THE GREAT CONTROVERSY:

THE FOUNDATION

Lesson 1 for October 6, 2012

THE PLAYERS OF THE CONTROVERSY

“Just as surely as we have a personal Saviour, we have also a personal adversary, cruel and cunning, who ever watches our steps, and plots to lead us astray. He can work most effectually in disguise. Wherever the opinion is entertained that he does not exist, there he is most busy. When we least suspect his presence, he is gaining advantage over us. I feel alarmed as I see so many of the youth yielding to his power while they know it not. Did they but see their danger, they would flee to Christ, the sinner’s refuge”

E.G.W. (Sons and daughters of God, March 13)

Since Lucifer rebelled against God in Heaven, there's been a fiercewar between good and evil, between God and Satan.Although we cannot see them nor want to believe it, both God and Satan are real. The war between them is also real and we are immersed in the battlefield.

Lucifer was the angel with the greatest rank in Heaven, but his heart became conceited and full of pride. He wanted to be independent and to take his Creator's place (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-19)He attacked the divine law as if it was an unfair and restrictive law. Since that law is the reflect of God's character, the only way he could feel pleased was to taking God's place and announcing his own laws.The origin of the rebellion in Lucifer is inexplicable and inexcusable.

“How you are fallen from heaven, o Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation. On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:12-14)

THE BEGINNING OF THE CONTROVERSY

When Lucifer rejected God's forgiveness, he was expelled from Heaven and he traveled around the created worlds, trying to make God's sons to join him in his rebellion.

“Now the perfect harmony of heaven was broken. Lucifer’s disposition to serve himself instead of his Creator aroused a feeling of apprehension when observed by those who considered that the glory of God should be supreme. In heavenly council the angels pleaded with Lucifer. The Son of God presented before him the greatness, the goodness, and the justice of the Creator, and the sacred, unchanging nature of His law. God Himself had established the order of heaven; and in departing from it, Lucifer would dishonor his Maker and bring ruin upon himself. But the warning, given in infinite love and mercy, only aroused a spirit of resistance. Lucifer allowed his jealousy of Christ to prevail, and became the more determined”

(E.G.W. “Patriarchs and prophets”, cp. 1, pg. 14)

GOD'S REACTION

THE DIVINE PLAN

God revealed the foundation of that plan

to Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:15)

Abel knew that the sacrifice that they

presented before God symbolized the Messiah

that would die for his sins (Genesis 4:4;

Hebrews 11:4)

Abraham was told that one of his descendants

would die for all the mankind (Genesis 12:3; 22:18; Galatians 3:16)

God showed Israel the Plan of Redemption

more clearly through the Sanctuary, its rites and its feasts (Exodus

25:8; Hebrews 4:2)

Jesus' death –which was announced by the prophets– is

the key point of that Plan(Isaiah 53:6; Romans 5:8)

The Church Jesus established was meant to share the light and the knowledge of Redemption to the

whole world(Matthew 16:8; 18:16-20)

Jesus is interceding for us since His ascension, fulfilling his work

in the Heavenly Sanctuary(Hebrews 8:1-2)

When Adam and Eve sinned, God showed the Atonement the Plan of Redemption to the Universe; the Plan he had planned “before the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 1:18-20)

Since that moment, God began to gradually reveal that plan to man.

Agai

nst J

esus

Satan did everything possible to kill Jesus during all His life on Earth since He was born (Matthew 2:1-18) or to make Him sin (Matthew 4:1-11)

The life, death and resurrection of Jesus exposed the true character of Satan and his fallacy before the whole Universe.

THE AT TACK OF SATAN

“When Jesus was laid in the grave, Satan triumphed. He dared to hope that the Saviour would not take up His life again. He claimed the Lord’s body, and set his guard about the tomb, seeking to hold Christ a prisoner. He was bitterly angry when his angels fled at the approach of the heavenly messenger. When he saw Christ come forth in triumph, he knew that his kingdom would have an end, and that he must finally die”

E.G.W. (The Desire of Ages, cp. 81, pg. 728)

Agai

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he P

lan

of R

edem

ption

Satan is trying to make men reject the salvation God offers, replacing it with other things he invented.

“who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen” (Romans 1:25)

Agai

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he p

riest

ly

Min

istry

of C

hrist

As the prophet Daniel foresaw, Satan usurps the priesthood of Christ by placing mere men as intercessors instead of Jesus before God.

“He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered” (Daniel 8:11-12)

THE AT TACK OF SATANAg

ains

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Chu

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Satan's hate against God's government and His law makes him attack anyone who wants to love God and to obey His commandments.

Since Eden to our days, “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2Thim. 3:12) because “your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1P. 5:8)

THE CONTROVERSY TODAY“And the dragon [Satan] was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring [the Remnant], who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 12:17)

Just at the same time, God inspires a faithful people to preach a triple message of…

Nowadays, Satan attacks especially

those who honor the divine Law.

faithfulness to the Creator,• “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water” (Revelation 14:6-7)

quitting the apostasy,• “And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” (Revelation 14:8)

firm decision to obey the divine law.• “Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation… Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:9-12)

YOU AND ME BEFORE THE GREAT CONTROVERSY

There are no neutral stands in the great controversy between Christ and Satan.Jesus said, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad” (Matthew 12:30)The Bible invites us, “Choose for yourselves THIS DAY whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15; Hebrews 4:7)Let's say as Joshua did, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Jos. 24: 15)