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From Here to Forever
Disaffection Ripens Into Active Revolt
God in His wisdom permitted Satan to carry forward his work,
until the spirit of disaffection ripened into revolt. It was necessary
for his plans to be fully developed, that their true nature might be
seen by all. Lucifer was greatly loved by the heavenly beings, and
his influence over them was strong. God’s government included
not only the inhabitants of heaven, but of all the worlds He had
created; and Satan thought that if he could carry the angels with
him in rebellion, he could carry also the other worlds. Employing
sophistry and fraud, his power to deceive was very great. Even the
loyal angels could not fully discern his character or see to what his
work was leading.
Satan had been so highly honored, and all his acts were so clothed
with mystery, that it was difficult to disclose to the angels the true
nature of his work. Until fully developed, sin would not appear the
evil thing it was. Holy beings could not discern the consequences
of setting aside the divine law. Satan at first claimed to be seeking
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to promote the honor of God and the good of all the inhabitants of
heaven.
In His dealing with sin, God could employ only righteousness
and truth. Satan could use what God could not—flattery and deceit.
The true character of the usurper must be understood by all. He must
have time to manifest himself by his wicked works.
The discord which his own course had caused in heaven, Satan
charged upon God. All evil he declared to be the result of the divine
administration. Therefore it was necessary that he demonstrate the
working out of his proposed changes in the divine law. His own
work must condemn him. The whole universe must see the deceiver
unmasked.
Even when it was decided that he could no longer remain in
heaven, Infinite Wisdom did not destroy Satan. The allegiance of
God’s creatures must rest upon a conviction of His justice. The
inhabitants of heaven and of other worlds, being unprepared to
comprehend the consequences of sin, could not then have seen the
justice and mercy of God in the destruction of Satan. Had he been
immediately blotted from existence, they would have served God
from fear rather than from love. The influence of the deceiver would