Sunday: The Fall of a Perfect Being
If the cosmic controversy forms the background biblical worldview, this leads to a number of questions. An important one is, How did it all get started? Because a loving God created the universe, it’s reasonable to assume that evil, violence, and conflict were certainly not built into the creation from the beginning.
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
The controversy must have arisen separate from the original creation and was definitely not a necessary result of it. Nevertheless, the controversy is here, it’s real, and we are all involved.
Read Ezekiel 28:1-2, Ezekiel 28:11-17 and Isaiah 14:12-14. What do these texts teach us about the fall of Lucifer and the rise of evil?
Lucifer was a perfect being living in heaven. How could iniquity have arisen in him, especially in an environment like that? We don’t know. Perhaps that’s one reason why the Bible talks about “the mystery of iniquity” (2 Thess. 2:7).
Outside the reality of the free will that God has given all His intelligent creatures, no reason exists for the fall of Lucifer. As Ellen G. White so profoundly stated it: “It is impossible to explain the origin of sin so as to give a reason for its existence. … Sin is an intruder, for whose presence no reason can be given. It is mysterious, unaccountable; to excuse it is to defend it. Could excuse for it be found, or cause be shown for its existence, it would cease to be sin”. — The Great Controversy, pages 492, 493.
Replace the word sin with evil, and the statement works just as well. It is impossible to explain the origin of evil so as to give a reason for its existence. … Evil is an intruder, for whose presence no reason can be given. It is mysterious, unaccountable; to excuse it is to defend it. Could excuse for it be found, or cause be shown for its existence, it would cease to be evil.
| Think about your own experiences with the reality of free will. Why, then, should we prayerfully and carefully think about the choices we make using our free will? |
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Its mind boggling why would the Almighty Created an Angel knowing it will sin against him. Do angels have choice?
It is worth thinking of the alternative question. Could a loving God create an intelligent being without giving that being free choice? I submit that without free choice a being is not intelligent but is an automaton.
We misuse the term, "freewill" all the time. As Christians, we do not have complete freewill. We give our lives to Jesus. He is the Potter, we are the clay. Not OUR will, but YOUR will. We even pray that our will should be avoided. In Heaven, we will not have freewill to sin. Just as now. I would like to fly as a bird. But I am human. No matter how much my freewill wants to flpa my arms and fly, I cannot. I will not have freewill to marry in Heaven. Jesus is clear on that. So, why can't I keep my freewill and wife? Because we will be changed creatures, no longer human. Our choices will either be good ones. We will not have the choice to sin. Satan, the originator of sin, will not be there. Without him, we have the "no sin" choice. We will be changed in an instance, incorruptible. Our freewill could not stand in Heaven. We will have freewill to choose which good things we partake of.
Of course we will be (sinless) human, but in a higher state with far greater capacity. Yet Jesus will never force His will upon you, which means you get to freely choose that HIS will be done, who is righteous, rather than you/me, who are sinful.
As for marriage, we don't know what life will be like once sin is gone, but you can be sure it will be better than the best you or I can imagine. What we have now is limited, finite and fleeting, and no matter how pleasant the good times, there are often not so good times.
This is where we trust in God's purposes for us, and remember that the Bible talks of the afterlife as bringing "exceeding joy", and those there will "delight themselves in the abundance of peace/prosperity".
Oh yea, the alternative is eternal death.
Yes, I believe so but it depends what "intelligent" means. Dolphins are intelligent but do they have free will? It's too loose a term.
Nahum 1:9.
When God says that sin will not arise again, it is not because He will remove choice (a requisite for love). It is because, seeing the future to infinity, He knows that the Great Controversy ended will forever convince unfallen beings and saved humans to choose Love (1 John 4:8) over sin.
In other words, God will never remove our choice to sin, not even in heaven. He can knowingly announce "...affliction shall not rise up the second time" only because He sees the future into eternity more clearly than you see this comment and THAT future reveals to Him that we will never again choose sin.
God sees that in heaven, we will forever choose Love (i.e., God) over sin. He doesn't remove our choice to cause that reality.
Here's some more mind boggling thoughts:
* the only way a being can have 'abundant' (Greek: zoe in Jn 10:10) life is to have absolute freedom to choose (otherwise, like Maurice pointed out, such a 'being' would only be an automaton)
* within such a scenario, the risk of one being choosing destructive freedom (as opposed to constructive freedom) is ever present. God could not eliminate this possibility otherwise life could only be based on fear of what God might do if you 'didn't do things His way' (so to speak). This would not be abundant life.
* God knew that this risk was going to materialise and, as per point 2, He could do nothing to stop it (because attempting to do so would destroy abundant life).
* but God, in His omniscient wisdom, also knew the materialisation of this risk could be used to self-eliminate the risk of any future materialisation.
Had God attempted to prevent the risk of destructive freedom (ie sin) from materialising in the first instance, the risk of its materialisation would have remained for ever. By not preventing it, the risk materialises once (unfortunately) but then is forever self-eliminated and constructive freedom is retained and not compromised.
What an Awesome God!
So how is the future risk removed if freewill remains? Will God cease to create any new creatures? And what is the real meaning of Nahum 1:9?
As I read it, it seems to tell us there will not be another Satan("one who afflicts"), who was allowed to fully demonstrate the full malignity of sin. There will be no risk in swift judgment after having seen the results now, yet with free will, the risk will remain that one might exercise it in a contrary manner. If not, free will no longer remains.
In how discipline is to be administered in the church, by the whole body rather than one or a select few, we see a principle of God's government which would allow His creatures to have full disclosure and give their agreement should the need arise again. Having never seen this before, the many sons of God could not be in complete agreement over what seemed a legitimate question where the true spirit and motives were concealed by artful deception and lies. So the need for allowing another Satan to unmask himself no longer remains. There are only two ways in this universe, and both are well understood by now. It was Jesus' death by Satan's urging that settled the matter in heaven for good, and only earth remains to see the true nature of sin and every mind settled on one side or the other.
