Satan ' s rebellion was to be a lesson to the universe through all coming ages , a perpetual testimony to the nature and terrible results of sin . The working out of Satan ' s rule , its effects upon both men and angels , would show what must be the fruit of setting aside the divine authority . It would testify that with the existence of God ' s government and His law is bound up the well-being of all the creatures He has made . Thus the history of this terrible experiment of rebellion was to be perpetual safeguard to all holy intelligences , to prevent them from being deceived as to the nature of transgression , to save them from committing sin and suffering its punishments .
To the very close of the controversy in heaven the great usurper continued to justify himself . When it was announced that with all his sympathizers he must be expelled from the abodes of bliss , then the rebel leader boldly avowed his contempt for the Creator ' s law . He reiterated his claim that angels needed no control , but should be left to follow their own will , which would ever guide them right . He denounced the divine statutes as a restriction of their liberty and declared that it was his purpose to secure the abolition of law ; that , freed from this restraint , the hosts of heaven might enter upon a more exalted , more glorious state of existence .
With one accord , Satan and his host threw the blame of their rebellion wholly upon Christ , declaring that if they had not been reproved , they would never have rebelled . Thus stubborn and defiant in their disloyalty , seeking vainly to overthrow the government of God , yet blasphemously claiming to be themselves the innocent victims of oppressive power , the archrebel and all his sympathizers were at last banished from heaven . The same spirit that prompted rebellion in heaven still inspires rebellion on earth . Satan has continued with men the same policy which he pursued with the angels . His spirit now reigns in the children of disobedience . Like him they seek to break down the restraints of the law of God and promise men liberty through transgression of its precepts . Reproof of sin still arouses the spirit of hatred and resistance . When God ' s messages of warning are brought home to the conscience , Satan leads men to justify themselves and to seek the sympathy of others in their course of sin . Instead of correcting their errors , they excite indignation against the reprover , as if he were the sole cause of difficulty . From the days of righteous Abel to our own time such is the spirit which has been displayed toward those who dare to condemn sin .
By the same misrepresentation of the character of God as he had practiced in heaven , causing Him to be regarded as severe and tyrannical , Satan induced man to sin . And having succeeded thus far , he declared that God ' s unjust restrictions had led to man ' s fall , as they had led to his own rebellion . But the Eternal One Himself proclaims His character : " The Lord God , merciful and gracious , longsuffering , and abundant in goodness and truth , keeping mercy
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