determine anything otherwise from Is. 14:12-14. Thus, if the idea of "entering Heaven from somewhere else" is incorrect, can it be that the only reasonable conclusion one can draw from Isaiah's statement is that Lucifer, being left in charge of guarding God's throne in Heaven, at some point decided to climb to an even more exalted status and/or area of Heaven? Thankfully God doesn't leave us hanging here. As we shall see, Scripture does provide a very striking parallel in support of our position that Lucifer's fall could have come about only through some action of ascending higher in Heaven above God's throne.

If one carefully considers the story of a man named Absalom, a good picture begins to emerge explaining much concerning Lucifer's climb in Heaven. Absalom is believed to be the third born son of king David, and evidently not happy with having to wait for his chance to rule from his father's throne. He lusted for power and authority so desperately that he was willing to do anything to seize control. [The story of his life can be found at 2Samuel 13-18.]

The most astounding similarity or comparison between Absalom and Lucifer pertained to each one's outward beauty. Notice, "...But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him..."--2Sam. 14:25; KJV; for Lucifer, see Ezek. 28:12. It is a striking parallel!

Previously, we mentioned how God very likely departed from Heaven allowing the opportunity for Lucifer to prove a path of conduct. In a similar sense Absalom was allowed to take forbidden liberties against king and country through a rebellious, ego-driven personality while his father seemed to be out of view somewhere. Notice, "...Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and an escort of fifty men. He made it a practice to...hail every man who had a case to bring before the king for judgement...Absalom would say...you will get no hearing from the king...If only I were appointed judge in the land...it would be my business to see that everyone...got justice from me..."--2Sam. 15:1-6; NEB (New English Bible). King David must have been aware of Absalom's activity and allowed it to go on, yet we're never given any clear statement regarding his thoughts in the matter. Both God and David appear to be far removed from the scene in each respective account.

Absalom's equipping himself with the exceptional transport of horse and chariot along with a personal guard of fifty signified the beginnings of his rebellious intentions of claiming the king's throne as his own, and taking liberties which were not his to possess. His self-appointed status as a powerful ruler would have impressed many onlookers who subsequently considered Absalom to be the logical successor to his father's throne. Absalom desperately wanted a following of his own and took matters into his own hands.

Besides contending as a powerful rival, Absalom's intent was to raise himself above his father's throne by attacking the ruling character of David. The Scriptural account never portrays the king to have been unfair or less than eager to judge matters of state. It was the accusing son, Absalom, who made such claims. The smear campaign was allowed to continue in the eyes of many for numerous years while Absalom's closest inner circle worked behind the scenes with the ultimate goal of murdering king David. Evidently, all of this was accomplished without the slightest mention of David's thoughts or presence in the matter. The king would have surely known the workings of his rebellious son, yet it was allowed to happen with Absalom thinking his plans were on course.

A close reading of Absalom's revolt (2Sam. 15-18) will uncover many other interesting facts along the way. For now, though, the most curious parallel of all regards a very odd act that relates directly to our discussion. Absalom had moved to the mountainous city of Hebron, wanting to name it the new capital of Israel once the overthrow was accomplished. Upon learning the full tale of his son's impending rebellion, David flees Jerusalem leaving ten of his concubines behind to keep charge of the royal palace/home. As soon as he hears of the events in Jerusalem, Absalom quickly returns there and takes charge of his father's remaining household--including the concubine/wives. Instead of merely taking these concubines for himself and residing in his father's chambers, the ill-minded Absalom does an extremely peculiar thing, after being urged by a deceitful voice to erect a tent of defiance. Notice, "...Go into thy father's concubines...and all Israel shall hear...So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in all the sight of Israel..."--2Sam. 16:21-22; KJV. He erects a tent atop his father's throne as an outward show of claiming ultimate authority.

The Interpreter's Bible suggests that Absalom was following a superstitious custom still evident in modern Jewish weddings, where vows are made under a wedding canopy, called a "huppah". It states: "The tent which was pitched for him on the roof of the palace was the wedding tent common to all Semitic people." What it fails to mention is that no custom has ever been known in the Biblical world where people erected such tents atop buildings. Our research found no custom in history where a "wedding canopy" is ever erected atop a home, or any other building for that matter. Absalom's ascent followed no known practice. The commentaries are unable to explain why he chose this very unorthodox act of erecting a tent above his father's throne. For appearance purposes alone, Absalom could just as easily have resided under his father's abandoned roof in claiming right to the king's throne. Yet he chose to construct an addition atop his father's house instead. Routine behavior? Hardly. Especially in light of the fact that Absalom appeared ignorant of what to do upon arrival to Jerusalem--2Sam. 16:20. Had erecting a wedding tent atop a building been the norm, then why did Absalom ask what should be done in this instance? The simple answer is, these people didn't realize what they were acting out.

After close inspection, the apparent similarities contained in the two accounts of Absalom and Lucifer are mind-boggling. For ourselves, we find it nearly impossible to imagine these two stories being unrelated. Their most outstanding similarities are quite remarkable: 1) both entities were the most beautiful in appearance in all their realm; 2) both wrongfully lusted to reign as absolute ruler; 3) both undertook efforts to promote themselves as ultimate ruler; 4) both were allowed to claim temporary rulership; 5) both convinced others to follow in their rebellion; 6) both ascended above the king's throne, erecting some structure symbolizing their own rulership; 7) both were allowed to sit as ultimate ruler for some time; and 8) both were violently dethroned from their self-appointed positions. Other remarkable similarities exist, but in our immediate discussion these are the most profound.

