at rebel leader. Where is he? Is it not all a horrible
dream? Is he shut out of heaven? Are the gates of heaven never more
to open to admit him? The hour of worship draws nigh, when bright and
holy angels bow before the Father. No more will he unite in heavenly
song. No more will he bow in reverence and holy awe before the presence
of the eternal God.
Could he be again as he was when he was pure, true, and loyal,
gladly would he yield up the claims of his authority. But he was lost!
beyond redemption, for his presumptuous rebellion! And this was not
all; he had led others to rebellion and to the same lost condition with
himself—angels, who had never thought to question the will of Heaven
or refuse obedience to the law of God till he had put it into their minds,
presenting before them that they might enjoy a greater good, a higher
and more glorious liberty. This had been the sophistry whereby he had
deceived them. A responsibility now rests upon him from which he would
fain be released.
These spirits had become turbulent with disappointed hopes. Instead
of greater good, they were
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experiencing the sad results of disobedience and disregard of law. Never
more would these unhappy beings be swayed by the mild rule of Jesus
Christ. Never more would their spirits be stirred by the deep, earnest
love, peace, and joy which His presence had ever inspired in them, to be
returned to Him in cheerful obedience and reverential honor.
Satan Seeks Reinstatement
Satan trembled as he viewed his work. He was alone in meditation
upon the past, the present, and his future plans. His mighty frame shook
as with a tempest. An angel from heaven was passing. He called him and
entreated an interview with Christ. This was granted him. He then related
to the Son of God that he repented of his rebellion and wished again
the favor of God. He was willing to take the place God had previously
assigned him, and be under His wise command. Christ wept at Satan’s
woe but told him, as the mind of God, that he could never be received
into heaven. Heaven must not be placed in jeopardy. All heaven would be
marred should he be received back, for sin and rebellion originated with
him. The seeds of rebellion were still within him. He had, in his rebellion,
no occasion for his course, and he had hopelessly ruined not only himself
but the host of angels also, who would then have been happy in heaven
had he remained steadfast. The law of God could condemn but could not
pardon.
He repented not of his rebellion because he saw the goodness of God
which he had abused. It was not possible that his love for God had so
increased since his fall that it would lead to cheerful submission and happy
obedience to His law which had been despised. The wretchedness he
realized in losing the sweet light
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of heaven, and the sense of guilt which forced itself upon him, and the
disappointment he experienced himself in not finding his expectation
realized, were the cause of his grief. To be commander out of heaven
was vastly different from being thus honored in heaven. The loss he had
sustained of all the privileges of heaven seemed too much to be borne. He
wished to regain these.
This great change of position had not increased his love for God,
nor for His wise and just law. When Satan became fully convinced that
there was no possibility of his being reinstated in the favor of God, he
manifested his malice with increased hatred and fiery vehemence.
God knew that such determined rebellion would not remain inactive.
Satan would invent means to annoy the heavenly angels and show
contempt for His authority. As he could not gain admission within the
gates of heaven, he would wait just at the entrance, to taunt the angels
and seek contention with them as they went in and out. He would seek
to destroy the happiness of Adam and Eve. He would endeavor to incite
them to rebellion, knowing that this would cause grief in heaven.
The Plot Against the Human Family
His followers were seeking him, and he aroused himself and,
assuming a look of defiance, informed them of his plans to wrest from
God the noble Adam and his companion Eve. If he could in any way
beguile them to disobedience, God would make some provision whereby
they might be pardoned, and then himself and all the fallen angels would
be in a fair way to share with them of God’s mercy. If this should fail,
they could unite with Adam and Eve, for when
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once they should transgress the law of God they would be subjects of
God’s wrath, like themselves. Their transgression would place them, also,
in a state of rebellion, and they could unite with Adam and Eve, take
possession of Eden, and hold it as their home. And if they could gain
access to the tree of life in the midst of the garden, their strength would,
they thought, be equal to that of the holy angels, and even God Himself
could not expel them.
Satan held a consultation with his evil angels. They did not all readily
unite to engage in this hazardous and terrible work. He told them that
he would not entrust any one of them to accomplish this work, for he
thought that he alone had wisdom sufficient to carry forward so important
an enterprise. He wished them to consider the matter while he should
leave them and seek retirement, to mature his plans. He sought to impress
upon them that this was their last and only hope. If they failed here,
all prospect of regaining and controlling heaven, or any part of God’s
creation, was hopeless.
Satan went alone to mature plans that would most surely secure the
fall of Adam and Eve. He had fears that his purposes might be defeated.
And again, even if he should be successful in leading Adam and Eve to
disobey the commandment of God, and thus become transgressors of His
law, and no good come to himself, his own case would not be improved;
his guilt would only be increased.
He shuddered at the thought of plunging the holy, happy pair into
the misery and remorse he was himself enduring. He seemed in a state of
indecision: at one time firm and determined, then hesitating and wavering.
His angels were seeking him, their leader, to acquaint him with their
decision. They would unite
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with Satan in his plans, and with him bear the responsibility and share the
consequences.
Satan cast off his feelings of despair and weakness, and, as their
leader, fortified himself to brave out the matter and do all in his power
to defy the authority of God and His Son. He acquainted them with his
plans. If he should come boldly upon Adam and Eve and make complaints
of God’s own Son, they would not listen to him for a moment but would
be prepared for such an attack. Should he seek to intimidate them because
of his power, so recently an angel in high authority, he could accomplish
nothing. He decided that cunning and deceit would do what might, or
force, could not.
Adam and Eve Warned
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
God assembled the angelic host to take measures to avert the
threatened evil. It was decided in heaven’s council for angels to visit
Eden and warn Adam that he was in danger from the foe. Two angels sped
on their way to visit our first parents. The holy pair received them with
joyful innocence, expressing their grateful thanks to their Creator for thus
surrounding them with such a profusion of His bounty. Everything lovely
and attractive was