The Great Controversy

The Controversy

All Humanity is involved in a great controversy between Christ and Satan regarding the character of God, His law, and His sovereigntyover the universe.

The Controversy

Scripture portrays a cosmic battle between good and evil, God and Satan. Understanding this controversy, which has involved the entire universe, helps answer the question; Why did Jesus come to this planet?

Where Did it begin? Isaiah 14:1212How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of

the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

Ezekiel 28:1414Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I

have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

Where Did it begin?Ezekiel 28:17

• 17Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

Isaiah 14:12-14

•12How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! • 13For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: • 14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

What did Satan want?

• He wanted Gods Position but not his character.

• He wanted God’s authority but not his love.

War in Heaven

Revelation 12:7

• 7And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

Revelation 12:9

• 9And 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.

Revelation 12:4

• 4And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

War in Heaven

How did You become involved?

• Satan used the same arguments that lead to his downfall – undermining Adam and Eve’s trust in their creator.

Genesis 3:5

• 5For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

How did You become involved?

Genesis 3:5

• 5For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Insinuating that God is dishonest, unfair, trying to keep something from them.

Insinuating that eating the fruit will give them God’s mental and spiritual qualities. – The coveted what they throught God Had.

Knowledge of evil is something to be desired.

Satan Sowed the seed of discontent and mistrust of God in Eve

How did You become involved?

• In seducing man to sin, Satan ingeniously wrested from them their dominion over the earth. Now claiming to be the ‘prince of this world’, Satan challenged God, his government, and the peace of the whole universe from his new headquarters.

The cosmic perspective the book of Job affords provides powerful proof of the great controversy between Christ and Satan.

The stage is set on which the dramatic struggle between right and wrong is played out.

Job 1:6-7

Job 2:1-7

How did You become involved?

The Cosmic Issue

God’s Government & Law

1. God’s law Satan alleges is arbitrary, infringes on personal freedom.

2. Since it is impossible to obey it works against the best interests of created beings.

Related Issues

Controversy about truth as it is in Jesus.

Issue not only about his Law, but his word- the scriptures.

Matthew 16:13

• 13When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

• Everyone today faces the same question. Your answer depends on your faith in the testimony of God’s word.

The Center of Bible Doctrines

Can truth be understood apart from Jesus?

Several centres of truth have been proposed, either individually or in combination:

1) Man

2) Nature(Observable universe)

3) Scriptures

4) The Church

The Center of Bible Doctrines

Divorcing Bible doctrines from Him leads to a misunderstanding regarding “the way, the truth, and the life”.

In the original greek, antichrist may mean not only “against” Christ but “in the place of” Christ.

By substituting some other center than Christ in the church’s doctrines, Satan achieves his goal of directing attention away from the One who is the only hope of humanity

Significance of the Doctrine

The doctrine of the great controversy reveals the tremendous battle that affects every person born in the world.

It touches every corner of the universe.

Why is understanding the controversy is important to your Christian life?

Ephesians 6:13-18

Romans 8:37

Hebrews 1:9

John 14:16

Matthew 28:20