The fact that we see a symbolic parallel linking Absalom's actions atop his father's palace/throne to that of Lucifer's ascending atop God's throne shouldn't be too difficult for even a novice Bible student to comprehend. Absalom's ascent perfectly illustrates what Lucifer did in the transformation from good to evil. The truth couldn't be any simpler.

The claim that Satan the Devil was allowed to sit on God's throne after transforming from good to evil finds its support in Scripture. Notice, "...Thus saith the Lord God, Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a god, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God..."--Ezek. 28:2; KJV. According to Scripture, it appears that Satan was certainly allowed to sit on God's throne. Interestingly, in the Hermeneia Commentary series, Walter Zimmerli has concluded that, "I am a god", from Ezek. 28:2, should be more properly translated, "I am God", adding: "Thus from the point of view of form, the king of Tyre usurps the manner of speech which is appropriate only to the creator." In other words, this passage can easily be translated to show that the transformed Satan was allowed to sit on God's throne while claiming divinity on a par with the Almighty. This wasn't just some personality wanting to merely be like God. It was the claim to actually be God in the eyes of the angelic host.

Many will be interested in learning the fate of the angels that departed Heaven under Satan's authority. Absalom's story reveals much for us concerning this part of the story. Scripture indicates that many the angels who departed Heaven were ignorant of what they were doing. The Devil must have convinced them into thinking that who they were seeing on a regular basis was the Almighty, yet in reality it was just the imposter masquerading like God. In all of the Devil's traffic of coming and going it seems wholly reasonable to conclude that the imposter merely reemerged, at some point after being away from the throne in Heaven (not unlike Almighty God's habits of coming and going?), and re-appearing just like Almighty God had last been remembered in the minds of the angels.

Remarkably, by following in the pattern set by Lucifer already discussed above, Absalom climbed to the highest inhabited part of Palestine (at Hebron) in choosing a headquarters to begin the attempted overthrow of the kingdom. Notice, "...Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron. And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem that were called and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing..."--2Sam. 15:10-11; KJV.

We're not told exactly how many spies were sent out. Apparently, they represent a lesser number of personalities from within Satan's inner working circle who must have been privy to the conspiracy. Spies would tend to generally mean small numbers doing covert type work behind the scenes. It's likely that some larger percentage of angels is intended by offering 200 as a number who went unknowingly. Likely, this was done as some outward show to convince all onlookers into believing in a plan that was never approved by Almighty God.

The introductory part of the book of Job tells of a challenging discussion between God and Satan concerning the faith and character of the man after whom the book was named. God brings Job into the picture first, with the Devil claiming that this righteous man of God would not remain so if God's protection were removed. As a test God allows Satan to strip Job of his wealth, property, children, and good health in proving the righteous character of this truly faithful man of God. By the end of the book we see Job being fully restored to a greater wealth than ever before.

It would make sense, then, for Job to have at least mentioned those same forces of evil throughout the rest of the book. Numerous places in the book of Job do speak directly of Satan besides the introduction. One example can be seen where metaphor is utilized in describing Satan by way of a sea monster. Notice, "...God sends earthquakes and shakes the ground; he rocks the pillars that support the earth. He can keep the sun from rising, and the stars from shining at night. No one helped God spread out the heavens or trample the sea monster's back. God hung the stars in the sky-the Dipper, Orion, the Pleiades, and the stars of the south..."--Job 9:6-9; GNT (Good News Translation). The New English Bible reads, "trod on the sea monster's back..."

Most translations fail to directly mention the sea monster, yet many add a marginal notation as a possible alternative text. Numerous scholars and commentators make note of this fact as well. Many versions translate something similar to, "treaded upon the waves of the sea", instead of any direct mention of a sea monster. The Amplified Bible, says, "treads upon the waves and high places of the sea". Likewise, the New Berkley Bible, says, "and stalks abroad over the heights of the sea". The James Moffatt Version, offers, "and stalks along their heights". Numerous scholars understand the language suggests a very lofty aspect; i.e.--apparently more than merely atop high waves on Earth. In other words, the entire passage of Job 9:6-9 exclusively pertains to astral elements.

Had the translators seen the better insight where Job 9:8 speaks concerning a high sitting astral sea creature, which in reality was Satan the Devil, then many versions would have reflected a better wording. An alternative version of merit might easily be, "Nobody helped God spread out the vast heavens, or trample the astral-sea monster's back". Simply put, the Nelson Study Bible, says, "The fact that the Lord treads on the waves of the sea shows His unique control over the alleged forces of evil."

Another place in the book of Job speaks of the same subject. In chapter 38, God's word says, "...Where were you when I founded the earth? Tell me, if you have insight. Who determined its measurements? You surely know! Or who stretched the builder's line upon it? Upon what were its foundations sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, while the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Who fixed the boundaries of the sea, when it burst forth from the womb? When made I the clouds its clothes, and thick darkness its swaddling bands, prescribing for its bars and doors, and saying, Thus far you may come but no farther; here shall your proud waves be stayed? Have you ever in your life commanded the morning or shown the dawn its place, so that it may get hold of the corners of the earth and shake the wicked out of them?..."--Job 38:4-13; NBV. (Concerning the word, wicked at Job 38:13, Bullinger states, "All the ancient versions and early printed editions read the lawless." This language concerning proud waves along with wicked and the lawless cannot possibly pertain to purely physical elements of water. This passage portrays a scene that clearly shows no human existing when God created the Earth, yet it's certainly apparent the angels were already present since they are seen singing and shouting for joy. It's also true that out of those angels, evil reared its ugly head(s).

