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heaven。 Lucifer； 〃son of the morning；〃 was first of the covering cherubs；
holy and undefiled。 He stood in the presence of the great Creator； and the
ceaseless beams of glory enshrouding the eternal God rested upon him。 〃Thus
saith the Lord God； Thou sealest up the sum； full of wisdom； and perfect in
beauty。 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God； every precious stone was
thy covering。 。 。 。 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth； and I have
set thee so： thou wast upon the holy mountain of God； thou hast walked up
and down in the midst of the stones of fire。 Thou wast perfect in thy ways
from the day that thou wast created； till iniquity was found in thee。〃
Ezekiel 28：12…15。
Little by little Lucifer came to indulge the desire for self…exaltation。 The
Scripture says； 〃Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty； thou hast
corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness。〃 Ezekiel 28：17。 〃Thou hast
said in thine heart； 。 。 。 I will exalt my throne above the stars of God。 。
。 。 I will be like the Most High。〃 Isaiah 14：13； 14。 Though all his glory
was from God； this mighty angel came to regard it as pertaining to himself。
Not content with his position； though honored above the heavenly host； he
ventured to covet homage due alone to the Creator。 Instead of seeking to
make God supreme in the affections and allegiance of all created beings； it
was his endeavor to secure their service and loyalty to himself。 And
coveting the glory with which the infinite Father had invested His Son； this
prince of angels aspired to power that was the prerogative of Christ alone。
Now the perfect harmony of heaven was broken。 Lucifer's disposition to serve
himself instead of his Creator aroused a feeling of apprehension when
observed by those who considered that the
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glory of God should be supreme。 In heavenly council the angels pleaded with
Lucifer。 The Son of God presented before him the greatness； the goodness；
and the justice of the Creator； and the sacred； unchanging nature of His
law。 God Himself had established the order of heaven； and in departing from
it； Lucifer would dishonor his Maker and bring ruin upon himself。 But the
warning； given in infinite love and mercy； only aroused a spirit of
resistance。 Lucifer allowed his jealousy of Christ to prevail； and became
the more determined。
To dispute the supremacy of the Son of God； thus impeaching the wisdom and
love of the Creator； had become the purpose of this prince of angels。 To
this object he was about to bend the energies of that master mind； which；
next to Christ's； was first among the hosts of God。 But He who would have
the will of all His creatures free； left none unguarded to the bewildering
sophistry by which rebellion would seek to justify itself。 Before the great
contest should open； all were to have a clear presentation of His will；
whose wisdom and goodness were the spring of all their joy。
The King of the universe summoned the heavenly hosts before Him； that in
their presence He might set forth the true position of His Son and show the
relation He sustained to all created beings。 The Son of God shared the
Father's throne； and the glory of the eternal； self…existent One encircled
both。 About the throne gathered the holy angels； a vast； unnumbered
throng〃ten thousand times ten thousand； and thousands of thousands〃
（Revelation 5：11。）； the most exalted angels； as ministers and subjects；
rejoicing in the light that fell upon them from the presence of the Deity。
Before the assembled inhabitants of heaven the King declared that none but
Christ； the Only Begotten of God； could fully enter into His purposes； and
to Him it was committed to execute the mighty counsels of His will。 The Son
of God had wrought the Father's will in the creation of all the hosts of
heaven； and to Him； as well as to God； their homage and allegiance were due。
Christ was still to exercise divine power； in the creation of the earth and
its inhabitants。 But in all this He would not seek power or exaltation for
Himself contrary to God's plan； but would exalt the Father's glory and
execute His purposes of beneficence and love。
The angels joyfully acknowledged the supremacy of Christ； and prostrating
themselves before Him； poured out their love and adoration。 Lucifer bowed
with them； but in his heart there was
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a strange； fierce conflict。 Truth； justice； and loyalty were struggling
against envy and jealousy。 The influence of the holy angels seemed for a
time to carry him with them。 As songs of praise ascended in melodious
strains； swelled by thousands of glad voices； the spirit of evil seemed
vanquished； unutterable love thrilled his entire being； his soul went out；
in harmony with the sinless worshippers； in love to the Father and the Son。
But again he was filled with pride in his own glory。 His desire for
supremacy returned； and envy of Christ was once more indulged。 The high
honors conferred upon Lucifer were not appreciated as God's special gift；
and therefore； called forth no gratitude to his Creator。 He glorified in his
brightness and exaltation and aspired to be equal with God。 He was beloved
and reverenced by the heavenly host； angels delighted to execute his
commands； and he was clothed with wisdom and glory above them all。 Yet the
Son of God was exalted above him； as one in power and authority with the
Father。 He shared the Father's counsels； while Lucifer did not thus enter
into the purposes of God。 〃Why；〃 questioned this mighty angel； 〃should
Christ have the supremacy？ Why is He honored above Lucifer？〃
Leaving his place in the immediate presence of the Father； Lucifer went
forth to diffuse the spirit of discontent among the angels。 He worked with
mysterious secrecy； and for a time concealed his real purpose under an
appearance of reverence for God。 He began to insinuate doubts concerning the
laws that governed heavenly beings； intimating that though laws might be
necessary for the inhabitants of the worlds； angels； being more exalted；
needed no such restraint； for their own wisdom was a sufficient guide。 They
were not beings that could bring dishonor to God； all their thoughts were
holy； it was no more possible for them than for God Himself to err。 The
exaltation of the Son of God as equal with the Father was represented as an
injustice to Lucifer； who； it was claimed； was also entitled to reverence
and honor。 If this prince of angels could but attain to his true； exalted
position； great good would accrue to the entire host of heaven； for it was
his object to secure freedom for all。 But now even the liberty which they
had hitherto enjoyed was at an end； for an absolute Ruler had been appointed
them； and to His authority all must pay homage。 Such were the subtle
deceptions that through the wiles of Lucifer were fast obtaining in the
heavenly courts。
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There had been no change in the position or authority of Christ。 Lucifer's
envy and misrepresentation and his claims to equality with Christ had made
necessary a statement of the true position of the Son of God； but this had
been the same from the beginning。 Ma