Lucifer rebellion

The Lucifer rebellion is, in The Urantia Book, the revolt of Lucifer, the System Sovereign of Satania, against the rule of Michael, proclaimed on Jerusem about two hundred thousand years ago 53:4.1. Thirty-seven Planetary Princes took their worlds into rebellion, among them Caligastia of Urantia 53:7.1-2, and the book treats the resulting isolation as the background to much of the planet's later history 67:0.1.

Paper 53, presented by Manovandet Melchizedek, gives the history of the revolt 53:9.9; Paper 54 discusses why it was allowed to run its course 54:4.1; and Paper 67 tells how it unfolded on Urantia 67:0.1.

Leaders and causes

Lucifer was a primary Lanonandek Son, number 37 of his order, rated among the hundred most able of more than seven hundred thousand of his kind 53:0.1. He ruled a system of 607 inhabited worlds from the administrative mount of Jerusem 53:1.1. He is one of only three System Sovereigns in all of Nebadon's ten thousand systems ever to fall into contempt of the Creator Son's government 53:0.2. His first assistant, Satan, took up his cause on Urantia, and the book identifies "the devil" with Caligastia 53:1.4. Abaddon was Caligastia's chief of staff, and Beelzebub led the disloyal midway creatures 53:1.5.

Lucifer and Satan had reigned on Jerusem for more than five hundred thousand years before turning against Michael 53:2.1. The book finds no special conditions in Satania that favored rebellion: "No one ever suggested rebellion to Lucifer" 53:2.2-3. It traces the cause to "a pride of self that nourished itself to the point of self-deception," so that Lucifer for a time believed his plan was for the good of the system, until at some point "evil evolved into deliberate and willful sin" 53:2.5. For more than a hundred years beforehand, the Union of Days had been reporting that "all was not at peace in Lucifer's mind" 53:2.3.

The Declaration of Liberty

The revolt took form as the Lucifer Declaration of Liberty, which made three charges 53:3.1:

• The reality of the Father. Lucifer claimed the Universal Father did not exist and was "a myth invented by the Paradise Sons" to justify their rule 53:3.2.
• Michael's government. He argued that local systems should be autonomous, attacked Michael's right to rule in the name of an unseen Father, and denounced the Ancients of Days as "foreign potentates" 53:3.3-4.
• The ascension plan. He condemned the long training of ascending mortals as wasted effort toward "a destiny of pure fiction" 53:3.6.

The manifesto was issued at the annual conclave of Satania on the sea of glass, on the last day of the year 53:4.1. Satan proclaimed Lucifer "friend of men and angels" and "God of liberty," and Lucifer's whole cabinet went over to him in a body 53:4.1 53:4.3. "Self-assertion was the battle cry," and Lucifer promised the Planetary Princes that they would rule their worlds as supreme executives 53:4.2.

The war in heaven

Michael, on the counsel of Immanuel, adopted a policy of noninterference and never moved against the rebels until his enthronement as sovereign of Nebadon 53:5.1 53:5.3. Gabriel took command of the loyal hosts and displayed Michael's banner of three azure blue concentric circles on white; Lucifer's emblem was a white banner with a red circle around a black solid circle 53:5.4-5. The book says this "war in heaven" was not a physical battle: Lucifer spoke in the amphitheater, Gabriel answered from nearby, and undecided beings went back and forth between them until they chose 53:5.6. Yet it was "very terrible and very real," because it "was fought in terms of life eternal" 53:5.7.

When the chief of the Jerusem seraphim joined Lucifer, Manotia, second in command, took over the loyal angels 53:6.2 53:6.4. Satania was cut off from the constellation and universe circuits, and the fallen worlds from the system circuits, which "will not be restored so long as the archrebel lives within the confines of Satania" 53:7.3.

Losses and loyalties

The book calls it "a Lanonandek rebellion"; no Melchizedek, archangel, Brilliant Evening Star, Trinitized Son or being of Paradise origin joined it 53:7.4-5. The heaviest loss was among the administrator seraphim, of whom slightly over a third followed their chief; 95 per cent of the 681,217 Material Sons lost in Satania fell in this rebellion 53:7.6 53:7.8. On Panoptia, alone among the rebel princes' worlds, the people rallied to Michael under Ellanora 53:7.1. The book reports that not one of the 187,432,811 ascendant citizens on Jerusem joined the revolt 53:7.10 53:7.12.

