MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
June 17, 2026
God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration
HISTORY OF SATAN’S REBELLION IN HEAVEN PERPETUAL SAFEGUARD FOR ALL CREATURES THROUGHOUT ETERNITY
Text: Ps. 193:20 “Bless the Lord, all ye His angels that excel in strength, that do His commandments, heartening to the voice of His word.” Ps. 103: 20, KJV.
We resume where we left off last week (all emphasis and bracketed words supplied):
“Satan’s rebellion was to be a lesson for the universe through all coming ages [the ceaseless ages of eternity future that commences at Christ’s glorious second advent], a perpetual testimony to the NATURE AND TERRIBLE RESULTS OF SIN. The working out of Satan’s rule [his ‘kingdom of darkness’], its effects upon BOTH MAN AND ANGELS, would show what must be the FRUIT OF SETTING THE DIVINE AUTHORITY.
“It would testify that with the existence of God’s government and His law is bound up the WELLBEING of all the creatures He has made.
“Thus the history of this TERRIBLE EXPERIMENT OF REBELLION was to be a PERPETUAL SAFEGUARD to all HOLY INTELLIGENCES to prevent them from being DECEIVED as to the NATURE OF TRANSGRESSION [sin, 1 John 3: 4], and SAVE them from committing SIN and SUFFERING its punishment. [which is death. Rom. 6:23).
“To the very close of the controversy IN HEAVEN [not yet on earth], the great usurper [‘the father of lies and murderer from the beginning.’ John 8: 44
continued to justify himself. When it was announced with all his sympathizers he must be EXPELLED from the abodes of bliss [Heaven is the home of angels; earth was created for man, his real home], then the rebel leader boldly avowed his CONTEMPT FOR THE CREATOR’S LAW. He reiterated his claim that ANGELS NEEDED NO CONTROL, but should be left to follow their own will [as in ‘will and self worship], which would ever guide them right.
“He denounced the divine statutes as a RESTRICTION OF THEIR LIBERTY, and declared that it was HIS PURPOSE to secure the abolition of the law; that freed from this restraint, the HOSTS OF HEAVEN might enter upon a MORE EXALTED, MORE GLORIOUS state of existence.” (End excerpt from E.G. White, Great Controversy, 1911 edition, Pacific Press Publishing Asso., p. 499)
If the latter sounds familiar it is because they are really similar: Satan’s subtle words of deception to Eve, then Adam in their sinless state and purity of perfect innocence in Eden, were, “Ye shall be like gods, knowing good and evil.” Eve was deceived into disobeying God’s command; then she tempted Adam, who yielded and disobeyed God. See Gen. 3: 1-7.
Both histories in heaven and Eden, the former of angels, the latter of man, are likewise “perpetual safeguards” for all mankind IF they heed its lessons without deadly delay and fatal excuses!
To be continued next MWM by God’s will. Bless all, NMF.