Basic HTML Version
Satan’s Hatred of God’s Law
The first effort of Satan to overthrow God’s law, which started
among the sinless inhabitants of heaven, seemed to succeed for a
while. A huge number of the angels were deceived. But Satan’s
apparent triumph resulted in defeat and loss, separation from God,
and banishment from heaven.
When the conflict was renewed on earth, Satan again seemed
to win an advantage. By disobedience, the human race became
his captive. Now the way seemed open for Satan to establish an
independent kingdom and to defy the authority of God and His Son.
But the plan of salvation made it possible for sinners to be brought
back into harmony with God.
Again Satan was defeated, and again he resorted to deception
in the hope of changing defeat into victory. He now portrayed God
as unfair in having permitted our first parents to transgress His law.
The tempter said, “When God knew what would be the result, why
did He allow His creatures to be given a test and bring in misery
and death?” The children of Adam willingly listened to the tempter
and complained against the only Being who could save them from
Satan’s destructive power.
Thousands of people today are echoing the same rebellious com-
plaint against God. They do not see that to not give human beings
freedom of choice would make them mere robots. Like the inhabi-
tants of all other worlds, we must undergo the test of obedience; but
we are never brought into a position where yielding to evil becomes
necessary. No temptation or trial is permitted that we are unable to
resist.
As the population increased, almost the whole world joined the
rebellion. Once more Satan seemed to have gained the victory, but
the earth was cleansed by the Flood from its moral pollution.
207