撒但尚未叛变之前在天上乃是一位崇高的天使，在尊荣上仅次于上帝的爱子。他的容貌象其他天使一样，是温和而带有快乐表情的。他的额头又高又宽，表明他有强大的智力。他的体格是健全的；他的风度高贵而威严。他脸上焕发出一种独特的光辉，向四处照耀，比其他天使的光辉更加明亮，更加美丽；然而上帝的爱子耶稣却在天使全军之上居首。在众天使尚未被造之前，祂与父原为一。撒但妒忌基督，便逐渐僭取了惟独授予基督的指挥权。{1SP 17.1}
伟大的创造主召集了天庭的全军，以便在众天使面前将特别的尊荣赐予祂的儿子。圣子与圣父同坐宝座，天上的全体圣天使聚集在祂们的周围，于是圣父声明祂曾亲自命定祂的爱子基督与祂同等。因此，祂的儿子在哪里，也就等于祂在哪里。圣子的话应当象圣父的话一样，为众生所欣然遵奉。祂已经将指挥天庭全军的权柄授予祂的儿子。祂的儿子特别要在创造大地和地上一切生灵的工作上与祂自己联合。祂的儿子将要执行祂的旨意与计划，但决不凭自己行事。圣父的旨意将要成全在圣子身上。{1SP 17.2}
撒但妒忌猜疑耶稣基督。然而当众天使都向耶稣下拜，承认祂的至高与无上权威，及合法的统治时，撒但也和他们一同下拜，但他的心中充满了嫉妒与仇恨。上帝曾经就祂的计划与基督进行了特别的商议；撒但对这些计划则不得而知。他既不明了，也无权获知上帝的计划。然而基督却是公认的天国主宰。祂的能力和权柄与上帝相同。撒但以为他自己乃是在天国众天使中最蒙宠爱的。他曾被擢升得到高位，但这并没有使他对造他的主生出感激和赞美之情。他渴望着属于上帝的高位。他竟因自己的高位自豪。他知道他是众天使所尊敬的；他有特别的任务要执行；他曾接近伟大的创造主；那环绕永生上帝的无限光辉也曾特别地照耀在他的身上。撒但想到众天使曾如何乐意殷勤地奉行他的命令。他的衣袍岂不是光明而美丽的么？为什么基督要如此受尊荣过于他自己呢？{1SP 18.1}
撒但既不知足而又充满妒忌耶稣基督的心，便离开不侍立在圣父的面前。他隐瞒着自己的真意，招集了天使全军。他提出了他的问题，就是关于他自己的事。他以一个受委屈者的态度说明上帝如何偏爱了耶稣而疏忽了他。他告诉众天使，他们过去所享有甘美的自由就此终止了。因为上帝岂不是已经委派了一个统治者来管理他们，要他们今后必须屈从于祂么？他向他们声明：他招集他们的目的，乃是要向他们保证今后不再容忍这种侵犯他和众天使之权利的行为；他绝不再向基督屈膝；他要自己争取那本应归于他的尊荣，而且他也要作凡愿跟从他并听他话之天使的指挥。天使中间就起了斗争。撒但和他的从者想要力争改革上帝的政体。他们不知足，不快乐，因为他们不能探明祂无穷的智慧，也不明了祂高举祂儿子耶稣并赐给祂无限的能力与指挥权的旨意。他们背叛了圣子的权威。{1SP 18.2}
忠诚的天使曾努力劝解这个大能叛逆的天使顺服其创造主的旨意。他们为上帝尊荣祂儿子的行为辨护，并以有力的论证设法要说服撒但。他现在所有的尊荣较比他在圣父宣布将尊荣授予祂儿子之前毫未减少。他们清楚地指明基督是上帝的儿子，在天使尚未被造时就早已与祂同在，并永远站在上帝的右边。祂那和平慈爱的权威在此以前从未被怀疑过。何况祂过去所发的命令都是天庭全军所乐于执行的。他们强调基督当着众天使从天父所领受的特别尊荣，并不减损撒但所素来享有的尊荣。众天使痛哭了。他们热切地设法要感化撒但放弃他那邪恶的心意，并服从他们的创造主；因为在此以前一直都是平安与和谐的，究竟是什么引起这个不协调的叛逆之音呢？ {1SP 19.1}
撒但不肯听劝。于是他转离了那些忠诚的天使，痛斥他们为奴才。这些效忠上帝的天使既看到撒但在发动叛逆的事上成功，就大为震惊。他应许为他们建立一个比过去更好的新政权，使大家都享有自由。有很多天使表示决心接受他为他们的领袖和元帅，当他看到自己的计谋有了相当成效之时，他妄想，他终必博得全体天使的支持，他终必与上帝同等，并且终必发号施令，指挥天庭全军了。忠实的天使再度警告撒但，向他说明他坚持这种立场的必然结果，并且说明那能创造众天使的主也能用祂的大能推翻他们一切的权柄，并用明显的方式刑罚他们的大胆无礼与可怕的叛逆。想想看，一个天使竟胆敢抗拒那与上帝一般神圣的律法！他们警告叛逆的天使掩耳不听从撒但狡猾的理论，并劝他和一切受他影响的天使去到上帝面前承认他们的过错，就是竟敢存有怀疑上帝权威的思想。{1SP 20.1}
在同情撒但的天使中，有许多愿意听从忠诚天使的劝告，并悔改自己不满之罪，再蒙圣父和祂爱子的信任。于是那个大叛徒宣称他熟悉上帝的律法，而且如果他卑躬屈从的话，他的尊荣就必被剥夺，再也不会有崇高的任务交给他了。他告诉他们说：他自己和他们已经走到无法挽回的地步了，所以他宁愿冒不计任何后果之险，而决不低头屈服敬拜上帝的儿子了。上帝是不肯赦免他们的。所以他们现在必须维护他们的自由，并用武力争夺上帝所不乐意给予他们的地位和权柄。{1SP 20.2}
忠实的天使急忙赶到上帝儿子那里，向祂报告在众天使中所发生的事。他们发现圣父正在与他的爱子进行会商，要决定如何为顾全忠实天使的最高利益，永远遏制撒但所僭取的权柄。伟大的上帝原可立即将这大骗子从天上摔下去，但这不是祂的旨意。祂要让叛逆的天使有平等的机会，与祂的儿子和祂忠实的天使较量一下，在这场战争中，每一个天使要自行决定站在哪一边，并公开表明其立场。为确保安全起见，就不能容忍凡与撒但共谋叛逆的天使继续留在天庭。他们已经获悉真正背叛上帝永不改变之律法的教训，而这是无可挽救的。如果上帝使用祂的权能去惩罚这叛逆的魁首，那些愤懑不平的天使就不能显明出他们的情形来；所以上帝采取了另一种方针，因为祂要向天庭的全军清楚地彰显祂的秉公行义。{1SP 21.1}
背叛上帝的政权乃是最严重的罪行，全天庭似乎都震动了，众天使排列成队，各队都由带队的天使率领。撒但正在与上帝的律法作战，因为他存高抬自己的野心，而不愿服从上帝的儿子，就是天上大元帅的权威。{1SP 22.1}
天庭全军被召集到上帝面前，以便对每一案情作出决定，撒但厚颜无耻地声明他不满基督的擢升超越他。他骄傲地站了起来，力陈他应与上帝同等，并应与天父一同参加会议，明了祂的一切旨意。上帝告诉撒但，祂隐秘的旨意只启示给祂的儿子，而且祂要天庭全家，连撒但也在内，都毫无保留毫无疑问地顺服祂，然而他（撒但）却已经显明自己不配在天上保有一席地位了。于是撒但耀武扬威地指着他那为数近乎全体天使一半的同情者，喊叫说：“这些都是支持我的！难道祢也要驱逐这些天使而使天庭有如此的空虚么？”他随即声明他准备抗拒基督的权威并借武力维护他在天庭的地位，以势力对抗势力。{1SP 22.2}
善良的天使听了撒但的话和他那狂妄的夸口，就流泪痛哭。上帝宣布一切叛徒都不得再留在天庭。他们原来所有崇高和幸福的地位，乃是以顺服上帝所用以管理高级生灵之律法为条件的。并没有为凡胆敢违犯祂律法者预为准备得救的方法。撒但在叛逆的路上越发胆大妄为了，竟公然表示蔑视创造主的律法。这律法是撒但所忍受不了的。他主张天使不需要任何律法，而应任由他们随从自己的心意，心意必能永远指引他们行走正路；他声称律法乃是限制他们自由的，而他所采行动的目的就是要废除律法。他认为众天使的景况需要改进。但上帝的心意不是如此，因为祂已经制定律法，并将之高举与祂同等。全体天使的幸福乃在于完全顺服律法。每一个天使都有指定给他的特殊工作，而且直到撒但叛变为止，天上始终是有完善秩序与和谐行动的。于是天上发生了争战，天上的大君，上帝的儿子，与祂忠实的天使，同那大叛徒以及与他联合的天使交战了，结果上帝的儿子和忠诚的天使获胜。撒但和他的党羽被逐出天庭。天庭全体都承认并敬拜公义的上帝。天上没有留下一点叛逆的余毒，一切都象以前一样安宁和谐了。{1SP 22.3}
天上的使者为那些曾经在幸福与极乐中作他们同伴者所遭受的厄运而悲伤。天庭深深感受到这一次的损失。圣父与祂的儿子商议，要立即执行祂们创造人住在地上的计划。祂要先给人类一个试验时期，以便在他得以永保安稳之前测验他的忠诚。如果他受得起上帝所认为适于加在他身上的考验，他最终便要与天使同等。他将要得蒙上帝的眷爱，并要与天使互相交好来往。但祂并不认为将他们置于背逆权势之外是合适的。{1SP 23.1}
