The question of when Lucifer was cast out of heaven is complex because the Bible gives limited details in Genesis. To piece together a timeline, we can examine multiple scriptural sources, including Revelation, the Book of Moses, the Book of Abraham, and other early writings.
The Heavenly War
Revelation 12 describes a war in heaven: “Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found anymore in heaven. 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.”
This indicates that Lucifer’s fall occurred in a heavenly context involving Michael (later Adam) and his angels, and it precedes his interactions with Adam and Eve on Earth.
The Grand Council and the Plan of Salvation
Before the creation of the world, a council was held in heaven where God presented a plan for salvation. Jehovah (pre-mortal Jesus) and Lucifer both volunteered to fulfill the role of redeemer. Jehovah was chosen, while Lucifer proposed an alternative plan that would have removed agency from mankind.
According to scripture, Lucifer had not yet rebelled at the moment of his proposal. His rebellion occurred after Jehovah was chosen, leading to the casting out described in Revelation.
The First and Second Estates
The scriptures in the Book of Moses and the Book of Abraham explain the idea of a “first estate” (pre-mortal existence) and a “second estate” (mortal life on Earth). Michael volunteered to become the first man (Adam), and Lucifer also volunteered. When Michael was chosen, Lucifer rebelled, taking many angels with him. This rebellion marks the loss of Lucifer’s first estate and his transformation into Satan.
The Sequence Leading to the Temptation
- Lucifer’s rebellion follows his proposal to be the redeemer and his rejection.
- He is cast out of heaven along with the angels who followed him.
- Lucifer becomes Satan and tempts Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
Summary
Lucifer was cast out of heaven after the pre-mortal council, the choice of Jehovah as redeemer, and his subsequent rebellion. This occurred before the mortal lives of Adam and Eve but after the creation plan was revealed in the heavenly council. The biblical account in Genesis does not detail this timeline explicitly; additional scriptures from Revelation, Moses, Abraham, and apocryphal writings help clarify the sequence.
Thus, Lucifer’s fall was a pre-mortal event that set the stage for his role as adversary in the Garden of Eden.
