Book 4 of Musings A Message to the Heavenlies

People wonder why God permits wars and other disasters to plague the inhabitants of the earth.

God does not cause the evil, the problem is sin. God is waiting for the final wickedness, which is that of individuals becoming their own gods, little satans. This drama is being played out for the benefit of the heavenly spectators.

Perhaps we do not realize it, but the history of mankind on the earth is a reaction to the rebellion of Satan and his angels.

We have little knowledge of what it was like in Heaven before Satan decided to usurp the will of God. (Every usurper who has lived on the earth, such as Absalom, has been a reflection of the original usurper.)

I think we forget sometimes that sin did not originate with Adam and Eve. Sin is not a normal part of the physical universe. Sin came down to us from Heaven, carried by the serpent. The wisdom of the ancient dragon is revealed in the way he was able to seduce Eve, and then Adam.

It seems, from the Scriptures, that numerous highly placed spiritual personages followed Satan. Apparently the heavenly creatures had to make a choice between the Father and Satan.

Paul's expression "the elect angels" suggests God chose some angels to remain with Him.

I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism. (1 Timothy 5:21)

We know angels are interested in the conduct of the Christian churches.

For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.</em> (1 Corinthians 11:10)

It is apparent, therefore, that the questions raised by the rebellion are still being answered.

The war between Satan and God, or Satan and the saints, is not a battle of power. God always retains all power. Rather it is a struggle over righteousness and truth.

God, instead of summarily putting Satan in the Lake of Fire, has permitted him to express his will in the earth.

When David sinned, God said it gave God's enemies an opportunity to "show utter contempt."

But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die. (2 Samuel 12:14)

Be contemptuous of whom? Be contemptuous of the Lord and of His chosen servant, David.

This sort of accusation continues to this very day as the great red dragon accuses the saints before God, no doubt speaking contemptuously of them and causing the Lord to be ashamed.

As I said, God could have cast all the rebellious angels into the Lake of Fire and been done with it. But for reasons known only to God He has chosen to allow the wicked to show what they can do. When it has become obvious to the inhabitants of the heavens that the result of Satan's advice is every conceivable disaster, then God will move in wrath.

God does this sometimes with us. He permits us to go our own way until it becomes obvious we do not know what will bring us peace and joy. This is taking place in the world today, isn't it? The world is choosing to benefit itself apart from the Lord Jesus. Just look at the results!

Why God is concerned about the opinion of the rulers of the heavens; why He has decided to reveal His superiority by allowing Satan to express himself; I cannot tell you. I could wish God would remove all sin from His creation. The Bible tells us He is going to do just that, but only after He has accomplished His goals.

One of God's primary goals is to produce brothers of the Lord Jesus Christ who will overcome sin while living on the earth. This they do through the wisdom and strength of Christ. They will govern the creation throughout the ages to come.

I think the Christian people should be warned that a great shaking is at hand, and it will shake not only the earth but the heavens also. Every spirit, including Christians, will be tested in terms of his or her position in the Lord Jesus Christ. Only those spirits who have entered the death and resurrection of Christ will be permitted to remain with God, Christ, and the elect angels. All others will be cast down no matter how highly placed.

At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken-that is, created things-so that what cannot be shaken may remain. (Hebrews 12:26-27)

What created things are there in the heavens that can be shaken? That I cannot answer. But I do know only those whose life Christ is will remain with God after the shaking.

It is one matter to "accept Christ," by the current formulas. It is another matter indeed to turn our life over to Christ, take up our cross, and follow Him. When God begins to exercise the sentence of judgment that is on all sinners, angels and people alike, the only ones who will stand with God are those who are part of the Lord Jesus Christ. I suppose the elect angels are part of Jesus Christ, although in a way different from us, because the Bible says God is going to sum up His entire Creation in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Can you see the picture? Instead of just pronouncing doom on the sinning lords of the heavens, God created man to serve as an illustration of what will be produced when a person chooses Christ, and what will be produced when a person chooses Satan. We are a graphic portrayal of the wisdom and righteousness of God.

How the heavens rejoice when we choose to obey Christ!

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down." (Rev 12:10)

It is God's purpose to make an end of sin in His creation. The angels who sinned are doomed. There is no forgiveness or release for them.

The blood of Jesus Christ has made an atonement for the sins of mankind. Those who choose Satan over God, who cling to their sins, will be thrown into the Lake of Fire with Satan, Antichrist, and the False Prophet.

The remainder will be brought over to the new heaven and earth reign of Christ.

The world of the future will be governed by those who lived in victory in Christ during their discipleship on the earth. They shall inherit all things, including the nations of saved people on the earth.

When God has finished, the inhabitants of the heavens will see the wisdom and righteousness of God.

And there will be no more rebellions. God's son will see to that!

And to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, (Ephesians 3:9-10)