Why did Satan rebel against God - and where is the bible's reference to this reason?

Question

I'm finding it really hard to come across a plain and simple 'non-run-around' answer. I know from readings that Satan rebelled because he thought he should be loved (or something along those lines...?) but I can't find any reference in the bible of this reasoning. Any help???

For the idiots posting without good reason, I'll clarify: I'm not concerned about the question of religion....."is it real?" - I just want to know this one presentation made by the bible....true or not is not up for debate here.

Thanks for a real answer DUUH, but it's not an answer relevant to my question. Why did satan rebel, and where does the bible make refernece to this? Please only answer if you actually know the bible reference.

Thanks to : eric_aixelsyd. I had read that portion of the bible and come to the conclusion that there is no reference to the deeper reasoning of satan. I can't post a best answer yet, but I thank you for your time, and all of those with valid answers. Ta!

Answer 1

It really doesn't make reference, other than a story within a story, here...

English: King James Version
Isaiah 14

11. Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.
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!
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:
14. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
16. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
17. That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?
18. All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house.
19. But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet.

Some versions don't even mention the word "lucifer", compare some of the texts side by side here: http://unbound.biola.edu/index.cfm?method=searchResults.doSearch¶llellist=kjv_apocrypha_ucs2,basic_english,webster,nrsva_ucs2,,,,,&displaylist=1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1&search=Lucifer&book=23O&from_chap=14&hide_context=1

Also, form Wikipedia...

It is a modern and late Medieval misconception that the word Lucifer is synonymous with Satan; an angel, who when he falls from Heaven becomes Satan, the embodiment of evil and enemy of God. Lucifer is generally considered to have been a prominent archangel in heaven, prior to having been motivated by pride to rebel against God, but this is also false.

Lucifer was originally a Latin word meaning "light-bearer" (from lux, "light", and ferre, "to bear, bring"), a Roman astrological term for the "Morning Star", the planet Venus. The word Lucifer was the direct translation of the Greek eosphorus ("dawn-bearer"; cf. Greek phosphorus, "light-bearer") used by Jerome in the Vulgate. In that passage, Isaiah 14:12, it referred to one of the popular honorific titles of a Babylonian king; however, later interpretations of the text, and the influence of embelishments in works such as Dante's The Divine Comedy and Milton's Paradise Lost, led to the common idea in Christian mythology and folklore that Lucifer was a poetic appellation of Satan.

In Romanian mythology, Lucifer (Romanian: Luceafăr) means the planet Venus and some other stars. It is also linked with Hyperion and he is the one who animate the bad spirits (but not the Devil itself).

Check this out to see more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucifer

Answer 2

God created Satan but before he did so he knew (being omniscient) exactly what Satan would do, and yet still he decided to create this being. After that Satan uses the programs god built into him to rebel, lust, greed Etc... Now many Christians will point out that satan is the reason for Hell and the reason more then five out of six people go there and Not God. But when you go to Hell it is not even for a good reason, it is simply because you chose not to follow obscure religion no 1132.

Now god can see this, God knows what is happening to humanity and yet he does NOT for some reason destroy Satan, surely the word omnipotent means all powerfull, did God prehaps create an equal? he is after all powerfull ebough to do it, did he create a being he cannot predict or control? or does he just not destroy a simple ant, albeit a simple ant that send most of Gods creations to eternal suffering.

Satan hasn't been destroyed yet, but he will be destroyed, and it describes everything that happens to satan and the angels that rebelled with him in Revelations Chapter 19, Verse 20, Chapter 20, Verses 10-15...
It wasn't to create drama. It wasn't for an interesting story. NOR was it for good versus bad, because righteousness is eternal and there's no evil where the Lord sits.
It was to redeem His children, that all of them should come to repentance and be saved. It is out of love.
No competition. The definition of love (God is love) in First Corinthians Chapter 13, Verse 4 rules out competition.

All you need to do is Ask Him! That's all! It simple: no need to make up philosophies on why Satan might exist, or to come up with such theories, because the Lord has and is already willing to tell exactly why and exactly what and will happen. If you don't know, you haven't ask.
Christ taught, Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you will find, knock and the door shall be opened to you.

