Lucifer, Anti-Christ, and Satan
All three of those terms symbolize different characteristics, and all three terms are misunderstood by most Christians.
They are especially misunderstood by theocratic false prophets and false shepherds who claim to be the "true Christians," who have been fighting to rule in the name of religion and claiming that anyone who criticizes or opposes them serves "the spirit of the anti-christ" and is "ungodly."
It's very convenient, it would seem, to make such sanctimonious claims, because they recruit a lot of followers that way. Apparently a lot of people like the idea of being "holier than thou." But those hypocrites even go so far as to claim that unless you believe just as they do, you are condemned to hell for eternity --- which perpetuates the doctrines that Paul established in 50 AD, which influenced some of the later Christian writers.
It is what the modern son of man calls "The Dark Side of Christianity," based on the doctrine of preeminence and superiority. It's based on all the myths, and one of them is the claim that an actual "Anti-Christ" will become the ruler of the world to establish a "new world order" claiming divinity.
The false shepherds, false prophets and right-wing hypocrites feel comfortable making those claims and using that strategy because they believe it is based on what they call "The Word of God" (not understanding what the true "Word" is). But, it is false doctrine, based on one of thousands of false interpretations of Christian scriptures, especially the book of Revelation, because it is not understood what the terms “beast” or “anti-christ” or “dragon” or “Lucifer” mean.
Moreover, they are so quick to judge, accuse, denigrate and even condemn their critics, opponents and enemies because they actually have no faith in God. And, they want to rule because they have no faith in God, and because they do not know how prophecy is being and will be fulfilled.
Right now they have a deep fear, even though most of them still put up a brave front and some of them even still thump their bible self-righteously, thinking they know its meaning. And they don’t admit even to themselves that they are afraid. But they are afraid, which is why they are fighting so hard to impose their brand of religion on everyone else.
They are afraid because as the end of the age has drawn nearer, a mounting body of evidence has grown, exposing the weakness, vulnerability and flaws in their misguided doctrine of superiority and preeminence, and in their misguided theology as it is summed up in the Nicene Creed. And more and more archaeologists and religious scholars are adding to the great mountain of evidence proving that claims made in that creed are not true.
That mountain of evidence shows that Jesus of Nazareth was a divinely inspired, enlightened, spiritually anointed mashiach, or messiah (generically speaking in the Judaic sense), because as Jesus said he was a son of man in the Judaic tradition.
But Jesus broke tradition in that he was a pacifist martyr and sacrificial "lamb" of God, and Avatar for the passing age that he ushered in. And he was a Lord because as an Avatar he realized his oneness with God (as we all can).
However, Jesus was not LORD of Lords, nor was he God The Savior. For as the prophets like Isaiah clearly said, only the Lord God is the Holy One and Savior. And as Jesus said, "God is greater than I," and "a servant of God is not greater than the One who sent him," and made that very clear by telling his followers that "You have not heard God's voice or seen God's shape at any time."
Furthermore, that mountain of evidence grows just like the mountain that grows from the “stone” mentioned in the book of Daniel, which "shatters the image of the King of Babylon" — for the stone is the esoteric symbol for divine truth, the same “stone” which is the “cornerstone of the sure foundation of Zion” mentioned in the book of Isaiah.
But, hypocritical, theocratic right-wing Christians are not aware of that, and that is why they have been so busy trying to defend themselves with the age-old theology of Christian Apologetics, still claiming they are "doing many wonderful works in the name of the Lord."
However, the modern son of man exposes and rebukes them, because he bears the testimony of the Christ, which is the Spirit of prophecy, and of Jesus of Nazareth, who said that the hypocrites and "goats" would be exposed and rebuked at the end of the age.
But the modern son of man, like Jesus, does not seek a worldly throne. In fact, he rejects it and shows you the way to share it as equal joint heirs to the "kingdom to come" --- the realm in which all sovereign nations acknowledge the true God in heaven and establish governments that are actually of the people, by the people, and for the people.
The modern son of man serves the Spirit of truth that Jesus said would come, and the son of man not only issues judgment as promised. He also refutes the false doctrines and myths, and he explains what Satan, Lucifer and the Anti-Christ really are.
Terminology and Methodology
The terms "Antichrist" and "Satan" are also discussed in the article on The Fall of Babylon, but here the term "Lucifer" is discussed as well, because many Christians misunderstand what Lucifer is.
Many Christians believe Lucifer is an archangel who fell from grace and was thrown out of heaven because of his sinful pride in regarding himself as equal to God. They believe that fallen angel is either similar to or the same as Satan or the Devil, and that "he" can tempt us to do evil. They even believe "Lucifer" is an actual entity that tempts us to think that we are God, which is why they are so vehemently against all those who tell us we all can realize we are all one with God.
