The Fall and Mark of Satan​

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Chapter I - God

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The Creator - Revelation 14:6-7, Genesis 1:1

 

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters."

 

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

 

Who is our Creator?

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     Our creator is God and He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He alone is the only true God. For it is written: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3. He is not a reflection or image of some other person, for He is the source of all things. 

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How did God create the heaven and the earth?

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     God created the heaven and the earth by His Word. “For He spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” Psalm 33:9. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” John 1:1-3. 

 

Who is the Word?

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     The Word is His Son, the Word is His image and the Word is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Consider the following verses:

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1. Hebrews 1:1-3 “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

2. 1 Corinthians 8:6 “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”

3. Colossians 1:15 “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.”

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Summary

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     Our Creator is God and He created all things “ that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers” by His Son Jesus Christ. 

 

Chapter 2 - 1st Day

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Light - Genesis 1:1-5

 

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day."

 

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What is this beginning?

 

     This beginning is not the beginning of God, for the Ancient of Days has no beginning. This beginning is also not the beginning of the Son of God for His beginning is from everlasting for it is written: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting (margin: days of eternity).” Micah 5:2. The beginning in Genesis 1:1 refers to the beginning of creation of the heaven and the earth. When this creation is finished, inspiration says: “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.” Genesis 2:1.

 

What was the condition of the earth in the beginning?

 

• “And the earth was without form, and void” - Although the word “earth” was mentioned in this verse, it was not yet formed and did not exist. To better illustrate this concept, let us look at an example of building a house.  Before building a house, you would have the blueprint prepared before building.  The house does not yet exist, but the planning stage has been completed.  The materials needed to build the house would soon be brought to the lot and the building would commence. However, the house is not yet in existence. It is without form and void.

 

What happened on the first day of creation?

 

• “Let there be light” - There were no other forms of light that existed before this beginning but God (1 John 1:5 "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”). Hence when God said “let there be light”, His first "created” form of light was brought forth.  There were no other created forms of light within the scope of heaven and earth before the utterances of these words: "let there be light”.

 

• "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light" - This light created by God on the first day was not the light emitted by the sun, moon, or stars since those were created on the fourth day. 

 

• “the evening and the morning were the first day” - Time as we know it began on the first day of creation. 

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What kind of light was created on the first day?

 

     The kind of light created on the first day was a form of life. This should come as no surprise to us as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is also the Father of lights (James 1:17) and He takes responsibility for all creation: “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.” Isaiah 45:7. Consider the following verses comparing light to life: 

 

1. Job 3:20 “Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul.”

2. John 1:4 “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

3. Proverbs 16:15 “In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.”

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     In the quote above from Job 3:20, the term "light" and the term "life" are used synonymously. The form of life created on the first day were angelic hosts. Consider the following verses illustrating angels to that light: 

 

1. 2 Corinthians 11:14 “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” 

2. Isaiah 14:12 “"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations."

• “O Lucifer” - Lucifer, "light-bearer" was such a created light. The first mention of this kind of created light happened on the first day of creation, which was when Lucifer was called forth into existence. 

• "son of the morning!” -  A title given to Lucifer because the first appearance of morning was also on the first day of creation, giving further proof to Lucifer’s birth to be at the dawn of the first day of creation.

• Lucifer's name and title being the light bearer and the son of morning placed him in an exalted position as the leader of angels. 

     3. Job 38:7 "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of           God shouted for joy?"

• On the first day, the morning stars sang together. When the dawn of the first day broke, all the heavenly host broke out and shouted for joy when they came forth out of darkness in response to the infinite power of creation. 

• The angels were referred to as morning stars because of the timeline in which they were created, the morning/dawn of the first day.  

• Each day in the creation week is considered a "generation". For it is written: "These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens." Genesis 2:4. Thus it can be said that for generations before our world is formed, angelic hosts were created. 

 

Examples of other lights made that are NOT during the 1st day of creation: 

 

     1 Sun, Moon & Stars (made on the 4th day of creation): 

• Genesis 1:16-19 “And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.”

     2. Man (made on the 6th day of creation):

• Matthew 5:14 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”

• 1 Thessalonians 5:5 “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness”

     ​3. The Son of God (days of Eternity/ Everlasting)

• John 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

• Hebrews 1:4 “Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”

 

     Once the creation of the angelic host was completed, God the Father, King of the universe summoned the heavenly host before His throne to set forth the true position of His Son. This was done because the angels, the hosts of light were newly created, they were unfamiliar with the position of the Son of God. The Inspiration says: “And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.” Hebrews 1:6.

 

Chapter 3 - 6th Day - Part I

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Genesis 1:24-25

 

"And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."

