MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
June 3, 2026
God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration
GOD’S PURPOSE IN HIS MYSTERIOUS DEALINGS WITH THE ‘MYSTERY OF INIQUITY’
TEXTS: “Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.” “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” Ps. 119: 89; 19: 7, KJV.
We resume quoting from Ellen G. White’s Great Controversy, 1911 edition, pp. 487-8 (all emphasis provided):
“Satan had artfully presented his side of the question, employing SOPHISTRY AND FRAUD to secure his objects. His power to DECEIVE was very great, and by disguising himself in a cloak of falsehood he had gained an ADVANTAGE. Even the loyal angels could NOT FULLY DISCERN his character, or see what his WORK was leading.
“Satan had been so highly honored, and all his acts had been clothed in MYSTERY, that it was DIFFICULT to disclose to the angels the true nature of his work.
“UNTIL FULLY DEVELOPED, SIN WOULD NOT APPEAR THE EVIL IT WAS. Heretofore it had no place in the UNIVERSE of God, and HOLY BEINGS had NO CONCEPTION of its nature and malignity. THEY COULD NOT DISCERN THE TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES THAT WOULD RESULT FROM SETTING ASIDE THE DIVINE LAW.
“Satan had, at first, concealed his work under a specious profession of LOYALTY TO GOD. He claimed to be seeking to promote the HONOR of God, the STABILITY of His government, and the GOOD of all the inhabitants of heaven. While instilling DISCONTENT into the minds of the angels under him [one third of the angelic host], 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 necessary in order to preserve HARMONY in heaven!”
NOTE: the latter reminds me of that perverted principle: “Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis.”
Translation: Create the problem; prepare the solution; control the situation.
“In His dealings 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 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 LAWS PERFECT.
“Satan had made it appear that he himself was seeking to promote the good of the universe. [Therefore] 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.”’- End extract.
To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.