speaking evil of dignities. He then makes a statement in which Satan
is mentioned: "Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the
devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him
a railing accusation, but said, the Lord rebuke thee" (verses 8-9). It
is a unique revelation nowhere else found in the Bible that when Moses'
body was to be laid away, the devil appeared on the scene. Perhaps
Michael was commissioned by the Lord to bury the body of Moses. The
devil evidently laid claim to the body of God's servant. Perhaps he
wanted the body to be preserved in an embalmed condition as an object
of idolatry. When Michael faced him he durst not bring a railing
accusation against him. He still recognized in him, though fallen, the
greatness of his original being. This is sufficient to show that Satan
was once a mighty, glorious, majestic being, full of wisdom and beauty.
Being a creature he is not omnipotent, nor is he omniscient or
omnipresent.

His Fall

His fall and how he became the great enemy of God is also revealed. We
find it in the two chapters already quoted, Isaiah xiv and Ezekiel
xxviii. He said in his 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. I will ascend above the
heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High" (Isaiah
xiv:13-14). Ezekiel's prophecy tells us that iniquity was found in
him. "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou has
corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness" (Ezek. xxviii:17).
In the beginning of this chapter a similar statement is made, which
also must be applied to Satan. "Thus saith the Lord God, because thine
heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God and sit in the seat
of God." The New Testament also bears witness to the fact and reminds
us of the above revelations in 1 Timothy iii:6. Speaking of the
qualifications of an elder, we read, "Not a novice, lest being lifted
up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil." The word
condemnation has the meaning of "crime" in the Greek. He revolted
against God; he was not satisfied with the position and place the
Creator had given him and aimed to occupy the throne above the stars
and be like the Most High. Then he fell and became the enemy of God,
which he still is and ever will be. In his attempt to become like the
Most High other angels