What immediately follows in Job 38 is a reflection backwards to the initial forming of the angelic hosts; i.e.--"the sea when it burst forth from the womb". The morning stars refer to Lucifer's pre-fallen angels. The setting of limits regarding "the boundaries of the sea" refers to the intended realm for these created beings to have remained. Their first estate or home was in Heaven. God limited the bounds of where these spirits beings were to reside at that time, and certain places like the physical realm below were apparently off limits.

These angels who had departed Heaven under Satan's command were not limitless upon arrival to the physical world below. Being created on a spiritual plane does not mean one can easily come to a physical world and override all of the pre-existing laws of physics which God had originally set in place. Spirit beings entering directly into man's physicality are bound by the same laws as mortal man. Just because angels are supernatural to man doesn't mean they have some fantastic ability to override all of God's laws. Promoting otherwise is extremely liberal. Spirit beings can certainly bend, warp and pervert God's laws much more effectively than man, but they must still remain within the limits of the laws that Almighty God has set in place or there would be some natural fallout as a result. Let's also not overlook how Scripture often speaks figuratively of angels as men (Gen. 18 & 19; Ezek. 9; etc.) strongly indicating they are very limited in power.

Long before the first man was created, God had already battled and defeated spiritual wickedness. Evil had been allowed to become a reality in Heaven while the Master was away. A work desiring to be equal with God was undertaken. The language of Job 38 cannot be solely directed at mere saltwater on our planet. The context is bound by the singing stars who shout for joy, and God speaking to proud waves (Jude 13). These proud waves represent the fallen angels and the setting of limits upon them when they were first created. It speaks of their being shaken from the great ocean in the sky at some point in time after their departure from Heaven under Satan. Many examples can be found throughout the Bible in agreement with this figurative language of the seas referring to the physical heavens above.

An examination of the actions of a particular king in Israel's ancient past will help us to better discern another pattern of events the Devil accomplished within our solar system, and maybe beyond, long before Adam was created. He reigned as a king of Judah during a time when the children of Israel were no longer united as a single nation. [The story of his life can be found at 2Kings 16 & 2Chronicles 28.]

Soon after king Solomon died, a civil war broke out which caused Israel to be divided into two separate nations. Scripture reveals how this national calamity caused the twelve tribes of Israel to split into two smaller groups, with one in the northern territory and another to the south. The northern tribes were generally known as the house of Israel, while the southern tribes were referred to as the house of Judah. A thorough reading of the events in this particular time frame of Israel's history reveals much hatred between these two competing factions.

A situation arose where the tribes to the north conspired with their pagan neighbors in a plan to utterly destroy the house of Judah to the south. It was on this occasion that the very famous prophet Isaiah delivered a message to Ahaz with promise of success and survival for Judah if the king would merely remain faithful and obedient to God's instructions as to how to deal with the struggle. Instead of remaining strong in the Lord, Ahaz chose to seek military assistance from the idolatrous nation of Assyria to the east. Payment to the Assyrian king was made by robbing the king's palace and temple grounds in Jerusalem.

Ahaz made numerous changes in the way Judah was to officially worship God in the Temple area. He erected his own altar while sacrificing animals in the name of pagan gods there, calling it the true worship of God. He also rearranged many other things in the Temple area--and our focus on one particular item from that rearrangement yields information of value toward an understanding of what happened in our world when Lucifer and the angels departed Heaven.

The item in question is called "the brazen Sea", and it's what Ahaz did with it that tells us so much. The brazen Sea was a very large circular container of water, for use in a purification ritual performed by the priests (2Chron. 4). They would ritually bathe themselves in it before performing priestly duties. It sat atop the backs of twelve oxen (1Ki. 7:25), which pointed to the four cardinal points of the sky.

Many Bible scholars consider the Sea to have represented the astral heavens. The New Biblical Commentary says, "Hiram's most impressive technological achievement was perhaps the huge bronze basin...known as 'the Sea'. It was supported on twelve bronze bulls arranged in four groups of three, each group facing one of the cardinal points...its size and design, as well as its name suggest it was symbolic..." It's difficult to find a Bible scholar who overlooks the obvious astral-sea connection in this instance.

The base of the twelve oxen upon which the Sea rested also signified the celestial heavens in its own way. It clearly represented the four cardinal points of North, South, East, and West. Notice, "...It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward..."--1Ki. 7:25; KJV. This description, if we consider the entire edifice as a representation of the physical world at its beginning (Big Bang?), strongly indicates that God's original creation was set in a perfect, harmonious order from the very beginning.

This base of twelve oxen did not solely indicate the four cardinal points. Solomon could just as easily have had Hiram build the entire structure with only four oxen, where each pointed to a particular cardinal point in the heavens. Why twelve? Some have tried to connect the tribes of Israel to the twelve oxen, yet this is a false application as the building characteristics of the Sea stress a connection between the number twelve and the astral-sea--not Israel. Notice, "...twelve is the perfect number, signifying 'perfection of government...It is found as a multiple in all that has to do with 'rule'. The sun which 'rules' the day, and the moon and stars which 'govern' the night, do so through...the great circle of the heavens of 360 (12x30) degrees or divisions, and thus govern the year"--Bullinger, Number in Scripture. The number twelve, where the Sea is involved, indicates a special significance in the perfect arrangement of the original physical world as fashioned by Almighty God.