On Urantia

Satan told Caligastia of the coming Declaration during an inspection visit, and Caligastia agreed in advance to betray the planet 67:1.2. At the outbreak Daligastia proclaimed Caligastia "God of Urantia and supreme over all," and the planet was isolated 67:2.3-4. The struggle lasted more than seven years 67:2.6. Sixty of the one hundred members of the Prince's corporeal staff joined the rebellion, as did 40,119 of the 50,000 primary midwayers, while Van and the human Amadon led the loyalists 67:3.2 77:7.1 67:3.8. A Most High of Edentia then took charge with the Melchizedek receivers 67:3.10.

The Prince's attempt to reorganize society by "revolution" instead of "evolution" brought chaos, and 162 years after the rebellion his capital, Dalamatia, sank beneath the sea 67:5.1 67:5.4. The book adds that no mortal born on Urantia since has suffered in personal spiritual experience because of it: "No person is ever made to suffer vital spiritual deprivation because of the sin of another" 67:7.7.

Chronology and present status

• About 200,000 years ago: the Declaration of Liberty is issued on Jerusem 53:4.1.
• Over two years of system time later: Lanaforge is installed as Lucifer's successor, and the archrebels are stripped of governing power but left free to roam 53:7.12-13.
• During Michael's bestowal: Lucifer, Satan and Caligastia try to defeat Jesus' mission and fail 53:1.4; on Mount Hermon Jesus refuses their proposals 134:8.6-7.
• After Michael's bestowal: Lucifer is taken into custody and confined on a prison satellite of Jerusem 53:9.2.
• About the time of the revelation: the first hearing of Gabriel vs. Lucifer is held on Uversa, and Satan is confined with Lucifer 54:4.8 53:9.4.

The rebellion "has ended on Jerusem" and ends on the fallen worlds "as fast as divine Sons arrive" 53:9.7. The book expects an annihilation verdict from Uversa but says it has not yet come 53:9.7.

Why it was allowed

Paper 54 argues that true liberty is "the fruit of self-control," false liberty "the assumption of self-assertion," and that Lucifer's crime was "the attempted creative disenfranchisement of every personality in Satania" 54:1.6 54:2.3. It gives twelve reasons for the delay in judgment, among them that mercy gives every wrongdoer time to choose and that suppression would have led "at least three times the number of beings" astray 54:5.2 54:5.12. It says Uversa teaches forty-eight such reasons 54:5.14. The Melchizedeks now teach that the good resulting from the rebellion "is more than a thousand times the sum of all the evil" 54:6.6.

The rebellion and the Bible

The book reads several biblical passages as distant echoes of the rebellion, applying to Lucifer texts that are addressed in context to earthly rulers:

• Isaiah and Ezekiel. It applies Isaiah's "How are you fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!" and Ezekiel's lament for one "perfect in all your ways" to Lucifer 53:1.1 53:1.3 Is 14:12; Ezk 28:15-17. In the Bible these are oracles against the kings of Babylon and Tyre Is 14:4; Ezk 28:12.
• Revelation. The "war in heaven" of Revelation 12 is identified with the rebellion, and the dragon's tail drawing "a third part of the stars" with the angels lost 53:5.6 53:7.7 Rev 12:3-9.
• Job. Satan coming among the "sons of God" is explained as Satan's claim to represent the fallen worlds at assemblies of Planetary Princes 53:8.2 Job 1:6; Job 2:1.
• The Gospels. Jesus' words "I beheld Satan fall as lightning from heaven" and "the prince of this world is judged" are read as references to the end of the rebellion and to Caligastia 53:8.3 53:8.5 Lk 10:18; Jn 12:31; Jn 16:11.
• Jude. The angels "who kept not their first estate" are the seraphic rebels of Jerusem 53:1.6 Jud 1:6.

Where Revelation names "the Devil, and Satan" as a single figure Rev 12:9, the book separates them, making Satan Lucifer's lieutenant and "the devil" Caligastia 53:1.4.

