SSLS 2016-12-15

2016 4th Quarter

Lesson 12, December 10-16, Job’s Redeemer

Thursday, December 15

Unmasking Satan and his devices used to tempt and deceive is the fundamental purpose for writing the book of Job. The prophet writes of the back story originating in Heaven. The question often raised in the minds of many is, “I thought Satan was cast out of Heaven. What is he doing in Heaven during the story of Job?”

We read of Satan being first cast out of Heaven in Revelation 12:7-9. “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” KJV. But with the fall of Adam and Eve, Satan usurped control of this world.

“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.” KJV, Job 1:6, 7. If Adam had not transgressed God’s commandment, he would have been present as a son of God. Genesis 5:1-3.

“And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” KJV, Luke 10:18. Jesus would cast Satan out of Heaven forever by His atoning life of obedience by faith and selfless sacrifice upon the cross for us.

Hosea 9:15 also illustrates all the wicked as being cast out of God’s house because their rebellion has become incurable. “All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters.” KJV.

At the cross of Christ, Satan was unmasked before the whole unfallen universe. “When God expressed His abhorrence of Satan, and his indignation against him, the whole universe responded. They had been convinced. The last vestige of affection for the fallen angels had been uprooted; the last tie had been severed. The Lord had demonstrated His wisdom and justice in banishing Satan from heaven.” (Ellen White, Signs of the Times, August 27, 1902, emphasis added.) “In the contest between Christ and Satan, during the Saviour’s earthly ministry, the character of the great deceiver was unmasked. Nothing could so effectually have uprooted Satan from the affections of the heavenly angels and the whole loyal universe as did his cruel warfare upon the world’s Redeemer.” (Ellen White, Great Controversy, 501, emphasis added.)

Now it is God’s purpose that Satan be unmasked before this fallen planet. We are to reveal the love of God in our lives and characters just as Jesus did.

“The aim of the great rebel has ever been to justify himself and to prove the divine government responsible for the rebellion. To this end he has bent all the power of his giant intellect. He has worked deliberately and systematically, and with marvelous success, leading vast multitudes to accept his version of the great controversy which has been so long in progress. For thousands of years this chief of conspiracy has palmed off falsehood for truth. But the time has now come when the rebellion is to be finally defeated and the history and character of Satan disclosed. In his last great effort to dethrone Christ, destroy His people, and take possession of the City of God, the archdeceiver has been fully unmasked. Those who have united with him see the total failure of his cause. Christ’s followers and the loyal angels behold the full extent of his machinations against the government of God. He is the object of universal abhorrence.” (Great Controversy, 670, emphasis added.)