Who is the real Lucifer according to the Bible?

Today, I want to talk about the real identity of the Biblical character named Lucifer.

Who is Lucifer? Discover the Unexpe...
Who is Lucifer? Discover the Unexpected Answer!

A worldwide deception

Brethren, if you’re going to randomly ask people in the street, “Who is Lucifer?” They would most likely answer, “Satan.” Undoubtedly, the world knows Lucifer as Satan. From movies, encyclopedias, video games, and even in Christian literature, we can see all over the places that the name Lucifer is ascribed to the great deceiver, Satan the devil.

However, for us in the congregation of Yahweh or the Church of God, we understand that this isn’t accurate at all. We know that a mistranslation led Satan to be called Lucifer. 

Nevertheless, for most of us, our understanding just stops there. If you look deeper into this subject, you will see a deeper and more sinister deception that Satan was cast into this world and to some extent, even into the members of God’s church.

That’s why, today, I want to discuss the shocking and real identity of Lucifer. At the end of this message, you might even hesitate to use the right way of using this name correctly because of how extensively this name is corrupted.

Is Satan's name really Lucifer?

Where Lucifer appeared in the Bible

So let’s begin where this name commonly appears in our Bible, Isaiah 14:12:

12 “How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!

Reading through the context, it is clear, without a shadow of a doubt, Satan is the one referred to here as Lucifer.

How did Satan come to be referred to as Lucifer?

A little bit of history so that we understand how Satan became Lucifer. 

In 382 AD, Pope Damasus asked the scholar Jerome to make official revisions of the Latin versions used in the Catholic Church. 

His work would later be called the Latin Vulgate, which is actually a poor translation of the Bible. 

Here’s the problem, he was expected to use the Hebrew text as his basis for the Old Testament. Still, he used the Greek language Septuagint produced by Origen over a century ago, instead.

The Hebrew word translated as Lucifer in Isaiah 14:12 is Heylel. Origen mistranslated this word as eosphoros, which in modern Greek, it’s phosphorus. Phosphorus means light-bearer or light-bringer. 

So, when Jerome saw this, he simply translated it into the most accurate Latin term, Lucifer. Phosphorus and Lucifer exactly mean the same thing, which is light-bringer.

Confusing Jesus for Satan

Now, there’s a huge, huge problem here and most of us haven’t really thought about it before. Since most of us don’t know Greek, the problem is just too difficult to see.

Let’s read 2 Peter 1:16-19:

16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

Now, notice, we are talking about Yahshua here.

19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Now, do you know the Greek word for morning star here? It’s phosphorus, which is actually the Lucifer in Latin. 

So, using the Latin word for phosphorus, this will read, “until the day dawns and Lucifer rises in your hearts.” Can you just imagine, brethren, that we are waiting for Satan to rise in our hearts?

Are you now seeing the problem here, brethren? 

Now, where did the translators get the title “morning star”? They got it from Revelation 22:16, where Yahshua clearly identified Himself as the Bright morning star:

16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

The title Morning Star isn’t phosphorus, orthrinos (morning) + aster (star). 

So, why did the translators use morning star in II Peter 1:19 when its Greek word is not orthrinos aster?

It is because they have already made the error of translating phosphorus as Lucifer earlier and they didn’t have the guts to acknowledge and correct their mistake. Instead, they borrowed the title of Yahshua and placed it in II Peter 1:19.


Enroll in our life-changing course

Do you want to learn how to become a more zealous, faithful, and effective Christian? If yes, let our best online course, Becoming Christians Academy be your guide. In this course, you will receive powerful insights and practical lessons that you can apply in your daily life. Sign up today!


What is the correct translation of Isaiah 14:12?

So, if not Lucifer, what is the correct translation of heylel in Isaiah 14:12? Here’s the challenge, the Hebrew word Heylel is only used once in the Hebrew text. It could have easily been translated if we can see how it is used in other parts of the Bible.

Some Bible translations wisely just retained the Hebrew word Isaiah 14:12 as “How you are fallen from heaven, O Heylel, son of the morning!” 

Nevertheless, I did find some translations that could be correct but I’m not 100% sure:

  • How you are fallen from heaven, O shining one, son of the morning.
  • How are you fallen from heaven; howl, son of the morning.
  • How art thou fallen from heaven, you arrogant braggart, son of the morning! 

Who is the real light bringer?

Now, the main point of my message is not to investigate the real meaning of heylel since it is a huge topic and the translation is widely debated among scholars.

I just want to focus on the name, Lucifer. Now, the name means light-bringer in Latin. My question for you is this, “Who is the real light bringer?”

The Bible consistently gives us the answer. Let me read a few verses:

John 8:12:

“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” 

John 1:6-9: 

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

John 9:5:

5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

There are numerous verses like this and the Bible is consistent. 

The true light-bringer is no other than Yahshua the Messiah or as the world calls Him, Jesus Christ. He is the true Light Bringer.

This gives us a brand new insight into what 2 Corinthians 11:13-15:

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

Angel simply means messenger and what does the messenger do? He brings something. In this case, he brings light and that’s exactly what Satan has done. He transformed himself into the angel of light or in other words, the bringer of light, the light bringer. He stole the name Lucifer and ascribed it to himself when in reality, this is not his role, but absolutely the role of Yahshua.

Is Satan’s name Lucifer before his rebellion?

Now, some people argue that Lucifer is Satan’s name before his fall. That’s actually another devilish deception that Satan wants us to believe. Let’s ask ourselves, when did Satan become a light-bringer? Was there any time in his existence that he brought to light? If yes, to whom did he bring to light? There were no humans yet before his rebellion, right? 

Obviously, Satan has never been a light-bringer, and calling him Lucifer as his name before his fall would be wrong.

John 8:44 tells us:

44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

Final words

Brethren, this is the truth of the matter: Satan is the destroyer, deceiver, the perfect epitome of darkness. He didn’t bring light. He brought darkness, destruction, and deception.

Calling him Lucifer is a great insult to the true Light-Bringer. Calling him Lucifer makes us a tool to continue the worldwide deception. The name Lucifer never belonged to Satan. Truly, the whole world is deceived and we can be thankful for our Abba, Yahweh, that He has revealed unto us the truth. 

May this truth help us better understand who Satan is, how he deceives people, and how we can better overcome his evil devices.


meaning of life banner bca

4 thoughts on “Who is the real Lucifer according to the Bible?

  1. Hi Dear Joshua,

    I love you articles and you are very blessed. Please allow me to ask you if it is possible with your permission that for example I can use the article about the wrong name of Lucifer in my writing by referencing to your site? It is a long well explained article and therefore my question.
    God Bless you and your family
    thank you
    regards
    Nita from the Netherlands

  2. I am Evangelist from Ghana, currently staying in Cape Coast, one of the cities and the former capital of Ghana. For twenty years back I became confused about this subject: as to whether Satan is Called Lucifer. Later was convinced that it is not true, so I stopped preaching that false wood, but didn’t have much information and knowledge about the truth I have not declared it publicly, but now, having been waited in research for more confirmation to what the said in prophecy about Satan, that any time His people call Satan by the name Lucifer, they give him the honor Satan does not deserve. By your explanation, I am fully convinced and may the LORD bless you.

Leave a Reply to joshuainfantadoCancel reply