The Fall of the Angels has definitely taken its place as one of the most 
familiar stories of Christianity.  According to tradition, Lucifer, most 
beautiful of all the angels, decided within his heart that he deserved to be 
'like God' and thus committed the ultimate sin.  For this, he was banished 
from Heaven to darkness and eternal suffering in the Pits of Hell.  This 
essay will attempt to analyze the stages of Lucifer's 'Fall', from the 
moment he first rejects his Creator to the eternal chains in which he is 
eventually cast, and will present this essential question:  Was Lucifer 
really the evil Prince of Darkness that he is so often painted as, or was he 
actually the greatest Hero of all Western literature?

I. The Luciferian Ideal 

	In order that we might properly address the rebellion of Lucifer, we 
must first understand his position beforehand and the ideal which led to 
his fatal action.  It is said that Lucifer was the most beautiful of all the 
angels and indeed of all creation.  He was second, in fact, only to the 
Almighty God, his Creator.  It is important to realize that this does not 
imply that he rivaled his God.  Actually, the distance between them was 
eternal.  God was his Creator, and by his Nature, he was totally dependent 
on his God.  Thus, it was impossible that any angel might exist without 
God.
	From this it followed that the angel's purpose for existence was to 
serve and praise its Eternal Master.  If one were to walk those halls of the 
Ancient Heaven, he would most likely see the phrase 'God is King' etched 
into the golden pillars of the Holy City.  This, indeed, was the only 
principle which existed.  The angels loved God, however, for he granted 
them eternal happiness in exchange for their praise, their service, and their 
submission.  One can imagine a young Lucifer joining in the choir of 

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