“上帝就是爱。”他的本性和他的律法就是爱。过去如此，现在如此，将来永远也必如此。“那至高至上，永远长存”的主。“他的作为与古时一样，”并无变更。“在他并没有改变，也没有转动的影儿。”[1]{PP 33.1}
创造之能的每一表现，都显示无穷之爱。上帝的主权使一切受造之物蒙受丰富的恩惠。诗人说：“你的手有力，你的右手也高举。公义和公平，是你宝座的根基；慈爱和诚实，行在你前面。知道向你欢呼的，那民是有福的。耶和华啊，他们在你脸上的光里行走。他们因你的名终日欢乐，因你的公义得以高举。你是他们力量的荣耀，……我们的盾牌属耶和华，我们的王属以色列的圣者。”（诗89:13-18）[2]{PP 33.2}
善恶之间大争战的历史，从它在天上开始起，直到叛逆势力的最后倾覆和罪恶的完全消灭止，也是上帝不变之爱的表现。[3]{PP 33.3}
宇宙的主宰在他仁爱的工作上，不是独自进行的。他有一位助手，一位能明了他旨意，并与他同享为众生造福之乐的同工。“太初有道，道与上帝同在，道就是上帝。上帝同在。”（约1:1-2）这道就是上帝的独生子基督，他与永生之父“原为一”——性质相同、品格相同、意志相同——唯有他能参与上帝的一切谋划和旨意。“他名称为奇妙、策士、全能的神、永在的父、和平的君。”“他的根源从亘古、从太初就有。”（赛9:6；弥5:2）上帝的儿子曾论到自己说：“在耶和华造化的起头，在太初创造万物之先，就有了我。从亘古、从太初，……我已被立。……那时，我在他那里为工师，日日为他所喜爱，常常在他面前踊跃。”（箴8:22-30）[4]{PP 34.1}
天父借着他的儿子创造了天上一切的生灵。“万有都是靠他造的，无论是天上的、地上的，……有位的、主治的、执政的、掌权的，一概都是借着他造的，又是为他造的。”（西1:16）众天使都是上帝的仆役，他们都带着那常从他圣颜发出来的光辉，迅速地飞去，执行他的旨意。但是，上帝所膏的圣子乃是“上帝本体的真像，”又是“上帝荣耀所发的光辉，”“常用他权能的命令托住万有，”并在万有之上执掌至尊的王权。“从太初安置在高处”的荣耀宝座乃是他的圣所，“他的国权是正直的。”（来1:3,8；17:12）“有尊荣和威严在他面前；有能力与华美在他圣所。”“慈爱和诚实，”行在他前面。（诗96:6；89:14）[5]{PP 34.2}
爱的律法既是上帝政权的基础，一切有理性之生灵的幸福，就在乎他们完全符合这律法公义的原则。上帝要一切受造之物以爱心侍奉他，因感戴他的品德而侍奉他，他不喜悦出于勉强的顺从；所以他赋予他们自由的意志，使他们能出于甘愿地侍奉他。[6]{PP 34.3}
只要一切受造之物能以爱心效忠上帝，则全宇宙就都完全和谐了。天上的众军都乐意遵行创造主的旨意。他们以反照他的荣耀，并以传扬赞美他的话为喜乐。当他们以爱上帝为至上时，则他们彼此之间的爱是坦白无私的。没有一点不协之音破坏天庭的和谐。可惜这种幸福的环境起了变化。有一位竟滥用了上帝所赐给受造之物的自由权。罪恶起源于一个位分仅次于基督，原是被上帝所最重看，也是在众天使之中最有权柄最有荣耀的一位。“早晨之子，”路锡甫，（译者按：赛14:12,经文中“明亮之星，”拉丁文和英文译本均作“Lucifer”）他原是遮掩约柜的两位基路伯之首，是圣洁没有玷污的。他侍立在伟大的创造主面前；那环绕永生上帝的荣光常照在他身上。“主耶和华如此说：你无所不备，智慧充足，全然美丽。你曾在伊甸上帝的园中，佩戴各样宝石，……你是那受膏遮掩约柜的基路伯，我将你安置在上帝的圣山上，你在发光如火的宝石中间往来。你从受造之日所行的都完全，后来在你中间又察出不义。”（结28:12-15）[7]{PP 35.1}
路锡甫渐渐地放纵他那自高自大的欲望。经上说：“你因美丽心中高傲，又因荣光败坏智慧。”“你心里曾说，……我要高举我的宝座在上帝众星以上；……我要与至上者同等。”（结28:17；赛14:13,14）虽然他所有的荣耀都是从上帝而来，这个大能的天使却认为是出于自己。他的地位虽然高过一切的天使，但他却不知足，并擅敢贪图创造主所独有的尊荣。他所追求的，不是使一切受造之物，以敬爱并效忠上帝为至上，乃是使他们侍奉并服从他自己。这个高贵的天使贪图无穷之父所赋予他儿子的荣耀，并希冀基督所有的特权。[8]{PP 35.2}
于是天庭的完全和睦被破坏了。那些主张应当以上帝的荣耀为至上的天使，看到路锡甫所怀以侍奉自己来代替侍奉创造主的心，不禁起了惶恐的感觉。众天使在天上的议会中恳切地规劝路锡甫。上帝的儿子向他说明创造主的伟大、良善和公正、以及他律法的神圣和永不改变的本质。天上的秩序原是上帝亲自建立的；所以路锡甫偏离这秩序，就是侮辱了他的创造主，并自取败亡。但是这出于无限怜爱的警告，反而引起了抗拒的心理。路锡甫放任自己妒忌基督的心，故越来越顽梗了。[9]{PP 35.3}
这个高贵的天使居心抗拒上帝儿子的至尊权威，借以否定创造主的智慧和慈爱。这个才智仅次于基督而超于上帝众军之上的天使，竟倾其全力以求达到这个目的。但那甘愿将自由意志赐给一切受造之物的上帝，不忍见任何天使听从叛逆势力的诡辩而不加以提防。在大争战展开之前，上帝要向全天庭清楚地说明他的旨意，因为他的智慧和良善乃是他们一切喜乐的泉源。[10]{PP 36.1}
宇宙的大君招集了天上的全军到他面前，为要当着他们宣布他儿子的真正地位，并说明他和一切受造之物的关系。上帝的儿子是与父同坐宝座的，所以自有永有、亘古常在者的荣耀乃是父子所共有的。千千万万的圣天使集合在宝座四围，聚成广大无数的会众，其中地位最高的天使，都以仆役的身份在上帝圣颜的光照之下欢喜快乐。于是上帝当着天上的会众声明，唯有他的独生子基督能完全参与他的谋划，唯有基督有权执行他大能的旨意。上帝的儿子曾在创造天上众军的事上成全了父的旨意，所以他们应当敬拜服从基督，像敬拜服从上帝一样。而且基督还要在创造地球和其上居民的事上施展他的权能。但在这一切事上，他并不会违反上帝的计划去追求自己的权柄或尊荣，却要高举上帝的荣耀，并执行他慈爱的旨意。[11]{PP 36.2}
众天使欣然承认基督的至尊权威，并俯伏在他面前，向他倾露他们的挚爱和崇敬。路锡甫与他们一同跪拜，但他心里却在进行着一种奇特而剧烈的争战。真理、正义和忠信，正在与嫉妒的心理发生冲突。圣天使的影响似乎一时克制了他。当赞美的声音出自千万天使的口，以嘹亮的音调洋溢天庭时，他那邪恶的心意似乎被征服了，一种莫可言宣的爱感动了他整个的身心。他便和一班无罪的敬拜者，一同向父与子倾露爱心，但不久他又因自己的荣耀而满心骄傲。贪图高位的欲望死灰复燃，妒忌基督的心又发作起来了。路锡甫不感戴上帝所赐给他的尊荣，他不以之为上帝特别的恩赐，所以也不感激创造他的主。他却因自己的荣光和高位而骄傲，并希冀与上帝同等。路锡甫固然是天上众军所爱戴所尊敬的，众天使乐意执行他的命令，而且他赋有超过他们的智慧和荣耀，然而上帝的儿子既与父有相同的能力和权柄，自比他更高了。基督得以参与天父的谋略，而路锡甫却不能这样与上帝的旨意有份，这个大能的天使怀疑说：“基督凭什么居首位？他为什么比路锡甫享有更大的尊荣？”[12]{PP 36.3}