Index of references

The Lucifer Rebellion is probably the most notable event in Nebadon, the local universe under the rule of Michael of Salvington. It consisted of an open and voluntary rebellion of the ruler of our local system, named Lucifer, against the rule of Michael

• The war in heaven was fought in terms of life eternal, making it terrifyingly real yet free of physical barbarities. 53:5.7

History of the rebellion

• The idea of rebellion, originating in Lucifer's mind, led to his downfall despite opportunities for repentance and mercy being offered. 53:2.1-5
• Two hundred thousand years ago, all Satania worlds faced spiritual ban due to the Lucifer rebellion, with lasting consequences on Urantia. 50:6.5 53:4.1 61:7.8
• Despite the difficulty in pinpointing the exact cause of the Lucifer rebellion, it is clear that it originated in Lucifer's mind, where self-deception led him to believe that his rebellion was for the greater good, eventually leading to deliberate and willful sin. 53:2.5
• Manotia, loyal seraphic commander, courageously refused to participate in the Lucifer rebellion, leading the loyal angelic hosts through upheaval and betrayal to triumph on Urantia. 53:6
• Melchizedeks' Edentia emergency school studies the problems arising from the Satania rebellion. 43:1.6
• Satan informed Caligastia in advance of Lucifer's proposed rebellion, leading to the Prince's betrayal of the planet. 67:1.2
• The Lucifer rebellion spread to every world in the system after the broadcast from Jerusem isolated Satania from her sister systems. 67:3.1
• During the Lucifer rebellion, Manotia's refusal to participate in the projected insult to Michael led to a tremendous upheaval on Jerusem, orchestrated by the powerful rebels using liaison forces, but not a single loyal seraphim was harmed. 53:6.3
• The Lucifer rebellion, the last of 3 rebellions in Nebadon, was the most widespread and disastrous in history. 45:2.1 53:7.9

Lucifer manifesto (53:3)

• Lucifer's rebellion was based on denying the reality of the Universal Father, accusing Him of being a myth created by the Paradise Sons to maintain control over the universes, and questioning the very essence of personality as a gift from the Father. 53:3.2
• Lucifer's rebellion was rooted in his belief that local systems should be autonomous and free from interference by higher authorities, asserting that beings should boldly claim their rights to assert independence. 53:3.3-5
• Lucifer's rebellion was against the ascendant mortal training plan, arguing it was unethical and a trap leading to a fictional destiny. 53:3.6
• Lucifer rebelled against the Ancients of Days, denouncing them as tyrants and usurpers interfering with the right of complete home rule for men and angels. 53:3.4
• Lucifer's rebellion accused the finaliters of colluding with Paradise Sons to perpetrate a fraudulent myth about the Universal Father's existence and personality. 53:3.2
• The Lucifer rebellion advocated for self-government on individual planets and voluntary confederation in local systems, promoting “the equality of mind” and “the brotherhood of intelligence.” 53:4.2
• The Lucifer manifesto was proclaimed by Satan at the annual conclave of Satania, asserting worship to universal forces but allegiance solely to “friend of men and angels” Lucifer, two hundred thousand years ago. 53:4.1
• Lucifer contended that the unjust divine executioners could be overcome by asserting independence, as immortality is inherent except for their arbitrary acts. 53:3.5
• Lucifer's rebellion was fueled by his belief that ‘majorities rule’ and ‘mind is infallible’, allowing him to defy his superiors and execute his malicious plan without interference. 53:4.4
• Lucifer's rebellion masqueraded in habiliments of liberty, posing a monumental threat to steal personal freedom on an unprecedented scale in the history of Nebadon. 54:2.3
• The outbreak of rebellion took form as the Lucifer Declaration of Liberty, with self-assertion as its battle cry and promises of self-government for all orders of intelligence. 53:3.1 53:4 53:6.5 67:1.2
• Lucifer rebelled against Michael's universe government, believing worship to be a ploy to aggrandize the Paradise Sons. 53:3.3

Rebellion on Urantia (67)