 

     The creation of animals and creeping things were the first events to take place on the sixth day of creation. By now, the creation of all plants and animals were finished and the Garden of Eden in its full glory was completed and ready to be occupied by human beings.

 

The BIG announcement

 

     Instead of calling things out of existence as what God has done in the previous days, He made an announcement. He said: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” God did not just speak man into existence. Compare the following verses where God just spoke things into existence:

 

1. “Let there be light…” Genesis 1:3

2. “Let there be a firmament…” Genesis 1:6

3. “Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear…” Genesis 1:9

4. “Let there be lights in the firmament…” Genesis 1:14

5. “Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.” Genesis 1:20

6. “Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.” Genesis 1:24

   

        As you can see, man is the crowning act of God’s creation with His Son—a co-worker who could share His joy in giving happiness to created beings. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.” John 1:1-2. 

 

     “And God said, Let us make man in our image” - In this verse, God announced His intention of creating man but did not execute the plan immediately.  Rather he announced His intentions of creating man to signify the importance of this event. The creation of Man was the crowning act of God in His work of creation through His Son. He saved the best for last.  However, it was also at this point Lucifer rebelled against God. Speaking of this rebellion, Jesus said: “And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” Luke 10:18.

 

Chapter 4 - 6th Day - Part II

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The Apostasy - Ezekiel 28:12-15

 

"Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee."

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“The anointed cherub”

     

     When God said to His Son “Let us make man in our image”, Satan was jealous of Jesus. He wished to be consulted concerning the formation of man, and because he was not, he was filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred. He desired to receive the highest honors in heaven next to God. For he said in his heart: “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” Isaiah 14:14. But this counsel, this fellowship is with the Father and the Son because only the Son of God was like the most High “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God”. Philippians 2:6. Thus, Lucifer, the glorious angel, “sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty” chose to rebelled against the government of God and his downfall was written by the inspiration: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!” Isaiah 14:12.

 

Evidences of this war occuring on the 6th day of creation:

 

     1) Garden of Eden: 

• “Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God…Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” Ezekiel 28:12-15

• The Garden of Eden is fully created and furnished with plants and animals on the 6th day of creation prior to the creation of Man. And it was in this state, Lucifer was in the garden and iniquity was found in him.

     2) Mountain of God

• Exodus 3:1 “Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.”

• Exodus 18:5 “And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:”

• The location of the mountain of God, just like the Garden of Eden is here on earth. Lucifer “wast upon the holy mountain of God…Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.”

     3) The Warning (given to Adam on the sixth day before Eve was brought            forth)

• Genesis 2:17 “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die”

• The consequence of disobeying God was death and the cause of death is by the murderer who was “from the beginning.” John 8:44. Hence, it was before the creation of man and after the finishing work was done to the Garden of Eden that Satan and his angels were cast out of heaven.

 

The Rebellion and the Judgment (6th day morning):

 

Micah 2:1“Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the  morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.” 

 

Zephaniah 3:5 “The just Lord is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.”

 

     In the morning of the sixth day of creation, Lucifer‘s jealousy and hatred were fully manifested into open rebellion when he was slighted for not being included in the creation of man. This resulted in the first war of Heaven where Satan and his sympathizers were cast out. “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!”. Says Jesus: “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.”

 

 

Chapter 5 - 6th Day - Part III

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The Crowning Act- Genesis 1:27

 

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

 

     Immediately after the war, God created man in his own image, “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.”

 

Concept of time

 

     Each day during the first week of creation is referred to as a generation: “These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.” Genesis 2:4. Another word used synonymously for generations is ages: "Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints" Colossians 1:26. Thus, it can be said that for ages God bore long with Lucifer before he was cast out on the sixth day. 

 

     Another fact to consider is that men are made a little lower than the angels (Hebrews 2:7). Just how much lower can be illustrated using the following example: “And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.” 2 Kings 19:35. Hence, what an angel can accomplish in one night will take man many years to do. This fact Peter did not want us to be ignorant about when He said: “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” 2 Peter 3:8. 

 

 

Chapter 6 -7th Day 

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The Sabbath of the Lord- Genesis 2:2-3, Ezekiel 20:20

 

"And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made."

 

"And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God."

 

     The seventh day Sabbath had its origin in the creation week. This day is also known as the Lord’s day for it is written: “For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.” Matthew 12:8. This day was a gift from God to men to draw them closer to Himself. For Jesus said “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.” Mark 2:27-28. 

