patriarchs and prophets-第7章
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God Himself； and to be obeyed by the entire host of heaven。
Still the loyal angels urged him and his sympathizers to submit to God； and
they set before them the inevitable result should they refuse： He who had
created them could overthrow their power and signally punish their
rebellious daring。 No angel could successfully oppose the law of God； which
was as sacred as Himself。 They warned all to close their ears against
Lucifer's deceptive reasoning； and urged him and his followers to seek the
presence of God without delay and confess the error of questioning His
wisdom and authority。
Many were disposed to heed this counsel； to repent of their disaffection；
and seek to be again received into favor with the Father and His Son。 But
Lucifer had another deception ready。 The mighty revolter now declared that
the angels who had united with him had gone too far to return； that he was
acquainted with the divine law； and knew that God would not forgive。 He
declared that all who should submit to the authority of Heaven would be
stripped of their honor； degraded from their position。 For himself； he was
determined never again to acknowledge the
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authority of Christ。 The only course remaining for him and his followers； he
said； was to assert their liberty； and gain by force the rights which had
not been willingly accorded them。
So far as Satan himself was concerned； it was true that he had now gone too
far to return。 But not so with those who had been blinded by his deceptions。
To them the counsel and entreaties of the loyal angels opened a door of
hope； and had they heeded the warning； they might have broken away from the
snare of Satan。 But pride； love for their leader； and the desire for
unrestricted freedom were permitted to bear sway； and the pleadings of
divine love and mercy were finally rejected。
God permitted Satan to carry forward his work until the spirit of
disaffection ripened into active revolt。 It was necessary for his plans to
be fully developed； that their true nature and tendency might be seen by
all。 Lucifer； as the anointed cherub； had been highly exalted； he was
greatly loved by the heavenly beings； and his influence over them was
strong。 God's government included not only the inhabitants of heaven； but of
all the worlds that He had created； and Lucifer had concluded that if he
could carry the angels of heaven with him in rebellion； he could carry also
all the worlds。 He had artfully presented his side of the question；
employing sophistry and fraud to secure his objects。 His power to deceive
was very great。 By disguising himself in a cloak of falsehood； he had gained
an advantage。 All his acts were so clothed with mystery that it was
difficult to disclose to the angels the true nature of his work。 Until fully
developed； it could not be made to appear the evil thing it was； his
disaffection would not be seen to be rebellion。 Even the loyal angels could
not fully discern his character or see to what his work was leading。
Lucifer had at first so conducted his temptations that he himself stood
uncommitted。 The angels whom he could not bring fully to his side； he
accused of indifference to the interests of heavenly beings。 The very work
which he himself was doing； he charged upon the loyal angels。 It was his
policy to perplex with subtle arguments concerning the purposes of God。
Everything that was simple he shrouded in mystery； and by artful perversion
cast doubt upon the plainest statements of Jehovah。 And his high position；
so closely connected with the divine government； gave greater force to his
representations。
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God could employ only such means as were consistent with truth and
righteousness。 Satan could use what God could not flattery and deceit。 He
had sought to falsify the word of God and had misrepresented His plan of
government； claiming that God was not just in imposing laws upon the angels；
that in requiring submission and obedience from His creatures； He was
seeking merely the exaltation of Himself。 It was therefore necessary to
demonstrate before the inhabitants of heaven； and of all the worlds； that
God's government is just； His law perfect。 Satan had made it appear that he
himself was seeking to promote the good of the universe。 The true character
of the usurper and his real object must be understood by all。 He must have
time to manifest himself by his wicked works。
The discord which his own course had caused in heaven； Satan charged upon
the government of God。 All evil he declared to be the result of the divine
administration。 He claimed that it was his own object to improve upon the
statutes of Jehovah。 Therefore God permitted him to demonstrate the nature
of his claims； to show the working out of his proposed changes in the divine
law。 His own work must condemn him。 Satan had claimed from the first that he
was not in rebellion。 The whole universe must see deceiver unmasked。
Even when he was cast out of heaven。 Infinite Wisdom did not destroy Satan。
Since only the service of love can be acceptable to God； the allegiance of
His creatures must rest upon a conviction of His justice and benevolence。
The inhabitants of heaven and of the worlds； being unprepared to comprehend
the nature or consequences of sin； could not then have seen the justice of
God in the destruction of Satan。 Had he been immediately blotted out of
existence； some would have served God from fear rather than from love。 The
influence of the deceiver would not have been fully destroyed； nor would be
the spirit of rebellion have been utterly eradicated。 For the good of the
entire universe through ceaseless ages； he must more fully developed his
principles； that his charges against the divine government might be seen in
their true light by all created beings； and that the justice and mercy of
God and the immutability of His law might be forever placed beyond all
question。
Satan's rebellion was to be a lesson to the universe through all coming
agesa perpetual testimony to the nature of sin and its
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terrible results。 The working out of Satan's rule； its effects upon both men
and angels； would show what must be the fruit of setting aside the divine
authority。 It would testify that with the existence of God's government is
bound up the well…being of all the creatures He has made。 Thus the history
of this terrible experiment of rebellion was to be a perpetual safeguard to
all holy beings； to prevent them from being deceived as to the nature of
transgression； to save them from committing sin； and suffering its penalty。
He that ruleth in the heavens is the one who sees the end from the
beginningthe one before whom the mysteries of the past and the future are
alike outspread； and who； beyond the woe and darkness and ruin that sin has
wrought； beholds the accomplishment of His own purposes of love and
blessing。 Though 〃clouds and darkness are round about Him： righteousness and
judgment are the foundation of His throne。〃 Psalm 97：2； R。V。 And this the
inhabitants of the universe； both loyal and disloyal； will one day
understand。 〃His work is perfect： for all His ways are judgment： a God of
truth and without iniquity； just and right is He。〃 Deuteronomy 32：4。
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Chapter 2
The Creation
〃By the word of the Lord were the heavens made； and all the host of them by
the breath of His mouth。〃 〃For He spake； and it was；〃 〃He commanded； and it
stood fast。〃 Psalm 33：6；9。 He 〃laid the foundations of the earth； that it
should not be removed forever。〃 Psalm 104：5。
As the earth came forth from the hand of its Maker； it was exceedingly
beautiful。 Its surface was diversified with mountains； hills； and plains；
interspersed with noble rivers and lovely lakes； but the hills and mountains
were not abrupt and rugged； abounding in terrific steeps and frightful
chasms； as they now do； the sharp； ragged edges of earth's rocky framework
were buried beneath the fruitful soil； which everywhere produced a luxuriant
growth o
