Early Writings
by Ellen G. White
Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 1:
The Fall of Satan
 |
 |
Some angels sympathized with Satan in his
rebellion; others strongly contended for
the honor and wisdom of God.
Illustration ©
Review and Herald Publ. Assoc. |
|
Satan was once an honored angel in heaven, next to Christ.
His countenance, like those of the other angels, was mild and expressive of
happiness. His forehead was high and broad, showing great intelligence. His
form was perfect; his bearing noble and majestic. But when God said to His Son,
"Let us make man in our image," Satan was jealous of Jesus. He wished
to be consulted concerning the formation of man, and because he was not, he was
filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred. He desired to receive the highest
honors in heaven next to God. {EW 145.1}
Until this time all heaven had been in order, harmony, and
perfect subjection to the government of God. It was the highest sin to rebel
against His order and will. All heaven seemed in commotion. The angels were
marshaled in companies, each division with a higher commanding angel at its
head. Satan, ambitious to exalt himself, and unwilling to submit to the
authority of Jesus, was insinuating against the government of God. Some of the
angels sympathized with Satan in his rebellion, and others strongly contended
for the honor and wisdom of God in giving authority to His Son. There was
contention among the angels. Satan and his sympathizers were striving to reform
the government of God. They wished to look into His unsearchable wisdom, and
ascertain His purpose in exalting Jesus and endowing Him with such unlimited [146]
power and command. They rebelled against the authority of the Son. All the
heavenly host were summoned to appear before the Father to have each case
decided. It was there determined that Satan should be expelled from heaven,
with all the angels who had joined him in the rebellion. Then there was war in
heaven. Angels were engaged in the battle; Satan wished to conquer the Son of
God and those who were submissive to His will. But the good and true angels
prevailed, and Satan, with his followers, was driven from heaven. {EW 145.2}
After Satan and those who fell with him were shut out of
heaven, and he realized that he had forever lost all its purity and glory, he
repented, and wished to be reinstated in heaven. He was willing to take his
proper place, or any position that might be assigned him. But no; heaven must
not be placed in jeopardy. All heaven might be marred should he be taken back;
for sin originated with him, and the seeds of rebellion were within him. Both
he and his followers wept, and implored to be taken back into the favor of God.
But their sin—their hatred, their envy and jealousy—had
been so great that God could not blot it out. It must remain to receive its
final punishment. {EW
146.1}
When Satan became fully conscious that there was no
possibility of his being brought again into favor with God, his malice and
hatred began to be manifest. He consulted with his angels, and a plan was laid
to still work against God's government. When Adam and Eve were placed in the
beautiful garden, Satan was laying plans to destroy them. In no way could this
happy couple be deprived of their happiness if they obeyed God. Satan could not
exercise his power upon them unless they should first disobey God and forfeit
His favor. Some plan must therefore be devised to lead them to disobedience
that they might incur God's [147] frown and be brought under the
more direct influence of Satan and his angels. It was decided that Satan should
assume another form and manifest an interest for man. He must insinuate against
God's truthfulness and create doubt whether God did mean just what He said;
next, he must excite their curiosity, and lead them to pry into the unsearchable
plans of God— the very sin of which Satan had been guilty—and
reason as to the cause of His restrictions in regard to the tree of knowledge. {EW 146.2}
|
