What does Ellen White write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "What does Ellen White say about the creation and fall of Satan before the creation of man? Please provide biblical references."
Answer
Before the creation of man, Satan, then known as Lucifer, was a highly honored angel in heaven, whose position was directly after Christ and who led the heavenly choir. His fall began with envy and jealousy toward the Son of God, especially when God revealed His plan to create man in His image without consulting Satan. This pride led to an open rebellion against God’s law and authority, a war in heaven, and ultimately his permanent expulsion from the heavenly community.
Satan's original position and his fall
»Satan was once an honored angel in heaven, next to Christ. His countenance, like that of the other angels, was gentle and expressed bliss. His brow was high and broad, testifying to great intelligence. His form was perfect; his appearance noble and majestic. Yet when God said to His Son, "Let us make man after our image," Satan was jealous of Jesus. He desired to be consulted regarding the creation of man, and because he was not, he was filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred. He coveted the highest honors in heaven, equal to God’s... Satan, ambitious to exalt himself and unwilling to submit to the authority of Jesus, began to prick at God’s government... It was decided there that Satan should be cast out of heaven, together with all the angels who had joined him in rebellion. Then there was war in heaven... But the good and faithful angels triumphed, and Satan was driven out of heaven with his followers.«
The origin of the rebellion and the law
»The law of God existed before man was created. The angels were governed by it. Satan fell because he transgressed the principles of God’s government... The principles of the Ten Commandments existed before the fall of sin and corresponded to the condition of a holy order of beings.«
Lucifer's envy and deception in heaven
»Lucifer bowed with them, but in his heart there was a strange, fierce conflict. Truth, righteousness, and loyalty fought against envy and jealousy... But again he was filled with pride in his own glory. His desire for supremacy returned, and the envy toward Christ was nurtured again... "Why," asked this mighty angel, "should Christ have supremacy? Why is He more honored than Lucifer?"... He began to sow doubt about the laws that governed the heavenly beings, suggesting that laws... were not necessary for angels, since their own wisdom was a sufficient guide.«
Satan's arguments against God's law
»Satan was brazen in his rebellion and expressed his contempt for the Creator’s law... He claimed that angels did not need a law but should be free to follow their own will, which would always lead them correctly; that the law was a restriction of their freedom and the abolition of the law was a great aim of his standpoint... Then there was war in heaven. The Son of God, the Prince of Heaven, and His loyal angels took up the fight against the arch‑rebel and those who had allied with him. The Son of God and the faithful, loyal angels triumphed; and Satan and his sympathizers were cast out of heaven.«
Biblical references in the texts
The provided documents cite the following biblical references and quotations in the context of angels and the fall:- Revelation 12:7-9: "Then there was war in heaven" (mentioned in EW 145.1 and SR 19.1).
- Job 38:7: "When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy" – refers to the existence of angels before creation (GC88 511.2).
- Psalm 8:6: Man was made "a little lower than the angels" (GC88 511.2).
- Genesis 1:26: "Let us make man after our image" – the cause of Satan’s envy (EW 145.1).
Original Sources (English)
Stephan Krol
Founder of EGW Vision
Why I built EGW Vision
Hello, I am Stephan Krol. I started this Ellen White website to make the writings of Ellen G. White and the Adventist pioneers easier to access for everyone.
EGW Vision helps you find topics, statements, and quotes faster, especially when many original sources are not yet fully available in your language. The tool searches semantically, groups relevant content by topic, and presents matching results as clearly as possible in your language.
My hope is that this tool supports personal Bible study, strengthens trust in the original sources, and helps more people discover the message of these writings with clarity, depth, and joy.
