(14-14) Isaiah 14:12–15. Who Was “Lucifer, Son of the
Morning”?
Isaiah again used dualism. Chapters 13 and 14
describe the downfall of Babylon, both of Babylon as
an empire and of Babylon as the symbol of the world
(see D&C 133:14). Thus, most scholars think “Lucifer,
son of the morning” is the king of Babylon, probably
Nebuchadnezzar. In the symbolic use of Babylon,
(Babylon as spiritual wickedness and the kingdom of
Satan), Lucifer is Satan. This interpretation is confirmed
in latter-day revelation (see D&C 76:26–8). Satan and
Babylon’s prince (both represented by Lucifer in this
passage) aspire to take kingly glory to themselves,
but in fact will be thrust into hell where there will be
weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Compare Isaiah 13:13–14 with Moses 4:1–4, where
Lucifer’s conditions for saving all men are given. What
adds to the power of the imagery is the fact that the
word congregation (v. 13) is translated by Keil and
Delitzsch as the “assembly of gods” (Commentary,
7:1:312).
In still another example of Isaiah’s beautiful dualism,
even the kings of the world lie in their tombs (house)
in respect (see vv. 18–19), but Babylon’s king was to
be cast aside and trodden under foot. This reward was
literally visited upon the city of the Chaldees, and
though Nebuchadnezzar was certainly buried in great
splendor, there is no grave found for him today in
the ruins of Babylon. Think for a moment of Satan’s
“grave.” Never having received a body, he shall never
have a tomb or monument of any kind, though he was
king and ruler of the great world-wide and history-wide
empire of spiritual Babylon. No wonder the kings of
the earth, who, though wicked in mortality, could still
inherit the telestial kingdom, would marvel at his
demise.
