The First Apostasy by G. B. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Apr 12, 1906

The First Apostasy

By G. B. Thompson

G. B. THOMPSON

Sin had its origin with Lucifer, the light-bearer and attendant of God's throne. It originated with one who was a leader, a commander among the angelic host, and who stood next in power and authority to the only begotten Son. The heart of this exalted angel became lifted up because of his beauty. Though perfect from the day he was created, there came a change. He began to admire himself. Pride and self-exaltation came into his heart, and becoming dissatisfied with his exalted position, he sought equality with his Creator. And the disaffection which was in his heart he spread among the angelic host, and nearly one half this sinless company, sympathizing with him, were cast out of heaven. Here is a mystery no human mind can understand. How sin could thus originate is inexplicable; but the fact remains, nevertheless.

It is exceedingly interesting, as well as timely, to trace the working of this subtle and mysterious apostasy in its incipient stages. The Spirit of God has opened before us some of the steps taken by the covering cherub in instigating this terrible rebellion. I will quote a few extracts:—

“But little by little, he [Lucifer] began to seek his own honor, and to employ his powers to attract attention and win praise to himself.”—“Great Controversy,” page 317.

As stated, selfishness and pride lay at the bottom of the strife and commotion which had entered to mar the harmony among the angelic host. Yet while fomenting discord and strife, and seeking to overturn the government of heaven, and set up a government of his own instead, Lucifer denied that he had any such intentions.

“He had artfully presented his side of the question, employing sophistry and fraud to secure his objects. His power to deceive was very great. By disguising himself in a cloak of falsehood, he had gained an advantage. All his acts were so clothed with mystery, that it was difficult to disclose to the angels the true nature of his work. Until fully developed, it could not be made to appear the evil thing it was; his disaffection would not be seen to be rebellion. Even the loyal angels could not fully discern his character, or see to what his work was leading.”

“Lucifer had at first so conducted his temptations that he himself stood uncommitted. The angels whom he could not bring fully to his side, he accused of the indifference to the interests of heavenly beings. The very work which he himself was doing, he charged upon the loyal angels. It was his policy to perplex with subtle arguments concerning the purposes of God. Everything that was simple he shrouded in mystery, and by artful perversion cast doubt upon the plainest statements of Jehovah.”—“Patriarchs and Prophets,” page 47.

This tells the story in brief. Lucifer's tremendous powers of deception were largely increased by the artful disguise with which he clothed himself. Though at war with his Creator, he posed as a loyal angel. He denied the charges preferred against him, and claimed that he had in no way changed, but was seeking to have such improvements made in the management of the universe as would tend to a better form of government, and he was therefore in no way responsible for the discord and strife which had come in to mar the serenity of heavenly affairs. With high and pretentious claims he concealed the iniquitous designs which filled his heart.

But while openly professing loyalty to the truth, secretly, and with mysterious sophistry, he continued sowing the seeds of rebellion, and strengthening his hold on the sympathies of the angels. And under this mask he was able to lead millions of the holy and pure angels, with clear intellects and minds capable of penetrating deep problems, into open revolt against God.

We are also instructed concerning the charges which he preferred against the Creator.

“The discord which his own course had caused in heaven, Satan charged upon the government of God. All evil he declared to be the result of the divine administration. He claimed that it was his own object to improve upon the statutes of Jehovah.”—Ibid., page 48.

The real reason for the discord was his departure from the divine precepts. But this Lucifer denied, and, blinded by sin, he assigned another reason. He set forth as the reason for his actions that there was a great wrong in the organization of the government of heaven. The plan in the heavenly court, it seems, was for some one to stand at the head of administrative affairs, and the Son had been placed in this high position. This system of organization was contrary to Lucifer's ideas, so a difficulty developed in heaven.

“As one aggrieved, he related the preference God had given Jesus to the neglect of himself. He told them that henceforth all the sweet liberty the angels had enjoyed was at an end; for had not a ruler been appointed over them, to whom they from henceforth must yield servile honor? He stated to them that he had called them together to assure them that he no longer would submit to this invasion of his rights and theirs; that never would he again bow down to Christ; that he would take the honor upon himself which should have been conferred upon him, and would be the commander of all who would submit to follow him and obey his voice.”—“Spirit of Prophecy,” Vol. I, page 19.

Disguising the fact that in his heart he coveted the position held by the Son of God himself, he represented to the angels that this form of government was monarchical, and an absolute tyranny. That which we now call the papacy he claimed had been established, in principle, in the management of the heavenly government, and that to submit to this arrangement would be to have their liberties abridged.

“The Son of God warned and entreated him not to venture thus to dishonor his Maker, and bring ruin upon himself. But instead of yielding, Satan represented to those who loved him, that he had been wrongly judged, that his dignity was not respected, and that his liberty was to be abridged.”—“Great Controversy,” page 317.

While in his heart envy and jealousy were urging him on in his rebellious course, he stood before the heavenly family as the great exponent and defender of liberty. It was liberty he wanted for himself and those with whom he had been associated in the work of the divine administration. But while disguising himself under the mask of standing in defense of the rights of the angels, and against a system of tyranny which he claimed was in heaven, he himself had in his heart the seeds of all the despotic power which has cursed the earth since the introduction of sin.

The preceding paragraphs from the spirit of prophecy, studied in the light of the following, which has recently come to us from the same source, are exceedingly interesting: “God calls upon all his ministers and all his medical workers to be on guard. Those who are following the devising and the plans and the subterfuges of the one so determined to have his own way are misrepresenting their Heavenly Father; for God is not instructing him. Evil angels are leading him on to do a work similar to that which was begun in heaven.”

Takoma Park, D. C.