Ironically, some Christians forget or ignore that the Christ Jesus realized he was one with God, and said we could be too, as so many other enlightened ones have said (see the article on the Highest State of Consciousness).
True enlightenment and spiritual rebirth comes with the divine revelation that we are one with God, one with the Ancient One who is in heaven with God, one with the Universe, one with all humanity, and one in the Spirit of truth and love.
You see, some Christians either misunderstand or forget or ignore that Jesus said: "When the Spirit of truth comes to you, you shall know that I am in God, and you in me, and I in you." And "The Spirit of truth lives with you and is in you." (John 14:16-20)
In other words, when you receive the gift of revelation and true self-realization and spiritual rebirth, you will realize that we are all One in the Spirit and One with God, because the eternal, primordial "Word" of God is made flesh in all of us.
Now, to get back to "Lucifer," the term is not the same as the term "Satan." The word Lucifer is found in only one place in the King James version of the Christian Bible, in Isaiah 14:12. However, the original book of Isaiah in Hebrew does not use the word Lucifer. It says: "morning star, son of the dawn, how far you have fallen."
The name Lucifer comes from the Latin word for "light bringer," but it derives from the Roman Latin translation of the Hebrew word for bright or brilliant one, and that is another one of the reasons many Christians regard "Lucifer" as the bright one or light bearer that somehow also came to be regarded as Satan. But it is not.
In Isaiah 14 the "son of the dawn" rebuked by the prophet happens to be the "King of Babylon," not an archangel or angel or any other supernatural being. And as is discussed in the article on The Fall of Babylon, the "king" is any head of state who abuses his power and rules a "Babylon," which is any city in which the wealthiest few live in extravagant luxury while the poor and the disadvantaged live in poverty.
In spite of that, traditional Christian interpretation is that Isaiah 14:12 is connected with Luke 10:18, which states: "[Jesus] said to them, I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning." And, it is also associated with Paul’s mention of "Satan" masquerading as an "angel of light." But that is misunderstood and needs to be addressed.
First, Jesus did not say Satan was a being of light. He merely said he saw "Satan" come quickly, because the Tempter, Deceiver and Accuser appeals to and can enter the mind quickly, but it does not mean that there is an actual entity or being that can or will exist materially in the world. While any man can represent Satan (even Peter, according to Jesus), there is actually no person that is Satan, or the Devil.
Secondly, if we examine the context in which Paul wrote the phrase about Satan, we can see that it is not about some entity called "Satan" becoming a being or an entity of light.
To put it in context, Paul was talking about deceitful hypocrites: "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)
That which is "Satan" cannot and does not appear as an "angel of light." That is one of many instances where Paul's choice of words was misguided and unfortunate. However, Paul was right about many things, and he was right in that deceitful hypocrites who serve Mammon do claim to serve the Lord, and they do masquerade as righteous servants of God, even though they are false apostles, false prophets, false shepherds and wolves in sheep’s clothing, and as such they are an "abomination," which is what Jesus actually said.
Satan is merely a symbol for the Tempter, Deceiver and Accuser who exalts himself as judge and authority, and he can be a heartless dictator even though he may pretend to be good and wear "sheep's clothing." "He" does not worship God, but plays god.
A christed (spiritually anointed) person says: "Of myself I do nothing, but the will of the One who sent me." In other words, the truly enlightened human being is selfless, ego-less, and aware that there is a higher power, a Supreme Consciousness and Great Spirit-Parent above him --- which is why Jesus said "God is greater than I."
He who represents "Satan" or the "spirit of the Anti-Christ" is in it for himself and those support him and do his bidding -- he who sits on the worldly throne and abuses his power. The term represents any human being whose ego is deluded, who thinks they are superior and entitled to rule. He is likened to the "beguiling serpent" in the book of Genesis, which is merely a metaphor and symbol for the separate-self ego, which tempts us with the "forbidden fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" which can cause us to play god.
The forbidden "fruit" of the ego is the idea that one is superior, that one is a wise judge of good and evil and right and wrong, that we can judge, rise above and be better than others, and be "righteous."
True Wisdom from God, however, brings Temperance to the ego.
According to the Book of Wisdom: "Wisdom is beneficent and kind. She is the aura of the power of God, the radiance of the eternal Divine Light, a spotless mirror of God. She renews all things, and passing into holy souls from age to age, She produces friends of God and prophets. She is firm, but Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all Her paths are peace. She is a Tree of Life to them that lay hold upon Her. And Wisdom is far better than weapons of war."
