Oct5-11: Cosmic Crisis: The Disruption of God's Established Order

SUNDAY

Sin: Its Origin

1. Read Ezekiel 28:12, 14-15, 17. What was Lucifer like before he fell?

• Ezek. 28:12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

• Ezek. 28:14 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. 28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.  

• Ezek. 28:17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. 

ANSWER:

• Wise
  
• The anointed cherub that covereth
  
• On the holy mountain of God
  
• Walking up and down in the midst of the stones of fire
  
• Created perfect
  
• Beautiful
  
• Bright
  

2. Lucifer was perfect until what was found in him? 

• Ezek. 28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

ANSWER: Iniquity

3. What does “iniquity” mean in the Hebrew language?

ANSWER:

• 5766. eh´-vel; from 5765; (moral) evil:—iniquity, perverseness, unjust(-ly), unrighteousness(-ly); wicked(-ness). 
  
• 5765. aw-val´; a primitive root; to distort (morally):—deal unjustly, unrighteous.
  

4. What does it mean, “to distort”?

ANSWER: Twist to one side 

5. According to Ezekiel 28:17, in what way did Lucifer commit iniquity or twist to
one side? 

• Ezek. 28:17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

ANSWER:

• His heart was lifted up because of his beauty
  
• He corrupted his wisdom by reason of his brightness 
  

6. What are the two areas where iniquity was found in Lucifer?

ANSWER:

• Heart
  
• Mind (Wisdom)
  

7. What was the problem with Lucifer’s heart and mind?

ANSWER:

• Heart - “lifted up”
  
• Mind - “corrupted”
  

OBSERVATION: Sin of pride (self-seeking) originated in the heart and the mind of
Lucifer. Therefore sinners have a heart and mind problem. Therefore God gives the New Covenant which is when God said, “I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them” Heb. 10:16. The work of the atonement involves in changing our hearts and minds. 

MONDAY

Attack on God

1. Read Ezekiel 28:17. What does the words “lifted up” mean in the Hebrew language? 

ANSWER:

• “Lifted up” - 1361. gaw-bah´; a primitive root; to soar, i.e. be lofty; figuratively, to be haughty:—exalt, be haughty, be (make) high(-er), lift up, mount up, be proud, raise up great height, upward.
  

2. In what way did Lucifer show that his heart became proud? 

Ezek. 28:2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, 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:

ANSWER:

• Lucifer has said, “I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas”
  

CONCLUSION: The origin of sin (iniquity) in Lucifer’s heart and mind took place when the created being wanted to take the seat of the Creator. This is the “mystery of iniquity”. 

3. Read Isaiah 14:13, 14. What was the ultimate desire of Lucifer?

• Is. 14:13 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. 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

ANSWER: To be like the most High

4. Which commandment did Lucifer break through his pride?

• Ex. 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 

ANSWER: The first

5. Which commandment reveals the fact that it is impossible for Lucifer to be the Most High God?

• Ex. 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Ex. 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: Ex. 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in
  it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: Ex. 20:11 For
  in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

ANSWER: The fourth

6. What is the difference between the true God and all the false gods? 

• Psa. 96:5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.

ANSWER: The true God is the Creator and the false gods are idols, made by created beings. 

7. Since Lucifer wants to be the Most High but he cannot because he is a created being, so out of his canal mind, how does he feel about the commandments of God?

• Rom. 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

ANSWER: He is against the law of God because the fourth commandment reveals that only the Creator deserves to be worshipped. 

CONCLUSION: Lucifer is attacking God’s law, especially the Sabbath law because he wants to be worshipped. Therefore he wants a new law for the universe.