Dear Brethren and Friends,
When God the Father created the angels through Christ (John 1:3; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:16), the thought had to have entered Their minds that since they were creating beings with free moral choices and no previous character of mind which is developed through time, there was a chance that some would rebel.
Even though that was a probability, They went forward in this aspect of Their plan. As it turned out, Satan and about one-third of the angels did rebel and await judgment in the future.
We know that pride became an issue for Satan. Ezekiel 28:15-16 says: “You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you. By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones.”
He was perfect when created by God—perfect from his creation until iniquity (sin) was found in him.
We know that sin not dealt with will corrupt the whole person. Instead of dealing with his issue early, it blossomed into a full-blown rebellion and an attempt to overthrow God.
Of course, the rebellion as an historical event serves as an example to the faithful angels, not to walk in the path that Satan took, so it acts as a deterrent.
It also acts as a deterrent to us in the Church because it reveals the result of sin not repented of and dealt with, and has severe consequences, which in our case could be the lake of fire. Our calling is quite different from Satan’s who, as Lucifer, was created by God through Jesus Christ. When he sinned, Lucifer became known as Satan, and his angels, who followed him in his rebellion, became known as fallen angels or demons. But all the angels, including Lucifer, were created instantaneously, by fiat. We also read that angels cannot die (Luke 20:35-36; compare for example our Q&A about the fate of Satan and his demons, titled, “What does the Bible say about the ultimate fate of Satan and his demons? Will they live forever, or will they cease to exist?” – Church of the Eternal God). Humans are physical and don’t have eternal life but rather a temporary physical existence with the potential of inheriting eternal life. However, true Christians do have the “guarantee” or “down payment” of eternal life through the gift of God’s Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; Ephesians 1:13; 1 John 5:11-13).
Our potential is unique in that we could become full-fledged members of the God Family, something never offered to Satan and his demons which may have contributed to his fall into iniquity. With us, we can obtain eternal life with immortal spirit bodies, without defects, full of energy to accomplish tasks given to us by God and with full access to God and Christ forever (compare Psalm 23:6).
All this is promised to us if we remain faithful to our calling, being obedient to God’s laws and statutes which are still in effect today and enduring to the end, as we read in Matthew 24:13, a familiar Scripture: “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
We are tried and tested before receiving our crown, as many of God’s servants who are mentioned in the eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews. These mentioned all died in the faith and were tried and tested, some even to death. The one thing they were focused on was the crown awaiting them as stated by Paul in 2 Timothy 4:8: “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
We have to look past the trials we go through, as Paul did, and look to our future reward, knowing we will not be tried beyond what we can endure, as we read in 1 Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
This is an encouraging statement; especially, when we are going through a trial, and we have the further comfort that Christ will always be there for us. Psalm 37:28 reads: “For the LORD loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.”
Also notice this promise by Christ in Hebrews 13:5: “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.’”
These are promises we can take to the bank, using current terminology. They are as sure as sayings written in stone, just like the Ten Commandments. But there is more to this process than just hanging on till the end; it also involves growing in God’s grace and His knowledge: “… but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen” (2. Peter 3:18).
We also need to be engaged in the commission of completing the task given to the Church and us individually, which is described in Matthew 24:14: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
So, by remaining faithful and enduring to the end, we can accelerate the biggest event in human history which is the return of Christ to put an end to the wars, suffering and evils of this present age.
We will have the privilege and honor to rule with Christ and turn the world around to the worship of the one true God and His Son Jesus Christ.
No other task is as important as this one, so let us ensure we do remain faithful and at the end receive our crown of glory. Remember these most encouraging words by Christ in Luke 12:32: “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
In Christian love and service to Christ,
Rene Messier (Canada)