路锡甫离开耶和华的面，出去到众天使中间散布不满的情绪。他用最秘密的方法进行工作，并在敬畏上帝的伪装之下，掩饰了他的本意。他使他们怀疑那些管束天上生灵的律法，他暗示：诸世界的居民固然需要律法，但天使既比他们高超，就不需要这样的约束，因为他们自己的智慧足以作他们的向导。他认为他们是不会羞辱上帝的，因为他们一切的意念都是圣洁的，所以他们不会犯错误，正如上帝不会犯错误一样。路锡甫认为自己也是配受崇拜和尊敬的，所以圣父高举他的儿子与他自己同等，就使路锡甫受了委屈。如果他这一个高贵的天使可以获得他所应得的崇高地位，那么，天上的全军就必大得利益，因为他的目的乃是要为大众谋求自由。可是现在他们本来所享有的自由已经丧失了，因为上帝已经指派一个独裁的统治者，而且大家都必须尊重他的权威。这便是那由于路锡甫奸猾而迅速蔓延于全天庭的欺骗。[13]{PP 37.1}
其实基督的地位和权威根本没有改变。路锡甫的妒忌和谎言，以及他自称与基督同等的话，使上帝不得不对他儿子的真地位，作一次声明。但这地位从亘古以来一直是如此的，可是许多天使已被路锡甫的欺骗所蒙蔽了。[14]{PP 38.1}
路锡甫利用他指挥之下的天使对他所有敬爱忠实的信任，把自己的猜疑和不满之念，用最狡猾的手段灌输在他们心里，以至他们看不出他的动机。路锡甫曾经歪曲上帝的旨意——用种种的方法加以曲解和篡改，来引起反对和不满。他巧妙地勾引了他的听众发表他们的意见，于是他就在有利的时机，把这些话语重述出来，来证明众天使并不是完全拥护上帝的政权。他一方面声称自己是绝对效忠上帝，一方面却主张，为巩固上帝的政权起见，天上的秩序和律法必须修改。这样，他实际上是挑拨他属下的天使反对上帝的律法，并将自己的不满之念灌输到他们心中，而表面上他却装作要消除不满的情绪，并使那些悖逆的天使遵守天上的秩序。他一方面秘密地煽动是非和叛乱，而同时却用非常奸诈的手段，使众天使以为他唯一的目的是在倡导效忠上帝，并维护天庭的融洽与和睦。[15]{PP 38.2}
这种不满的情绪既经煽动，就发生了毒害的作用。当时虽然还没有公开的叛乱，而在众天使中间却不知不觉地显出了分裂的迹象。有一些天使赞同了路锡甫对上帝政权的讽刺。虽然他们此前是与上帝所定的秩序完全和谐的，如今却因为不能领悟上帝奥妙莫测的谋划而感觉不平、不乐，并对上帝抬高基督的旨意表示不服。这些天使随时准备附和路锡甫提出他与上帝的儿子有同等威权的要求。但是那些忠诚的天使却认定上帝的旨意是智慧而公正的，所以他们试图说服路锡甫顺从上帝的旨意。基督是上帝的儿子，在众天使尚未受造之前，他与上帝原为一。他一向是站在父的右边，他使一切在他慈爱管理之下的生灵得到丰厚的福惠，所以他至尊的主权向来没有被怀疑过。天庭的和谐从来没有受过搅扰，为什么现在要生变乱呢？忠顺的天使从这分裂的形势中看出将来可怕的结果，所以就恳切地劝导那些谋叛的天使放弃他们的企图，并以顺从上帝政权的行动，来证明他们是效忠上帝的。[16]{PP 38.3}
上帝本着他的大爱，照着他神圣的德性，长久容忍了路锡甫。不满和叛逆的精神是天庭所从来没有过的。它是一种新的成分，是奇特、神秘、不可思议的。路锡甫起初也没有认识到自己情绪的真相，他一时还不敢表露自己心中的思潮和幻想，但也没有放弃这种思想。他没有看出自己要堕落到什么地步。但上帝无穷的慈爱和智慧所能尽到的努力，他都用来帮助路锡甫，使他看出自己的错误。显明他的叛乱是没有理由的，而且上帝使他看出他若坚持叛乱，将有什么结果。路锡甫觉悟自己是错了。他看出“耶和华在他一切所行的，无不公义，在他一切所作的，都有慈爱。”（诗145:17）他也看出上帝的典章是公正的，所以他应当在全天庭面前承认。如果他这样作了的话，他就可以救自己和许多的天使。那时他还没有完全放弃效忠上帝的心。他虽然已经不再作遮掩约柜的基路伯，然而如果他愿意归向上帝，承认创造主的智慧，并乐意担任上帝大计划中所派给他的职位，他就可以恢复原来的职分。作最后决定的时候已经到了，他必须完全顺服上帝的统治，或者声明自己正式叛变。他几乎决定归向上帝，但骄傲的心阻止了他。要他这具有如此尊荣的一位来承认自己犯了错误，承认自己的幻想是虚伪的，并顺服他所曾设法证明为不公的权威者，这在他诚然是牺牲太大了。[17]{PP 39.1}
慈悲的创造主因怜惜路锡甫和随从他的天使，一直在设法挽救他们脱离行将坠入的灭亡深渊。可惜他们误解了他的怜爱。路锡甫以上帝的长久忍耐来证明自己的优势，并证明宇宙之君终必答应他的条件。他声称，只要众天使和他一同坚持下去，他们终必得到一切所希望的。他固执地为自己的行动辩护，并完全投入反叛创造主的大争战之中。路锡甫，即“明亮之星，”分享上帝荣耀，并侍立在他宝座前的一位天使，就是这样因犯罪而成了“撒但，”成了上帝和一切圣者的仇敌，以致造成上天交托他护卫并指导的那些天使的灭亡。[18]{PP 39.2}
撒但轻蔑地拒绝了忠诚天使的理论和劝诫，他痛斥他们为受了迷惑的奴才。他声称，上帝给予基督特殊的地位，乃是一种损害他和天庭会众的不公正的措施。他宣布，他再不能容忍这侵犯他和全体天使权利的举动，他永不再承认基督的至尊权威。他已决心要争取他所应得的尊荣，并指挥一切愿意跟从他的天使；他向那些参加他行列的天使，应许一个更好的新政权，使他们都可以享受自由。许许多多的天使表示愿意接纳他为他们的领袖。他的主张既得到这么多天使的赞同，就非常得意，因之他希望能争取全体天使，最后与上帝同等，并为天庭会众所服从。[19]{PP 40.1}
忠诚的天使不住地劝他和那些同情他的天使务要归依上帝，并向他们说明，如果他不肯这样行，就必有什么结果。那位造他们的主很可以颠覆他们的势力，并惩罚他们擅敢谋叛的罪。任何天使休想反抗那与上帝同样神圣的律法。他们忠告一切天使，不可听路锡甫诡诈的论调，并恳劝他和跟从他的天使务要及早寻求耶和华的面，承认自己对上帝的智慧和权威发生怀疑是错误的。[20]{PP 40.2}
许多天使有意听从这个劝告，悔改他们所犯叛乱的罪，并寻求重得圣父与圣子的悦纳。但是路锡甫已经准备好另一个骗局。这个有能力的叛逆者如今声称：那些与他联合的天使，已经走到无法挽回的地步了；他又说他熟悉上帝的律法，并深知上帝必不肯赦免他们。他声称凡降服上天威权的，必要被褫夺尊荣，革除职位。至于他自己，他已决定再不承认基督的至高统治权。他说：他和随从他的天使只有一条路可走，那就是维护他们的自由，并用武力争取上帝所不乐意给他们的权利。[21]{PP 40.3}
就撒但来说，他确已走到无法挽回的地步了。但那些被他诈术所蒙蔽的天使，则并非如此。忠诚天使所发的劝导和忠告，为他们打开了一扇希望的门，如果他们肯听受警告，就可以脱离撒但的网罗。但他们竟放任自己的骄傲，爱戴他们的头目，以及有贪图无限制自由的欲望。于是神圣慈怜的劝导，终于被他们拒绝了。[22]{PP 41.1}
