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The Beginning of the End
Christ was the Son of God, one with Him before the angels were
called into existence. He had always stood at the right hand of the
Father. So why should there now be opposition?
God was patient with Lucifer. The spirit of discontent was a new
element, strange, unaccountable. Lucifer himself did not see where
he was drifting. But efforts, such as only infinite love and wisdom
could develop, were made to convince him of his error. He was led
to see what would be the result of persisting in revolt.
Lucifer was convinced that he was in the wrong. He saw that
“the Lord is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works”
(
Psalm 145:17
), that the divine statutes are just and that he ought to
acknowledge them as such before all heaven. If he had done this, he
might have saved himself and many angels. If he had been willing to
return to God, satisfied to fill the place given to him in God’s great
plan, he would have been restored to his high position. The time had
come for a final decision; he must yield to the divine sovereignty
or place himself in open rebellion. He almost decided to return, but
pride prevented him. It was too great a sacrifice for one who had
been so highly honored to confess that he had been wrong!
Lucifer pointed to the long-suffering of God as an evidence of
his own superiority, an indication that the King of the universe would
yet agree to his terms. If the angels would stand firmly with him,
he declared, they could still get everything they wanted. He fully
[10]
committed himself to the great controversy against his Maker. This
is how Lucifer, “the light bearer,” became Satan, “the adversary” of
God and holy beings.
Satan Leads in Rebellion
Rejecting with scorn the appeals of the loyal angels, he called
them deluded slaves. He would never again acknowledge the
supremacy of Christ. He had determined to claim the honor that
should have been given him. And he promised those who would
enter his ranks a new and better government under which all would
enjoy freedom. Great numbers of the angels declared their purpose
to accept him as their leader. He hoped to win all the angels to his
side, to become equal with God Himself, and to be obeyed by the
entire host of heaven.