The Great Adversary by Francis M. Wilcox

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 30, 1913

The Great Adversary

By Francis M. Wilcox

Peculiar interest attaches to the history of the great adversary. Some of the facts of the inspired record relating to his origin and work read almost like romance, so full are they of thrilling interest and fascination. But coupled with our interest there must ever be utter abhorrence of the spirit that actuates him and the nature and character of his opposing work. This robs the story of its beauty, and makes it less pleasing and attractive. Now for six thousand years or more Satan has been at war with God's government, seeking by every means in his power to tear it down, and cause wide-spread rebellion in the universe of the Most High. With a courage, cunning, and zeal born of intense and bitter hatred has he set up himself as an antigod, and by the insinuation of doubt, darkness, and unbelief has he sought to make God and his government an object of abhorrence and hatred to all created intelligences.

As we contemplate the existence of this arch-deceiver, and feel his mighty power against us, many interesting queries regarding his nature, origin, character, and destiny obtrude themselves upon our quickened senses. Whence comes this mighty foe? Why is he suffered to exist? What are his aims and purposes? What will be his end? To the discussion of some of these problems we shall devote the space of this article:—

1. Satan's nature. His order of being is higher than that of man, but is none the less real and personal. As God has a personal existence, and as all the angels of God are real and literal beings, so also is Satan, who is but an angel fallen. Only the one who does gross injustice to the obvious sense of the Scriptures can claim that Satan is merely an evil principle in human nature, or the lust of the flesh. Everywhere is he recognized as an active, living, personal intelligence, possessing the power to fear, to tremble, to reason, to envy, to hate. See 1 Peter 5: 8; James 2: 19; Job 2: 1; Revelation 20, and many other scriptures which speak of his characteristics.

2. Origin. With commingled feelings of wonderment and surprise do we learn that Satan originated in the courts of the Highest. Pure and holy he came from the hand of his Creator, without the taint or defilement of sin or iniquity. Says the inspired penman, “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” Eze. 28: 15. High and exalted was the position he occupied in the celestial courts. Standing by the throne of the everlasting Father, as “the anointed cherub that covereth,” the light from the divine presence must have encircled his being.

3. Fall. But although thus highly exalted, Satan could maintain his position only by obedience to the laws of the Infinite. He was placed upon probation. God desired him to form a righteous character; and the formation of character is possible only through the right of choice, the exercise of free and untrammeled moral agency. Satan chose the ways of disobedience. The position and honor bestowed by the beneficence of his Benefactor exalted his heart in pride and arrogance. Says the prophet, “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.” Eze. 28: 17. The aim of this ungodly ambition was to usurp the place and authority of God, and to be equal to the Most High. “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: . . . I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.” Isa. 14: 13, 14.

4. Why did Satan sin? This question we can not answer, nor do we believe it lies in the power of finite mind to solve the problem. There is no excuse for sin, hence no reason for its existence. As soon as we form in our minds a reason for Satan's downfall, we form an excuse for his sin, and palliate its enormity. There is no excuse for his sin, hence, to our mind at least, no reason for it. Sin originated in his own heart, and the results of his course of rebellion he himself must suffer.

5. Why is he suffered to exist? In answer to this question let us consider somewhat of the circumstances of his fall. His downfall involved other intelligences besides himself. John, speaking of Satan under the figure of the dragon, says, “His tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth.” Rev. 12: 4. And from other scriptures we learn that there was more than one angel that left his first estate and sinned. See Jude 6 and 2 Peter 2: 4. When God could no longer tolerate this rebellion in his heavenly domain without imperiling the order and harmony of his regal courts, Satan and his followers were cast out. Rev. 12: 7-9. God might instantly have destroyed the arch-deceiver and his evil host. To the Infinite mind the utter perverseness and depravity of Satan's purposes were already apparent. Not so, however, with the vast orders of intelligences peopling God's universe. They could read of Satan's character, motives, and purposes only by the outward appearance. The principles of the divine government were at stake in the minds of God's creatures. If he should destroy Lucifer, some who had not taken part in his rebellion, but in whose minds Satan had thrust doubt and unbelief against God, might feel that God, in thus blotting Satan from existence, was, after all, as Satan had represented, arbitrary, cruel, and unjust. God will demonstrate to all, even to the bold rebel, that his government is one of love and justice. He will let Satan run his course and demonstrate to all men the justice of the final judgment. He will thus forever remove from his government all spirit of rebellion, complaint, or disaffection. In this, it seems to us, there is found a satisfactory solution to the problem of Satan's continued existence.

6. His character and work. Satan's early experience in the courts above indicates his character, one at variance with God, seeking his own selfish interests

and the gratification of his own arrogant ways. Such was he when banished from the heavenly courts; such has he ever remained. Christ thus bears witness to his perverse nature: “He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” John 8: 44. In Rev. 12: 10 he is called the “accuser of the brethren;” and in the accusation he preferred against Job, we have an exemplification of this character. He is “god of this world,” “the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” He, “as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour;” and often, to better accomplish his work of deception, he is “transformed into an angel of light.” This is his character, and the object and purpose of his efforts are to deceive the whole world. Rev. 12: 9. How successful he has been in this deception let the countless wicked millions of the past and of the present bear witness. “Broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.”

But there is one thought in our warfare against Satan, which, if we but realize its import, will strengthen us for the conflict. The battle we fight is not a personal one. It is not contention for selfish ends alone. We are fighting for the honor of God. Every attack we resist, and every insinuation of the arch-deceiver we repel, throws our influence on the side of God's government. On the contrary, whenever we yield to Satan, we say that he was justified in his rebellion, and that God is indeed a tyrant. And we say this not only to ourselves and to our associates, but to the universe as well. Paul says, “We are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.” This world, and the plan of redemption being worked out for the human race, are the great lesson of the universe. We are not alone in the conflict; angels and the inhabitants of the unfallen worlds are looking on with intensity of interest to see the demonstration of God's infinite love, and the depravity, degradation, and misery of sin. In the conflict may our lives prove that God is true and his wisdom and character unimpeachable.

7. Satan's final doom. When Satan has demonstrated to the universe of God his character, when the plan of redemption has been consummated in its fulness by giving to every individual an opportunity to decide between the claims of Satan and the integrity and character of the All-wise, then will the enemy of God and of his people receive the reward which is meet and fitting for his evil deeds. In the burning lake of fire will he meet his just deserts. “I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth,” saith the Lord, “and never shalt thou be any more.” Eze. 28: 18, 19. Satan shall become as though he had never existed. As the root of sin, he and his branches shall perish in the burning flame. No taint nor defilement of sin shall mar God's fair universe. And as the intelligences of the great universe contemplate the work of the great adversary, they will count his doom a just one, and with one voice will ascribe honor and praise to him who has thus demonstrated the wonders of his love, and proved the eternal integrity and righteousness of his government. “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.” Rev. 5: 13. F. M. W.