上帝容让撒但进行他的工作，直到不满的精神酝酿成为积极的叛乱。撒但的计划必须充分发展，使宇宙众生都可以明了他这些计划的性质和意向。路锡甫原是受膏的基路伯，素来是很受推崇的；天上的众生都极爱戴他，所以他在他们身上的影响力也很强。上帝的政权不但包括天庭的生灵，同时也包括了他所创造的诸世界；路锡甫曾经断定，只要自己能笼络众天使共谋叛乱，则不难得到诸世界的响应。他已经巧妙地说明自己一方面的理由，同时利用诡辩和欺诈来达到他的目的。他欺骗的能力极大。他既披上了虚伪的外衣，就取得优势。他一切的行动是那么地神秘莫测，甚至若要向众天使分剖他工作的真相，也非易事。若不让他的工作发展成熟，就无法显明其本质的邪恶，也无法显明他的变节为叛逆。连忠诚的众天使也未能充分辨别撒但的品性，看不出他的工作将要发展到什么地步。[23]{PP 41.2}
路锡甫起初非常狡猾地进行他的试探，一直没有露出自己的真面目。凡他不能完全拉拢到的天使，他就诬指为不关心天上众生的利益。他把自己所从事的罪行，归到那些忠心的天使身上。他的手段是用狡猾的论据，使众天使对上帝的旨意发生怀疑。他把一切简明的事罩上一种神秘的阴影，并用巧妙歪曲的手段，对耶和华极明白的言语提出疑问，再者，他那很高的地位，和他过去与上帝政权的密切关系，更增强了他主张的影响。[24]{PP 41.3}
上帝只能采取合乎真理与公义的方法。而撒但却利用上帝所不能用的谄媚和欺骗的手段。他曾设法窜改上帝的话，并在众天使面前曲解上帝政权的方策，宣称上帝将律法强加在众天使身上是不公正的，又说上帝要受造之物顺服并听从祂，不过是要抬高自己而已。因此上帝必须在天上居民和诸世界之前，证明祂的政权是公义的，祂的律法是完全的。撒但曾在表面上显明自己是在设法促进全宇宙的利益。所以这个企图篡位之天使的真面目，和他真实的目的，必须为大众所明了。必须给他充分的时间，以他邪恶的行为暴露他的本性。[25]{PP 42.1}
撒但竟将自己的行动在天庭中所引起的不和情形，归罪于上帝的政权。他说：一切的祸害都是上帝施政的结果。他声明自己的目的，是要修改耶和华的律法。因此上帝就让他发挥他的主张，并显明如果实现他的建议，改变上帝的律法，将有何后果。他自己的行为必须定他自己的罪。撒但从起初就声明自己并没有反叛。所以全宇宙必须看出这欺骗者的真面目。[26]{PP 42.2}
就是在撒但被赶出天庭之后，无穷智慧的主还没有毁灭他。上帝既然只能悦纳出于爱心的侍奉，所以一切受造之物，必须本着确信他的公正和慈悲而向他效忠。天庭和诸世界的居民那时既不了解罪的性质和结果，所以上帝若当时毁灭撒但，他们就看不出他的公义。但如果撒但立时被除灭，有一些天使就要存着畏惧的心，而不会出于爱心来侍奉上帝了。同时那欺骗者的影响也不会完全消灭，而反叛的精神也不会根除净尽。所以为全宇宙永久的利益起见，上帝必须让撒但更充分地发挥他的主义，使一切受造之物能看出他对上帝政权的攻击究竟真相如何，并使上帝的公正和慈悲以及他律法的不变性，也可以永远不被怀疑了。[27]{PP 42.3}
撒但的叛逆将要永永远远作全宇宙的教训——永远证明罪的性质及其可怕的后果。撒但治权的实现及其对世人和天使的影响，必要显明废除上帝政权所必有的结果；并要证明上帝政权的存在，是与他所创造万物的幸福息息相关的。这样看来，这一次尝试叛逆的惨史，将要作一切圣洁生灵的永久保障，使他们对犯法的性质不致有错误的认识，并使他们不致犯罪而受罪的刑罚。[28]{PP 42.4}
那在诸天之上执掌王权的主，乃是从起初看到末后的一位，在他面前，过去和将来的奥秘都是赤露敞开的；他在罪恶所造成的祸患、黑暗和败亡之外，看到他自己慈爱和恩惠的旨意终必成全。虽然“密云和幽暗在他的四围；”但“公义和公平是他宝座的根基。”（诗97:2）对这一点，全宇宙的居民，无论是忠诚的或是不忠诚的，终必有明白的一天。“他的作为完全，他所行的无不公平，是诚实无伪的上帝，又公义，又正直。”（申32:4）[29]{PP 43.1}
God is love. 1 John 4:16. His nature, His law, is love. It ever has been; it ever will be. "The high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity," whose "ways are everlasting," changeth not. With Him "is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." Isaiah 57:15; Habakkuk 3:6; James 1:17.{PP 33.1}[1]
Every manifestation of creative power is an expression of infinite love. The sovereignty of God involves fullness of blessing to all created beings. The psalmist says: "Strong is Thy hand, and high is Thy right hand. Righteousness and judgment are the foundation of Thy throne: Mercy and truth go before Thy face. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: They walk, O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance. In Thy name do they rejoice all the day: And in Thy righteousness are they exalted. For Thou art the glory of their strength: . . . For our shield belongeth unto Jehovah, And our king to the Holy One." NOTE: Psalm 89:13-18, R.V. [ IN THIS TEXT AND IN SOME OTHER BIBLE QUOTATIONS USED IN THIS BOOK THE WORD "JEHOVAH" IS EMPLOYED INSTEAD OF "LORD," AS RENDERED IN THE AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT TO THE REVISED VERSION.]{PP 33.2}[2]
The history of the great conflict between good and evil, from the time it first began in heaven to the final overthrow of rebellion and the total eradication of sin, is also a demonstration of God's unchanging love. {PP 33.3}[3]
