Loopholes In the Great Controversy? Part 1
Great Controversy • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 12 viewsThe most common reasons given for not believing in God is that he is not fair, not loving, capricious, or not all powerful. "If God was all powerful and full of love for us, why doesn't he stop evil now?" Furthermore, why did he allow it in the first place? How could he let the people He loves go through such trauma, when He could stop it? We are going to answer these questions.
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Transcript
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Loopholes in taxes.
Part 1 – The Beginning of War
Can God be trusted?
Can God be trusted?
Is God trustworthy?
Good?
Fair?
Righteous?
All knowing?
All powerful?
Is God loving?
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
According to the Bible,
God is love.
Very definition of love
“character of God.”
Yet people always
question (accuse) God.
Common question
atheist
agnostic.
How can the biblical God exist?
If God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving, why can’t he stop evil?
If God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving, why can’t he stop evil?
Prevent anymore hurt...
This is a good question.
Even Christians ask,
“Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people.”
“Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people.”
Good question.
It demands good answer.
In some churches,
the question is taboo,
you can’t ask it.
If you do,
you are a bad Christian,
who has lost their faith.
Some denominations say
we shouldn’t even think
these things.
God will answer everything in heaven.
I do realize,
that there are some question
we won’t find answers
on this earth.
But there are some questions
our faith better answer
or it is a worthless faith!
Who is God?
How did we get here?
What is our purpose?
What happens after death?
and
Why all the suffering?
I believe
if my religion can’t
answer these philosophical questions
my religion isn’t worth much.
So,
lets go back
see if we can answer
important questions of life.
Let’s go back
as far as we can.
Some would say,
read Genesis 1. But
That is not far enough...
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
This is not,
The beginning of
the whole universe.
It certainly is not
the beginning of God.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Bible is clear,
before the mountains,
there was God.
When did God begin?
When did God begin?
He didn’t.
He is:
“from everlasting to everlasting”
meaning:
no beginning
no end.
In fact,
Gen 1 is not even
beginning of our solar system.
It describes
earth being without form and void.
In other words,
planet existed before Gen creation.
Where did it come from?
Well, everything came from God.
He created it at some prior point.
Before humans,
Before Gen 1,
God had already created
other beings...
God speaking:
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone,
when the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
It talks about
other creatures of God
that were singing
when God created earth.
Most people believe that
this is in reference to
other heavenly creations of God.
You may think of Angels
But Bible is clear
more than just angels.
Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads...
And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within...
These creatures
don’t appear to be people
nor angels.
God created other beings
in this universe
(likely many different kids).
That’s why
when people ask me
"Do you believe in aliens”
"Do you believe in aliens”
I always say yes!
Yes!
I, 100% believe in,
extra-terrestrial beings
the bible clearly talks about them.
That does not mean,
that I believe the
common sci-fi movies
weird myths.
Speaking of Angels,
the Bible talks about 1
who had significant authority:
“You were the signet of perfection,
full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
You were in Eden, the garden of God;
every precious stone was your covering,
sardius, topaz, and diamond,
beryl, onyx, and jasper,
sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle;
and crafted in gold were your settings
and your engravings.
On the day that you were created
they were prepared.
You were an anointed guardian cherub.
I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God;
in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.
This passages talks about
one special angel.
His name was Lucifer.
When we hear that name,
we think of evil
but His original name,
is a beautiful one.
It means: “morning star.”
The morning star
is the first star you see at night.
last star to disappear in the morning.
This means,
he was “the brightest star.”
What we can gather
from this passage is,
there seemed to be
some kind of honorable
hierarchy among God’s
created beings.
(not like earth).
Scripture says:
It has been testified somewhere,
“What is man, that you are mindful of him,
or the son of man, that you care for him?
You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
you have crowned him with glory and honor,
What are angels like?
What are angels like?
Bible is clear,
angels are
some kind of higher order
of creation than we were.
Within angels themselves,
there was order.
Lucifer was
a leader among them.
according to previous passage.