Satan in Heaven, before his rebellion, was a high and exalted angel, next in honor to God's dear Son. His countenance, like those of the other angels, was mild and expressive of happiness. His forehead was high and broad, showing a powerful intellect. His form was perfect; his bearing noble and majestic. A special light beamed in his countenance, and shone around him brighter and more beautiful than around the other angels; yet Jesus, God's dear Son, had the pre-eminence over all the angelic host. He was one with the Father before the angels were created. Satan was envious of Christ, and gradually assumed command which devolved on Christ alone. {1SP 17.1}[1]
The great Creator assembled the heavenly host, that he might in the presence of all the angels confer special honor upon his Son. The Son was seated on the throne with the Father, and the heavenly throng of holy angels was gathered around them. The Father then made known that it was ordained by himself that Christ, his Son, should be equal with himself; so that wherever was the presence of his Son, it was as his own presence. The word of the Son was to be obeyed as readily as the word of the Father. His Son he had invested with authority to command the heavenly host. Especially was his Son to work in union with himself in the anticipated creation of the earth and every living thing that should exist upon the earth. His Son would carry out his will and his purposes, but would do nothing of himself alone. The Father's will would be fulfilled in him. {1SP 17.2}[2]
Satan was envious and jealous of Jesus Christ. Yet when all the angels bowed to Jesus to acknowledge his supremacy and high authority and rightful rule, Satan bowed with them; but his heart was filled with envy and hatred. Christ had been taken into the special counsel of God in regard to his plans, while Satan was unacquainted with them. He did not understand, neither was he permitted to know, the purposes of God. But Christ was acknowledged sovereign of Heaven, his power and authority to be the same as that of God himself. Satan thought that he was himself a favorite in Heaven among the angels. He had been highly exalted; but this did not call forth from him gratitude and praise to his Creator. He aspired to the height of God himself. He gloried in his loftiness. He knew that he was honored by the angels. He had a special mission to execute. He had been near the great Creator, and the ceaseless beams of glorious light enshrouding the eternal God, had shone especially upon him. Satan thought how angels had obeyed his command with pleasurable alacrity. Were not his garments light and beautiful? Why should Christ thus be honored before himself? {1SP 18.1}[3]
He left the immediate presence of the Father, dissatisfied, and filled with envy against Jesus Christ. Concealing his real purposes, he assembled the angelic host. He introduced his subject, which was himself. As one aggrieved, he related the preference God had given Jesus to the neglect of himself. He told them that henceforth all the sweet liberty the angels had enjoyed was at an end. For had not a ruler been appointed over them, to whom they from henceforth must yield servile honor? He stated to them that he had called them together to assure them that he no longer would submit to this invasion of his rights and theirs; that never would he again bow down to Christ; that he would take the honor upon himself which should have been conferred upon him, and would be the commander of all who would submit to follow him and obey his voice. There was contention among the angels. Satan and his sympathizers were striving to reform the government of God. They were discontented and unhappy because they could not look into his unsearchable wisdom and ascertain his purposes in exalting his Son Jesus, and endowing him with such unlimited power and command. They rebelled against the authority of the Son. {1SP 18.2}[4]
