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The Story of Redemption
no commands but what it was joy for the heavenly host to execute.
They urged that Christ’s receiving special honor from the Father, in
the presence of the angels, did not detract from the honor that Lucifer
had heretofore received. The angels wept. They anxiously sought to
move him to renounce his wicked design and yield submission to
their Creator; for all had heretofore been peace and harmony, and
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what could occasion this dissenting, rebellious voice?
Lucifer refused to listen. And then he turned from the loyal
and true angels, denouncing them as slaves. These angels, true to
God, stood in amazement as they saw that Lucifer was successful
in his effort to incite rebellion. He promised them a new and better
government than they then had, in which all would be freedom. Great
numbers signified their purpose to accept him as their leader and
chief commander. As he saw his advances were met with success,
he flattered himself that he should yet have all the angels on his
side, and that he would be equal with God Himself, and his voice of
authority would be heard in commanding the entire host of heaven.
Again the loyal angels warned him, and assured him what must be
the consequences if he persisted; that He who could create the angels
could by His power overturn all their authority and in some signal
manner punish their audacity and terrible rebellion. To think that an
angel should resist the law of God which was as sacred as Himself!
They warned the rebellious to close their ears to Lucifer’s deceptive
reasonings, and advised him and all who had been affected by him
to go to God and confess their wrong for even admitting a thought
of questioning His authority.
Many of Lucifer’s sympathizers were inclined to heed the coun-
sel of the loyal angels and repent of their dissatisfaction and be again
received to the confidence of the Father and His dear Son. The
mighty revolter then declared that he was acquainted with God’s
law, and if he should submit to servile obedience, his honor would
be taken from him. No more would he be intrusted with his exalted
mission. He told them that himself and they also had now gone too
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far to go back, and he would brave the consequences, for to bow in
servile worship to the Son of God he never would; that God would
not forgive, and now they must assert their liberty and gain by force
the position and authority which was not willingly accorded to them.
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Thus it was that Lucifer, “the light-bearer,” the sharer of God’s