Lucifer: Babylon, Satan or Both?

In Isaiah 14:12-15, we learn about "Lucifer, son of the morning." While most religious people see Lucifer as the name for Satan and therefore apply this passage to Satan's fall, others see this merely as a reference to Babylon. I have always taken the latter position.

What's clear in this passage is that Isaiah IS speaking of Babylon and prophesying against it (vs. 3-7). So when he refers to "Lucifer" beginning in verse 12, he is referring to Babylon's pride and eventual downfall.

It's also clear that there is no direct link between Satan and Lucifer - not in this passage or any other passage for that matter. In fact, the name 'Lucifer' only appears here in Isaiah 14, in the context of a prophecy against Babylon.

However, I do believe it is possible that Isaiah is alluding to Satan when he speaks of "Lucifer, son of the morning." After all, the description of Lucifer and his downfall is very similar to the description of Satan and his downfall.

"For you [Lucifer] have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the pit" (Isaiah 14:13-15).

"And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day" (Jude 6).

 You might also read 2 Peter 2:4 and perhaps even Revelation 12:7-9.

It's clear from Scripture - and most Christians accept this - that Satan incited a rebellion against God sometime early on in history (by the time of Genesis 3). He and his angels "did not keep their proper domain" in that they rebelled against the authority of God. Satan, who was, at one time, an angel of God, was cast out of heaven and relegated to the role of "adversary" here on earth (1 Peter 5:8, et al).

So in regard to Isaiah 14, there does seem to be some basis for identifying Lucifer as Satan and that Isaiah is using the story of Satan to illustrate and even prophesy the fate of Babylon. Perhaps we cannot say this with certainty. But can we say it isn't Satan with equal certainty?

What do you think?