And so there was discord in heaven. tion had to be made of the rebel host. Some disposi God could have blotted them out of existence at once, for He who could create could also destroy. But the purposes of God are far reaching and beyond the conception of finite minds. This rebellion, with all its train of evils, must be an object-lesson to all the universe of God, throughout eternal ages. And when the lesson is finished, with all its defilement and horrors, there must never be the possibility of another rebellion. "Affliction shall not rise up the second time." Nahum 1:9. So God allowed the evil to work and ripen in heaven; and as He has constituted all His creatures free moral agents, He is allowing it to work out its destruction on earth, so that, in the final outcome, sin and its consequences will be seen to be so hateful that it can never appear again as a temptation. As the disaffection ripened, Lucifer and his followers became the avowed enemies of God, and rebels against His government. Heaven must therefore be cleared from such objectionable elements at any cost. The Son of God took command of the angels who had remained true, and prepared to drive out the rebel host. Lucifer held command of the angels who had rebelled with him, and believed that he could retain his place in heaven. Then "there was war in heaven; Michael [Christ] and His angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels." Rev. 12:7. The word "dragon," with other familiar names, refers to Lucifer after he was driven from heaven. "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan." Rev. 129. How the hosts of celestial beings were marshaled, what weapons they used, and how they fought, are mysteries that have never been revealed to mortals. But the outcome was sure. Lucifer could never win in such a warfare. "He was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Rev. 129. The fall of Satan ferred to this "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer!" After the rebel host was cast out, love and joyful obedience again reigned supreme in heaven. And as the sinless angels view the awful, vindictive work of their former companions, how their hearts must swell with thanksgiving and praise to that power of Love that preserved them from such a course, and from such a fate! HEN Lucifer, or Satan, as he is now called, was cast out, he realized that he had lost heaven forever. His nature was now changed completely, and his heart was filled with anger and hatred toward the entire government of God. His history shows that from that time his motto was, in the language of Milton, "Evil, be thou my good." His change of name indicates his change of character. Lucifer means "light-bearer." The word devil means the opposite,-"darkness." He is now the prince of darkness. Revenge now filled that heart where once the love of God abode, and all his powers were exerted against God and His work. Every artful device of Satan and the evil angels has since been used to lead men to follow them in sin and rebellion against God. It is well for man to know the strength of the foe he has to meet. Satan and his angels have on earth the same wisdom, and much of the power, which they had in heaven before their fall. To this is added six thousand years' experience in their terrible work. In heaven Satan's influence was so great as to deceive and lead into rebellion a vast number of the holy angels. If his influence in the very courts of heaven was so great, can we not readily understand how it is possible for him to lead mankind astray? With such power and influence as he has at his command, we can never overcome Satan in our own strength. If we let go our hold upon God, we step onto the enemy's ground, and he will always be there to meet us. Under such conditions we are sure to be "taken captive by him at his will." 2 Tim. 2:26. But we need not be overcome by the enemy. Christ has twice conquered this foe,- once in the battle in heaven, when Satan was cast out; and again as a man on earth when He met all his temptations, and came off victorious. Hence Satan is to Christ a conquered foe. If we trust our Lord fully, He will give us strength in every hour of need, and thus we may become "more than conquerors through Him that loved us." Rom. 8:37. Not only does Satan seek to draw man away from his allegiance to God, but he uses also the elements of the earth, sea, and sky to work his destruction. Paul calls Satan "The prince of the power of the air." Eph. 2: 2. The name is well applied; for it is he who causes the terrible cyclones, the tidal waves, and other awful disasters. Only the restraining hand of God prevents him from bringing devastation to the whole world, more awful than has yet been known. "It is he who causes the terrible cyclones, the tidal waves, and other awful disasters." The experience of Job, as recorded in the first chapter of that book, is evidence that Satan controls, not only the hearts and actions of wicked men, but also, as far as permitted, the very elements. When God allowed him to afflict Job, four great calamities came upon him in such quick succession that one bearer of evil tidings could not finish his report before another was waiting with his account of disaster. They were as follows: First, a band of Sabeans fell upon the servants who were plowing, and slew them, and took away the oxen, and the asses that were feeding beside them. It was Satan who stirred up these wicked men to do this deed. |
