I-32 Lucifer and Ahriman

The Influences of Lucifer and Ahriman (LA); The Gospel of St. John and Its Relation to Other Gospels (Jn-Rel), Lect. 5; The Ahrimanic Deception (AD); The Balance in the World and Man (BWM); The Deed of Christ and Opposing Spiritual Powers (DCOSP)

Two biblical terms, “Devil” (diablos) and “Satan” (satan), are generally considered virtually interchangeable, and not without some superficial justification in scripture itself, but in esotericism they have quite different meanings, which are polar opposites but which work together for an evil result so that in the popular mind (as well, perhaps, as in that of the scribes preceding even our earliest extant manuscripts) they are indistinguishable. Ahriman was first recognized by Zarathustra (1 Brit 168, “Ahriman”). In Goethe’s Faust he is known as “Mephistopheles.” Steiner says this is a term derived from two Hebrew words, “Mephiz” (Corrupter) and “Topel” (Liar). Anthroposophy makes a clear distinction: “Devil” equals “Lucifer” and “Satan” equals “Ahriman.” Hardly any anthroposophical work can be found that has no reference to a “Luciferic” or an “Ahrimanic” influence. Consequently, neither the references cited above nor the illustrative characteristics listed below can be considered all-inclusive. They are given only as a bare indication of the influence or reflection of each:

It has been deceptively difficult to characterize these beings as to the Hierarchy from which each “fell.” It seems clear that Lucifer fell during Ancient Moon and Ahriman during Ancient Sun, but their actual rank, the Condition of Consciousness during which they had attained the “human” stage (see I-15), is deemed to be the preceding Condition in each case. Thus, Ahriman is from the rank of the Archai (see The Apocalypse [(APOC-CC)], Lects. 11 and 18), which attained this status on Ancient Saturn though he appears to have fallen during Ancient Sun (Manifestations of Karma [(MK)], Lect. 7, pp. 166-167). Since Lucifer appears (MK) to have fallen during Ancient Moon, it would seem that he belongs to the rank of Archangels, which attained “human” status during Ancient Sun (I-15). This would accord with his desire to implant “Light,” for the controlling Hierarchy of the Sun Condition was the Spirits of Wisdom (I-16), and he was able to fight on somewhat the same plateau as the Archangel Michael.