“You were the signet of perfection,
full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
You were in Eden, the garden of God;
every precious stone was your covering,
sardius, topaz, and diamond,
beryl, onyx, and jasper,
sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle;
and crafted in gold were your settings
and your engravings.
On the day that you were created
they were prepared.
You were an anointed guardian cherub.
I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God;
in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.
Notice that
Lucifer was
created perfectly.
he was beautiful
he was decked in jewels.
he worked in God’s presence
This teaches us,
there was nothing
defective about His creation.
“He was perfect.”
People frequently ask:
“Why did God create a devil?”
“Why did God create a devil?”
The quick and simple answer is:
He didn’t!
God created
a perfect and beautiful
angel of light.
Then what happened???
How did Lucifer become Satan?
How did Lucifer become Satan?
Very next verse:
You were blameless in your ways
from the day you were created,
till unrighteousness was found in you.
In the abundance of your trade
you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned;
so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God,
and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub,
from the midst of the stones of fire.
Your heart was proud because of your beauty;
you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.
According to verse...
He was blameless.
He was created perfect.
But sin was found in him!
How?
He corrupted himself!
How?
Because off his beauty and splendor.
He got fired
removed from working
presence of God.
What exactly happened?
Isaiah makes the story more clear:
“How you are fallen from heaven,
O Day Star, son of Dawn!
How you are cut down to the ground,
you who laid the nations low!
You said in your heart,
‘I will ascend to heaven;
above the stars of God
I will set my throne on high;
I will sit on the mount of assembly
in the far reaches of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.’
What was Satan’s problem?
What was Satan’s problem?
Lucifer had an “I” problem.
He was consumed with
thinking about himself.
He became
proud
self-centered
egotistical
narcissistic.
It go so bad,
that he became jealous
of God himself.
He felt that
he deserved to be
part of the God-head.
Clearly,
this was not reasonable.
He was a creation
not the creator...
Be he envied that prerogative of God.
Should I use quote about Satan being jealous of Jesus about the creation? I think it is in Story of redemption.
Let’s do a quick recap.
God has always existed.
God created many other creatures before us.
One of the highest orders of creations were angels.
The highest or one of the highest of them was Lucifer.
He became jealous of God.
What exactly did Satan do to rebel?
What exactly did Satan do to rebel?
In the abundance of your trade
you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned;
so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God,
and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub,
from the midst of the stones of fire.
Satan began to trade.
What was he trading?
What was he trading?
It wasn’t money.
It wasn’t goods.
It wasn’t power (Satan wanted more).
What else can you trade?
You can trade ideas.
Satan developed
doubts about God.
He was angry that he,
the crowning creation of God
was not more highly favored.
He doubted God’s
fairness
government
order
love...
He began to trade these ideas
with other angels.
He began to
covertly subvert
adoration of angels
for their God.
Until this happened:
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
Finally, God could
not allow the rebellion
in heaven longer.
Satan, and his sympathetic angel friends
were removed from heaven.
How many angels left with Satan?
How many angels left with Satan?
And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it.
We must decode this symbolism:
According to prior verses:
Dragon = Satan
Stars = Angels.
Therefore 1/3 of all angels of heaven
left with Satan.
Where did they go?
Where did they go?
Prior passage said:
Earth!
Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”
This is where
other questions arise...
Why didn’t God destroy him once he chose a path of evil?
Why didn’t God destroy him once he chose a path of evil?
Couple of reasons:
summed up in 1 word:
LOVE!
God is love.
But what about
destruction to come?
God had decided to give
freedom of choice
rule through love.
Government of love,
only safe and happy way
for government of universe.
Really 3 options:
Slaves
Robots
Love.
Slaves
no love
no freedom.
do what I say,
or I’ll hurt you.
Robots,
no love
no freedom.
Programmed to obey.
Illustration of proposal with gun.
Love is a choice.
If we manipulate someone’s choice
no longer love.
True love comes
with the possibility
of rejection.