Now, what did the devil in Ahaz do with this symbol of the physical universe? Notice, "...King Ahaz dismantled the wheeled stands, removed the crosspieces and the basins from them, and took the bronze Sea off the oxen supporting it, and rested it on the stone pavement..."--2Ki. 16:17a; JBV (Jerusalem Bible Version). Ahaz took the Sea down from its placement, having represented a perfect alignment with the heavenly compass points, and placed it downward on a base of disarray with no regard to God's harmonious order.

Accordingly, when we factor in all of the relevant aspects, this can only mean that Satan the Devil did some rearranging and desecrating of planet Earth, of our solar system--and likely beyond. The heavens of old were originally set in a perfect harmonious order by the direct hand of Almighty God. Satan twisted that original order through sin and law-breaking, and that disorder continues to the present day. Only after sin is permanently dealt with can we have a new Heaven and a new Earth (Rev. 21:1). The activity of the Devil caused this manipulation and resulting negative imbalance of the proper order in our world. Fallen Lucifer followed the idea that said, " I will exalt my throne above the stars of God...I will be like the Most High." Surely these activities would have impressed the angels that were subordinate to the god of this world.

A thorough reading of king Ahaz's fall after being appointed temporary guardian over the throne of Judah, is revealing. He went against God's word in seeking fame, fortune and power above what was rightly his to possess. These acts certainly followed in the same tracks laid by the Devil long before. Ahaz defiled a symbol of God's original celestial order, mirroring a rearranging of the real heavens when Satan claimed a status equal to that of God. Interestingly, Ahaz convinced the priesthood of this, apparently symbolizing the angels of old.

Lastly, before continuing, Scripture shows that Solomon had help building the Sea from a then good king of Tyre named Hiram (1Ki. 5:1-12). Oddly, a worker bearing the same name (Hiram/Huram) was utilized by this good king of Tyre to build the Sea. If the Sea represents the physical world, then the building of it would suggest that God used a pre-fallen Lucifer, somehow, to get the physical universe started. This is not saying that God ever commissioned Lucifer to come down with one third of the angels from Heaven to frost an Earth-cake as some might grasp at this point. If the Sea represents the beginning of the physical universe through a process many have termed "the big bang", then this does not speak directly to exactly who all may have had a hand in helping fashion Earth as man's planet came into existence several billion years later. We must not lose sight of the fact that God had originally set limits on the bounds from which the angels were allowed to roam (Job 38:7-11). Let's also not forget that Scripture says the angels' departure from Heaven was a rebellious act from the very beginning (Rev. 12:3-4).

Lucifer, the most stupendous angel ever created, chose to rise above God's seat of authority after being left to protect that very Throne. In the process of showing off to the other angels with puffed-up pride, and claiming authority in Heaven, the Devil built a seat of rebellion atop God's royal bench. The Devil claimed to be just like God, and was allowed to sit as God for some unknown time (Ezek. 28:2); prior to God thrusting the imposter from Heaven.

It has already been established that a very awesome angel named Lucifer was given some special authority and rank in Heaven by Almighty God (Ezek. 28:14). It's also evident that during the transformation from anointed cherub into Satan the Devil, that this super-angel claimed a status equal to that of Almighty God (Ezek. 28:2). Besides these, our research has also uncovered many significant details related to a massive empire existing in the physical world long before Adam was created. Satan the Devil was the mastermind behind the build-up of this huge 'market in the sky' and an abundance of evidence supporting this position can be found throughout Scripture, archaeology, history and mythos if the student desires to study into it further.

Isaiah knew about Satan's desire to be seen as Almighty God. Notice, "...for thou hast said in thine heart, 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds: I will be like the Most High..."--Is. 14:13-14; KJV. This passage clearly and plainly says that Satan went about imitating Almighty God in the eyes of many onlookers. If one of God's most outstanding characteristics is that He creates, then it makes logical sense to conclude that the Devil would certainly try to create something on its own while masquerading as the Most High.

When we reflect on Job 38:7 it isn't difficult to see that Lucifer and company must have known of some highly important significance to Earth's formation and position in the Universe. Singing and shouting for joy means the angels knew about God's work of Salvation below.

Since pre-fallen Lucifer knew of God's ultimate plan for mankind to be placed on an earthly plane below, then it makes sense that the Devil would try to create its own version of man. Anything short of this would prove the Devil was really just an imposter, and not almighty. Not surprisingly, current fossil records reveal a lengthy list of man-like creatures having existed over a vast range of years which are undoubtedly non-human; previous to Adam's day. These ape-like creatures have often been used as evidence to support the theory of evolution. Of course, according to Scripture these evolutionists are totally wrong because Satan never made a real man. All he ever came up with were beasts. Creation scientists have also struggled with the existence of these man-like bones, yet no controversy should exist when all of the Scriptures are rightly divided. If the Scriptural account is correct, then we should expect to see numerous of these man-like beings in the fossil records.

Satan was forced to create something upon claiming a status equal to the Almighty Creator. Deep down inside, the Devil likely knew it couldn't actually create the type of man that Almighty God had intended all along. Radical genetic experimentation must have quickly ensued upon Satan claiming an almighty status. Logically, the only gene pool available was on planet Earth since God had originally made our planet habitable for man from the beginning (Is. 45:18). There must have been many animals on Earth for the Devil to have experimented with while trying to make a man-kind.

