p. 14 | Studies in the Christ-Life at Brother Eldred's

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jul 10, 1907

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 28.

Studies in the Christ-Life at Brother Eldred's

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Tenth Evening's Study.

"Tom, my son," continued his father, "what other prophet of the Bible gives a very clear history of Satan, and the story of his fall, besides the prophet Ezekiel?"

"I think you refer to the fourteenth chapter of Isaiah, father; for Isaiah and Ezekiel tell very much the same story."

"Good; now let us see if we can discover, beyond a doubt, where Satan's original home was. Alice, do you think—"

"Please pardon me," interrupted Mr. Field, "but surely you don't mean to tell me that there is anything really definite in the Scriptures as to the original home of Satan?"

"Just listen to the testimony of our Saviour, as recorded in Luke. Alice will please read the eighteenth verse of the tenth chapter."

" 'And He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.' "

"That's plain, isn't it? Now Jack, you may read Rev. 12:7, 8."

" 'And there was war in heaven; Michael and His angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.' "

"Then where did Satan dwell before he made this earth his home?"

"Why, if his place was not found any more in heaven, he must once have been there, of course," admitted Mr. Field.

"But surely there is no means of telling where he is now," exclaimed Mrs. Field, excitedly, "you speak of this earth being his present home,—now, can you prove this from the Bible? can you, really, Mr. Eldred?"

"O papa! let me read this verse!" said Alice, without waiting for her father to answer. She had been busily examining a text of Scripture, while the others were talking. "I believe I've found the very verse that tells the whole story,—shall I read it?"

Brother Eldred smiled assent at once, and the little girl read slowly and distinctly:

" 'And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.' "

"A very plain text, little daughter," declared her father, "but since it is the confession of Satan himself, who is the father of lies, we will add the testimony of John the Beloved. Jack, will you read Rev. 12:9?"

" 'And the great dragon was cast out, 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.' "

"Well," said Blanche, turning to her father, "that seems to be pretty plain, doesn't it?"

"I'll give it up," replied Mr. Field, "I'll yield the point; but I don't see how to find such information!"

"The Bible is a Book which may be most diligently studied with great profit," replied Mrs. Eldred modestly; "we ought all to study it far more than we do."

"I'd like to know something about his looks—his personal appearance," said Mildred. "He is always represented as a very hideous being; do you think we have any certain way of knowing even this, Mr. Eldred?"

"Certainly; the Lord does not leave us in the dark, even concerning the personal appearance of our wily foe. The Lord well knew that Satan would try to deceive poor humanity into the belief that there was no such personage, and so inspiration gives us a vivid description of him,—"

"Yes, Mildred," interrupted Alice, "I'm thinking you have a wrong opinion of him."

"Please read last clause of verse twelve, Ezekiel 28; and we shall see," responded Brother Eldred.

" 'Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.' "

"But," objected Mrs. Field, "I see that the first part of the same verse calls him the king of Tyrus."

"But," replied Brother Eldred, "on account of the extreme wickedness of the city of Tyre, or Tyrus, and her king, this title is used as a synonym of Satan. My proof?—Certainly. Miss Mildred will you please read the first clause of the next verse,—the thirteenth?"

" 'Thou hast been in Eden, the garden of God.' Why how plain that is, father," said Mildred, turning to Mr. Field. "Of course, the king of Tyre was never in Eden, the garden of God."

"Why!" interrupted little Margaret, "that's where Satan was when he tempted Eve."

"True enough, little girl," replied her father. "Now, Jack, will you turn to a scripture which will tell us very plainly the primary cause of Satan's sin, and his consequent fall from his high estate?"

"I think it was all caused by pride, father. He was vain and lifted up, because he was so bright and beautiful. O, here is the verse I am looking for. Eze. 28:17: 'Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty; thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.' "

"Mrs. Field, do you think there was ever a time when even this arch-rebel was a perfect and sinless being?"

"I think not, Mr. Eldred; for I remember there is a verse somewhere, which says, 'Satan was a liar from the beginning;' this is one of the few verses which I learned when a child."

"But what beginning was here spoken of? Please read Gen. 1:1."

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

"Then it is plain that from the time of the creation of our world and the heaven, or space, which surrounds it, to the present, Satan has been a cruel foe. But beyond and before that time. Kindly read Eze. 28:15."

" 'Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.' "

"He wasn't satisfied with his position," interrupted Tillie, "and his unholy ambition grew and grew and spurred him on, till, as the prophet declares, he fell from heaven because he said in his heart '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;' and I sometimes think," continued Tillie, "that when we become discontented in the humble sphere in which the Lord has placed us, and begin to try to exalt ourselves, that we are somewhat like Satan."

" 'He that exalteth himself shall be abased,' " quoted Sister Eldred.

(To Be Continued.)