Lucifer, Satan and Beelzebub are the Devil.
The devil has many different forms in the Bible. He is known as “the anointed cherub” in Eze 28:14; an “angel of light” in 2 Cor 11:14; a “great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns” in Rev 12:3; “that old serpent” in Rev 12:9; a “lion” in 1 Pet 5:8; “the god of this world” in 2 Cor 4:4; “behemoth” in Job 40:15; and “leviathan” in Is 27:1, which is a “piercing serpent” and a “crooked serpent.”
He also has several names such as “Devil” in Rev 12:9; “Satan” in Job 1:6-7; “Lucifer” in Is 14:12; and “Beelzebub” in Lk 11:15. These names often signify something in particular about the devil. Note the context of the following:
- Lucifer – “son of the morning,” by definition “light bearer.” In this capacity, he was the anointed cherub that covered the throne (Eze 28:14). With his pipes, tabrets (Eze 28:13) and viols (Is 14:11), he must have provided the music when the “morning stars sang together,” (Job 38:7). At this time, before he fell, he was not an angel; he was a cherub. By carefully comparing Eze 1:10 with Eze 10:14, you can see that the four cherubims that appeared to Ezekiel had four faces, one of which is called the “face of a cherub” or the “face of an ox.” Notice that “cherub” and “ox” are used interchangeably. Therefore, when Aaron and Jeroboam made images of the devil for the Jews to worship, they made golden calves (Ex 32:4; 1 Ki 12:28), because the devil had been a cherub. Subsequent to his fall, he was transformed into an “angel of light,” (2 Cor 11:14).
- Satan – The first time that we find the devil called Satan is in 1 Chr 21:1, where he stood up against Israel and provoked David to number them. When we see the devil called Satan, we understand that he works completely contrary to God (Acts 26:18; Matt 16:23). And yet, God uses him in this opposing work to actually accomplish his will in the earth. For instance, God also provoked David to number Israel in 2 Sam 24:1 because he was angry with them. Satan stood against Job in Job 1 & 2, but God used this great temptation to
purge out Job’s self-righteousness and to give the Jews a picture of what they would endure in the tribulation. In Ps 109:6 and Lk 22:3, Satan entered into Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus. Nevertheless, God used this to get Jesus on the cross where he would die for our sins (Acts 2:23). In Matt 4:1-10, Satan tempted Jesus. Yet, the Spirit drove him into the wilderness to be tempted in order to perfect him (Heb 5:8-9; 4:15). When the Lord is through using the devil’s opposing work, he will bruise Satan under our feet (Rom 16:20) and chain him in the bottomless pit for a thousand years (Rev 20:2).
- Beelzebub – This name for the devil is only used in Matthew, Mark and Luke, and in every instance, it is a reference to “the prince of the devils.” The name is used by the Pharisees to explain how Jesus had the power to cast out devils. In the context of Mark 3:22-30, Jesus shows us that the reference to Beelzebub is, in fact, a reference to Satan. He asked the scribes, who had accused him of having Beelzebub, “How can Satan cast out Satan?” He went on further to explain that their accusation was really aimed at the Holy Spirit, since the Holy Spirit in Jesus was actually casting out the devils. Their allegation against Jesus was therefore blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, “because they said, He hath an unclean spirit,” (Mk 3:30).
Simply studying these names and the contexts in which they appear reveals a great deal about the work of the devil, whom we are to resist (Jas 4:7).
Hope this helps,
Pastor Welder