I think it all starts by violating one rule in proverbs 3:5
It is worth reading the context of this particular quote (Prov 3:1-8)
You may like to expand on how this applied to Lucifer and what its implication are for us.
God could have created us without the power of choice. Who could have challenged Him. Yet it was important to God for us to choose. serve Him according to our free will. He was willing to risk eternity to give us the choice.
That fact - that God was willing to risk everything to ensure our freedom of choice - should give us much food for thought?
Do we sometimes try to force/pressure people to "do the right thing"?
Should we - either as lay people or as church leaders - seek to force conformity to our understanding of what is right?
In the time of the end, does God force conformity to His will or does the beast power? If we try to force conformity, whose spirit are we demonstrating?
Very clear, Amen.
what is the real motive for using Is 14 and Ez 28 as a premise for Satan, even when it DOES NOT pacifically state that?
The Bible often uses metaphoric names for both people and supernatural beings. Further, the number of references to Satan in the Old Testament is fairly restricted (3 references if I remember correctly) but we find a number of descriptions of an evil power under various names.
those text in the Old Testament are Job charter 1and2,
1 Chronicles 21:1, and Zechariah 3:1-2
also Psalm 109:6 KJV
From all indication God does not limit whatever He is doing.He God did create Lucifer as a perfect being in all his glory. How could iniquity arise in him while
he is with the Holy God.We will know one day until then we rely on the words of God in Thess. 2:7 the mystery of iniquity.
God is love, none of us can fully understand the depth of His love. The plan of redemption was in place before man existed. Lucifer and man was made with the power of choice and not with a one track mind.
In the scripture passages cited concerning the history of Lucifer's fall, we learn that Lucifer CHOSE to be contrary to God's will, though he was originally created "perfect", and was given that freedom to do so. The Bible is clear that we choose our own path and it's final outcome, but warns that the outcomes are final and eternal. In Eden a tree was the choice, today, there are innumerable choices made daily that are deciding our life direction and it's final outcome.
So what is my take-away from these passages on Lucifer's choice? It tells me clearly that I too have a choice and if sin/evil resides in me, I have chosen it. Some will now argue that children of evil parents and/or environment have no choice, but are you sure? While the Bible teaches that children are not fully accountable until the age of 20, many of the proverbs appeal to the youth, which calls for a choice to be made, and God's mercy is always there for those who have a rough start in life, and if repentant, He will remember their sins no more. God will judge every case fairly, but for me, today, I have choices to make and whatever I choose I will be held accountable for. Don't these passages on Lucifer's choice make this clear? Are they not a fair and solemn warning to all?
These passages should lead all to sober, prayerful reflection of their daily/hourly choices and the eternal consequences they will bring.
I'm a little curious regarding where in the Bible it states that persons are not accountable until the age of 20.
None of those under 20 were left to die in the wilderness with those who rebelled against the Lord. They were given a 2nd chance, which many failed as well. There are other places where that age was a dividing point for numbering, etc.
I should probably have said "held solely accountable". This is just how I have understood it. There is mention in scripture of a son stoned for his rebellious manner, but I don't recall if his age was given.
Ah, yes, thank you for reminding me of that. I am, however, more that a little hesitant to use that as a basis for saying that God does not hold anyone accountable until the age of 20 for these reasons:
1. I believe individuals are accountable according to their circumstances and their ability to understand and reason. I do not believe in an arbitrary "age of accountability." I believe that the "age of accountability" is a human construct, and it often goes along with the idea of universal salvation up to that age, and I know you don't believe in that either.
2. Jewish custom seems to indicate that Hebrews regarded 13 as the time that boys entered manhood and became "accountable." That's not in the Bible, though. We only have the record of Jesus entering the temple and reasoning with the scribes and Pharisees at the age of 12.
An extended discussion of this question is off-topic, and I think we can agree that the Bible does not specifically teach an "age of accountability."
Yet God allowed all those under 20, even from rebellious homes, to have another chance. I think we must understand this particular accountability as compared to that which all will find in the judgment at any age. But it does show a particular leniency toward the inexperienced.
Satan, due to his position of having dwelt in the very presence of God has a higher accountability that those born in a rebellious world, perhaps ignorant of God until later in life. All are judged according to their privilege and ability to know the truth. Many will be saved who will hear of and meet Jesus for the first time at the resurrection day. God is perfect in His justice.
In Satan's rebellion, as well as anyone's, is a free choice allowed and made.
I agree with your statement Robert, that "all are judged according to their privilage and ability to know the truth". The issues of mental illness, developmental disability, and aging have always concerned me. We often ignore people who struggle with these issues, and have much to learn about being compassionatly understanding of them. Christ set us an example here.
Love, as a human characteristic would not even exist without choice. God is love and for any of His created beings to love Him in return and it mean anything, it must be by choice. Without choice we would be only robots with no ability to love. This holds true in our human relationships. We must know that another person chooses to love us for it to bring any gratification at all. With choice comes the freedom that our loving Heavenly Father gives to us all.
In Milton's 'Paradise Lost,' Lucifer says, after being cast out of heaven:
"Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven."
Such hatred is unfathomable to me. To understand such a degree of total hatred--and it is beyond my understanding--would help explain the 'mystery of iniquity.' Only God knows what went wrong with this created being.
I like the way Ellen White explains sin. \"The Great Controversy\" 492-493. Sin is definitely an intruder, a mystery, something that forces itself on an individual but God is just the opposite so, therefore Satan made the decicison to dive into the unknown and own it even till today. He has not let go and let God. He still has a tight grip on this intruder, this mystery.