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The Fall of Satan
Satan was once an honored angel in heaven, next to Christ. His
countenance, like those of the other angels, was mild and expressive
of happiness. His forehead was high and broad, showing great
intelligence. His form was perfect; his bearing noble and majestic.
But when God said to His Son, “Let us make man in our image,”
Satan was jealous of Jesus. He wished to be consulted concerning
the formation of man, and because he was not, he was filled with
envy, jealousy, and hatred. He desired to receive the highest honors
in heaven next to God.
Until this time all heaven had been in order, harmony, and perfect
subjection to the government of God. It was the highest sin to rebel
against His order and will. All heaven seemed in commotion. The
angels were marshaled in companies, each division with a higher
commanding angel at its head. Satan, ambitious to exalt himself,
and unwilling to submit to the authority of Jesus, was insinuating
against the government of God. Some of the angels sympathized
with Satan in his rebellion, and others strongly contended for the
honor and wisdom of God in giving authority to His Son. There
was contention among the angels. Satan and his sympathizers were
striving to reform the government of God. They wished to look into
His unsearchable wisdom, and ascertain His purpose in exalting
Jesus and endowing Him with such unlimited power and command.
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They rebelled against the authority of the Son. All the heavenly
host were summoned to appear before the Father to have each case
decided. It was there determined that Satan should be expelled from
heaven, with all the angels who had joined him in the rebellion. Then
there was war in heaven. Angels were engaged in the battle; Satan
wished to conquer the Son of God and those who were submissive
to His will. But the good and true angels prevailed, and Satan, with
his followers, was driven from heaven.
After Satan and those who fell with him were shut out of heaven,
and he realized that he had forever lost all its purity and glory, he
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