While Satan's inner circle feverishly worked to make 'Frankenstein', the need for resources and supplies proved great. Trafficking the essential resources to the laboratory became a major chore. Evidently, spirit beings are bound by God's laws of physics whenever they are in the same physical world that man thrives within. If this is correct, then many resources from places near and far from Earth would have been transported to where the work was done.

Before Satan could successfully make a man through manipulation of the genetic material gathered from other animals of the field, the work of developing a massive and far-flung empire of trade and commerce was set about. Notice, "Thou wast perfect in thy ways...till iniquity was found in thee" (Ezek. 28:15). "By the multitude of thy merchandise (Ezek. 28:16); "by the iniquity of thy traffic" (Ezek. 28:18). The words merchandise and traffic are the same in the Hebrew (Strong's #7404) having a sense meaning travel and trade combined. It's not hard to see an empire being built up with Satan the devil sitting astride a throne in Heaven, and at some other seat of authority below as well.

Many assert that only those nine verses at Ezek. 28:11-19 speak of a fallen cherub named Lucifer when the whole prophecy actually spans three lengthy chapters. The rest they say, is targeted solely at some purely human king named Tyrus. Surprisingly, only a minority of scholars correctly sees Satan as the subject being specifically addressed throughout the entirety of Ezekiel's lengthy prophecy (Ezek. 26-28). Shouldn't we always study any given area of Scripture in its proper context? The entirety of those three chapters just happens to BE the context. If Ezekiel's prophecy concerning Tyre/Satan is 83 verses in length, then why would we exclude ourselves from considering all of them as we study? Who is the authority that says some 74 verses should be so easily disregarded? Ezekiel wrote a very lengthy prophecy on a specific topic, and somebody, somewhere has wanted everyone to consider only about a tithe's worth of it.

God brought His armies against Satan's massive empire. The angels below were astonished at being defeated by God. Not merely because they had been beaten down, but more so because they had thought all along that their activities in the physical world below had been ordained of Almighty God. The problem was, who they thought was Almighty God, turned out to be Satan the Devil. Consider, "...Thus saith the Lord God to Tyrus; shall not the isles shake at the sound of thy fall, when the wounded cry, when the slaughter is made in the midst of thee? Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and layaway their robes...they shall clothe themselves with trembling; they shall sit upon the ground, and tremble at every moment, and be astonished at thee. And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, How art thou destroyed, that wast inhabited of seafaring men, the renowned city, which was strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, which cause their terror to be on all that haunt it!"--Ezek. 26:15-17; KJV. The angels were astonished as they now saw Satan in another form being far different from that which they had been accustomed to seeing. The Devil must have been masquerading as Almighty God and the ignorant angels had been deceived.

Most of the subordinate angels had apparently been ignorant of Satan's real work all along and totally surprised at what was transpiring in their world. Notice, "...Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters; the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas...all thy company...shall fall into the midst of the seas in the day of thy ruin. The suburbs shall shake at the sound of the cry of thy pilots. And all that handle the oar, the mariners, and all the pilots of the sea, shall come down from their ships, they shall stand upon the land. And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee, and shall cry bitterly...all the inhabitants shall be astonished at thee...the people shall hiss at thee..."--Ezek. 27:26-36, KJV. And, "...They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms..."--Is. 14:16; KJV. The subordinate angels were surprised at Satan's appearance, meaning the Devil must have been performing some masquerading act all along.

Satan the Devil, along with the subordinate angels were all placed in prison (Ezek. 26:20). God's word even tells us how long this prison sentence lasted if we take the numbers literally. Notice, "...Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years...after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot. Take a harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that you mayest be remembered. And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the Lord will visit Tyre, and she shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world, upon the face of the Earth..."Is. 23:15-17; KJV. If words mean anything, then this reveals for us that God let Satan out of prison after 70 years. Many students will be surprised to learn that Satan's impending imprisonment during the return of Jesus Christ will not be the first time that this anointed-cherub-gone-bad has been locked up.

God sentenced Satan and his subordinate angels to prison after they had worked long and hard at building up a vast empire in the physical world below. A battle in our solar system ensued with Satan's headquarters being reduced from a once thriving sea of beauty into a world resembling the top of a dry rock. Earth was totally flooded by a deluge that made Noah's flood appear to be like a mere trickle in comparison. The condition of the Earth at Gen. 1:2 as it sat without form and void was the result of God's defeat of evil. These flooding waters which covered Earth's high mountains for 70 dark years came from the destruction of Satan's paradise in the heavens which had been made like the top of a dry rock.

This empire was nearly totally destroyed from its place in the vast sea in the sky. A subsequent flood on Earth can be seen as a direct result of Satan's old headquarters being destroyed. Many characteristics stand out when contrasting Satan's flood with that of Noah's. Notice, "...I beheld the earth, and lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light..."--Jer. 4:23; KJV. Numerous scholars see far more destructiveness in Satan's flood when compared to that of Noah's occurring nearly 1,725 years later. Noah's flood, for example, lasted a little over a year while the result of Satan's sin lasted 70 totally dark years.

