“The Conflict In God’s Family” — another look at the
Biblical basis for understanding the plan of salvation as God’s provision for
restoring peace in His universe.
The Bible speaks of a war that began at the very center of God’s family, and all
of us have been caught up in the consequences of this revolt. The future of God’s
family depends upon the outcome of this war, upon God’s successful resolution of the
crisis of distrust. The Good News is that God has already won the war!
Bible passages included:
Revelation 12:7-12. “Then war broke out in heaven, Michael and
his angels fought against the dragon, who fought back with his angels; but the dragon was
defeated, and he and his angels were not allowed to stay in heaven any longer. The huge
dragon was thrown out — that ancient serpent, named the Devil, or Satan, that
deceived the whole world. He was thrown down to earth, and all his angels with him.”
“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, ‘Now God’s salvation has
come! Now God has shown his power as King! Now his Messiah has shown his authority! For
the one who stood before our God and accused our brothers day and night has been thrown
out of heaven. Our brothers won the victory over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the
truth which they proclaimed; and they were willing to give up their lives and die. And so
be glad, you heavens, and all you that live there! But how terrible for the earth and the
sea! For the Devil has come down to you, and he is filled with rage, because he knows that
he has only a little time left.’” (TEV)
Isaiah 14:12-14. “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 north; I will ascend above the
heights of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High.’” (RSV)
Matthew 4:8-11. “Again, the devil took him to a very high
mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them; and he said
to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Then
Jesus said to him, ‘Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the
Lord your God and him only shall you serve.”’ Then the devil left him, and
behold, angels came and ministered to him.” (RSV)
Genesis 3:1-5. “Now the serpent was more subtle than any other
wild creature that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God say,
“You shall not eat of any tree of the garden”?’ And the woman said to the
serpent, ‘We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; but God said, “You
shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neither shall
you touch it, lest you die.”’ But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will
not die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be
like God, knowing good and evil..’” (RSV)
Colossians 1:19,20. “For in him all the fulness of God was
pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or
in heaven, making peace by the blood of the cross.” (RSV)
“For it was by God’s own decision that the Son has in himself the full nature
of God. Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself.
God made peace through his Son’s death on the cross and so brought back to himself
all things, both on earth and in heaven.” (TEV)
Ephesians 1:9,10. “For he has made known to us in all wisdom and
insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as
a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things
on earth.” (RSV)
Ephesians 3:9,10. “...and to make all men see what is the plan of
the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; that through the church the
manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and the powers in
heavenly places.” (RSV)
1 Corinthians 4:9. “...we have become a spectacle to the world,
to angels and to men.” (RSV)
John 12:32. “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw
everyone to me.” (TEV)
Other passages that speak of Satan and his angels:
Job 1 and 2;
Zechariah 3:1,2;
Matthew 25:41;
2
Corinthians 11:14; 1 Peter 5:8; Jude 6.
©1984 Graham Maxwell
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