Can Atheists Be in Rebellion Against God?

Yes, it is entirely possible for atheists to be in a state of rebellion against God, as rebellion is fundamentally a rejection of His authority and law. 📜

The Nature of Rebellion

Rebellion against God is not limited to those who acknowledge His existence; rather, it is the natural condition of the carnal heartARSH October 11, 1898, page 651.5+1. The carnal mind is characterized as enmity against God, and because it is not subject to His law, it remains in a state of active resistance Romans 8:7. This spirit of independence and self-exaltation, which seeks to put human reason above divine wisdom, is the very essence of rebellionSW March 1, 1909, par. 3+1.

• Rejection of the Law: Those who reject the moral law virtually reject its Divine Author, and this rejection is considered full evidence of a carnal mindARSH October 23, 1860, page 180.16.

• The Harvest of Doubt: When individuals persist in sowing seeds of unbelief and neglecting divine truth, they eventually reap a harvest of "infidel hardihood" and stoical indifference4BC 1174.5+1.

• A Choice of Masters: All of humanity serves one of two masters—the Prince of light or the Prince of darkness—and those who refuse to serve Christ are effectively linked with the powers of darkness in their disloyalty to Jehovah18MR 366.3+1.

Historical and Prophetic Examples

History provides sobering examples of the results when a nation or people chooses to war against God's word.

• The Example of France: During the Reign of Terror, France formally rejected the Bible and the law of God, which led to an era of violence, crime, and the "harvest of blood"4SP 192.2+1. While the convention eventually acknowledged a "Supreme Being," they continued to denounce Christianity as a base superstitionSBBS 175.6+1.

• The Role of Satan: Satan is the originator of rebellion, and he works on human minds to suggest that there is wonderful knowledge to be gained apart from God18MR 358.2+1. He has specifically represented God as a cruel tyrant to drive people into skepticism and infidelityMND 292.3+1.

• Final Separation: In the end, those who have spent their lives in rebellion will find themselves unfitted for heaven, as they have never trained their minds to love purity or holinessGC 542.2. They will see that their exclusion from God's kingdom was a result of their own voluntary choice to disregard His ruleRH September 20, 1898, par. 8.

The Path to Peace 🕊️

While rebellion leads to ruin, there is a way to find harmony with the Creator.

• Surrender: True peace is found only through unconditional surrender of the heart to GodPTUK January 14, 1892, page 9.6.

• Knowledge of the Creator: If humanity had always honored the Sabbath—the memorial of creation—there would not be a single infidel or atheist in the world todayST April 7, 1898, par. 6+1.

• Invitation to All: God entreats all people, including those currently in opposition, to recognize His power and mercy before the day of final judgment Revelation 14:7PTUK May 2, 1895, page 274.28. He desires for everyone to escape the doom of the wicked and instead enter into the joy of His serviceMND 292.3+1.