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stability of His government； and the good of all the inhabitants of
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heaven。 While instilling discontent into the minds of the angels under him；
he had artfully made it appear that he was seeking to remove
dissatisfaction。 When he urged that changes be made in the order and laws of
God's government； it was under the pretense that these were necessary in
order to preserve harmony in heaven。
In His dealing with sin； God could employ only righteousness and truth。
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 before
the angels； claiming that God was not just in laying laws and rules upon the
inhabitants of heaven； that in requiring submission and obedience from His
creatures； He was seeking merely the exaltation of Himself。 Therefore it
must be demonstrated before the inhabitants of heaven； as well as of all the
worlds； that God's government was 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 law and 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 it was necessary that he should
demonstrate the nature of his claims； and 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 the deceiver unmasked。
Even when it was decided that he could no longer remain in heaven； Infinite
Wisdom did not destroy Satan。 Since the service of love can alone 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
other worlds； being unprepared to comprehend the nature or consequences of
sin； could not then have seen the justice and
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mercy of God in the destruction of Satan。 Had he been immediately blotted
from existence； they would have served God from fear rather than from love。
The influence of the deceiver would not have been fully destroyed； nor would
the spirit of rebellion have been utterly eradicated。 Evil must be permitted
to come to maturity。 For the good of the entire universe through ceaseless
ages Satan must more fully develop his principles； that his charges against
the divine government might be seen in their true light by all created
beings； that the justice and mercy of God and the immutability of His law
might forever be placed beyond all question。
Satan's rebellion was to be a lesson to the universe through all coming
ages； a perpetual testimony to the nature and terrible results of sin。 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 and His law 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 perpetual safeguard to all holy
intelligences； to prevent them from being deceived as to the nature of
transgression； to save them from committing sin and suffering its
punishments。
To the very close of the controversy in heaven the great usurper continued
to justify himself。 When it was announced that with all his sympathizers he
must be expelled from the abodes of bliss； then the rebel leader boldly
avowed his contempt for the Creator's law。 He reiterated his claim that
angels needed no control； but should be left to follow their own will； which
would ever guide them right。 He denounced the divine statutes as a
restriction of their liberty and declared that it was his purpose to secure
the abolition of law； that； freed from this restraint； the hosts of heaven
might enter upon a more exalted； more glorious state of existence。
With one accord； Satan and his host threw the blame of their rebellion
wholly upon Christ； declaring that if they
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had not been reproved； they would never have rebelled。 Thus stubborn and
defiant in their disloyalty； seeking vainly to overthrow the government of
God； yet blasphemously claiming to be themselves the innocent victims of
oppressive power； the archrebel and all his sympathizers were at last
banished from heaven。
The same spirit that prompted rebellion in heaven still inspires rebellion
on earth。 Satan has continued with men the same policy which he pursued with
the angels。 His spirit now reigns in the children of disobedience。 Like him
they seek to break down the restraints of the law of God and promise men
liberty through transgression of its precepts。 Reproof of sin still arouses
the spirit of hatred and resistance。 When God's messages of warning are
brought home to the conscience； Satan leads men to justify themselves and to
seek the sympathy of others in their course of sin。 Instead of correcting
their errors； they excite indignation against the reprover； as if he were
the sole cause of difficulty。 From the days of righteous Abel to our own
time such is the spirit which has been displayed toward those who dare to
condemn sin。
By the same misrepresentation of the character of God as he had practiced in
heaven； causing Him to be regarded as severe and tyrannical； Satan induced
man to sin。 And having succeeded thus far； he declared that God's unjust
restrictions had led to man's fall； as they had led to his own rebellion。
But the Eternal One Himself proclaims His character： 〃The Lord God； merciful
and gracious； long…suffering； and abundant in goodness and truth； keeping
mercy for thousands； forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin； and that
will by no means clear the guilty。〃 Exodus 34：6； 7。
In the banishment of Satan from heaven； God declared His justice and
maintained the honor of His throne。 But when man had sinned through yielding
to the deceptions of this apostate spirit； God gave an evidence of His love
by yielding up His only…begotten Son to die for the fallen race。
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In the atonement the character of God is revealed。 The mighty argument of
the cross demonstrates to the whole universe that the course of sin which
Lucifer had chosen was in no wise chargeable upon the government of God。
In the contest between Christ and Satan； during the Saviour's earthly
ministry； the character of the great deceiver was unmasked。 Nothing could so
effectually have uprooted Satan from the affections of the heavenly angels
and the whole loyal universe as did his cruel warfare upon the world's
Redeemer。 The daring blasphemy of his demand that Christ should pay him
homage； his presumptuous boldness in bearing Him to the mountain summit and
the pinnacle of the temple； the malicious intent b