The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 499

heaven. While instilling discontent into the minds of the angels under
him, he had artfully made it appear that he was seeking to remove
dissatisfaction. When he urged that changes be made in the order and
laws of God’s government, it was under the pretense that these were
necess ary in order to preserve harmony in heaven.
In His dealing with sin, God could employ only righteousness and
truth. Satan could use what God could not—flattery and deceit. He
had sought to falsify the word of God and had misrepresented His plan
of government before the angels, claiming that God was not just in
laying laws and rules upon the inhabitants of heaven; that in requiring
submission and obedience from His creatures, He was seeking merely
the exaltation of Himself. Therefore it must be demonstrated before the
inhabitants of heaven, as well as of all the worlds, that God’s government
was just, His law perfect. Satan had made it appear that he himself was
seeking to promote the good of the universe. The true character of the
usurper, and his real object, must be understood by all. He must have
time to manifest himself by his wicked works.
The discord which his own course had caused in heaven, Satan
charged upon the law and government of God. All evil he declared to
be the result of the divine administration. He claimed that it was his
own object to improve upon the statutes of Jehovah. Therefore it was
necessary that he should demonstrate the nature of his claims, and show
the working out of his proposed changes in the divine law. His own work
must condemn him. Satan had claimed from the first that he was not in
rebellion. The whole universe must see the deceiver unmasked.
Even when it was decided that he could no longer remain in heaven,
Infinite Wisdom did not destroy Satan. Since the service of love can
alone be acceptable to God, the allegiance of His creatures must rest
upon a conviction of His justice and benevolence. The inhabitants of
heaven and of other worlds, being unprepared to comprehend the nature
or consequences of sin, could not then have seen the justice and

498