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5. The Council in Heaven and the War in Heaven
What Latter-day Saints believe
Latter-day Saints believe that before the world was made, Heavenly Father presented His plan for His children: we would come to earth, gain bodies, be free to choose, and be saved through a Savior. Jesus Christ volunteered to be that Savior. Lucifer rebelled, wanting to take away our freedom and claim God’s glory for himself. A war of ideas followed, and Lucifer and those who followed him were cast out. Choosing to follow Christ then is why we are here now.
Key verses
1. Revelation 12:7-9
7And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9And 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.
“There was war in heaven.” Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, who “was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
2. Revelation 12:3-4
3And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
The dragon’s tail “drew the third part of the stars of heaven.” Latter-day Saints see this as the many spirits who followed Lucifer.
3. Isaiah 14:12-15
12How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13For 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: 14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer.” His sin was pride: “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.”
4. Luke 10:18
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Jesus says, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.”
5. Job 38:7
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
God’s children “shouted for joy” as the earth was prepared for them. Latter-day Saints see this joy as our response to the Father’s plan.
6. Revelation 13:8
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Christ is “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” The Savior was chosen and the plan was in place before the world began.
7. 1 Peter 1:19-20
19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
Christ “was foreordained before the foundation of the world.”
8. 2 Peter 2:4
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
God “spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down.”
9. Jude 1:6
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
The angels “which kept not their first estate” lost their place.
How other Christians read these verses
Many Christians read Revelation 12 as a symbolic vision about the struggle between God and evil in history or at the end of the world, and they read Isaiah 14 as a taunt against the king of Babylon that some also apply to Satan’s fall. Christians generally agree that Satan is a fallen angel, but the idea of a premortal council where we chose the Father’s plan is unique to Latter-day Saints.
Full index: 16 verses
Includes the key verses above, the Church's Topical Guide, and every King James verse that uses these words: Lucifer, war in heaven. Key verses are highlighted. Tap a book to open it.
Job (1)
Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Isaiah (4)
Isaiah 14:12 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!
Isaiah 14:13 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:
Isaiah 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Isaiah 14:15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Luke (1)
Luke 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
1 Peter (2)
1 Peter 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1 Peter 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
2 Peter (1)
2 Peter 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
Jude (1)
Jude 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Revelation (6)
Revelation 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
Revelation 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Revelation 12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Revelation 12:9 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.
Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