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      It is worth noting that God first rested on the seventh day, and then he blessed and sanctified the day after His rest. This means that God blessed and sanctified the Sabbath after it is finished on the first day of the week. And this very gift of the Sabbath, Satan puts in all his energy and power to distort. For it is written: “he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws”. Daniel 7:25. As God has highly exalted the seventh day over the first day of the week, Satan seeks to highly exalt the first day of the week over the seventh day of the week. After all, the first day of the week was his birthday, the day Satan wants to exemplify and honor, in replacement of God’s sabbath day.

 

     Here are the sequence of events that followed to honor the first day of the week rather than the seventh day of the week:

 

     This false sabbath had its origin in the 4th century when Emperor Constantine dedicated the first day of the week to the worship of the Sun. A few years later, Eusebius of Caesarea, who is also known as the flatterer of Constantine advanced the claim that Christ changed the Sabbath from the seventh day of the week to the first day of the week. In addition, Pope Sylvester I, the bishop of Rome during this time labeled the first-day “sabbath” to be the Lord’s day. And it was through a trinity of three persons - Emperor Constantine, Bishop Eusebius of Caesarea and Pope Sylvester I - that the Sabbath was changed from the seventh day of the week to the first day of the week.

 

     What is written in stones cannot be changed. For Jesus said: “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” This Sabbath commandment, God wrote with His own fingers on tables of stone: “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

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     Hence, God says the seventh-day sabbath is the sign of God, our Creator: “And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.” Ezekiel 20:20. On the other hand, the first-day sabbath is the mark of Satan, the adversary. And on this point, the whole earth decides to whom they render their worship. 

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Chapter 7 - ELLEN WHITE QUOTATIONS

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Great Controversy, 495.3

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God in His great mercy bore long with Lucifer. He was not immediately degraded from his exalted station when he first indulged the spirit of discontent, nor even when he began to present his false claims before the loyal angels. Long was he retained in heaven. Again and again he was offered pardon on condition of repentance and submission.

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• From the first day of creation to the sixth day of creation, God bore long with Lucifer. Angels' mental, physical & spiritual faculties are much more advanced than men's, while men may not comprehend 6 six literal days to be much time, the events that took place in heaven during that period were abundant. 2 Peter 3:8 "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."

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Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4, 316.3

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Sin originated with him, who, next to Christ, stood highest in the favor of God, and highest in power and glory among the inhabitants of Heaven. Before his fall, Lucifer was the covering cherub, holy and undefiled. The prophet of God declares, “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” [Ezekiel 28:15.] Peace and joy, in perfect submission to the will of Heaven, existed throughout the angelic host. Love to God was supreme, love for one another impartial. Such was the condition that existed for ages before the entrance of sin. 

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• The word "ages" is used synonymously with the word "generation". For it is written: "Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints" Colossians 1:26.

• As we stated before, each day in the creation week is considered a generation. "These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens" Genesis 2:4. Given the fact that the creation of angelic hosts happened on the first day and the casting out of Satan & his angels occurred on the sixth day, such was the condition that existed for ages before the entrance of sin. 

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The Signs of Times, January 8, 1880

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In the work of creation, when the dawn of the first day broke, and the heavens and the earth, by the CALL of infinite power, came out of darkness; responsive to the rising light, “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.”

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• The Creator called forth the angels into existence at the dawn of the first day of creation.

• Christ was the Son of God; He had been one with Him before the angels were CALLED into existence. (PP 38.3)

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Early Writings 145.1

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Satan was once an honored angel in heaven, next to Christ. His countenance, like those of the other angels, was mild and expressive of happiness. His forehead was high and broad, showing great intelligence. His form was perfect; his bearing noble and majestic. But when God said to His Son, “Let us make man in our image,” Satan was jealous of Jesus. He wished to be consulted concerning the formation of man, and because he was not, he was filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred. He desired to receive the highest honors in heaven next to God.

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• Satan's rebellion was fully manifested when God said to his Son “Let us make man in our image” on the sixth day of creation.

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The Story of Redemption, 19.1-2

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Then there was war in heaven. The Son of God, the Prince of heaven, and His loyal angels engaged in conflict with the archrebel and those who united with him. The Son of God and true, loyal angels prevailed; and Satan and his sympathizers were expelled from heaven. All the heavenly host acknowledged and adored the God of justice. Not a taint of rebellion was left in heaven. All was again peaceful and harmonious as before. Angels in heaven mourned the fate of those who had been their companions in happiness and bliss. Their loss was felt in heaven. 

The Father consulted His Son in regard to at once carrying out their purpose to make man to inhabit the earth. He would place man upon probation to test his loyalty before he could be rendered eternally secure. If he endured the test wherewith God saw fit to prove him, he should eventually be equal with the angels. He was to have the favor of God, and he was to converse with angels, and they with him. He did not see fit to place them beyond the power of disobedience. 

