Rebellion in the Council

Much of Isaiah deals with the Divine Council of the Gods. It could be argued that the entire book is written in Divine Council imagery, as the council met in premortal life before the foundation of the world. Some chapters speak of the council intervening at critical times to avert disaster or to judge the nations.

Chapter One sets the stage with the council coming out in judgment against the House of Israel. The charges against Israel are set forth with the voice of the Most High God announcing them: "I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me" (Isaiah 1: 2). The council verdict is clear: guilty as charged. Then the Lord prescribes the remedy.

In another Isaiah chapter, quoted by Nephi, Lucifer is compared with the king of Babylon. Although Israel has been in bondage to Babylon, Israel is promised rest from their hard bondage (see 2 Nephi 24: 3). This can be likened to the Millennial day when we can rest from the captivity of the devil (see 1 Nephi 14: 7). In such peaceful conditions "the whole earth is at rest, and is quiet; they break forth into singing." 

There is so much rejoicing the trees begin to speak: "Since thou art laid down no feller is come up against us" (2 Nephi 24: 7-8). But remember, in Isaiah, trees are always people.

"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! Art thou cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations!"

Then Lucifer's rebellion in the Divine Council is revealed and his motives exposed, as 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" (2 Nephi 24: 13-14).

If you're looking for evidence of the Divine Council, look for two words--stars and voice. The voice is, of course, the voice of the Council. And stars represent members of the Council.

Here are some examples: 

"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. . . . When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (Job 38: 4,7).

"Howbeit that he made the greater star; as, also, if there be two spirits, and one shall be more intelligent than the other, yet these two spirits, notwithstanding one is more intelligent than the other, have no beginning; they existed before, they shall have no end, they shall exist after, for they are gnolaum, or eternal" (Abraham 3: 18).

"And it came to pass that he (Lehi) saw One descending out of the midst of heaven, and he beheld that his luster was above that of the sun at noon-day. And he also saw twelve others following him, and their brightness did exceed that of the stars in the firmament" (1 Nephi 1: 9-10).

Another feature of the Divine Council is that God stands in the "midst" or sacred center among the Council. Notice the verse above from First Nephi, how God descends from the midst. In the Book of Abraham in the same chapter quoted above, it states, 

"And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born" (Abraham 3: 23).

Abraham is chosen to be a messenger for the Divine Council, similar to Isaiah in Isaiah chapter 6:

"Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me" (Isaiah 6: 8).

Notice the "voice" of the Council asking the question.

Another clue to Divine Council imagery is the identification of Him who presides over the Council, as He is identified as "the Most High God." In another reference to the Divine Council, the Psalmist records, "God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. . . .  I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High" (Psalm 82: 1, 6).

But for Lucifer, he is not content to be a member of the Council. He threatens to exalt his throne "above the stars of God," whereas Christ allows those who abide in the covenant to become "equal in power, and in might, and in dominion" (D&C 76: 95).

You can expect Lucifer to counterfeit everything God does, as he said, "I will be like the Most High."

But instead of entering into "the sides of the north," the city of the great King, (see Psalm 48: 2), Satan is relegated to "the sides of the pit." Those who see him there will "narrowly look upon" him. They will squint at him in disbelief and exclaim, "Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms? And made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof, and opened not the house of his prisoners?" (2 Nephi 24: 16-17).

Any prisoners in this house can be assured that only Jesus can open the door.