Dake says, "The flood of Noah lasted over a year, yet vegetation was not destroyed. But, in Lucifer's flood the fruitful place became a wilderness (Jer. 4:23-26). New vegetation had to be planted in the 6 days, for the earth was totally desolate (Gen. 1:11-12; 2:5, 8-17). This proves that Lucifer's flood was on earth longer than Noah's and without doubt, as judgment for a more serious rebellion...Ps. 104:5-9 speaks of God sending a flood on earth after its creation, at which time the waters stood above the mountains. Verse 7 identifies this as Lucifer's flood, saying "At thy rebuke they fled." In the case of Noah's flood, the waters slowly abated." An abundance of interesting commentary on this subject already exists detailing a massive flood on Earth long before God made mankind. (Space here does not permit any further address of that topic. The student shouldn't have any trouble finding additional information on this subject.)

The prophet Ezekiel, like many other Bible writers, also knew of Satan's flood that destroyed the old world before Adam. Back again to his lengthy prophecy on Tyre, he says, "...Now shall the isles tremble in the day of thy fall; yea the isles that are in the sea shall be troubled at their departure. For thus saith the Lord God; When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited; When I shall bring the deep upon thee, and great waters shall cover thee. When I shall bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, with the people of old time, and shall set thee in the low parts of the earth, in places desolate of old, with them that go down to the pit..."--Ezek. 26:18-20a; KJV. The Scriptural evidence in support of a global flood before Adam is overwhelming.

Before continuing to the next subsection, we must mention a very interesting set of visions recorded in Ezekiel 8 pertaining to an unearthly temple area. Historically, Bible commentators have great difficulty explaining what is happening in this passage. If the researcher has the idea going in that another temple on a different planet besides Earth could be the topic of discussion, then a very viable alternative emerges that easily explains what Ezekiel was seeing.

In Eze. 8:3 the prophet is taken (in vision) to a place high above Earth; apparently in outer space. Then, following in the example evidenced on previous occasions (Ezek. 1:28; 3:22-23) the prophet would have fallen on his face when 'the glory of the Lord' suddenly appeared (Ezek. 8:4). Continuing, "...Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the North. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy..."--Ezek. 8:5; KJV. This way toward 'the north' is higher in the sky from where Ezekiel has already been taken (Deut. 4:19). Upon rising from having fallen on his face, he is now told to look higher in the sky. He sees the view of a temple area similar to what the temple in Jerusalem had looked like previously. What follows thru v.12 reveals a temple complex area at some other place high in the sky between Earth and Heaven that was made to resemble Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. This site was likely a view back in time to some perverted temple area in Satan's old empire on a planet in the same sky that everyone was gazing at that night. (Note how the inner circle of demons say, "...The Lord does not see us; the Lord has gone away from the land..."--Ezek. 8:12; BBE (Bible in Basic English).

After consulting numerous sources the closest we could come to a calendar date for this event was September 17/18th, 592 B.C. for when Ezekiel would have seen this vision of a temple in the sky. Ken Applegate, manager of the Seattle Astronomical Society's official website proved beneficial with our inquiry into what that particular night's sky would have looked like long ago. From his email dated Feb. 14th, 2001: "The other night I didn't have much time to do more than plug in your date and have the program (Skynet), search for Mars. It gave me a large-scale view of the sky that showed Mars and Jupiter near one another, and then Venus and Mercury in the same general quarter of the sky, (also in line along the "elliptical path", traveled by all the planets). If this is correct then any sky watchers of that time would have noticed...Very close conjunctions of planets, say less than a moon diameter apart (as is here), are pretty rare and definitely attract notice." Ken's advice helps us to see that many of Ezekiel's star worshipping neighbors would have been looking into the sky that same night. In Ezekiel's visions he sees an other worldly temple area that closely resembled the one on Earth. Bible commentators have never been able to give the historical account of this un-Earthly temple, said to have "every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols" on its walls and round about. This other temple must have been a view back in time to one that existed in Satan's old world.

Curiously, Scripture reveals a date associated with these events and the number is "666". Notice, since Ezekiel 8:1, says, "...And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month..." At the very same time that Ezekiel’s neighbors celebrated the evening sky in their "astral-fertility cult", God revealed to the prophet the original source of that pagan ritual. His visions would have run late into the evening past sunset causing the 6th day to begin as God starts counting days at sunset!

Isaiah tells us how Satan's first stint in prison lasted 70 years (Is. 23:15). The Devil is then released, yet we aren't told in the same passage any further information about the subordinate angels in prison. What happened to them? We must consider another passage from Isaiah in seeking a better understanding of the details surrounding the fate of those angels. Notice, "...They [the angels] that see thee [Satan] shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?" --Is. 14:16-17; KJV. The margin says, "that did not let his prisoners loose homewards?" This tells us that Satan apparently retains the keys to, and temporal authority over, that old pit of a prison it had been released from about 6,000 years ago. The Scriptural evidence suggests that it is currently Satan the Devil who decides which demons are allowed to roam about, and also which spirits are to remain in jail. It seems nearly certain that many of these angels wanted to return to their original home in the heavenly realm but haven't been physically liberated from their prison on Earth as of yet.