Angels that were loyal and true sought to reconcile this mighty, rebellious angel to the will of his Creator. They justified the act of God in conferring honor upon Jesus Christ, and with forcible reasoning sought to convince Satan that no less honor was his now than before the Father had proclaimed the honor which he had conferred upon his Son. They clearly set forth that Jesus was the Son of God, existing with him before the angels were created; and that he had ever stood at the right hand of God, and his mild, loving authority had not heretofore been questioned; and that he had given no commands but what it was joy for the heavenly host to execute. They urged that Christ's receiving special honor from the Father, in the presence of the angels, did not detract from the honor that he had heretofore received. The angels wept. They anxiously sought to move Satan to renounce his wicked design and yield submission to their Creator; for all had heretofore been peace and harmony, and what could occasion this dissenting, rebellious voice? {1SP 19.1}[5]
Satan refused to listen. And then he turned from the loyal and true angels, denouncing them as slaves. These angels, true to God, stood in amazement as they saw that Satan was successful in his effort to excite rebellion. He promised them a new and better government than they then had, in which all would be freedom. Great numbers signified their purpose to accept Satan as their leader and chief commander. As he saw his advances were met with success, he flattered himself that he should yet have all the angels on his side, and that he would be equal with God himself, and his voice of authority would be heard in commanding the entire host of Heaven. Again the loyal angels warned Satan, and assured him what must be the consequence if he persisted; that He who could create the angels, could by his power overturn all their authority, and in some signal manner punish their audacity and terrible rebellion. To think that an angel should resist the law of God which was as sacred as himself! They warned the rebellious to close their ears to Satan's deceptive reasonings, and advised Satan, and all who had been affected by him, to go to God and confess their wrong for even admitting a thought of questioning his authority. {1SP 20.1}[6]
Many of Satan's sympathizers were inclined to heed the counsel of the loyal angels, and repent of their dissatisfaction, and be again received to the confidence of the Father and his dear Son. The mighty revolter then declared that he was acquainted with God's law, and if he should submit to servile obedience, his honor would be taken from him. No more would he be intrusted with his exalted mission. He told them that himself and they also had now gone too far to go back, and he would brave the consequences; for to bow in servile worship to the Son of God he never would; that God would not forgive, and now they must assert their liberty and gain by force the position and authority which was not willingly accorded to them. {1SP 20.2}[7]
The loyal angels hasten speedily to the Son of God, and acquaint him with what is taking place among the angels. They find the Father in conference with his beloved Son, to determine the means by which, for the best good of the loyal angels, the assumed authority of Satan could be forever put down. The great God could at once have hurled this arch deceiver from Heaven; but this was not his purpose. He would give the rebellious an equal chance to measure strength and might with his own Son and his loyal angels. In this battle every angel would choose his own side, and be manifested to all. It would not have been safe to suffer any who united with Satan in his rebellion to continue to occupy Heaven. They had learned the lesson of genuine rebellion against the unchangeable law of God; and this is incurable. If God had exercised his power to punish this chief rebel, disaffected angels would not have been manifested; hence God took another course; for he would manifest distinctly to all the heavenly host his justice and his judgment. {1SP 21.1}[8]
