The Untold Story of Jesus – The Father’s Five Laws – Chapter 4

Immediately after the Godhead formed, but prior to them creating the universe, I believe the newly appointed Father declared five laws. All three Gods agreed these laws would be written in the hearts and minds of their children, and remain unchanged forever so it would be natural for them to live within their boundaries.1

The first two commandments are: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.2

The first commandment was discussed in the previous chapter. The second commandment will be examined in this chapter. The Father demonstrated the importance and magnificence of this second law when He sent Jesus to the cross;3 and not even Abraham could have comprehended such a gift or sacrifice. Then, Jesus demonstrated the importance and magnificence of the second law when He willfully gave up eternal life so that we could possess what belonged to Him.4 The Godhead has demonstrated their commitment to the first two laws with unmeasurable sacrifices5 that prove they love their degenerate, rotten, rebellious, and sinful neighbors as much as they love themselves! Is the phrase “God is love” beginning to take on a larger dimension?

The third law may seem strange, but it makes perfect sense if you accept that Jesus is deity and the other two Gods are eternally invisible. The Father commanded: All created beings must worship ‘The Word’ who is the Creator. Everyone must worship Jesus just as they worship the Father.6 This law is called an everlasting gospel.7 Even though Jesus lives in the form of a created being, He was not created.8 He is an eternal deity just like the Father and Holy Spirit.9 Worshiping Jesus is not blasphemous or inappropriate and the Father does not want anyone to think otherwise!10

The Father’s fourth law says blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unpardonable.11 This law is easy to understand because our only connection to the Father and Jesus is through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. If the Father or Jesus sends a message or prompting to someone and it’s rejected by the person, the Holy Spirit will retreat because the Godhead sadly respects our power of choice and will not override it. When the Holy Spirit has repeatedly tried to reach someone and finally concludes nothing further can be done to persuade that person, the Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit will withdraw. The end result of this process being: a sin that cannot be pardoned because there is no other way to connect with the Father and Jesus.

However, the Holy Spirit does not give up easily! His love for us is as deep and endless as the Father and Jesus’ love! Therefore, if a sinner has any desire to honor God by obeying Him and walking in His ways, he can be sure he has not committed the unpardonable sin.

Finally, the Father declared a fifth law which says, no one may eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. If anyone does, he will be put to death that same day.12 According to Ezekiel 28:13, the Garden of Eden was originally located in heaven before it was placed on Earth during Creation Week. In the middle of the garden, two trees stood side by side; one was named the Tree of Life and the other, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The Tree of Life was created to sustain created beings because of conditional immortality. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was created as a visible reminder that created beings have the power of choice. At any time, anyone in heaven could eat the forbidden fruit and the Godhead would not prevent it; so the law was a dormant issue. Of course, consequences were promised for eating its fruit, but there was no point or temptation for eating forbidden fruit, so the law was largely dormant. I am sure, now and then, curious angels asked about the purpose for the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, but its name and purpose may have been dismissed as another one of the Father’s mysteries which would be revealed in time.

I am often asked if angels have to eat from the Tree of Life to stay alive. The answer is “yes.” Angels are not deity; they do not have the power of life within themselves to live. When Jesus created angels, He gave them, as He gave Adam and Eve, conditional immortality. Adam and Eve had to eat from the Tree of Life to remain alive. However, after they sinned, they were barred from it so death would overtake them.13 This raises the question: If Lucifer and his demons no longer have access to the Tree of Life and fallen angels have conditional immortality, how do they remain alive? I believe the Father gave Lucifer and his angels a “grant” to live until the consequences of sin are completely revealed. Looking forward, we know there will be a Tree of Life in the Holy City.14 Its presence there indicates that after the Second Coming, God’s children will have to eat from it to live.15

The Book of Life

After declaring these five laws, but before creation of the universe, I believe the Father wrote a complete record of events that would unfold in heaven and on Earth. He secured this book with seven seals so no one could possibly know what had been written. Twice in the book of Revelation16 this book is called “The Lamb’s Book of Life,” but it only received this title after the Lamb was found worthy to receive it from the Father.17

The Father wrote this Book of Life because He foreknew a day would come when false accusations would be made against Him. To prove His innocence, He created an unalterable document showing what He foreknew before the universe was created. When He finished writing the book, seven seals were placed on it so its contents could not be read or altered. The seals were necessary because the information is highly sensitive. For example, He knows who will choose or reject eternal life. Because Jesus and the Holy Spirit do not have this foreknowledge, and if this information were prematurely exposed, the devil could say “The Father wrote the names of all those who would be destroyed before they were even given life; therefore, He predetermined which angels and human beings were to die!” This accusation would ruin the Father’s effort to prove His innocence!18

Actually, the Father’s foreknowledge and our eternal destiny have no connection. The Book of Life will prove this at the end of the 1,000 years when the seventh seal is broken and the contents of the book are exposed.