Could this help explain the reason why Jesus went and preached to the spirits in prison in the first place? Peter said, "...For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom He went and preached to the spirits in prison, [who formerly were disobedient], when once the longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water..."--1Pet. 3:18-20; NKJV (New King James Version). Brackets ours. This merely means that long before coming in the flesh, the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ (a.k.a.-God) is seen preaching to the spirits in prison during a time when Noah was building the ark. Peter is saying that it was through the same God and Holy Spirit that Jesus both preached to the spirits in prison and was also resurrected. He is not speaking about both events as being one and the same. Peter is not discussing Jesus preaching to the spirits in prison after being resurrected here. That is not the topic of Peter's discussion at all. To the contrary, Peter merely discusses how God preached to the spirits in prison at a time when Noah was building the ark.

Some teachings claim that since Jesus was preaching (Strong's #2784) at 1Pet. 3:19 instead of evangelizing (Strong's #2097), that He could not have been expounding the Gospel message to the spirits in prison, but rather must have been heralding His victory over death and the forces of evil. This interpretation is incorrect since many examples of preaching the Gospel message exists: Matt. 24:14; 26:13; Luke 24:47; 1Thes. 2:9; etc. Had these same commentators also realized the context of Peter's statements all along, then their conclusions would have made far more sense. Jesus Christ, in His pre-incarnate Divinity, didn't need to evangelize the spirits in prison at that time because they were already believers. The faithful aren't generally evangelized as much as they are preached to. We must remember Isaiah's time frame for the spirits in prison having originally been placed in their confinement; being some 70 years before Adam. It was during this time before man came into existence that the process of repentance began with the spirits in prison.

The fact that Scripture states the angels in prison wanted to go homeward (Is. 14:17) and are being prevented from doing so seems to indicate a repentant heart on their part. They certainly didn't remain loyal and faithful to their old, defeated leader the Devil. Notice, "...The suburbs [margin: waves] shall shake at the sound of the cry of thy pilots, and shall come down from their ships...and shall cause their voice to be heard against thee, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast up dust upon their heads, they shall wallow themselves in the ashes..." (Ezek. 27:28-30); "They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; That opened not the house of his prisoners..." (Is. 14:16-17). This language describes the reaction made by the angels immediately after being defeated by Almighty God and seeing Satan for what it really was.

Many students will be surprised to learn that this occasion of the pre-incarnate Jesus preaching to the spirits in prison during the time Noah was building the ark was not the first time that our Savior had spoken with these repentant souls. The fact that they wanted to go home must have meant they thought, through some reasoning, they had a home waiting for them in Heaven. This must be the truth, or Isaiah's words make no sense. This means that Jesus' real work of evangelism started with these spirits in prison sometime soon after their defeat; i.e. before Adam. Therefore, Peter's use of the term preaching instead of evangelism is right on. The pre-incarnate Jesus was very familiar with His audience, and they with Him.

Concerning 'spirits'--

1) In The First Epistle of Peter, (New International Commentary), P. H. Davids says, "Spirits in the NT always refer to non-human spiritual beings unless qualified (as, e.g., in Heb. 12:23; see Matt. 12:45; Mark 1:23, 26; 3:30; Luke 10:20; Acts 19:15-16; 23:8-9; Eph. 2:2; Heb. 1:14; Rev. 16:13-14)...thus one would expect it here to mean angelic or demonic."; 2) In Spiritism and the Fallen Angels, Dr. James Gray says, "...the word 'spirits' does not apply to men. It is never so applied in the Bible when it stands alone and without any qualifying words...by itself and without any qualifying description is used always of supernatural beings, higher than man and lower than God."; 3) In The First Epistle General of Peter, (Tyndale N.T. Commentaries), A.M. Stibbs, says, "many have wished to interpret the phrase 'spirits in prison' as a reference to departed human spirits; but it fits in with the linguistic usage of Scripture as a reference to fallen angels...The word 'pneumata' (spirits), alone and without qualification, is not thus used anywhere else in the Bible to describe human spirits." These commentaries help explain important information about the spirits in prison: they are non-human, and they are not demons either since the context of Peter's words qualifies what type of spirit beings are intended. Peter could have easily said 'demons' instead of 'spirits', but he did not.

Properly recognizing the context of Peter's larger discussion on persecution will help us to better determine exactly what he was trying to convey to his listeners. As mentioned above, Peter writes to encourage his listeners to remain steadfast in their faith during some persecution. He uses the suffering spirits in prison as a positive example of angels in prison who must have been suffering persecution for righteousness sake in teaching a lesson to human believers as they faced some persecution of their own.

1Pet. 3:20b-21; KJV, "...wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God.) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ..."--Are the angels in prison a small number? Peter says 8 survivors of Noah's flood were figuratively saved by water representing a type of baptism. Surviving the rain/flood symbolized the passing of the old world and the beginning of a newly cleansed one, just like sinners being raised a new person at baptism. This is all made available through the grace and loving sacrifice of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. The context indicates Peter also sees a baptismal symbolism in the situation of the spirits in prison since they, too, were once covered by their own flood 70 years before Adam first breathed. || There is a likelihood the angels in prison still reside in some dry chamber of sorts (hell-2Pet.2:4), being situated underwater somewhere on planet Earth. (Certainly some will quickly jump to the Bermuda Triangle (aka-Devil's Triangle) area. They may be correct.)

1Pet. 3:22; KJV, "...Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and principalities being made subject unto him..."--Jesus Christ is pictured as being returned back into Heaven and sitting next to God the Father. Peter presents Jesus as having not only redeemed mankind, but angels as well. He continues with his watery motif showing a similarity between the human flood survivors to that of the angels in prison. Apparently, the saving properties that Jesus offers to humans through Salvation are not exclusive to mankind, but also available to certain spirit beings. || John 3:16 never said Salvation was made available to humans exclusively. The angels' singing and shouting for joy at Job 38:7 was not because of man's Salvation as some have claimed. To the contrary, the angels sang for joy because of what Earth meant regarding their own Salvation.