It was the highest crime to rebel against the government of God. All Heaven seemed in commotion. The angels were marshaled in companies, each division with a higher commanding angel at their head. Satan was warring against the law of God, because ambitious to exalt himself, and unwilling to submit to the authority of Gods' Son, Heaven's great commander. {1SP 22.1}[9]
All the heavenly host were summoned to appear before the Father, to have each case determined. Satan unblushingly made known his dissatisfaction that Christ should be preferred before him. He stood up proudly and urged that he should be equal with God, and should be taken into conference with the Father and understand his purposes. God informed Satan that to his Son alone he would reveal his secret purposes, and he required all the family in Heaven, even Satan, to yield him implicit, unquestioned obedience; but that he (Satan) had proved himself unworthy a place in Heaven. Then Satan exultingly pointed to his sympathizers, comprising nearly one half of all the angels, and exclaimed, These are with me! Will you expel these also, and make such a void in Heaven? He then declared that he was prepared to resist the authority of Christ, and to defend his place in Heaven by force of might, strength against strength. {1SP 22.2}[10]
Good angels wept to hear the words of Satan, and his exulting boasts. God declared that the rebellious should remain in Heaven no longer. Their high and happy state had been held upon condition of obedience to the law which God had given to govern the high order of intelligences. But no provision had been made to save those who should venture to transgress his law. Satan grew bold in his rebellion, and expressed his contempt of the Creator's law. This Satan could not bear. He claimed that angels needed no law; but should be left free to follow their own will, which would ever guide them right; that law was a restriction of their liberty, and that to abolish law was one great object of his standing as he did. The condition of the angels he thought needed improvement. Not so the mind of God, who had made laws and exalted them equal to himself. The happiness of the angelic host consisted in their perfect obedience to law. Each had his special work assigned him; and until Satan rebelled, there had been perfect order and harmonious action in Heaven. Then there was war in Heaven. The Son of God, the Prince of Heaven, and his loyal angels, engaged in conflict with the arch rebel and those who united with him. The Son of God and true, loyal angels prevailed; and Satan and his sympathizers were expelled from Heaven. All the heavenly host acknowledged and adored the God of justice. Not a taint of rebellion was left in Heaven. All was again peaceful and harmonious as before. {1SP 22.3}[11]
Angels in Heaven mourned the fate of those who had been their companions in happiness and bliss. Their loss was felt in Heaven. The Father consulted Jesus in regard to at once carrying out their purpose to make man to inhabit the earth. He would place man upon probation to test his loyalty, before he could be rendered eternally secure. If he endured the test wherewith God saw fit to prove him, he should eventually be equal with the angels. He was to have the favor of God, and he was to converse with angels, and they with him. He did not see fit to place them beyond the power of disobedience. {1SP 23.1}[12]
搜索
