Pride is either a feeling of self-esteem from one’s accomplishments or abilities; or it can be arrogant behavior, conduct or an exaggerated feeling of one’s dignity or importance. It is the latter definition that is of interest here.

Pride in accomplishments or abilities such as, farming, woodworking, ironwork, teaching, computer programming, auto repair, or boatbuilding will have the mark of craftsmanship.

“Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men.” Proverbs 22:29.

But if a person’s abilities or perceived abilities go to their head, they become arrogant and self-centered.

“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” Romans 12:3.

King Uzziah (aka Azariah, 790-739 B.C.) is an example of how pride destroys. Within the first four verses of the account of King Uzziah it is said of him:

“And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord…” 2 Chronicles 26:4a.

King Uzziah had a huge army and won many battles, for the Lord was with him. He had farms and vineyards, built cities, and had tribute money coming in from other nations; there was no lack.

“But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. So Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him were eighty priests of the Lord, who were valiant men. And they withstood King Uzziah, and said to him, ‘It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the Lord God.’ Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the incense altar. And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and there, on his forehead, he was leprous; so they thrust him out of that place. Indeed he also hurried to get out, because the Lord had struck him. King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death.” 2 Chronicles 26:16-21a.

Uzziah was incredibly rich and strong, even over matters of life and death and he was easily more powerful than any world leader we have today. But he forgot that it was all from the Lord.

“…as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.” 2 Chronicles 26:5b.

We too have nothing from ourselves, health, riches, strength, or great intelligence. Both the so-called computer geek and the Olympic gold medalist would have nothing if God had not given it to them.

Pride comes upon us easily, whether you are good looking, president of a company, president of the United States, mailroom supervisor, or head of a household; once you forget that you are using God given abilities and start believing your own press, you will fall.

“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6b and 1 Peter 5:5b.

“Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that; I’m right and I will be proved right. We’re more popular than Jesus now; I don’t know which will go first – rock and roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It’s them twisting it that ruins it for me.” March 4, 1966 – John Lennon, b. Oct. 9, 1940 d. Dec. 8, 1980.

Both Old and New Testament Scripture teach that Satan was lifted up in pride; this is the beginning of sin.

The following verse is about the new Christian who is promoted too soon within the church and falls to pride.

“…lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.” 1 Timothy 3:6b.

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also 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 14:12-15.

Satan, who was called Lucifer before he rebelled, had five ambitions in his heart. “I will ascend into heaven”; the heaven referred to here is not the heaven we think of but rather the very abode of God. Satan/Lucifer’s ambition here is a bit like one of us deciding to move into the White House.

“I will exalt my throne above the stars of God”; the stars are angels and Lucifer (Satan) already had command over a very great number of angels, billions; but he wanted to be over all of them.

“I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north.” The mount of the congregation was quite possibly where all of the angels reported to, and angelic assignments and decisions for all of creation were handed down from God. Perhaps the following depicts these meetings.

“Now there was a day when the sons of God [angels good and fallen] came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan [which means adversary] also came among them.” Job 1:6.

And again:

“Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord.” Job 2:1.

Possibly only the triune Godhead was seated here, or the Godhead and certain angelic officials; many may have stood before the congregation but surely Lucifer was never seated with them.

The term the Godhead is a reference to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit who are one essence. Do not confuse this term with some mystical religions that also refer to a godhead.

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse…” Romans 1:20.

“For in Him [Christ] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” Colossians 2:9-10.

God’s abode and the mount of the congregation may correspond to the heavenly Mount Zion.

“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” Hebrews 12:22-24.

Interesting, is it not?

“I will ascend above the heights of the clouds”, Satan wanted the same glory that is God’s alone. A difficult task since God’s glory is who He is.

“I will be like the Most High”; think on this, Satan, who had seen a lot of magnificent things, could only think of being like the Most High God; he could not conceive how to be greater than his Creator.

“You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you. By the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned; therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; and I destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones. Your heart was lifted up [proud] because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor…” Ezekiel 28:15-17a.

Being lifted up in pride Satan, began to consider the five I wills in his heart; the result was rebellion. Will he come to an end?

“Therefore I brought fire from your [Satan’s] midst; it devoured you, and I turned you to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all who saw you. All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you; you have become a horror, and shall be no more forever.” Ezekiel 28:18b-19.

Satan’s last rebellion after having been chained in the bottomless pit for a thousand years will happen after he has been released for a season.

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.” Revelation 20:1-3.

When he is released at the end of the coming thousand year reign of Christ, Satan and his followers will gather together and attack the camp of the saints.

“They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever [strongest Greek word for eternity]. Revelation 20:9-10.

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18.

Haughty is defined as; “disdainfully proud; snobbish; arrogant.” Random House College Dictionary.

“Whatever may your virtues be, oh cultivate humility; be unobtrusive, meek, retired; seek to be useful, not admired.” -Author unknown.

Pride, Greed and Rebellion, Part 1 taken from godisrevealed.com posted on 8-18-15, updated on 9-2-23.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission, all rights reserved.