Question Three of Chapter Nine of the Second Decade
On the cause of the conflict of Michael with the dragon
It is asked concerning what, and over what matter, the conflict of Michael with the dragon occurred.
To this it is answered as follows.
Lucifer, who was more excellent in being than the others, as is evident in Daniel under the type of the most proud kings of the earth, said in his heart, in an inconceivable exaltation of pride: “I am God. I sit upon a throne. I am from myself, without beginning”—denying that anyone greater than himself had made him.
And consequently he aspired to ascend into heaven so that he might possess dominion over heaven; he aspired to ascend above the height of the clouds so that he might be adored as God by all the angels.
And, having taken counsel within himself, he said: “I am full of wisdom. I shall persuade all the angels, so that without contradiction they will believe me when I say, ‘I am God; I am from myself.’”
And he preached to them without delay of time, as is contained in Daniel, where it says: “He sent forth his ends unto all the signs of the region,” that is, he poured forth the utterances of his wisdom to all the multitudes of the angels so that they might obey him.
But the Lord God, who does not permit a creature to be tempted beyond that which it is able to bear, raised up one of the archangels who steadfastly said: “You are not God, but there is another more excellent, who created you and all of us.”
And for this reason he was called Michael, which is interpreted, “Who is like our God?” He is reported, in resisting Lucifer, to have said: “Why, therefore, do you say, ‘I am God’? For who can be God like our God?” and similar things.
And then a conflict occurred in heaven, as is said in Revelation, chapter 12, because Michael fought with the dragon.
These things are from Henry of Assia upon Genesis.