The Sovereign of the universe was not alone in His work of beneficence. He had an associate--a co-worker who could appreciate His purposes, and could share His joy in giving happiness to created beings. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God." John 1:1, 2. Christ, the Word, the only begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father--one in nature, in character, in purpose--the only being that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God. "His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6. His "goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." Micah 5:2. And the Son of God declares concerning Himself: "The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting. . . . When He appointed the foundations of the earth: then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him." Proverbs 8:22-30.{PP 34.1}[4]
The Father wrought by His Son in the creation of all heavenly beings. "By Him were all things created, . . . whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him." Colossians 1:16. Angels are God's ministers, radiant with the light ever flowing from His presence and speeding on rapid wing to execute His will. But the Son, the anointed of God, the "express image of His person," "the brightness of His glory," "upholding all things by the word of His power," holds supremacy over them all. Hebrews 1:3. "A glorious high throne from the beginning," was the place of His sanctuary (Jeremiah 17:12); "a scepter of righteousness," the scepter of His kingdom. Hebrews 1:8. "Honor and majesty are before Him: strength and beauty are in His sanctuary." Psalm 96:6. Mercy and truth go before His face. Psalm 89:14.{PP 34.2}[5]
The law of love being the foundation of the government of God, the happiness of all intelligent beings depends upon their perfect accord with its great principles of righteousness. God desires from all His creatures the service of love--service that springs from an appreciation of His character. He takes no pleasure in a forced obedience; and to all He grants freedom of will, that they may render Him voluntary service. {PP 34.3}[6]
So long as all created beings acknowledged the allegiance of love, there was perfect harmony throughout the universe of God. It was the joy of the heavenly host to fulfill the purpose of their Creator. They delighted in reflecting His glory and showing forth His praise. And while love to God was supreme, love for one another was confiding and unselfish. There was no note of discord to mar the celestial harmonies. But a change came over this happy state. There was one who perverted the freedom that God had granted to His creatures. Sin originated with him who, next to Christ, had been most honored of God and was highest in power and glory among the inhabitants of 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.{PP 35.1}[7]
