20161020 Thursday, October 20 2016
1 Peter 05: Who Was The Haughty Spirit That Fell?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall"

"Pride" is defined as "to regard something, or someone, as excellent or magnificent." Pride can be good, or it can be made evil.

Examples of righteous pride (notice that all are based upon what the LORD has done in His Creation; see also What Did Jesus Tell John About Creation?):

"11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh." (Hebrews 11:4 KJV; see also Cain and Abel)

"1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;" (Philippians 1:10 KJV; see also The Feast Of Trumpets: The Return Of The Messiah)

"4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." (2 Corinthians 4:7 KJV; see also The Vessels For The House Of God)

On the other hand, Satan became a pathetic loser because of egotistical pride that he allowed to rise up and pervert his wisdom and beauty (see What Is Satan's Real Name?). He lost it all for nothing more than his own made-backwards image (see Is Your Bible A Window Or A Mirror?).

"28:17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee." (Ezekiel 28:17 KJV)

"14:13 For thou hast said in thine 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: 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." (Isaiah 14:13-14 KJV)

Notice that the end-time antichrist will have the same sort of "pride" (see also The Signature Of The Antichrist):

"13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Revelation 13:4-8 KJV)

The Word of God (see The Sword Of The Truth) has much to say and warn about that Satanic egotistical pride (including the famous "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall" - that applied first to Satan) - to make an idol out of one's self, or some object or entity that is used merely for personal glorification.

"8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate." (Proverbs 8:13 KJV)

"16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." 29:23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

Peter was never one of the mighty or glorious ones of his nation. But he could nevertheless have become egotistically proud because of his closeness to the Messiah during His Ministry, as well as his having been appointed as one of the twelve apostles (see What Did Peter And Isaiah Say About Being Born Again? and The Cornerstone Prophecy). But he recognized that such pride is a trap that can destroy the righteousness of the righteous. Peter's "For God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble" in verse 5 below is a quote of Proverbs 3:34-35 ("3:34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. 3:35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools").

"5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 5:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility:

for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 5:11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

5:12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.

5:13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son. 5:14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen." (1 Peter 5:1-14 KJV)

Fact Finder: How did egotistical pride turn a man named Diotrephes into a rebel within a congregation of the Church of God?
See Diotrephes And The Other Antichrists; see also What Does Satan's Voice Sound Like?