Q5 In what way did Satan, a fallen angel, put doubt on God’s government?
Hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree in the garden? … Genesis 3:1
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil th shalt not eat of it; for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die. Genesis 3:4
Note: In these five words, Satan the old serpent, is saying, God has given you a law which does not hold. There is no penalty or blame attached to you. To question the law of a country or its penalty, and to publicly decry its force, is to say that the law was not a just law—and that there was an alternative. This was a public blame on God, accusing Him of being misleading and unfair.
Q6 At the creation of the world how did the unfallen angels react?
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Job 38:4-7
NOTE: These same angels then saw what happened in the garden of Eden. There had been rebellion and war in heaven previously with a third of their number taking sides with Satan. Although they knew the loving character of God and the integrity of His laws and government and had chosen to be loyal to God, they were now confronted by new seeds of questioning and doubt. Blame has the potential to cause break up and destruction.
Q7 What does the Bible reveal that Satan wanted for Himself?
I will exalt my throne above the stars [angels] of God … I will be like the most High. Isaiah 14:13,14
NOTE: Satan had ambitions of a throne and a kingdom over and above that of God. When Satan was cast out of heaven, he took with him a third of the angels in his rebellion against God. ‘And his tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and did cast them to the earth.’ Revelation 12:4 ‘He was cast out into the earth and His angels were cast out with Him.’ Rev 12:9 Adam, the caretaker for this earth with the responsibility for its care and management , then blamed God and broke connections with Him. He had taken the side of Satan in Satan’s rebellion. In doing this He gave the world into the power of Satan. He was no longer its caretaker. We can see this from the words of Satan to Jesus in the temptations in the wilderness. ‘All these things will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me’. Matthew 4:9 He had seen and known that in God’s government, God was worshipped. If he could get the Son of God to worship him he would have truly achieved his aim. Later modules will show that worship is a central element of Satan’s control in this world. He will try to force people to worship in his way, by economic sanctions and even the death penalty.
Q8 How was God to respond to this spreading slur on His character?
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; Acts17:31
NOTE: The Bible speaks of a judgement that we must all pass through. God has called this judgement to clarify the entire situation and to bring a verdict. Is He fair and right or is Satan right? Who is telling the truth? It is only when this is visible to all, that evil can be eradicated. This is the reason that God has allowed Satan to use this tiny little world to develop an alternative kingdom. When the character of Satan’s leadership, |