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.{PP 35.2}[8]
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 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.{PP 35.3}[9]
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.{PP 36.1}[10]
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.{PP 36.2}[11]
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 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 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 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?"{PP 36.3}[12]
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. {PP 37.1}[13]
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. Many of the angels were, however, blinded by Lucifer's deceptions.{PP 38.1}[14]
Taking advantage of the loving, loyal trust reposed in him by the holy beings under his command, he had so artfully instilled into their minds his own distrust and discontent that his agency was not discerned. Lucifer had presented the purposes of God in a false light--misconstruing and distorting them to excite dissent and dissatisfaction. He cunningly drew his hearers on to give utterance to their feelings; then these expressions were repeated by him when it would serve his purpose, as evidence that the angels were not fully in harmony with the government of God. While claiming for himself perfect loyalty to God, he urged that changes in the order and laws of heaven were necessary for the stability of the divine government. Thus while working to excite opposition to the law of God and to instill his own discontent into the minds of the angels under him, he was ostensibly seeking to remove dissatisfaction and to reconcile disaffected angels to the order of heaven. While secretly fomenting discord and rebellion, he with consummate craft caused it to appear as his sole purpose to promote loyalty and to preserve harmony and peace.{PP 38.2}[15]
The spirit of dissatisfaction thus kindled was doing its baleful work. While there was no open outbreak, division of feeling imperceptibly grew up among the angels. There were some who looked with favor upon Lucifer's insinuations against the government of God. Although they had heretofore been in perfect harmony with the order which God had established, they were now discontented and unhappy because they could not penetrate His unsearchable counsels; they were dissatisfied with His purpose in exalting Christ. These stood ready to second Lucifer's demand for equal authority with the Son of God. But angels who were loyal and true maintained the wisdom and justice of the divine decree and endeavored to reconcile this disaffected being to the will of God. Christ was the Son of God; He had been one with Him before the angels were called into existence. He had ever stood at the right hand of the Father; His supremacy, so full of blessing to all who came under its benignant control, had not heretofore been questioned. The harmony of heaven had never been interrupted; wherefore should there now be discord? The loyal angels could see only terrible consequences from this dissension, and with earnest entreaty they counseled the disaffected ones to renounce their purpose and prove themselves loyal to God by fidelity to His government.{PP 38.3}[16]
