Basic HTML Version
Why Was Sin Permitted?
275
governed heavenly beings, intimating that they imposed unnecessary
restraint. Since their natures were holy, he urged that angels should
obey the dictates of their own will. God had dealt unjustly with him
in bestowing supreme honor upon Christ. He claimed he was not
aiming at self-exaltation but was seeking to secure liberty for all the
inhabitants of heaven, that they might attain a higher existence.
God bore long with Lucifer. He was not degraded from his
exalted station even when he began to present false claims before
the angels. Again and again he was offered pardon on condition
of repentance and submission. Such efforts as only infinite love
could devise were made to convince him of his error. Discontent had
never before been known in heaven. Lucifer himself did not at first
understand the real nature of his feelings. As his dissatisfaction was
proved to be without cause, Lucifer was convinced that the divine
claims were just and that he ought to acknowledge them before all
heaven. Had he done this, he might have saved himself and many
angels. If he had been willing to return to God, satisfied to fill the
place appointed him, he would have been reinstated in his office.
[307]
But pride forbade him to submit. He maintained that he had no need
of repentance, and fully committed himself in the great controversy
against his Maker.
All the powers of his master mind were now bent to deception,
to secure the sympathy of the angels. Satan represented that he was
wrongly judged and that his liberty was abridged. From misrepresen-
tation of the words of Christ he passed to direct falsehood, accusing
the Son of God of a design to humiliate him before the inhabitants
of heaven.
All whom he could not subvert to his side he accused of indif-
ference to the interests of heavenly beings. He resorted to misrep-
resentation of the Creator. It was his policy to perplex the angels
with subtle arguments concerning the purposes of God. Everything
simple he shrouded in mystery, and by artful perversion cast doubt
upon the plainest statements of God. His high position gave greater
force to his representations. Many were induced to unite with him
in rebellion.