Temptation and Fall
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the honor and wisdom of God in giving authority to his Son. Satan
urged, for what reason was Christ endowed with unlimited power
and such high command above himself! He stood up proudly, and
urged that he should be equal with God. He makes his boasts to his
sympathizers that he will not submit to the authority of Christ.
At length all the angels are summoned to appear before the Father,
to have each case decided. Satan unblushingly makes known to all the
heavenly family, his discontent, that Christ should be preferred before
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him, to be in such close conference with God, and he be uninformed as
to the result of their frequent consultations. God informs Satan that this
he can never know. That to his Son will he reveal his secret purposes,
and that all the family of Heaven, Satan not excepted, were required
to yield implicit obedience. Satan boldly speaks out his rebellion, and
points to a large company who think God is unjust in not exalting
him to be equal with God, and in not giving him command above
Christ. He declares he cannot submit to be under Christ’s command,
that God’s commands alone will he obey. Good angels weep to hear
the words of Satan, and to see how he despises to follow the direction
of Christ, their exalted and loving commander.
The Father decides the case of Satan, and declares that he must
be turned out of Heaven for his daring rebellion, and that all those
who united with him in his rebellion, should be turned out with him.
Then there was war in Heaven. Christ and his angels fought against
Satan and his angels, for they were determined to remain in Heaven
with all their rebellion. But they prevailed not. Christ and loyal angels
triumphed, and drove Satan and his rebel sympathizers from Heaven.
When Adam and Eve were placed in the beautiful garden, they
had everything for their happiness which they could desire. But he
chose in his all-wise arrangements to test their loyalty before they
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could be rendered eternally secure. They were to have his favor, and
he to converse with them, and they with him. Yet he did not place evil
out of their reach. Satan was permitted to tempt them. If they endured
the trial they were to be in perpetual favor with God and the heavenly
angels.
Angels of God visited Adam and Eve, and told them of the fall of
Satan, and warned them to be on their guard. They cautioned them
not to separate from each other in their employment, for they might
be brought in contact with this fallen foe. If one of them were alone,