In great mercy, according to His divine character, God bore long with Lucifer. The spirit of discontent and disaffection had never before been known in heaven. It was a new element, strange, mysterious, unaccountable. Lucifer himself had not at first been acquainted with the real nature of his feelings; for a time he had feared to express the workings and imaginings of his mind; yet he did not dismiss them. He did not see whither he was drifting. But such efforts as infinite love and wisdom only could devise, were made to convince him of his error. His disaffection was proved to be without cause, and he was made to see what would be the result of persisting in revolt. Lucifer was convinced that he was in the wrong. He saw that "the Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works" (Psalm 145:17); that the divine statutes are 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 that time fully cast off his allegiance to God. Though he had left 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. The time had come for a final decision; he must fully yield to the divine sovereignty or place himself in open rebellion. He nearly reached the decision to return, but pride forbade him. It was too great a sacrifice for one who had been so highly honored to confess that he had been in error, that his imaginings were false, and to yield to the authority which he had been working to prove unjust.{PP 39.1}[17]
A compassionate Creator, in yearning pity for Lucifer and his followers, was seeking to draw them back from the abyss of ruin into which they were about to plunge. But His mercy was misinterpreted. Lucifer pointed to the long-suffering of God as an evidence of his own superiority, an indication that the King of the universe would yet accede to his terms. If the angels would stand firmly with him, he declared, they could yet gain all that they desired. He persistently defended his own course, and fully committed himself to the great controversy against his Maker. Thus it was that Lucifer, "the light bearer," the sharer of God's glory, the attendant of His throne, by transgression became Satan, "the adversary" of God and holy beings and the destroyer of those whom Heaven had committed to his guidance and guardianship.{PP 39.2}[18]