• Amadon is the outstanding human hero of the Lucifer rebellion, steadfast in loyalty despite the deceptive teachings of Caligastia. 67:3.8-9
• The Lucifer rebellion did not hinder organic evolution on Urantia, but significantly impacted social and spiritual development. 67:0.1 78:1.1 81:0.1
• Ten thousand years after the Lucifer rebellion, most of the gains made under the Prince's administration had been lost, leaving little improvement for the races of the world; only the Nodites and Amadonites upheld the traditions and culture established by the Planetary Prince. 73:1.2
• The Lucifer rebellion ended the first epochal revelation after 300,000 years, disrupting the Dalamatian teachings of the true concept of the First Source and Center on Urantia. 92:4.5
• The Lucifer rebellion left Dalamatia devastated, as the once thriving community of nearly six thousand residents was plunged into spiritual darkness and horrible confusion. 66:7.20
• The immediate results of the Lucifer rebellion were indescribable confusion and racial pandemonium, leading to the swift and complete failure of the Caligastia scheme for societal reconstruction. 67:5
• The Lucifer rebellion erupted, lasting seven crucial years before the ultimate intervention of higher authorities. 67:2-3
• Caligastia's perversion of planetary schools on Urantia led to the destruction of educational progress during the Lucifer rebellion. 50:4.11-13
• The Lucifer rebellion brought great confusion, attempting a radical reorganization of the whole world by displacing evolution with revolution. 67:5.1
• The Lucifer rebellion and Adamic default have left Urantia peoples doubly deprived of the moral assistance and superior physical nature needed for spiritual progress. 34:7.4
• The wrecked plan for race improvement on Urantia shifted focus to competitive striving for recognition and admission to the garden, diminishing racial wars and tribal struggles. 51:5.4
• Jesus discussed the duration of their mountain stay and the truth of his declarations with Peter, James, and John, as they contemplated the Lucifer rebellion by the fire before falling asleep. 158:1.7

After rebellion

• The Mother Spirit's mandate not to suppress rebellion calls for full disclosure and unlimited sin-expression as the quickest path to curing the plague of evil. 54:5.11
• No worlds have been lost since the original 37 in the Lucifer rebellion, as the archrebels have failed to deceive any other planet or gain new followers in almost two hundred thousand Urantia years. 53:7.15 53:9.5
• All secession propaganda had to be carried on by personal effort due to the suspension of broadcast services and interplanetary communication by system circuit supervisors during the Lucifer rebellion. 53:7.3
• The completion of Michael’s bestowal on Urantia marked the end of the Lucifer rebellion throughout Satania, excluding the apostate Planetary Princes' worlds. 53:8
• For 200,000 years, rebels were allowed to run a free course before their eventual removal from power. 53:5.3 53:7.13-15
• Ten years after the revolt, Lanaforge emerged as the successor System Sovereign, ensuring the survival and triumph of every ascendant mortal. 53:7.12
• Archrebels were barred from attending Edentia conclaves once Michael became sovereign. 43:4.7-9

Adjudication

• The adjudication of Lucifer rebellion by the tribunal of the Ancients of Days has recently begun, but is not yet complete. 46:8.1-4 53:8.4 53:9 54:4.8 54:5.13 67:4.7
• The rebellion ends on fallen worlds as fast as divine Sons arrive, with rebels on Jerusem already having accepted mercy and awaiting annihilation. 53:9.7
• Due to Michael's mercy, the leaders of the Lucifer rebellion were not immediately destroyed, but if the rebellion had occurred during his bestowal, they could have been instantly annihilated. 54:4.5
• Immanuel advised Michael to end the Lucifer rebellion in Satania as the Son of Man, bringing final justice and establishing his supreme sovereignty over the universe. 120:2.2
• During the Lucifer rebellion, Michael offered rebels forgiveness and reinstatement, but the leaders did not accept, while repentant beings were rehabilitated and labor with the Panoptians for the Father's world until a verdict is issued by the Uversa courts. 53:9.1 54:4.5
• Michael's aloofness from the Satania rebellion was confirmed after counsel with Immanuel, maintaining a stance of noninterference. 53:5.1
• Michael's petition to intern rebels was granted by the Ancients of Days, with a single exception for Satan's visits to the apostate princes, pending the rulings of the superuniverse tribunals in the case of Gabriel vs. Lucifer. 53:9.3
• The Edentia Most Highs assumed planetary authority during the Lucifer rebellion, a power they continue to wield in the face of the continued existence of Lucifer and his followers. 43:3.6-7 43:5
• Most of Lucifer’s followers, including Lucifer himself, are interned on the prison worlds surrounding the planet whereon the Universal Father resides, awaiting judgement from the Ancients of Days. 45:1.10-11 53:9.1
• During the Lucifer rebellion, Michael could not exercise summary jurisdiction due to not yet being sovereign in his own right. 53:5.2-3 54:5.6
• The present status of the Lucifer rebellion reveals the merciful offer of salvation rejected by its leaders, while probationary souls wait for the annihilation verdict. 53:9
• On an afternoon in late summer on Mount Hermon, Michael of Nebadon secured his unquestioned sovereignty, settling the Lucifer rebellion in Satania and the Caligastia secession on Urantia. 134:8.9