After the Father completed this Book of Life, He gave blueprints to Jesus for creating the universe and the Creator went to work creating. Many Christians do not know Jesus is the Creator of the universe and everything in it. In fact, His divine power holds the universe together.19 This means, Jesus keeps the sun burning, Earth orbiting the sun, and the moon orbiting Earth. He keeps the stars and constellations in their places and knows each by name!20 Jesus also created heaven and all the angels. We see in His creative work the awesome power the other two Gods forfeited; conversely, we see in them the awesome powers our Creator forfeited!

The Bible says, “For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.”21 Jesus did all of His creative work in perfect harmony with the Father’s will,22 and when He finished creating heaven there was great joy and happiness. Billions of angels were alive! Because they were created in God’s image, they had a natural predisposition for righteousness (natural compliance with the five laws) and their hearts were filled with love for the Godhead and one another.

The Origin of Sin

Some of the previous information may cause you to wonder if this story is fiction. Now that we are ready to discuss the Plan of Salvation and the origin of sin, I hope to connect some dots so you can understand how things came to be and why they are what they are. The following explanations are my “best guess.” I have merged many Bible facts and a few parallels from Jesus’ ministry on Earth to tell the story.

After the angels had lived in God’s presence for many years (perhaps millions), one angel, unfortunately, the highest, most beautiful, and capable ever created, became dissatisfied. He had everything, but coveted something that belonged to Jesus. The relationship between Lucifer and Jesus was extremely close. They spent much time together in perfect trust and joy and the familiarity Lucifer enjoyed with Jesus created a problem. It was a perfect example of the old saying “familiarity breeds contempt.”

This ancient phrase explains why officers and enlisted do not fraternize in military organizations. Officers are leaders, they give the orders, and ideally, they have no favorites or equals in their units. When officers and enlisted are kept separate, there is more respect for officers because there is less familiarity and their weaknesses are not as visible. When officers fraternize with enlisted, they become buddies and a sense of equality will form. If the “playing field” becomes level, the enlisted will feel and think they are just as capable and intelligent as their commander. Therefore, military leaders know that authority has to be elevated using distinctions such as dress, privileges, or wages. Otherwise, familiarity breeds contempt (rebellion).

Lucifer and Jesus were the highest ranked angels in heaven.23 They stood beside the throne of the Father as “covering cherubs.”24 Lucifer was gifted with greater abilities than any other angel. He understood the power of music, was a master musician and vocalist. He directed the symphony and choir, wrote awesome anthems, and arranged complete concert productions. When the angels gathered to worship the Father, Lucifer led the music to soaring heights; but it was Jesus who spoke to the angels relaying whatever the Father had to say.

For some reason, standing next to the Father’s throne during awesome convocations was not enough. Lucifer came to think, because of his high position, awesome talents, and great beauty that he should be given more respect. He wanted to be obeyed and worshiped like Jesus. Lucifer also coveted Jesus’ ability to enter into the unapproachable light of the Father – something only deity could do.25

Jesus – An Unremarkable Angel

To understand how Lucifer began to covet, you have to understand a few facts about Jesus. At the time, Jesus lived in the form of an unremarkable angel even though His manner and behavior were kingly. The angels adored and worshiped Him; in fact, they were created with a natural propensity to obey Him because the five laws were written in their hearts. The angels knew Jesus was especially honored and worshiped because He was the archangel and a member of deity.

At that time, there was no sin or knowledge of good and evil. The angels had no experience with temptation, no reason to doubt the Father, no idea sinners would need to be redeemed, and no hint Lucifer would become a devil. Heaven was a place of complete trust. They accepted as truth, innocently and naively as little children, whatever Jesus told them. I mention this to help you understand the angels’ environment prior to the fall.

