But Lucifer was not satisfied with his lot in heaven as "God's favorite angel." Instead, Lucifer wanted to become God himself and planned what could essentially be called a military coup to overthrow God and take over as leader of the universe. In essence, Satan rebelled against God because he wasn't happy as an assistant to God but instead wanted to have God's job. Show According to the Old Testament, upon learning of Lucifer's plan, God removed him from his dignified position and cast him out of Heaven (Isaiah 14:15; Ezekiel 28:16-17). This is often described as Satan's "fall from Heaven," although it's probably more accurate to say that he was exiled from Heaven. Interestingly, in the Old Testament, when Satan tempts Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, he does so using the promise of God-like powers. In Genesis 3:1-5, as Satan tempts Eve to eat the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, he tells her, "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." Satan convinces Eve to eat the fruit by telling her that after doing so, she will know what God knows. Seventh-day Adventists believe in inspiring those around us to experience a life of wholeness and hope for an eternal future with God. Learn More:Adventist.org When Did Satan's Fall Occur? Did Satan's apostasy and expulsion from heaven take place before our world was created? ROBERT L. ODOM, Editor of the "Index to the Writings of Ellen G. White"
Listen There is a question asked by many. Did Satan's apostasy and expulsion from heaven take place before our world was created? The Scriptures do not reveal too much on this point, but sufficient is stated to enable us to get an answer. The duration of man's primeval state of innocency was evidently very brief, for in Genesis 5:3 we read, that "Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son . . . and called his name Seth." Of the birth of this child we read that Eve "bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew" (Gen. 4:25). Two things stand out clearly: (1) Adam was 130 years old when Seth was born, and (2) Seth was born after Cain had slain Abel. Cain and Abel had already reached the age of accountability when they brought the offerings in worship to God. Their actual age is not recorded, but they had become adults of responsibility. They could well have been twenty-five or thirty years of age when the crime occurred. That would make Adam's age about one hundred years before Cain was born. From this it would appear that mankind's plunge into sin took place very shortly after the world was created—at most one hundred years, probably even less, and certainly not more. The Scripture indicates that when Lucifer rebelled against the government of God he led with him about one third of the angels (Revelation 12:4). As a result these rebels were all expelled from heaven. Just when this occurred in relation to the history of our planet is not revealed in Scripture, although the real cause of sin is clearly stated in such passages as Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:12-19. Ellen G. White makes some interesting statements bearing on this subject, some of which read like a paraphrase of the well-known Scriptures cited above. She says:
The Creator, our Saviour, did not seek to exalt Himself, but rather to exalt the Father's glory. How different this was from the attitude of Lucifer! Now when did divine justice deal with Satan and his hosts? That also is something not definitely revealed; but in His dealing with sinful man God has revealed His character. He is a long-suffering and forgiving God who would sacrifice Himself rather than betray His creatures. We read that He is "longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Ellen G. White's comment on this is arresting. She says:
This break in relationships must have brought sad and far-reaching reactions among the heavenly host. Love is always deeply wounded when relationships are strained, and all true love is of God. On this point we read:
The rebellion, however, did not change God's purpose concerning the creation of this world.
The rebel angel, however, was now more determined than ever to thwart the purposes of God. So he concentrated his efforts upon newly created man.
When we consider the history of our race and how in love God has borne with sinful man for these thousands of years, patiently working out the problem in a way best for all concerned, who would venture to assert that He was any less long-suffering in handling the problem of sin among "angels, which are greater in power and might" than men (2 Peter 2:11)? We all know the tragic results of sin. And concerning Satan and the apostate angels it appears that their expulsion from heaven occurred before the earth was created. The account of Satan's first contact with humanity, as given in Genesis 3, shows that he was already a hardened sinner and a determined enemy of God; that he had no scruples whatsoever against the use of falsehood and slander in fomenting disloyalty and disobedience to the Creator; and that he was cruelly bent on the enslavement and ultimate ruin of humanity by sin. When he tempted man he was then on earth, having already been banished from the dwelling place of God. Could we not safely assume, even on the basis of the few scriptures we have, that his venture into sin began long before the creation of our earth? We do know that the plan of redemption was made before the world began (2 Timothy 1:9-11). But the actual expulsion of Lucifer from heaven, it would seem, occurred not very long before our world was made. Who is Lucifer's father?The Greek name for this planet was variously Phosphoros (also meaning "light-bringer") or Heosphoros (meaning "dawn-bringer"). Lucifer was said to be "the fabled son of Aurora and Cephalus, and father of Ceyx".
What causes an angel to fall?After these angels decide to sin, they fall from heaven and become demons. In Augustine's view of angels, they cannot be guilty of carnal desires since they lack flesh, but they can be guilty of sins that are rooted in spirit and intellect such as pride and envy.
Why did God send the angel of Death?The heartless Pharaoh still refused to free the Israelite slaves. So God, brought about one last plague, which was so terrible that it was certain to persuade Pharaoh to let his slaves go. That night, God sent the angel of death to kill the firstborn sons of the Egyptians.
Who fought the devil in heaven?This relief shows the victorious struggle of the Archangel Michael with the devil, as described in the Book of Revelation: “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.”
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