Did you know that every year the world faces at least 110 wars? And 30 of them are considered major conflicts. War covered on TV channels the news programs. The only reason the world’s media have overlooked the greatest war of all. Why the most prolonged and important conflict in universal history is not taken into account? Is the war behind all wars. It is the source of all conflicts. It is a great struggle between good and evil.
The Bible brings us back to the time when there was no sin, no sorrow, no evil. It leads us to the distant place called heaven.
In heaven is God’s throne from which God surveys the vast Universe that God had created. The multitude of angels is dazzling, intelligent, sinless beings whom He created, enjoy happiness in His presence. God created each angel with the gift of free choice, and it commands respect. He did not create them similar to computers that were programmed to love. They were free to choose love and obedience to his Creator. But it is precisely this freedom of choice also meant that they were free to resist Him. God went to such a risk.
God loves perfect order, and because each angel had designed their special case. Over them was placed the highest angel whose name was Lucifer, which means “shining”. Lucifer — “the overshadowing cherubim,” he was in the immediate presence of God. God told him: “You are the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty… You were anointed cherub, and I established you; you were on the Holy mountain of God walked among the fiery shafts of stones” (Ezekiel 28:12, 14).
The years of eternity took place in a perfect world and without a shadow of sin. The Bible does not say how much time Lucifer was in heaven from the time of its creation. Perhaps thousands of years, perhaps millions.
But as time went on, Lucifer, obviously, became more and more thinking of her own beauty and wisdom. And at some point he felt obliged to take in the heavenly hierarchy higher position.
Possessing high intelligence, wisdom, position, and beauty, Lucifer gradually began to see themselves as more important figure in the heavenly structure than he really was.
Only two other people in heaven were in equal position with God the Father is God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit. It is likely that Lucifer, knowing the justice and faithfulness of God, he decided that soon God will recognize his achievements, dignity and elevate him to the position equal to the position of the Son and the spirit. “From thy beauty thine heart hath lifted from your vanity you corrupted your wisdom” (Ezekiel 28:17).
Lucifer “killed wisdom”, that is, ceased to think clearly. His judgment was distorted by a false view of himself, and he chose to believe that his own view. Possessing high intelligence, wisdom, position, and beauty, Lucifer gradually began to see themselves as more important figure in the heavenly structure than he really was. He was arrogant, his ego grew.
Pride — an exaggerated sense of self worth — leads any person to fall. Lucifer eventually fell. After the fall God said of him: “Thou wast in thy ways from the day of thy creation, until he was found in thee iniquity” (Ezekiel 28:15).
“How art thou fallen from heaven, o Lucifer, son of the dawn!.. And you said in your heart: “will ascend into heaven, above the stars of God will exalt my throne and will sit upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the North; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like God”” (Isaiah 14:12-14).
What Lucifer wanted, never happened. If he were thinking clearly, you would not miss sight of the fact that he is merely a creature, even the most perfect, and can never become the Creator.
To the extent that, as time went on, and no indication that God has prepared for Lucifer, the expected rise in status, was not observed, the master of the angels at first were puzzled, then bitterly disappointed, and, in the end he was filled with anger and envy.
Then Lucifer could only do one of two conclusions: either the problem was in God or in himself. But since Lucifer had thought about the problem in himself, in his opinion, it was in God.
Lucifer came to the conclusion that God was just, righteous and faithful. He began sincerely to believe in their false beliefs about God’s nature, fully as true.
For a long time, Lucifer inspired the point of view of the angels. In the end, discontent, they planted, resulted in a revolt on your hands.
Lucifer questioned God’s justice, presenting himself very wise, very wise. He convinced a third of the angels to join him in rebellion.
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and His Angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought against [them], but it did not prevail, and there was already a place for them in heaven. And he was the great dragon, that old serpent, 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” (Revelation 12:7-9).
Why does God not destroy Lucifer at once? Imagine the mayor of your city was subjected to severe criticism by the opponent. This man began to accuse him of unfairness, arbitrariness and despotism. What if the mayor will call the police to arrest this enemy? Whether it will restore his good name?
God’s reputation and the loyalty was under threat, when Satan threw his arrogant challenge. The destruction of the opposition would not solve the problem.
Instead, God chose a different path. He allowed sin to exist in the universe some period of time to the true nature of sin is fully revealed. When it becomes clear that rebellion against God brings not happiness, but sickness and sorrow when I see that joy brings only God’s way, and the way Lucifer brings death and destruction, then and only then God will completely destroy all evil.
God is love, and love manifests prudence. Love does not use coercion. After all, you make love impossible. God let every angel to make their own choices, whose side he will take.
Began the great struggle between Christ and Lucifer now called the devil and Satan.
But as we have been drawn into this great struggle between God, His rule, based on love, and Satan and his rebellion, which is based on selfishness? We’ll cover that in the next issue of the newspaper.