If Satan Sinned in Heaven, May not Others Also? by Dudley Marvin Canright

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Sep 21, 1876

If Satan Sinned in Heaven, May not Others Also?

By Dudley Marvin Canright

VERY often we have this question asked us. It is said that, if Satan was once pure and holy in Heaven and yet sinned, then the same thing may happen to others; and even the saints who are once saved, may also sin and fall. If we cannot give a ready answer to this and all other questions, the opposer triumphs, as though he had overthrown the entire Advent faith. But it should be remembered that the “orthodox,” and even the “evangelical” churches also hold with us that Satan is a fallen angel. Let them answer. But we do not by any means concede that this is an unanswerable objection. No; we think the case is a plain one. It is both a reasonable, highly probable, as well as a directly revealed fact, that neither the holy angels nor the glorified saints will ever sin or fall in the future.

Two facts make it very reasonable, and quite probable, that the holy angels will never in the future rebel against God. First, their loyalty to God, and their integrity, were most severely tested when the other angels rebelled and fell. The very fact that they remained loyal and unpolluted at that time, is good presumptive evidence that they will not rebel in the future. Their loyalty and integrity have once been tested, and found to be genuine. Secondly, the angels who fell never had an example of rebellion and sin before them—had never seen the terrible fruits of disobedience to God; but the angels who did not fall, have now had before their eyes for six thousand long years, an example showing the terrible effects of sin and rebellion against God. This sin can never be effaced from their memories, and must serve as a mighty influence to bind them in their obedience to God. Hence we say, that it is both highly improbable and unreasonable to suppose that the holy angels who have thus far maintained their loyalty to God, should in the future rebel against him.

Now let us look at man's case. Who will be saved in Heaven? Only those who have withstood all temptations, overcome all their sins, and lived righteously before God. These, and these only, will be saved. But this they did under the most trying circumstances. They were full of infirmities themselves, weak and naturally sinful, with propensities tending to lead them away from God; all the influence of the world brought to bear against them; the powerful temptations of the devil and his angels, continually causing them doubts and fears; and yet under all these circumstances, they succeeded in overcoming their sins, and living holy and righteous lives before God. How changed will be their condition after they are saved in Heaven! No tempting devil to deceive them; no alluring world to beguile them; no weaknesses of the flesh to ensnare them; no doubts and fears to weaken them;—all, all of these things are passed away now; they are immortal now; they are pure from the last stain and seed of sin; are surrounded by the holy angels, and walk in the light of God's own countenance. If they could succeed in living a life of holiness under the disadvantages under which they were once surrounded, how highly probable and reasonable, nay, how certain it is, that they will now be able to maintain that life of holiness under such favorable circumstances. Therefore we say it is unreasonable to suppose that the saints will fall again.

But we have the sure word of God that they shall not err. In the description of the new earth, in Isaiah 35 : 8, the Lord says, “And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those; the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.” This is often misquoted, and applied to this, life. But it has no application here. It applies to the future, and it is a sure promise of God that the righteous not only need not, but shall not err. Then Christ in speaking of the resurrected saints says: “Neither can they die any more.” Luke 20 : 36. This promise is sure, and we believe it. Many other such promises are scattered all through the Bible, that the saints once saved shall never fall, never die any more.

D. M. CANRIGHT.