Rejecting with disdain the arguments and entreaties of the loyal angels, he denounced them as deluded slaves. The preference shown to Christ he declared an act of injustice both to himself and to all the heavenly host, and announced that he would no longer submit to this invasion of his rights and theirs. He would never again acknowledge the supremacy of Christ. He had determined to claim the honor which should have been given him, and take command of all who would become his followers; and he promised those who would enter his ranks a new and better government, under which all would enjoy freedom. Great numbers of the angels signified their purpose to accept him as their leader. Flattered by the favor with which his advances were received, he hoped to win all the angels to his side, to become equal with God Himself, and to be obeyed by the entire host of heaven.{PP 40.1}[19]
Still the loyal angels urged him and his sympathizers to submit to God; and they set before them the inevitable result should they refuse: He who had created them could overthrow their power and signally punish their rebellious daring. No angel could successfully oppose the law of God, which was as sacred as Himself. They warned all to close their ears against Lucifer's deceptive reasoning, and urged him and his followers to seek the presence of God without delay and confess the error of questioning His wisdom and authority.{PP 40.2}[20]
Many were disposed to heed this counsel, to repent of their disaffection, and seek to be again received into favor with the Father and His Son. But Lucifer had another deception ready. The mighty revolter now declared that the angels who had united with him had gone too far to return; that he was acquainted with the divine law, and knew that God would not forgive. He declared that all who should submit to the authority of Heaven would be stripped of their honor, degraded from their position. For himself, he was determined never again to acknowledge the authority of Christ. The only course remaining for him and his followers, he said, was to assert their liberty, and gain by force the rights which had not been willingly accorded them.{PP 40.3}[21]
So far as Satan himself was concerned, it was true that he had now gone too far to return. But not so with those who had been blinded by his deceptions. To them the counsel and entreaties of the loyal angels opened a door of hope; and had they heeded the warning, they might have broken away from the snare of Satan. But pride, love for their leader, and the desire for unrestricted freedom were permitted to bear sway, and the pleadings of divine love and mercy were finally rejected.{PP 41.1}[22]
God 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 Lucifer had concluded that if he could carry the angels of heaven with him in rebellion, he could carry also all the 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. By disguising himself in a cloak of falsehood, he had gained an advantage. 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, it could not be made to appear the evil thing it was; his disaffection would not be seen to be rebellion. Even the loyal angels could not fully discern his character or see to what his work was leading.{PP 41.2}[23]
