Breach Builders Ministry
  

"And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in." Isaiah 58:12

 

Fall of Satan

 

    The being now called Satan was once a loyal angel. He, with all created beings, was subject to God and His law. They were free moral agents, and delighted to do the will of God. His sin consisted in transferring his affections from God to himself, so that he finally reached the conclusion that his judgment was superior to that of the Father. God knew the results of the steps he was taking and could have destroyed the evil of his course, and thus many took his side of the controversy. Time must be given to demonstrate who was right.

 

Original Condition of the Universe

  1. What is the character of God? 1 John 4:8

 

  1. On what principle does the government of God rest? Rom 13:9

 

  1. What right or privilege is given to all His creatures? Rev. 22:17; Joshua 24:15. Free moral agency.

 

  1. What was the original condition in the universe? John 17:5

Jesus here refers to a condition of peace and happiness that had not been since the world was created.

Origin of Sin

  1. What did some of the angels do? 2 Peter 2:4

 

  1. Who was the originator of sin? Isa. 14:12

 

  1. Give his position at the time of his fall. Eze. 28:12-15

 

  1. What caused Lucifer to take the course he did? Isa. 14:12-14

 

  1. Was the being now called Satan ever perfect? Eze. 28:15

 

  1. Did he suddenly come to the conclusion that God was wrong? P.P. 35

 

“Little by little Lucifer came to indulge the desire for self-exaltation. The Scripture says, "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness." Ezekiel 28:17. "Thou hast said in thine heart, . . . I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. . . . I will be like the Most High." Isaiah 14:13, 14. Though all his glory was from God, this mighty angel came to regard it as pertaining to himself.” P.P. 35

 

  1. How did his doubts affect the other angels? P. P. 38

 

“Taking advantage of the loving, loyal trust reposed in him by the holy beings under his command, he had so artfully instilled into their minds his own distrust and discontent that his agency was not discerned.” PP 38

 

  1. What efforts were made to show him his mistake? P. P. 36

 

“The Son of God presented before him the greatness, the goodness, and the justice of the Creator, and the sacred, unchanging nature of His law. God Himself had established the order of heaven; and in departing from it, Lucifer would dishonor his Maker and bring ruin upon himself. But the warning, given in infinite love and mercy, only aroused a spirit of resistance. Lucifer allowed his jealousy of Christ to prevail, and became the more determined.” PP 35

 

  1. What did this dissatisfaction lead to? Rev. 12:7

 

  1. Could he or the other angels comprehend the steps he was taking? P. P. 39

 

  1. Why did not God destroy him and his followers before the rebellion spread to the entire universe? P. P. 41; COL 72

 

“Satan is a deceiver. When he sinned in heaven, even the loyal angels did not fully discern his character. This was why God did not at once destroy Satan. Had He done so, the holy angels would not have perceived the justice and love of God. A doubt of God's goodness would have been as evil seed that would yield the bitter fruit of sin and woe. Therefore the author of evil was spared, fully to develop his character. Through long ages God has borne the anguish of beholding the work of evil, He has given the infinite Gift of Calvary, rather than leave any to be deceived by the misrepresentations of the wicked one; for the tares could not be plucked up without danger of uprooting the precious grain.” COL 72

 

Principal Text: 1 John 4:8; Eze. 28:12-15; Isa. 14:12-14; Rev. 12:7.

 

Collateral reading: P. P. chap. 1; Rev. 12:7-9.

 

Gem.

      Satan’s rebellion was to be a lesson to the universe through all coming ages—a perpetual testimony to the nature of sin and its terrible results.” P. P. 42

 

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Send electronic mail to support@breachbuilders.org with questions or comments about this Ministry or web site. For immediate support call (toll-free) 1-866-build-sda (284-5373) or write Breach Builders Ministry, P.O. Box 3822 Riverside Ca. 92519. Breach Builders Ministry Last modified: November 16, 2001