![]() The Father Himself speaks of Christ as God, even after His incarnation. While the cosmic conflict has many aspects such as Can God be trusted? Is He fair? Is He dictatorial and arbitrary? the central issue is the acceptance of His authority and what He said about the equality and authority of His Son. The former brings forgiveness, the latter calls for obedience. To accept Christ as Savior is one thing, but to accept Him as Lord is another. Throughout the New Testament Epistles we find expressions such as: Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. ![]() No one will be in heaven who does not accept Christ as his or her Lord and King. Lucifer refused to accept Christ as his Lord and King. It is important to understand that closely examined, the cosmic struggle is between God and Satan over the authority of Christ. 4 So the war in heaven was instigated by Lucifer, and he and his angels had to be expelled. Then Lucifer said that he was ready to resist the authority of Christ and to defend his position in heaven by force. The Father told him that His Son's position belonged to Him alone. He would be subject to the Father but not to Christ. He told the Father about his dissatisfaction that Christ should be given preference and urged that he should have that position. 3 He wanted to be equal with God and have his authority be heard as if it were God's. How long Lucifer was allowed to spread his rebellion throughout the universe we are not told. And together with his followers, he rebelled against the authority of the Son. Lucifer bowed in acknowledgment but left the presence of the Father filled with envy. The word of the Son was to be obeyed as readily as His own. This compelled the Father to assemble the heavenly host to confirm in the presence of all that His Son was equal with Himself and wherever His Son was, it was as though He Himself was present. He began to assume command, which belonged to Christ alone. 1 He was jealous of Christ and refused to acknowledge His supremacy and accept His authority. In order to understand the magnitude of our mission and the cosmic impact of the work we have been called to do, we need to understand the underlying issue of the conflict that began thousands of years ago in the throne room of God.Īs we know from Scripture, it all began when Lucifer, the commanding angel standing in the presence of God, became proud and turned violent. HY HAVE Seventh-day Adventists been brought on the scene of action at this time in the world's history? While our mission is to take the gospel to all the world, our unique emphasis is to help settle the question between God and Lucifer over the authority of Christ. ![]() Adventist Review: The (Abbreviated) Great Controversy
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