Introduction: What sin cost one of the highest and most beautiful angels his position in heaven? Pride. Arrogance. The Big SELF! This description of his attempt to be like the most high God can be found in two biblical passages.

1. His “I Will’s! (Isa 14:12-15)

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13For 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: 14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”

While Isaiah’s passage refers to a proud Babylonian ruler, a transition was made by the Holy Spirit to describe a fallen angel named Lucifer not the human Babylonian ruler. 

Did you notice the progression? Lucifer wanted to ….”ascend to heaven, exalt his throne above the stars, to sit upon the mount of the congregation, and ultimately be like the most high.”

However, his desires were interrupted by a sovereign God. Instead, he was ejected out of Heaven. The God of the Bible would not allow him to usurp over His authority. 

2. His Iniquity! (Ezek 28:11-19)

“11Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 12Son 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. 13Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14Thou 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. 15Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 16By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17Thine 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.”

Here again, this passage refers to the king of Tyre; however, the king of Tyre was never in the Garden of Eden (verse 13). The indictment was “iniquity” (v. 15). Evidently, Lucifer was beautiful. But because of his beauty, he was lifted up with pride (v. 17). Consequently, God cast him down to the 1st heaven.

What a lesson for us to learn!

Conclusion: It appears that 1/3 of the angels fell with Lucifer. They are called evil angels. But remember 2/3 did not fall. They are called elect angels. Angels are all around us.