Gap Theory and the Fall of Lucifer

Gap Theorist's foundational premise for believing in a Gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 is that Lucifer fell some time in eternity past rather than after the Creation Week (Exod. 20:11, 30:17). They teach that Lucifer fell from Heaven with a third of the angels before the six day creation. The scriptures used to teach this are Revelation 12:1-9, Matthew 25:41, Luke 10:17-20, Job 38:1-7, John 8:44, Isaiah 14:12-15, and Ezekiel 28:1-19.

We were told to "prove all things" (1 Thes. 5:21, Prov. 14:15), so here are some things to keep in mind.

1.) Even if it could be proven that Lucifer fell before the Creation Week, what would that have to do with the Earth? Proving that Lucifer fell before the Creation Week has absolutely nothing to do with the age of the Earth (or any destruction/reconstruction).

2.) Even if it could be proven that Lucifer fell before the Creation Week, how could that prove that he was a king over an "original" Earth with a race of angels on it (as the Gap Theorists teach)?

Before I examine the Gap Theorist proof texts on the fall of Lucifer, I will say what I believe about the fall of Lucifer. It is a difficult subject, and there is not as much scripture on it as some people think. In fact, the scriptures used most often are not even referring to the past, a lot of them are referring to the future 70th Week of Daniel.

The fall of Lucifer is not described in detail in the Bible, but from the evidence I see this is my position: Lucifer was created in a "day" according to Ezekiel 28:15 (the first day was in Gen. 1:5). He was "the anointed cherub that covereth" according to Ezekiel 28:14.

He was in "Eden the garden of God" and also on "the holy mountain of God" according to Ezekiel 28:13-14. The mountain of God is a reference to Jerusalem (Isa. 66:20, Ezek. 20:40, Dan. 9:16, 9:20, Joel 2:1, 3:17). This leads to the possibility that Lucifer was in the New Jerusalem which was probably on the Earth until Adam sinned. Both Eden and the New Jerusalem are said to contain the tree of life (Gen. 2:8-9, 3:22-24, Rev. 2:7, 22:1-4, 22:14).

Genesis 3:
[22] And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
[23] Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
[24] So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Revelation 22:
[1] And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
[2] In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
[3] And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
[4] And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

In the New Jerusalem, mountain of God, there will be no more curse. This leads me to believe that the New Jerusalem (with the throne) was on the Earth until Adam sinned and brought the curse. God was clearly present in the Garden with Adam (Genesis 2:15-16 and 3:8-9), so He would most likely of had a throne there.

Lucifer "lifted up" his heart and said "I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas" (Ezek. 28:2). God then cast down Lucifer and took away his position as the anointed Cherub in Eden. Satan then began his ongoing battle against God and went out to deceive the woman (Gen 3:1-6).

That is what I believe based on the available evidence in the scriptures, but I do not understand all of Ezekiel 28.

When did Satan's angels fall? I believe that this was not long after Lucifer's fall, by Genesis 6 there were already some fallen angels who "kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation" and took human wives. These angels, or at least their offspring, died in the Flood and are currently "reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day".

Genesis 6:
[1] And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
[2] That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
[3] And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
[4] There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

Psalms 82:
[1] God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
[2] How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
[3] Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
[4] Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
[5] They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
[6] I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
[7] But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
[8] Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.

2 Peter 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 

Jude 6: And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

Comments on Gap Theorists proof texts for pre Creation Week fallen Lucifer/angels...

[Revelation 12:1-9]  These verses are often used to teach that a third of the angels followed Satan before the Creation Week. However, it is clear from the context that this is a future rebellion during Daniel's 70th Week. It has nothing to do with creation.

[John 8:44] This verse says that Satan was a murderer from the beginning. "The beginning" seems to be the Creation Week until the curse (Gen. 1:1, Matt. 19:4, Mark 10:6). I take the "murder" to be a reference to his deception which caused Eve to "die" (Gen 3:4). Gap Theorists interpret the verse to teach that Satan was a murderer sometime before Genesis 1:2.

[Luke 10:17-20] These verses state that Christ saw Satan fall from Heaven like lighting (Ezek. 1:14). It does not prove the Gap Theory.

[Isaiah 14:12-15] This passage is about the fall of Lucifer and also Daniel's 70th Week. It does not prove the Gap Theory.

[Job 38:1-7] This passage is interesting. It says "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" Gap Theorists believe that this passage teaches that the angels (sons of God, probably including Lucifer) existed before the Creation Week. However, that is just an interpretation, it is not what the text says. I believe that the "foundations of the Earth" were created on Day 3, "And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good."(Gen 1:9-10). On the first two days of creation there was only an orb of water, God had not made the dry land appear yet. The earth was created upon water, which break forth during the Flood (Gen. 1:2, 1:9-10, Ps. 24:1-2, Job 38:16, 38:8-11, Gen. 7:11, 8:2, Job 9:5-6, 12:15, 14:11, 14:18-19, 22:15-16, 26:5-12, 2 Pet. 3:5-6, etc.). Therefore the angels were created on Day 1 or Day 2. But like I said earlier, even if it could be proven that Lucifer and angels existed before the Creation Week, that still has nothing to do with the Earth or its age. 

--Eli Caldwell