The wise Solomon also wrote: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge God, and God shall direct your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. ... My son, do not despise chastening of the Lord, nor be weary of being corrected. For whoever the Lord loves are corrected; even as a parent corrects the child in whom he delights. Happy is the man that finds Wisdom, and the man that gets understanding. ... For She is more precious than rubies: and all the things you can desire are not to be compared unto Her. Length of days is in Her right hand; and in Her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all Her paths are peace. She is a Tree of Life to them that lay hold upon Her: and happy is every one that retains Her. The Lord God by Wisdom has founded the earth; by understanding has God established the heavens." (Proverbs 3:5-19)
Jesus of Nazareth was knowledgeable of the Hebrew scriptures, and he knew what the "forbidden fruit" is. That is why Jesus said: "Judge not, lest you be judged," and "when your eye is single you shall be filled with Light, and you will see the kingdom of heaven is within, and at hand."
That is why misguided Christians have been and still are wrong to believe that the Light, or the morning star, day star, or Venus, is connected with the Devil. It is not.
Even 2 Peter 1:19 states: "And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."
Revelation 22:16 states: "It is I, Jesus, who have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."
Furthermore, misguided Christians ignore the fact that it is written throughout the Bible, that "God lives in light," that "God is Light," and that those who have really witnessed God are "children of light." (Exodus 24:10, Psalm 104:2, I Timothy 6:16, Isaiah 2:5, Isaiah 9:2, Isaiah 60:19, I John 1:5, etc.)
The Bible is full of references to God being the Divine Light. It is even written that a genuine servant of God is "sent to bear witness of that Light ... the true Light which lights every man [and woman] that comes into the world." (John 1:8-9) And again, that is how we are "made in God’s image," because "God is Light" and we are "children of light," just as the Bible says.
Therefore, considering all that, it is clear that Lucifer and Satan are not exactly synonymous terms, and it is clear that Satan is not a being or entity, but the personality or mentality of a human being who has been tempted with the forbidden "fruit" of the mind and is unwittingly infected with the egocentric delusion of superiority.
Lucifer does not represent an angel or archangel, but a person of power who simply does not realize how far he has fallen, or from whence he has fallen, due to his egotism and corruption.
Again, Satan does not represent an angel or archangel or entity either. Satan represents the corrupted human ego which is deluded with arrogant pride, self-importance, self-righteousness, and greed. In one of its most harmful manifestations it is in the leader who is judgmentally self-serving, who lusts for personal worldly power, wealth and domain for their self (and whoever supports, obeys or follows them), and uses his or her power to benefit their self and those who are loyal to them, to the detriment of many who are subject to their power, especially the working poor, the poor, and the least of our brethren.
That becomes more clear if you know that one of the traditional meanings of Satan in the Old Testament Judaic scriptures is merely as the "accuser" or the "opponent," which fits the above description, since people with inflated egos are the opponents of good, conscientious, fair people. (Just look how many misleading, deceptive, accusing demagogues are opponents of Barack Obama.)
The word "accuser" appears in 1 Chronicles, Job, Psalms, and in Zechariah. In Psalms "Satan" is used both in the plural and singular sense, as accusers and an accuser. In Chronicles and Zechariah its usage is vague, but in Job "Satan" is the Accuser.
That makes sense, considering that many arrogantly proud, self-importance, self-righteousness and greedy people falsely accuse "bleeding-heart liberals" of all manner of evil, disloyalty, treason, etc., as George W. Bush and all his neo-conservative cohorts did while they were in power, and as they are doing now accusing Barack Obama.
Not that they are "evil," of course, even though some are in that they are disonest, hateful and malicious. But most are simply misguided, and they unwittingly serve the spirit of the Antichrist and Satan. Furthermore, they serve Mammon, not God.
Finally, further proof that "Satan" is not a real person or even an actual entity, but merely a symbol of the spirit or mentality of materialistic Man. For example, when Jesus "rebuked Peter, saying, Get behind me, Satan," he was merely admonishing Peter for focusing on "the things that be of men" rather than on "the things that be of God." (Mark 8:33 and Matthew 16:23)
Considering that, it would seem ironic that Peter became "the rock" upon which the Christian church was built, and the original Pope of the fourth century Roman Catholic Church was supposed to serve in the line of Peter. But, it’s not ironic. It’s about the passing age of conflict, division, corruption, egotism and ethnocentrism, prior to this judgment and the fulfillment of prophecies.
(Read the article on The Fall of Babylon for an explanation of the book of Revelation regarding the "rule" of "Satan," the "beast," and the "anti-christ.")