MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
September 17, 2025
God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration
A MANY-SPLENDORED UNIVERSAL PURPOSE FULFILLED
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and His angels fought agains the dragon; and the dragon fought with his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, the old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth and his angels were cast out with him.” Rev. 12: 7-9, K.J.V.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. . . . And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory as of the only begotten of the Father; full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-3, 14.
We return to the inspired pen of Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 69, 70 (First part repeated from last week. All emphases and bracketed words supplied):
“It was a marvel of all the universe that Christ should humble Himself to save fallen man. That He that passed from star to star [constellation to constellation; galaxy to galaxy of unnumbered billions], from world to world [planet to planet; exoplanet to exoplanet], superintending all, by His providence supplying the needs of every order of being in His vast creation,—-that He should consent to leave His glory and take upon Himself human nature, was a mystery which the SINLESS INTELLIGENCES OF OTHER WORLDS desired to understand.
“When Christ came to our world in the form of humanity, all were INTENSELY INTERESTED in following Him as He traversed, step by step, the blood-stained path from the manger to Calvary. Heaven [the home of unfallen angels] marked the insult and mockery that He received, and knew that it was at Satan’s instigation. They marked the work of counter-agencies going forward; Satan constantly pressing darkness, sorrow, and suffering upon the [human] race, and Christ counteracting it [through angels doing His bidding].
“They watched the BATTLE between light and darkness as it waxed stronger and stronger. And as Christ in His expiring agony upon the cross cries out, ‘It is finished,’ A SHOUT OF TRIUMPH RANG THROUGH EVERY WORLD, AND THROUGH HEAVEN ITSELF. [But not on earth; not among His sorrowing disciples; not among His own chosen people who condemned the innocent ‘Holy One of Israel’].
“The great contest [of the great controversy; the cosmic conflict of the ages] that had been so long in progress in this world WAS NOW DECIDED, AND CHRIST WAS CONQUEROR [in death!]. His death had ANSWERED THE QUESTION whether the Father and Son had SUFFICIENT LOVE FOR MAN to exercise SELF-DENIAL AND A SPIRIT OF SACRIFICE.”
Note: Self-denial and self-sacrifice are graphically depicted by Christ’s two out-stretched bloody arms with hands nailed to the cruel cross!
“Satan had revealed his TRUE CHARACTER AS A LIAR AND A MURDERER [the ‘father of both from the beginning.’]
“It was seen [exposed; revealed] that the very same spirit which he had ruled the children of men who were under his power [starting from Cain to the wicked antediluvian generation to Christ’s time in Judea!], he would have manifested IF PERMITTED TO CONTROL THE INTELLIGENCES OF HEAVEN. [earth was the universe’s proving ground in more than one sense and greater dimension!]
“With one voice the LOYAL UNIVERSE UNITED in extolling the divine administration [of the government of God’s everlasting kingdom of righteousness].” (End quote)
To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.