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Early Writings
repented, and wished to be reinstated in heaven. He was willing to
take his proper place, or any position that might be assigned him.
But no; heaven must not be placed in jeopardy. All heaven might
be marred should he be taken back; for sin originated with him, and
the seeds of rebellion were within him. Both he and his followers
wept, and implored to be taken back into the favor of God. But
their sin—their hatred, their envy and jealousy—had been so great
that God could not blot it out. It must remain to receive its final
punishment.
When Satan became fully conscious that there was no possibility
of his being brought again into favor with God, his malice and hatred
began to be manifest. He consulted with his angels, and a plan
was laid to still work against God’s government. When Adam and
Eve were placed in the beautiful garden, Satan was laying plans to
destroy them. In no way could this happy couple be deprived of their
happiness if they obeyed God. Satan could not exercise his power
upon them unless they should first disobey God and forfeit His favor.
Some plan must therefore be devised to lead them to disobedience
that they might incur God’s frown and be brought under the more
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direct influence of Satan and his angels. It was decided that Satan
should assume another form and manifest an interest for man. He
must insinuate against God’s truthfulness and create doubt whether
God did mean just what He said; next, he must excite their curiosity,
and lead them to pry into the unsearchable plans of God—the very
sin of which Satan had been guilty—and reason as to the cause of
His restrictions in regard to the tree of knowledge.