Sabbath: The Cosmic Conflict
Daily Lesson for Sabbath 22nd of February 2025
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study: Matthew 13:24-27; Genesis 1:31; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Isaiah 14:12-15; Matthew 4:1-11; John 8:44-45.
Memory Text:
“ ‘And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel’ ” (Genesis 3:15, NKJV).
Central to biblical theology is the great controversy between Christ and Satan. Although the idea of a cosmic conflict between God and celestial creatures who have fallen and rebelled against God is a prominent motif of Scripture (Matthew 13:24-30,37-39; Revelation 12:7-10) and also is prevalent in much of Christian tradition, many Christians have rejected or neglected the whole idea.
From a biblical perspective, however, the theme of a cosmic conflict, in which the kingdom of God is opposed by the devil and his angels, is not one that we can neglect without missing a great deal of what the biblical narratives are about. The Gospels alone are filled with references to the devil and demons who oppose God.
To begin with this week, we will address how the two following questions might be answered according to some crucial biblical passages:
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Where does Scripture teach that there is a cosmic conflict between God and Satan?
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According to Scripture, what is the nature of the conflict?
*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 1.
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A crab, living under a rock in the bottom of the ocean sees a human swimming and poking sticks under the rocks. He sees some of his fellow crabs caught by the human and imprisoned in a bag unwillingly. The crab forms the view that humans are funny-looking sea creatures who can swim and capture crabs.
One day the crab caught and put in the bag and it ultimately carried to the surface and placed in a boat. When the bag is opened he sees crabs being cooked and turning red. He realises he does not like what he sees, and with one huge effort he does a flip and manages to scuttle across the floor of the boat, over the side and back into the sea. What a story he has to tell his fellow crabs.
When you live at the bottom of the sea you do not have a very big picture of the rest of the world. If you see a bit more than you usually see, you are confronted with a lot of information you do not understand and are at a loss to really explain.
In many respects, we are crabs in the bottom of the cosmic ocean and even though we are curious, we see lots of things we try to explain to one another in our limited crab language with only limited success.
Sin is a cosmic issue, and while we are deeply concerned with how the battle between good and evil plays out on earth, we need to understand that this battle started in heaven outside our limited vision. Essentially the book of Job tells us that our knowledge is limited and we have to trust God on this one.
As I have mentioned previously, my view of the sin problem took an "expansion hit" many years ago in a staff colloquia at Avondale University with Jack Provansha. He made a statement to the effect we should understand the battle between good and evil is much more closely fought than we imagine. It threatened not just our existence, but existence itself.
We are going to test the limits of our crab language and view in this weeks study.
The great controversy between Christ and Satan is a central theme in Scripture, shaping the narrative of salvation history. The Bible presents this conflict as real and ongoing, involving both heavenly and earthly realms.
1. The Origin of the Conflict.
Ezekiel 28:12-19 and Isaiah 14:12-15 describe the fall of Lucifer, a once-perfect being who rebelled against God due to pride. His rebellion led to deception and the spread of sin.
Revelation 12:7-10 reveals the war in heaven, where Satan and his angels were cast out, bringing the battle to earth.
2. The Nature of the Conflict.
In Genesis 3:15, God declares enmity between the serpent (Satan) and the woman’s Seed (Christ), foretelling the ultimate victory of Jesus over evil.
The parable of the wheat and tares (Matthew 13:24-30, 37-39) illustrates the coexistence of good and evil until God’s final judgment.
Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11) highlights Satan’s deceptive tactics and Christ’s victory through obedience to God's Word.
John 8:44-45 exposes Satan as the father of lies, actively working to distort truth and oppose God’s king.
The cosmic conflict is not a myth but a reality seen throughout Scripture. It is a battle for truth, loyalty, and salvation. Though Satan wages war against God’s people, the Bible assures us of Christ’s ultimate triumph. As believers, we are called to stand firm in faith, anchored in God’s Word, and trust in Jesus, who has already won the victory.
The phrase “Great Controversy” is not explicitly stated so in the Bible. It is a theological concept that our Church (Seventh Day Adventist) advances particularly as popularized by Sister Ellen G. White in her book The Great Controversy. As we know, this concept explains the ongoing cosmic battle between good and evil. A battle is waging in cosmic realms between Christ and Satan. The conflict started in heaven (Revelation 12:7-9, Isaiah 14:12-15, Ezekiel 28:12-17). The essence of this teaching is a serious step forward in attempting to explain the conflict between good and evil, redemption, and restoration. This is more than a theological perspective; the substance of this teaching is to influence our spiritual life now. Our knowledge of the “great controversy” will go in vain if we fail to walk circumspectively knowing that we have a great enemy.
How does the knowledge of the great controversy help us in our spiritual life?
1. Our spiritual struggles are far outside blood and flesh – “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world..." (Ephesians 6:12). We need divine assistance for victory.
2. We need to be more vigilant for we have a formidable adversary - "Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." (Ephesians 6:11)
3. God’s character of love, justice, and mercy and truly dependable - "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise... but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
4. We have hope and assurance for victory - "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:57)
5. We have an active part to play - "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." (Mark 16:15). We are ambassadors of God’s kingdom.
"And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." - Colossians 2:15 (NIV)