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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
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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
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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 hom