Sin
originated with him who, <next to Christ, had been most honored of
God
and was highest in power and glory among the inhabitants of heaven. Lucifer, "son of the morning," was first of the covering cherubs, holy and undefiled.
And
coveting the glory with which the infinite
Father had invested His Son, this prince of angels aspired to power that was the prerogative of
Christ alone.
The
King of the universe summoned the
heavenly hosts before Him, that in their presence He might set forth the true position of His Son and show the relation He sustained to all created beings.The Son of God shared the Father's
throne, and the glory of the eternal, self-existent One encircled both.
Before
the assembled inhabitants of heaven the King
declared that none but Christ, the Only
Begotten of God, could fully enter
into His purposes, and to Him it was
committed to execute the mighty counsels of His
will.
To dispute the supremacy of the Son
of God, thus impeaching the wisdom and
love of the Creator, had become the purpose of this prince of angels. To this object he
was about to bend the energies of that master mind, which, <next to Christ's, was first among the hosts of God. But He
who would have ^the will of all His creatures free, left none unguarded to the
bewildering sophistry by which rebellion would seek to justify itself. Before the great contest> should open, all were to have a clear
presentation of His will, whose wisdom and goodness were the
spring of all their joy.
The
angels joyfully acknowledged the supremacy of Christ, and prostrating themselves before Him, poured out
their love and adoration. Lucifer bowed with
them, but in his heart there was a strange, fierce conflict. Yet the Son
of God was exalted above him, as one in power and authority with the
Father. He shared the Father's counsels, while Lucifer did not thus enter into the purposes of God.
"Why," questioned this mighty angel, "should Christ have the
supremacy? Why is He honored above Lucifer?"
The exaltation of the Son of God as equal with the Father
was represented as an injustice to Lucifer, who, it was claimed, was also entitled to reverence and honor.
There
had been no change in the position or authority of Christ. Lucifer's envy and misrepresentation and his claims to **equality with Christ had made
necessary a statement of the true
position of the Son of God; but this had been the same from
the beginning.
While
claiming for himself perfect loyalty to God, he urged that changes in the order and laws of heaven were necessary for the stability of the divine
government.
Although
they had heretofore been in perfect harmony with the order which God
had established, they were now discontented and unhappy because they could
not penetrate His unsearchable counsels; they were dissatisfied with His purpose in exalting Christ. These stood ready to second Lucifer's demand for **equal authority with the Son of God.
Though he
had left his position as covering
cherub, yet if he had been willing to return to God, acknowledging the
Creator's wisdom, and satisfied to fill
the place appointed him in God's great plan, he would
have been reinstated in his office.
Lucifer
pointed to the long-suffering of God
as an evidence of his own superiority,
an indication that the King of the
universe would yet accede to his terms.
He persistently defended his own course, and fully committed himself to the great controversy against his Maker. Thus it was that Lucifer, "the light bearer," the sharer of God's glory,
the attendant of His throne, by transgression became Satan, "the adversary"
of God and holy beings and the destroyer of those whom Heaven had committed to
his guidance and guardianship.