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• After God said to His Son, "Let us make man in our image", a war broke out in heaven. Immediately after the war, the Son of God at once carried out the purpose to make man to inhabit the earth. These events took place on the sixth day of creation.

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The Story of Redemption, 20.2

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After the earth was created, and the beasts upon it, the Father and Son carried out their purpose, which was designed before the fall of Satan, to make man in their own image. They had wrought together in the creation of the earth and every living thing upon it. 

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• After the earth was created, the Father and Son "designed" their purpose in creating man in their own image. Then a war broke out in heaven and Satan was casted out. Then the Father and the Son "carried out" their purpose which was designed before the fall of Satan.

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The Story of Redemption, 24.2-3

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When Adam and Eve were placed in the beautiful garden they had everything for their happiness which they could desire. But God chose, in His all-wise arrangements, to test their loyalty before they could be rendered eternally secure. They were to have His favor, and He was to converse with them and they with Him. Yet He did not place evil out of their reach. Satan was permitted to tempt them. If they endured the trial they were to be in perpetual favor with God and the heavenly angels. 

Satan stood in amazement at his new condition. His happiness was gone. 

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• As Adam and Even were placed in the beautiful garden, Satan stood in amazement at his new condition. These events occurred on the sixth day of creation. 

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The Story of Redemption, 16.2

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Many of Lucifer's sympathizers were inclined to heed the counsel of the loyal angels and repent of their dissatisfaction and be again received to the confidence of the Father and His dear Son. The mighty revolter then declared that he was acquainted with God's law, and if he should submit to servile obedience, his honor would be taken from him. No more would he be intrusted with his exalted mission. He told them that himself and they also had now gone too far to go back, and he would brave the consequences, for to bow in servile worship to the Son of God he never would; that God would not forgive, and now they must assert their liberty and gain by force the position and authority which was not willingly accorded to them.

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• Some of Lucifer's sympathizers INCLINED to turn back but never did.

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Patriarchs and Prophets, 40.3

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Many were disposed to heed this counsel, to repent of their disaffection, and seek to be again received into favor with the Father and His Son. But Lucifer had another deception ready. The mighty revolter now declared that the angels who had united with him had gone too far to return; that he was acquainted with the divine law, and knew that God would not forgive. He declared that all who should submit to the authority of Heaven would be stripped of their honor, degraded from their position.

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• Some of Lucifer's sympathizers were DISPOSED to turn back but never did.

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How important is this message?

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“Instruction has been given me that the important books containing the light that God has given regarding Satan’s apostasy in heaven should be given a wide circulation just now; for through them the truth will reach many minds. Patriarchs and Prophets, Daniel and the Revelation, and The Great Controversy, are now needed as never before. They should be widely circulated because the truths they emphasize will open many blind eyes.”—The Review and Herald, February 16, 1905.

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Consider a few more quotes:

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The Great Controversy, 493.1

Before the entrance of evil there was peace and joy throughout the universe. All was in perfect harmony with the Creator's will. Love for God was supreme, love for one another impartial. Christ the Word, the Only Begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father,—one in nature, in character, and in purpose,—the only being in all the universe that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God. By Christ the Father wrought in the creation of all heavenly beings. “By Him were all things created, that are in heaven, ... whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers” (Colossians 1:16); and to Christ, equally with the Father, all heaven gave allegiance. 

 

• Christ and His Father were the only two beings involved in the work of creation and in the counsels and purposes of God. 

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The Great Controversy, 493.1

But there was one that chose to pervert this freedom. Sin originated with him who, next to Christ, had been most honored of God and who stood highest in power and glory among the inhabitants of heaven. Before his fall, Lucifer was first of the covering cherubs, holy and undefiled. “Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering.... Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” Ezekiel 28:12-15. 

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• Even though Lucifer was next to Christ in power and glory, he was not satisfied with his position. Lucifer wanted to be the Third Equal Person, he wanted to be "like God". For he said: "I will be like the Most High."

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The Great Controversy, 518.1

The great controversy between Christ and Satan, that has been carried forward for nearly six thousand years, is soon to close.

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• At the time the book Great Controversy is written, it was nearly six thousand year Satan carried forward his work. This work of rebellion began first in heaven in the year B.C. 4004. (https://www.tm91studies.com/bc4004)

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The Great Controversy, 552.2

Thus under a new disguise the great rebel still carries on his warfare against God, begun in heaven for nearly six thousand years continued upon the earth.

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• The "nearly six thousand years" period began its count in heaven and continued upon the earth.