5--The Great Controversy

How did sin and suffering all begin?
What is this controversy and who started it?

"And 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. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and [to] his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days. 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. 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." -- Revelation 12:4-9

Note: As we will learn in other places, this dragon or Satan was called Lucifer also.

"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For 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: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." -- Isaiah 14:12-14


Note: This mighty angel is an intelligent being and quite capable of deceiving humans. But our God is much more powerful. Let us make sure we depend on Him for all we need.

"Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone [was] thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou [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. Thou [wast] perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine 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. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffic; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee." --Ezekiel 28:13-18

Note: Lucifer’s position and power made him proud and caused his fall. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon had this same problem, and God had to teach him a lesson in humility. How many of us have need to be humbled?

Read Romans 1:19-32. Part of this text reads: “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”


Note: The answer to the question about men’s evil condition can be clearly seen in the above verses. Perhaps you don’t feel as bad as some of these were, but sin is still sin, no matter how small. The problem is, if we continue with even the small sins, we may eventually harden our hearts against the voice of God’s Spirit. Even some of the smaller sins are hard to get rid of. We need God’s “divine power” to be overcomers in our daily battles with sin and the enemy, Satan.

"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (This is part of the passage in Romans 5:12-21)

Note: We are all condemned to die because of sin. Yet, our Saviour offers us a new life.

Read Genesis 6-8 for an account of men who lived at the time of the flood. Yet, we know God has the answer for men’s salvation, if they will only come back to Him.


Note: Before the great flood, men continued in doing so much evil that God found it necessary to destroy most of them. Was this cruel? No, for no human can find eternal happiness when his heart is evil and selfish.

"Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." -– 2 Peter 3:6-9

Note: God gives men time to repent. He is merciful and longsuffering. Why does God put off ending all sin and suffering? Because He still wants to give us a chance to gain eternal life by accepting Him as our Saviour and Lord of our lives. Only He knows when the end will come and all men have had their chance. Yet, the Bible indicates that it won’t be long.

"For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." -– 1 Corinthians 4:9

Note: This great controversy here on earth between good and evil is not just continuing for the benefit of us, but for the benefit of the whole universe. For as they see the results of sin and our response to God’s mercy, they will never want anything to do with evil. Thus, God’s universe will be made secure from it ever rising again.

"And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. . . .But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" – Hebrews 1:7, 13-14


Note: Yes, the ministering angels from heaven are ready to do battle for us against Lucifer and his evil angels. They are ready to help us find our Lord and Saviour and to walk in the path of righteousness.

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand, And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." – Revelation 14:6-12


Note: The words “forever and ever” do not always mean for eternity in the Bible, as we will find out in other places. God says in Revelation and Malachi the wicked shall be burned up completely and be ashes under our feet.

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." -– Revelation 21:1-7


Note: Won’t it be wonderful to have no more crying, death, or any kind of suffering? He who overcomes by the divine power God offers to us (not in our own strength) will see an eternity where God has all kinds of great activities planned for us. We can pursue ambitions and enterprises without a taint of selfishness to hinder us. It will be just great to be there with our Saviour and loved ones.

CONCLUSION:

The Great Controversy Ends. Yes, it will end some day soon. God has promised this to His faithful children.