MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
April 15, 2026
God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration
EVIL AND SIN ORIGINATED IN HEAVEN: WHY GOD DID NOT ABORT IT IMMEDIATELY
It is almost-to-midnight hour of our “late, great planet Earth” of mankind’s second and last probation.
Regardless of one’s religious persuasion, faith, belief system, or none at all, and whether you choose to “hear or forbear; to “come now and let us reason together” or postpone “for a more convenient time;” brush off or outright reject, none can ever diminish one iota of this factual truth as fundamental as God and the everlasting gospel. What is it? That “the central power of the earth” since the fall in Eden six thousand years ago, is not a kingdom, nation, empire, “universal secret cabal,” or anything human. It is a demon. Yes, the demon himself.
Let’s begin from the last of the 66 books of God’s Word, Revelation, that simply traces us back to who, what, where, when, why, and how these all started. Thereafter we will summon the testimonies of the other prophets of the Old Testament, and on to Christ Himself, and the writings of His apostles and messengers in the New Testament.
Now this (all emphasis and bracketed words provided):
“And there was WAR IN HEAVEN: MICHAEL and His angels fought against the DRAGON; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed NOT; neither was their place found ANYMORE in heaven. And the GREAT DRAGON was cast out, that OLD SERPENT [cf. Gen. 2: 15-17; 3: 1-24] 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 [to the earth].” Rev. 12: 7-9, KJV.
“MICHAEL.” Christ has many “names” and “titles,” all indicative and descriptive of His various offices, authority, powers, roles, and relations heaven, the whole universe, and to the earth He created, particularly towards man whom He alone He “made in His image and after His likeness,” and in particular, in the great controversy and the Plan of Redemption of the Gospel.
Most Christian scholars and commentators and their Bible dictionaries (including the SDA Bible Dictionary, Commentary Reference Series, Vol. 8) say that “Michael the archangel” is “the highest of the angels”, drawing primarily from the Jewish religious literature such as the Targum of Jonathan as well as the Talmud.
However, the simple truth is that “Michael the Prince” and “Archangel are Christ’s
names and titles of authority as the Commander-in-Chief of the angelic host in their capacity as heaven’s army. See references provided here from the inspired pen of Ellen G. White:
– Christ is Michael: Desire of Ages, pp. 99, 421; Prophets & Kings, p. 572; Story of Redemption, p. 173.
– Heaven’s Prince, Archangel, Sanctified Life, p. 51
– Moses was raised from the dead by, Desire of Ages, p. 421; Early Writings, p. 164.
– When Christ shall stand up as heaven’s Prince and Archangel, Early Writings, p. 36; Great Controversy, p. 613; Life Sketches, p. 117.
Indeed the great controversy between Christ and Satan started in heaven and with the defeat of Satan and his angels, the cosmic conflict transferred here on earth, beginning with the downfall of man in Eden, merely six thousand years ago. It is soon to end in its prophesied stupendous climax before Jesus finally returns in all His glory in the true second advent!
Are you preparing and staying prepared and awake?
To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.