Lessons in Liberty by W. M. Healey

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 10, 1911

Lessons in Liberty

By W. M. Healey

II. Power of Choice

SATAN came to the earth in chains. 2 Peter 2:4. This was not the chaining spoken of by John in Rev. 20:1-3. The chaining here mentioned is to take place at the coming of Christ, and continue for one thousand years, the time between the resurrection of the righteous and the resurrection of the wicked. At this time Satan will be so chained that he can not deceive the nations of earth, a work which he is now permitted to do.

In heaven Satan had been suffered to make his claim to authority, and demand worship, and attempt to coerce the heavenly hosts by force, contrary to the government of God.

All who chose to go with Satan were permitted to do so. Those who resisted his efforts to compel worship were the subjects of his wrath, and he opened war upon them; but Christ came to their aid. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." This is not because he chooses to flee, but because his power is limited, and he can not compel those to worship him who choose to worship God.

Satan, being severed from the Source of life, wisdom, and power, was a helpless being, shorn of strength. His life was continued unto the "judgment of the great day." Jude 6.

Ours to Choose

Tho Adam and Eve were alone in possession of the earth, Satan was too weak to take the kingdom from them by force. He did not attack them as he had the heavenly hosts. He was chained; and his only power was to practise deception, and if possible cause them to choose his way, and yield to his dominion that which God had given to them. To accomplish this he hypnotized the serpent, the most subtle beast of the field, and sent him to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, in the sight of Eve, that he might cause her to discredit the word of God that eating of it would produce death. Because the serpent did not fall down dead when he ate the fruit, he argued that God's word was not true. This, like every other argument against God and His word, rested upon a perversion of the word itself, and unsound reasoning. God had not said that instant death would follow the eating, but "in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Besides, the instruction was not given to the serpent, but to man, who possessed the power of choice.

When Adam saw what Eve had done, thinking she would die and leave him alone, in desperation he ate of the fruit. He should have had before him the great truth God's people are told to "remember," that in six days God created the heaven and the earth. Here he would have found a citadel of strength for trust and courage, and could have readily grasped the truth that if Eve was taken away, she was only a created being, and the Creator was left who could easily give him another companion.

BEHOLD, HE COMETH WITH CLOUDS; AND EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM, AND THEY ALSO WHICH PIERCED HIM: AND ALL KINDREDS OF EARTH SHALL WAIL BECAUSE OF HIM. EVEN SO, AMEN. Rev. 1:7.

God has given the Sabbath to His people that they may at all times remember that their God is the Creator of all things; so that when earthly wealth, honor, friends, even life, are taken from them, they have all things left in the Creator, who has power to restore that which has been taken away. Faith in the Creator, shown by the outward sign of keeping the Sabbath, is the saint's strong tower, into which he can run and be safe. For this reason Satan has always hated the Sabbath of Jehovah, and established one of his own, which, according to the principles of his kingdom, he has always tried to force upon man by such customs, laws, and penalties as he has been able to get man to adopt; for he, having no power to compel, can only do that which man will use his power to do for him. Adam, passing under his control by his own choice, took with him all the dominion which he possessed, and all went to the power of the "reform" kingdom. Adam lost his liberty, and became a slave. "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey; his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" Rom. 6:16.

The angels in heaven and man upon the earth could at any time, if they chose, cease to be subjects of God's kingdom; but while they are subjects of it they must obey His law.

Satan used every means to compel his subjects to remain with him in his kingdom, which ignores all moral law, and is founded on the will and caprice of those who can by any means obtain power.

Man could only take with him, as he went into the dominion of Satan, or rather took Satan into his dominion, such power as he already possessed, which had been given him of God. What was the extent of Adam's dominion and authority?