Beings ensnared by the Lucifer rebellion (53:7.4-10)

• * over one quarter of administrator seraphim and lower seraphic orders were misled by the sophistries of unbridled personal liberty. 39:4.6 53:7.6
• * 4/5 of the primary midwayers on Urantia, leading to a change in leadership under Van and the Melchizedek receivers. 77:1.7
• * Thirty-seven Planetary Princes sided with Lucifer in the system-wide rebellion, but the Panoptians remained loyal to Michael under the guidance of the Melchizedeks. 53:7.1
• * 647,000 Material Sons were casualties of the Lucifer rebellion, highlighting the significant loss of immortality potential in their descendants. 51:1.5 53:7.8
• * Adam and Eve were compromised by the traitorous Planetary Prince on Urantia, but were not involved in the Lucifer rebellion. 51:3.4
• * A considerable group of superior cherubim, along with a third of their Jerusem companions, were ensnared in the Lucifer rebellion. 53:7.6
• * The chief of angelic hosts on Urantia 114:6.3
• * Leaders fallen from grace 53:1
• * The Mansion World Teachers remained faithful during the Lucifer rebellion, unlike some other celestial beings. 53:7.5
• * Despite vulnerability, ascending mortals resisted rebellion better than lower spirits; none on Jerusem partook in the Lucifer rebellion. 53:7.10
• * Many celestial beings on Urantia bravely defended Michael and his universe government, with a terrible loss among seraphim and cherubim, as forty members of the corporeal staff refused to join the insurrection. 67:3.2 167:7.3
• * All disobedient guardians in the Lucifer rebellion, who sincerely repented, are detained on Jerusem until final adjudication. 113:6.10
• Michael offered salvation to those who followed Lucifer in rebellion against him, but they rejected it and are now confined on the Satania prison worlds. 45:1.11
• * Most of the lower orders of intelligence, including a large number of midwayers, were involved in the Lucifer rebellion, causing a significant loss in the angelic ranks and leading to casualties among the Material Sons. 53:7.8
• * During the Lucifer rebellion, thousands of Morontia Companions were lost, but their full quota has since been replenished in your local system. 48:3.3 53:7.5
• * One third of planetary helper seraphim were deceived in the Lucifer rebellion. 53:7.7
• * A Planetary Prince and Material Son on neighboring planet in Satania 72:0.1-3
• * The spiritually blinded seraphic leader joined Lucifer's rebellion, deceiving lower celestial beings with his dazzling personality. 53:6.2 67:4.6
• * Superior seraphim were loyal during the Lucifer rebellion, as were the Solitary Messengers, Conciliators, and Celestial Recorders, but the Morontia Companions and Mansion World Teachers suffered losses. 53:7.5
• * One third of the supervisor seraphim were lost in the Lucifer rebellion, along with a significant number of the superior order and administrator angels. 53:7.6
• * About ten percent of the transition ministers were ensnared in the Lucifer rebellion. 53:7.7

Causes (53:2)

• The causes of Lucifer's rebellion included his growing self-assertion and opposition to the will of Michael and the Universal Father, originating in his own mind. Over time, Lucifer's pride led to self-deception, convincing himself that rebellion was for the good of the system. His increasing criticism of universe administration and eventual insincerity evolved into deliberate and willful sin. Despite opportunities for repentance, Lucifer and most of his followers rejected the mercy offered by the Creator Son.