Lucifer had at first so conducted his temptations that he himself stood uncommitted. The angels whom he could not 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 the loyal angels. It was his policy to perplex 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. And his high position, so closely connected with the divine government, gave greater force to his representations. {PP 41.3}[24]
God could employ only such means as were consistent with truth and righteousness. 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, claiming that God was not just in imposing laws upon the angels; that in requiring submission and obedience from His creatures, He was seeking merely the exaltation of Himself. It was therefore necessary to demonstrate before the inhabitants of heaven, and of all the worlds, that God's government is 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.{PP 42.1}[25]
The discord which his own course had caused in heaven, Satan charged upon the 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 God permitted him to demonstrate the nature of his claims, to 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.{PP 42.2}[26]
Even when he was cast out of heaven, Infinite Wisdom did not destroy Satan. Since only the service of love can 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 the worlds, being unprepared to comprehend the nature or consequences of sin, could not then have seen the justice of God in the destruction of Satan. Had he been immediately blotted out of existence, some 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. For the good of the entire universe through ceaseless ages, he must more fully develop his principles, that his charges against the divine government might be seen in their true light by all created beings, and that the justice and mercy of God and the immutability of His law might be forever placed beyond all question.{PP 42.3}[27]
Satan's rebellion was to be a lesson to the universe through all coming ages--a perpetual testimony to the nature of sin and its terrible results. 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 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 a perpetual safeguard to all holy beings, to prevent them from being deceived as to the nature of transgression, to save them from committing sin, and suffering its penalty.{PP 42.4}[28]
He that ruleth in the heavens is the one who sees the end from the beginning--the one before whom the mysteries of the past and the future are alike outspread, and who, beyond the woe and darkness and ruin that sin has wrought, beholds the accomplishment of His own purposes of love and blessing. Though "clouds and darkness are round about Him: righteousness and judgment are the foundation of His throne." Psalm 97:2, R.V. And this the inhabitants of the universe, both loyal and disloyal, will one day understand. "His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He." Deuteronomy 32:4.{PP 43.1}[29]
搜索