1Pet. 4:1-2; KJV, "...For as much then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he should no longer live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but the will of God..."--Peter admonishes his listeners to remain steadfast in their faith. According to the context, then, the spirits in prison must have armed themselves with this same mind of Christ while suffering affliction in jail; remaining faithful as they refused to align with Satan and his demonic following. By remaining in prison these angels demonstrated a commendable faith in choosing to live according to the will of God instead of Satan the devil. This is the exact reason why Peter is bringing their example to the forefront in the minds of his listeners.

1Pet. 4:3-5: NAS, "...For the time already past is sufficient {for} {you} to have carried out the desires of the gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. In {all} this, they are surprised that you do not run with {them} into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign {you}; but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead..."--This same excess is seen in the sins committed at Gen. 6. || Peter reminds his listeners of their sinful pasts when they served the world more than the will of God. In like manner, the spirits in prison had previously served Satan. || Peter's language suggests the persecution his human listeners suffered was due to them remaining faithful to God in their everyday lives. In like manner, this also portrays the angels in prison to be suffering some form of persecution for righteousness sake since they are the persons that Peter praises and exemplifies throughout. || Psalm 89:5-7 refers to the spirits/angels surrounding God as saints, so it shouldn't be too far of a stretch to see Peter's spirits in prison in the same light considering all of the pertinent Scriptures. || Paul's statement concerning brethren judging angels (1Cor. 6:3) must pertain to those spirit beings who are currently in Heaven, and not the 'spirits in prison’ on Earth.

1Pet. 4:6; KJV, "...for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit..."--The dead are the once deceived, and now repentant spirits in prison as contrasted with Jude's nasty variety of twice dead demons (Jude 12-13). The demonic variety are referred to as being worthy of twice dead status since they chose a life of sin all over again after being released from their prison by Satan. Peter says the good spirits in prison received hope and encouragement through the Gospel message that God preached to them during the days when Noah built the ark. Their hope was that they would receive eternal life through the same sacrifice that Jesus Christ made a available to mankind. God loves all of His sons including the angels (Heb. 2:10-11). [What is twice dead?]

The psalmist weighs in by saying, "...Jehovah from heaven unto earth looked attentively, to hear the groan of the prisoner, to loose sons of death..."--Ps. 102:19-20; YLT (Young's Literal Translation). (The phrase sons of death is exclusive to here, and Ps. 79:11.) It's extremely difficult to see this phrase representing mortal man and is a reference to the spirits in prison whom Peter also refers to as figuratively dead. Ezekiel said these angels were slain (Ezek. 26:6, 11, 15) even though they continued to survive in our physical world. || God appears to be attentively interested in hearing the groans of the spirits in prison while helping them cope during their persecution. || This language does not easily fit with humans on death row as some commentators have suggested in the past.

Additionally, we see in the passage where the other citation of sons of death occurs, from Ps. 79:10-11 some of the specific tactics the demons have used in trying to lure the spirits in prison into coming out. Notice, "Why do the nations say, 'Where [is] their God?' Let be known among the nations before our eyes, The vengeance of the blood of Thy servants is shed. Let the groaning of the prisoner come in before Thee, According to the greatness of Thine arm, Leave though the sons of death..."--Ps. 79:10-11; YLT. The psalmist prays for the spirits in prison while petitioning God to use His strength in preserving and saving them. The demons [nations] harass the angels in prison by trying to plant the idea in their minds that God has somehow forsaken them. The very similar attitude and language has already been noted concerning the same demons from Ezek. 8:12 above. This passage also suggests that God allows vast periods of time to elapse in between visits to the spirits in prison. What a lesson for us today.

The wicked angels offer the spirits in prison liberty when in reality it's a yoke of bondage under Satan all over again. Notice, "...These are springs without water, and mists driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved. For, uttering great swelling [words] of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error; promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also brought into bondage..."--2Pet. 2:17-19; ASV, (American Standard Version). These springs without water are the twice dead demons that Jude addressed (Jude 12-13). Peter tells us these demons offer the spirits in prison a pseudo-liberty but the price of this freedom results in bondage to Satan. They might have gotten out of jail and had their physical bodies back, but at what price? Since the spirits in prison know the Gospel message and are apparently in covenant with Christ, then them choosing to get out of jail by aligning with the Devil would be tantamount to a dog returning to his own vomit (2Pet. 2:22), and mark them as worthy of twice dead status.

Those familiar with the symbolism represented in the Feast of Weeks (aka-Pentecost) at Leviticus 23:15-21 have generally concluded that the two leavened loaves waved before the Lord signify Jew and Gentile. This interpretation is extremely difficult to accept. If the greater whole of the Jews are not grafted back into the fold until after the return of Jesus Christ (Ro. 11:1-26; cf. Is. 59:20), then the "jew-gentile" model proves untenable. Counting from the wave sheaf offering made during Passover week until the end of 7 weeks at Pentecost represents the completion of the firstfruits harvest, and the return of Jesus Christ! The two loaves being waved before the Lord at this ultimate feast of firstfruits (Lev. 23:15-20) in the future represent two separate groups of beings made into one at the return of Christ.