Effects

• The Lucifer rebellion compelled all parties, including seraphim, cherubim, and celestial beings, to choose between sin and righteousness in a bitter and sinful conflict that lasted for more than seven years. 67:2.5-6
• The devastating calamity of the Lucifer rebellion profoundly impacted the superphysical history of the planet Urantia. 67:0.1
• By withstanding the sophistries of sin during the Lucifer rebellion, mortal ascenders on Jerusem were rewarded with enhanced careers as future Mighty Messengers, elevating their administrative status and spiritual worth. 54:6.5
• Many ages will be required to restore the universe to former paths after the Lucifer rebellion and the bestowal of Michael on Urantia, but order and good will are slowly being restored. 46:0.1 148:5.2
• Most victims of the Lucifer rebellion have repented and will be rehabilitated, awaiting final adjudication of the rebellion. 67:4.7 113:6.10
• The Lucifer rebellion and the Caligastia betrayal greatly contribute to the difficulty mortals face in understanding God. 4:3.3
• Due to the Lucifer rebellion, mortals on Urantia were prevented from passing directly to mansion worlds, but since the day of Pentecost, they can proceed directly to the morontia spheres. 52:5.5
• The story of Amadon and his band of 143 comrades standing steadfast for higher concepts outweighs the evil of the Lucifer rebellion in Nebadon and Orvonton. 67:8.4
• Over time, the Lucifer rebellion brought about a balance of good and evil, with the beneficial repercussions multiplying and extending throughout the universe. 54:6.6-7

Problems of rebellion (54)

• this is a list a problems derived from the Lucifer's rebellion:
• * Difficulty for evolutionary man to comprehend evil, error, sin, and iniquity.
• * Failure to distinguish between true and false liberty.
• * Self-assertion and opposition to the will of Michael and the Universal Father.
• * Increasing criticism of universe administration.
• * Self-deception and insincerity evolving into deliberate sin.
• * Rejection of opportunities for repentance.
• * Threat to the freewill choice of ascenders and servers in the system of Satania.
• * Attempt to deprive beings of the privilege of participating in the creation of their own destinies.

Bible parallels

Passages that the paragraphs cited above parallel, quote or reinterpret, from Duane Faw’s Paramony cross-references. Hover a reference to read it.

• Pride and delusion 53:2.5 — Ezk 28:17.
• Is like Lucifer, a falsifier 67:1.2 — Jn 8:44.
• War in heaven 67:3.1 — Rev 12:7.
• Rebellion 53:4.2 — Rev 12:7.
• Lucifer Manifesto 53:3.1 — Is 14:12-14; Jud 1:4.
• Lucifer loses 53:7.15 — Rev 12:7-8.
• Status of rebels 53:9.5 — Rev 12:9.
• Their place found no more 53:7.13 — Rev 12:8.
• After two years war in heaven 53:7.12 — Rev 12:7.
• No Jerusem citizen lost 53:7.12 — Rev 12:8.
• Get thee behind me Satan 53:8.4 — Mt 4:10; Mt 16:23; Mk 8:33; Lk 4:8.
• Place not found 53:9.7 — Rev 12:8.
• Acquaintances astonished 53:9.7 — Ezk 28:19.
• Become as if had not been 53:9.7 — Ob 1:16.
• “Children of light” 120:2.2 — Lk 16:8; Jn 12:36; Eph 5:8; 1 Th 5:5.
• Terminate rebellion 120:2.2 — Is 14:12-20; Mt 4:1-11; Mk 1:12-13; Lk 4:1-14; Lk 10:18; 2 P 2:4; Rev 12:7-9.
• Present status of rebellion 53:9.1 — 1 P 3:19-20.
• All power in heaven & earth 53:5.2 — Mt 28:18.
• A third part of the stars 53:7.7 — Rev 12:3-4.
• New and living way 52:5.5 — Jn 14:6; Heb 10:20.
• Moses' resurrection 52:5.5 — Jud 1:9; As. Mos. 1:1.

Where it appears

Lucifer rebellion is linked in 128 paragraphs of the text; the first 40 are listed.

See also

• Caligastia
• Lucifer
• quarantine
• rebellion (spiritual)

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