Like parents on earth,
we may love and do our best
with our kids in this life.
Someday they will move out
and choose
to keeps us in their lives.
They may reject
teachings
values
morals
worldview
relationship.
That is part of love.
Love comes with a risk.
But God is all-knowing...
Didn’t God know His creatures would rebel and reject Him?
Didn’t God know His creatures would rebel and reject Him?
Yes,
He could have chosen
not to create.
But to have
chance of love
along with
danger of hurt & rejection...
better than
no relationships
no love.
Like the perfect
loving Father,
Our God willingly exposed
himself
his government
the universe to
pain of rebellion...
Why would God still create if He knew the future?
Why would God still create if He knew the future?
It was the only way for love
to one day flourish!
Why couldn’t God just destroy Satan immediately?
Why couldn’t God just destroy Satan immediately?
God knew that,
if the minute that Satan
became unrepentant
belligerently rebellious
zap
gone
(like communist Romania).
Others would wonder,
they would fear.
Relationships couldn’t flourish
love would not be safe.
So God moved foreward,
down the painful path of love.
Even though
it endangered the entire universe
even His very existence.
What did Lucifer really want?
What did Lucifer really want?
Control
Power
adoration
worship.
So he attacked God.
Told everyone:
God’s government is not good.
Law is not good.
Not really free.
God is not love!
He cannot be trusted!
How were so many creatures fooled by Satan’s lies?
How were so many creatures fooled by Satan’s lies?
Many were fooled
by His lies because
they were asking questions
no being had asked before.
God did the loving
and patient thing...
God would allow Satan to
try to prove Him wrong.
Why is all this suffering happening on earth now?
Why is all this suffering happening on earth now?
If God’s
government
law
character
love
false/broken...
Show a better way.
Satan set out
to do just that.
He wanted to prove
if he were God,
things would be better.
Perhaps, for some time,
the euphoria of sin
actually felt better for the angels.
They followed him,
to planet earth
to “create a better government.”
This is why the bible says:
… We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings.
Like the early war in Ukraine.
Watching for outcome.
How will this impact world?
Finally we come
to Gen 1.
The creation of earth
and our great grandparents
Adam and Eve.
Once again,
they were created perfect.
Was there anything defective in the creation of earth?
Was there anything defective in the creation of earth?
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good...
All was perfect
with plant earth.
Sin did not occur here
because God failed
failed to make it perfect.
wrote an error in programming code
forgot to account for possibility of sin...
God saw it all.
God allowed it all.
for the sake of love!
To protect the universe eternally.
How did sin infect planet Earth?
How did sin infect planet Earth?
But,
God warned them
about the renegade angel
trying to attack them.
Apparently,
Satan and his cohort
only had access to them
at the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
All they had to do
was stay far away
from that tree.
But once again,
they were given
freedom of choice
and Eve found herself
by the tree
talking to a
beautiful serpent.
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.
He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”
Why did Eve believe a snake rather than God?
Why did Eve believe a snake rather than God?
Once again,
Satan is trading false ideas.
He uses
greatest tool.
He insinuates doubt about
trustworthiness of God
government of God
love of God.
You know the story
woman eats
man eats
All their progeny
share is their consequences.
Speaking of consequences.
but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Didn’t God say, they would die that very day?
Didn’t God say, they would die that very day?
Many say,
“they started to die that day…”
“they lost their eternal life...”
That answer is incomplete.
Why?
Verse is specific...
“In the day that you eat”
“you shall surely die.”
The language is unequivocal.
So...
why didn’t they die
that very day?
Someone else did...
All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Here is says,
Lamb was killed when?
foundation of world.
Wait a minute!
Jesus died on cross
2000 years ago
not 6000+ years ago...
The plan
to save humanity
began that day.
Perhaps the clothes
that were made for them
was the very first
animal sacrifice
represent the promise
Jesus soon death.
But this begs another question:
“Why would God allow
the creation of planet earth
when He knew it would be
destroyed by sin so quickly?