Answer 3

The Devil is a malicious “manslayer.” The Bible reveals that he is a real person, not just the evil in someone’s heart. (Matthew 4:1-11) Although created as a righteous angel, “he did not stand fast in the truth.” How fitting it is that he is named Satan the Devil! (Revelation 12:9) He is called “Satan,” or “resister,” because he has opposed and resisted God. This criminal is also called “Devil,” meaning “slanderer,” for he has blasphemously misrepresented God.

What motivated Satan to rebel against God? Greed. He greedily coveted the worship God received from humans. The Devil did not reject the desire to receive such worship, which rightly belonged only to the Creator. (Compare Ezekiel 28:12-19.) Instead, the angel who became Satan nurtured this greedy desire until it became fertile and gave birth to sin.—James 1:14, 15.

Answer 4

asker there is no writings in the bible about satan except job which the god of the bible tricked satan into commiting crimes against job.
Satan only rebeled against the bible god for the bible god was a war god and that satan didnt want war against nations or people he was a lot smarter about it that you may realize.

to those christians who think the bible answers every thing for you. get a clue your bible doesnt say anything about satan doing evils in the world it is all about your god not the other guy you just make excuses for the actions of your god..

satan was casted out of heaven doesnt mean he was casted to earth either more like he was banished from this world

Answer 5

Yeah why would Satan start a war he couldn't win.
Also Why would 1/3 of the angels go to hell with him.
See everything in the bible is propaganda about the war.
I've read a book that said the Devil was in hell because he loved God so much that he wanted to be one with God.
God saw this as a perversion and cast him out of heaven.
The 1/3 angels thought this was wrong of God so he sent them there too.
I think the story makes a lot more sense that way.
But as you can imagine the priest had a problem with god sending angels to hell, just out of anger so they changed it.

Answer 6

Don't beleive you can find many, if any, references in the Bible. Although, if you're looking for some nice fiction based on the story in the Bible, may I suggest picking up John Milton's "Paradise Lost"?
Lucifer plays a key protagonist, and the poem/book works its way through the Heaven Wars, the fall of Lucifer and the fall of mankind...an interesting concept which I quite adore for the fact that it -could- be true, and the controversy it caused when first published.

Answer 7

actually, Satan, formerly Lucifer, was an angel who had a very "high" rank, so to speak, among the angels. I think he was even the top of them all. But he rebelled because he wanted to be the one to sit on the Lord's throne. He wanted to be higher than God. Because of envy, he was thrown out of the heavens along with 1/3 of heaven's angels (those who were under his command).

..Although i can't remember where the story is in the Bible..it is there..

Answer 8

Revelations 12:7-10
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon(Satan); and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
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.

Jude 1:9
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

Luke 10:18
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

Answer 9

The angel who later became known as Satan rebelled against God basically because he wanted to be worshiped. The account of Genesis which introduces us to him as the voice behind the serpent describes him as slyly enticing the first human pair to disobey God. To obey God is to worship him and to worship God is to obey him. Therefore, reasonably, disobedience to God would be obedience to, and therefore worship of, someone or something else – in this case the rebellious angel. That this rebellious angel wanted to be worshiped can be seen from a consideration of Luke 4:4-12 where Satan tempts Jesus repeatedly. Notice verse 7 where Satan offers all the worldly kingdoms and their authority to Christ if he but worship Satan. Satan not only wants to successfully tempt Jesus (as he did Adam and Eve), he wants the worship as well.

Other scriptures bear this out but this should suffice to show us Satan's goal.

Answer 10

I believe "Duuh's" answer is the best. Asker, you need to actually READ Isaiah 14:13-14, quoted by "Duuh." Satan rebelled because he said he would be god. God answered by striking Satan to the earth.

Answer 11

Ego, false pride. He wanted to take over. God had a plan for all of us to come down here then return to him. Satan to god that He would personally come down and make us all be good so that we all would return home and he would get all the glory. Now Jesus said I Will let them have their free choice, because free choice is the greatest gift you can give any one in the whole universe. Then god chose Jesus because Satan would have came back and caused a mutiny on god, and god new it cause hes god. And that's when the war began one third got cast out and the rest of us came here. and that's why Satan is still on his kick to take over.