按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of angels aspired to power which it was the prerogative of Christ alone to
wield。
All heaven had rejoiced to reflect the Creator's glory and to show forth His
praise。 And while God was thus honored； all had been peace and gladness。 But
a note of discord now marred the celestial harmonies。 The service and
exaltation of self； contrary to the Creator's plan； awakened forebodings of
evil in minds to whom God's glory was supreme。 The heavenly councils 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；
495
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 jealousy of Christ to
prevail； and he became the more determined。
Pride in his own glory nourished the desire for supremacy。 The high honors
conferred upon Lucifer were not appreciated as the gift of God and called
forth no gratitude to the Creator。 He gloried 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 the
acknowledged Sovereign of heaven； one in power and authority with the
Father。 In all the councils of God； Christ was a participant； while Lucifer
was not permitted thus to enter into the divine purposes。 〃Why；〃 questioned
this mighty angel； 〃should Christ have the supremacy？ Why is He thus honored
above Lucifer？〃
Leaving his place in the immediate presence of God； Lucifer went forth to
diffuse the spirit of discontent among the angels。 Working with mysterious
secrecy； and for a time concealing his real purpose under an appearance of
reverence for God； he endeavored to excite dissatisfaction concerning the
laws that governed heavenly beings； intimating that they imposed an
unnecessary restraint。 Since their natures were holy； he urged that the
angels should obey the dictates of their own will。 He sought to create
sympathy for himself by representing that God had dealt unjustly with him in
bestowing supreme honor upon Christ。 He claimed that in aspiring to greater
power and honor he was not aiming at self…exaltation； but was seeking to
secure liberty for all the inhabitants of heaven； that by this means they
might attain to a higher state of existence。
God in His great mercy bore long with Lucifer。 He was not immediately
degraded from his exalted station when he first indulged the spirit of
discontent； nor even when he
496
began to present his false claims before the loyal angels。 Long was he
retained in heaven。 Again and again he was offered pardon on condition of
repentance and submission。 Such efforts as only infinite love and wisdom
could devise were made to convince him of his error。 The spirit of
discontent had never before been known in heaven。 Lucifer himself did not at
first see whither he was drifting； he did not understand the real nature of
his feelings。 But as his dissatisfaction was proved to be without cause；
Lucifer was convinced that he was in the wrong； that the divine claims were
just； and that he ought to acknowledge them as such before all heaven。 Had
he done this； he might have saved himself and many angels。 He had not at
this time fully cast off his allegiance to God。 Though he had forsaken his
position as covering cherub； yet if he had been willing to return to God；
acknowledging the Creator's wisdom； and satisfied to fill the place
appointed him in God's great plan； he would have been reinstated in his
office。 But pride forbade him to submit。 He persistently defended his own
course； maintained that he had no need of repentance； and fully committed
himself； in the great controversy； against his Maker。
All the powers of his master mind were now bent to the work of deception； to
secure the sympathy of the angels that had been under his command。 Even the
fact that Christ had warned and counseled him was perverted to serve his
traitorous designs。 To those whose loving trust bound them most closely to
him； Satan had represented that he was wrongly judged； that his position was
not respected； and that his liberty was to be abridged。 From
misrepresentation of the words of Christ he passed to prevarication and
direct falsehood； accusing the Son of God of a design to humiliate him
before the inhabitants of heaven。 He sought also to make a false issue
between himself and the loyal angels。 All whom he could not subvert and
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
those
497
who remained true to God。 And to sustain his charge of God's injustice
toward him； he resorted to misrepresentation of the words and acts of the
Creator。 It was his policy to perplex the angels 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。 His high position； in such close connection with the divine
administration； gave greater force to his representations； and many were
induced to unite with him in rebellion against Heaven's authority。
God in His wisdom 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 Satan thought that if he could carry
the angels of heaven with him in rebellion； he could carry also the other
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； and by disguising himself in a cloak of falsehood he had gained an
advantage。 Even the loyal angels could not fully discern his character or
see to what his work was leading。
Satan had been so highly honored； and 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； sin would not appear the evil thing it was。
Heretofore it had had no place in the universe of God； and holy beings had
no conception of its nature and malignity。 They could not discern the
terrible consequences that would result from setting aside the divine law。
Satan had； at first； concealed his work under a specious profession of
loyalty to God。 He claimed to be seeking to promote the honor of God； the
stability of His government； and the good of all the inhabitants of
498
heaven。 While in