First,
Another question.
How long were Adam and Eve on earth before the fall?
How long were Adam and Eve on earth before the fall?
I would like to submit
one piece of evidence
to suggest that
Adam and Eve were
not on planet earth for long
before they sinned.
God commanded them to
be fruitful and multiply.
I’m confident that they
did not waste time in doing so.
Human gestation is only
9+ months.
The fall is described in
Gen chapter 3.
The birth of Cain
described in
Gen chapter 4.
It was quick.
they did not live in perfection for long.
But...
“Why would God allow the creation of planet earth when He knew it would be destroyed by sin so quickly?
“Why would God allow the creation of planet earth when He knew it would be destroyed by sin so quickly?
By now,
you should know my answer...
For the sake of love!!!
He knew that
Adam’s family would
all be given chance of redemption.
They had been
deceived to
join Satan’s team.
But God would have
grace upon them.
They would get
opportunity to repent.
Furthermore,
this gives the chance
for God to prove Satan wrong.
Satan will model
his form of government
for the onlooking universe to see.
Like communism,
his utopian dream would be proven
to be perfectly worthless.
Additionally,
This would allow God
to prove Satan wrong
on other topics.
Both God and Satan
would also model
their own version of:
law
government.
and Love.
The watching universe
could decide
which one
brings true joy.
Only,
through this path,
through this pain,
God could
preserve love
and
prove Satan wrong.
But...
What about all the collateral damage?
What about all the collateral damage?
What about the friendlies
caught int he crossfire?
Why was is necessary
to move forward
through so much
pain and suffering?
Wasn’t there another way?
Wasn’t there another way?
Apparently,
No...
there was no other way.
So,
to answer
the questions
we started with:
Can God be trusted?
Can God be trusted?
Is God
Good
Fair
Righteous
All knowing
All powerful
Is God Love???
I submit
they answer is yes...
Satan has worked hard
to blame this mess
on God
and His government.
But remember
It wasn’t Christ
that ruined the world.
Who is responsible for this mess?
In the words of
parable of wheat and tares:
... ‘An enemy has done this...’
Don’t believe
lies of Satan.
This mess is not
God’s fault.
It is Satan’s.
We must stop blaming God!
God is working to solve it.
Just because God
had foreknowledge of sin
does not mean it was
His desired outcome.
Just because
God’s omniscient will
allowed this to happen
it does not mean
that God likes
pain and suffering.
Let me explain
by asking another question.
Can God do anything?
Can God do anything?
NO!!!
Example:
... it is impossible for God to lie...
There are things
God cannot do.
Well,
technically He can.
He has free will too.
But he can’t lie
And still be God
Still be Love...
This was one
of the problems
Satan had with
Government of God.
He hated God’s law.
He wanted freedom
to do evil
and call it good.
The point is,
Because God is love....
God is prevented
from doing certain things.
God cannot do anything
that hinders love
in the universe!
This answers the question:
If God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving why couldn’t he prevent this evil world from happening?
If God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving why couldn’t he prevent this evil world from happening?
He couldn’t
because he would have
prevented love.
Father and Railroad tracks.
The truth is,
God doesn’t always
get what He truly wants.
When we think of sin
we think of the harm
it caused us...
We rarely consider
God was harmed
more than we were
in this big mess.
Why?
For you!
Because he loves you!
There was no
other way.
There was no
loophole in
the Great Controversy.
But how?
How is God still solving the sin problem through this mess?
How is God still solving the sin problem through this mess?
That will have to be
the next sermon.
Questions:
Where are we presently in this great war?
Where are we presently in this great war?
• Why is the great controversy still going on, especially after the cross?
• Why is the great controversy still going on, especially after the cross?
What was left unfinished at the cross?
What was left unfinished at the cross?
• What can we learn about atonement from the OT sanctuary?
• What can we learn about atonement from the OT sanctuary?
Appeal
Appeal
My appeal is simple.
I invite you
to trust God.
Believe in His love.
