Lucifer's fall was caused by his own deliberate, proud rebellion — he determined in his heart to exalt himself and be like the Most High.
Scripture records the created angel, perfect until iniquity was found in him, declaring five 'I wills' of self-exaltation (Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:15). Les Feldick teaches that this was not mere dissatisfaction but total rebellion by the angel's own free will — a choice to seize God's place.
Isaiah 14:12-14 — Reveals Lucifer's five 'I will' declarations, showing the proud ambition that led to his fall.
Ezekiel 28:15 — Shows Lucifer was created perfect and sinless until iniquity was found in him.
The Bible locates the cause of Lucifer's fall in his own heart. In Isaiah 14:12, the prophet addresses Lucifer, son of the morning, as one who has 'fallen from heaven' and is 'cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations.' The verses that follow record what was in his heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God... I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.' Ezekiel 28:15 describes the same angelic being: 'Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.' So Scripture presents a created being who was perfect at the beginning and in whom iniquity was found — and the 'I will' declarations of Isaiah 14 reveal what that iniquity was: a determination to take the place of God.
Les Feldick teaches that Lucifer was a created angelic being whom God put over a kingdom. He was sinless and perfect in his ways until iniquity was found in him — iniquity that came from his own exercise of free will in rebellion against God (Clip 0). Les points to Isaiah 14 as the answer to what that iniquitous act was, and he notes that the King James Version still preserves the name Lucifer where some newer translations have taken it out (Clip 0). The heart of the rebellion, Les says, was Lucifer's statement, 'I will be like the Most High' (Clip 6). Les then shows how the same ploy reappears throughout Scripture. Satan brought the identical appeal to Eve — 'wouldn't you like to be like God?' — and it appealed to human intellect (Clip 6). When Adam sinned, dominion over the creation was lost, and Satan picked it up, becoming the god of this world (Clip 3). Even today, Satan stands before God as the accuser of believers, constantly reporting where we have failed (Clip 4). And at the end of the Millennial Kingdom, Satan's same rebellious nature will be revealed again when he is released to test those in the perfect environment (Clip 6).
Les teaches from Ezekiel 28 that this angelic being was created by God, sinless and perfect, and was placed over a kingdom. He lived in the midst of fiery gemstones and was perfect in his ways 'from the day that thou wast created' until iniquity was found in him (Clip 0). So Lucifer was not a fallen being from the beginning — he was a high, created ruler who later chose to rebel.
Isaiah 14:12–14 records what was in Lucifer's heart: he would ascend into heaven, exalt his throne above the stars of God, sit upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north, ascend above the heights of the clouds, and 'be like the most High.' Les Feldick specifically highlights this final declaration — 'I will be like the Most High' — as the root ambition of Lucifer's rebellion (Clips 0, 6). These were not merely frustrated complaints; they were the deliberate self-exalting purposes of a proud heart.
Les shows that the same 'be like God' appeal was used by Satan in the Garden — 'wouldn't you like to be like God?' — which appealed to Eve's intellect (Clip 6). When Adam sinned, the dominion God had given him was lost, and Satan picked it up, becoming the god of this world (Clip 3). After his fall, Satan also continued to appear in heaven's councils (Job 1:6, Clip 1) and now functions as the accuser of the brethren day and night (Revelation 12:10, Clip 4). At the end of the Millennium, the same rebellious character will surface again when Satan is released for a little season (Clip 6).
Lucifer's Creation and Rebellion
Les teaches that the angelic being God created and placed over a kingdom was perfect until iniquity was found in him — the result of his own free-will rebellion against God (Ezekiel 28; Isaiah 14:12).
Satan in Heaven's Councils
Les shows from Job 1:6 that after his fall Satan still came among the sons of God presenting themselves before the Lord.
Satan's Dominion over the World
Les states that Satan is the god of this world and that everything mankind accomplishes is prompted by him — the world is in the lap of the wicked one.
Dominion Transferred to Satan
After Adam sinned and lost the dominion God gave him, Satan picked it up and became the god of this world — the outcome of Lucifer's original rebellion.
Satan the Accuser
Les describes how, after being cast down, Satan functions as the accuser of believers, constantly telling God where we have failed.
The Three Temptations Everyone Faces — Eve to Jesus Explained
Alright, so he sets him on the pinnacle of the temple, and he said unto him, if, again there's that word, if thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written, he shall give his angels charge concerning thee, and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou shalt dash thy foot against the stone.
I Will Be Like the Most High
Les says the core of Lucifer's rebellion was his declaration, 'I will be like the Most High,' and he shows Satan using the same appeal — 'wouldn't you like to be like God?' — on Adam and Eve and again at the end of the Millennium.
Jesus' Three Temptations — Why Satan's Attacks Still Matter Today
Hey, get all these people to see who you really are, that you can jump off this high point of the temple, and before you strike the ground, the very angels of heaven will just sort of bear you up and gently set you down. Why wouldn't that be the show of shows, see? And this was the temptation, appealing to the eyes of those multitudes that would have witnessed such a phenomena.
Isaiah 14:12: 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!
This verse names the fallen angel Lucifer and directly identifies his fall from heaven.
Isaiah 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:
Reveals the self-exalting 'I will' purpose that drove Lucifer's rebellion.
Isaiah 14:14: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
This is the crowning ambition Les highlights — Lucifer's desire to be like God himself.
Ezekiel 28:15: Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Shows that Lucifer was created sinless and that his fall came only when iniquity was found in him.
Job 1:6: Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Demonstrates that even after his fall, Satan still had access to the heavenly council.
Revelation 12:10: And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Describes Satan's post-fall role as the accuser of believers before God.
No. According to Ezekiel 28:15 and the teaching of Les Feldick, Lucifer was created perfect, sinless, and was placed over a kingdom by God. Iniquity was found in him only after he chose to rebel against his Creator by his own free will (Clip 0).
It was Lucifer's own self-exalting declaration recorded in Isaiah 14:14. Les Feldick teaches this was the heart of the rebellion that caused his fall — the desire to take the place of God himself (Clip 6).
Yes, in the King James Version at Isaiah 14:12. Les Feldick notes that while some newer translations have removed it, the King James still preserves the name of this angel (Clip 0).
Watch the Teaching: What Happened Between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2? (The Genesis Gap Explained)