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Commentary on "From Exalted to Cast Down"
Day 6: Thursday, April 7, 2011 - Satan on Earth
Overview
This lesson addresses Satan on earth. It uses 2 Corinthians 11:14 and Revelation 12:7-12 to make its points:
And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14 ESV)
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!" (Revelation 12:7-12 ESV)
The lesson acknowledges that because of the cross, we can know victory is assured "for all who are covered in the robes of Christ's perfection." It continues by pointing out that Satan uses any method he can to keep people from a "saving relationship with Christ". It states that Satan is a defeated foe, but our only hope and strength are in Jesus. "His victory is ours, as long as we claim it for ourselves in faith and obedience."
The lesson ends with questions about how the devil subtly undermines our faith if we're not careful and asks what choices we can make so he doesn't succeed.
Observations
First, the lesson states that Satan's fall didn't only impact heaven but earth as well and states that it is manifested here by the great controversy.
There is no "great controversy". Ellen White's idea of a great controversy in which Satan becomes jealous of Jesus because God exalted Him, accuses God of being unfair and giving His subjects a law they can't obey, and then engaging in an ongoing battle with Jesus, the outcome of which will either vindicate God and His law or exalt Satan as the rightful ruler of humanity—all this is completely unscriptural. This idea is the result of EGW's vision, not the result of Bible study.
Jesus is already seated at the Father's right hand (Ephesians 2:4-6); Satan is already disarmed and humiliated publicly (Col. 2:15); those who place their faith in the Lord Jesus and are born again are now demonstrating the wisdom of God to the rulers and authorities in heavenly places (Eph. 3:10).
The Bible does not teach a "great controversy theme", and this Adventist idea distorts reality.
Second, the passage in Revelation, in context, is not talking about Satan's original rebellion. In context, it is revealing an event that is most likely yet to occur. The fact that there is rejoicing because he is the accuser of the brethren and has been thrown down does not describe Satan being banished when he first sinned. There were no "brethren" when he first sinned, and the authority of Christ had not yet come in the sense of His having defeated sin, death, and the devil by the cross and His resurrection when Satan was first thrown down.
When we are saved, we have the Person of the Holy Spirit indwelling us. We have the ability to resist the devil in a way people who are not born again cannot. People who are not born again have no ability whatsoever to resist Satan. Only when one has God indwelling him or her can one resist him because instead of struggling with temptation, the born-again person can submit the moment, the emotion, the desire for self-indulgence and sin to the Lord Jesus.
The Adventist focus on Satan and sin betrays that Adventism does not understand the new birth nor its power. To compare oneself to Lucifer, checking one's thoughts to see if they're rebellious or proud, is to focus on sin instead of Jesus.
Instead of struggling with your thoughts, I invite you to submit your mind to Scripture and your life to the Lord Jesus, giving up your right to your "free will" and allowing Jesus to forgive you and make you new.
Summary
- There is no great controversy. The Lord Jesus has defeated Satan, and God is not waiting for us to vindicate His character or His law.
- Revelation 12:7-12 is not describing the fall of Lucifer. In context, it describes an event yet to come, when Satan is banished from appearing before God and prohibited from accusing the brethren.
- We cannot manage our thoughts or avoid pride and temptation. We can only submit to the Lord Jesus in repentance and submit our minds to His word.
- Instead of struggling with sin, a born-again person submits the moment of desire, strong emotion, or temptation to the Lord Jesus, asking Him to take the moment and surrendering our "right" to whatever indulgence or expression of negative emotion we might be on the verge of indulging.
Copyright 2011 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised March 30, 2011. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
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Official Adventist Resources
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