War of Heaven
| The War of Heaven | |||||||
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 A 16th-century illustration of the mythological battle by Pieter Bruegel. |
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| Fictional information | |||||||
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Combatants
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| Rebel angels |  Loyalist angels |
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Commanders
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| Michael the Archangel | |||||||
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Strength
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| 133,306,668 | 266,613,336 | ||||||
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Casualties
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| unknown | unknown | ||||||
According to Christian mythology, the War of Heaven was a defining moment
in the universe, when the
Background to the War
The most common catalyst considered to have driven Lucifer towards his unsuccessful coup was the Creation of Man, whereupon God ordered all his angels to bow down to Mankind. Lucifer considered this an insult, and rallied discontent amongst other angels who felt the act was degrading since they were God's first creation themselves.
The War
In 1273, Pope John XXI, then Bishop of Tusculum, estimated that the total number of angels who sided with Lucifer's revolt numbered 133,306,668, which would suggest that they were fighting against a force of 266,613,336 angels who remained loyal to God. This number was later affirmed by 15th-century scholar Alphonso de Spina.[2] Filled with hubris, Lucifer issued a declaration of war stating that "I will ascend to Heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." [3]
In the end, Lucifer and all the angels under his command, were thrown out of Heaven as punishment for their insurrection.[4][5] Several millennia afterwards, Jesus Christ reported that he had been present and seen Lucifer being thrown down like a flash of lightning.[6]
Religious interpretations and variations
The Muslim tradition draws on Quran 7:12, which claims that Lucifer's pride was seen in his insistence that he was better than Mankind, being forged from fire, rather than clay. The Sufi tradition however, explains that Lucifer espoused a great love of God – and that he had sworn to never bow to anyone except God.
According to the Mormon church, Lucifer fomented the revolution after volunteering to take Jesus' place as God's emissary to humanity, stating that he believed that mortals should have their free will revoked, and thus be guaranteed entry into Heaven.[7][8]
See also
- Grigori, another company of angels who fell from God's grace at approximately the time of Noah.
- Heavenly Host, detailed information on angelic armies.
- DC Comics character Phantom Stranger's backstory suggests that he was an angel who refused to take sides during the war, and thus was condemned and barred from entering either Heaven or Hell.
- The
Lucifer character from the Vertigo comic books implies that he was searching for freedom from predestination, and was wary about going to war.
References
- ^ Source are conflicted whether Lucifer was an Archangel, Cherub or even Seraphim
- ^ http://www.steliart.com/angelology_fallen_heavens_war.html
- ^ >Isaiah 14:12-14
- ^ Sources differ whether the angels were thrown to Earth, or to Hell
- ^ Revelation 12:7-9
- ^ Luke 10:18.
- ^ http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bd/w/2
- ^ Moses 4:1
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