Externally, Lucifer appeared to have everything and Jesus very little. Jesus did not display the power, glory, and brilliance of the Father. He did not appear to have the awesome beauty, talents, and abilities of Lucifer. Of all the angels created, none looked more homely than Jesus, yet the lowly looking Jesus was a covering cherub! The same characteristics could be said of Jesus when He lived on Earth. The wise men saw His star, His mother was a virgin, He performed all kinds of miracles, raised the dead, and claimed to be the Son of God26 but, “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.”27

Jesus’ homely appearance was deliberate and purposeful. The ways of God can appear strange at first. When Jesus was chosen to serve as Creator, He willingly and happily accepted the duty of living in the form of an angel. Service, humility, selflessness, honesty, truth, and kindness have far more value than talents, position, or appearance. Jesus’ life on Earth teaches us the greatest position in heaven and on Earth, for all three Gods, is that of a humble servant.28

One day, Lucifer wanted to discuss a troubling matter with Jesus. He waited until they were alone, and when the conversation was right, asked for a promotion. Lucifer wanted more authority over the angels; wanted to be obeyed and worshiped because he too was a covering cherub; wanted to be included in meetings with Jesus and the Father; wanted to be treated as an equal because, as the other covering cherub, he felt deserving. When a person is convinced he deserves what he does not have, how does he willingly descend from that perch?

Lucifer’s vanity was crushed and his ego insulted when Jesus told him that angels, which are created beings, were not permitted to worship, or receive the worship of, other created beings.29 Jesus explained how the first law of the universe directs all devotion to the Godhead. Additionally, the third law of the universe required everyone to worship Jesus. Lucifer quickly found himself facing the stone wall of God’s laws. There was no wiggle room.

After God expelled the devil from heaven, the devil has retaliated against Jesus for centuries by leading billions of people to believe Jesus is a created being and not to be worshiped. The devil gloats over this deception because he knows this lie mocks Jesus who is an eternal deity. The high position, incredible abilities, beauty, and glory Lucifer received did not make him a member of deity. He is a mortal and not self-existing. He does not have the infinite powers deities have. Lucifer has conditional immortality and, like us, cannot keep himself alive.30 He will perish in the fire along with all unrepentant sinners at the end of the 1,000 years.31

Lucifer quickly ended the meeting with Jesus because there was nothing to discuss. His respect and love for Jesus declined from that day forward. The devil could not accept that he, the most beautiful and talented angel in heaven, would have to remain inferior to the lowly Jesus for eternity. The idea was an offensive thorn. Lucifer’s bitterness and contempt for Jesus grew.

Lucifer was disappointed but not disheartened. Everyone in heaven knew he was more beautiful and capable than the lowly Jesus. He also knew seeking consolation and sympathy would be tricky. He could not come right out and tell his closest friends he was bitter toward Jesus. Lucifer did not want anyone to know he coveted the worship and privileges Jesus received. In their peaceful and sinless state, his friends would not have been receptive had they known what was really going on within his heart. So, the devil masked his bitterness and resentment by putting on a “happy face” while planning his next step. This “happy face” was the first deception in heaven.

Lucifer – The First Predator

Lucifer created an extensive plan, a coup détat if you will, to get what he wanted. The devil sought, according to Isaiah 14:13-14, to upend heaven’s order by establishing a new government with himself ruling as almighty God. His first step was to begin a whisper campaign among his closest friends. He did not dare reveal his motives in fomenting discontent so he chose to “divide and conquer.” Because he is a master of gradualism, he initiated discussions designed to weaken confidence in the Father and Jesus. When circumstances were favorable, Lucifer used half-truths and outright lies to pose intelligent and compelling arguments against the Father and Jesus;32 his goal was to frame their words and actions in a light so they appeared to be dishonest and self-serving. When he was confident he had reached a critical number of followers, he would announce “a holy war” so his forces could take over heaven. Covetousness always leads to religious insanity.

At first, the angels did not suspect Lucifer’s mission to alienate them from the Father and Jesus because they loved and trusted him. He was a mighty angel who stood next to the Father and whom all other angels admired. He was intelligent enough to understand finite beings cannot know everything about an infinite God. He also knew that the Father’s ways were not the ways of created beings33 and used what was unknown about God to his advantage. As theologians go, Lucifer was brilliant and flawless; as a debater, logical and convincing.

The Father does not answer every question that can be asked. It may take thousands of years to reveal His purposes and plans. The Apostle Paul noticed this phenomenon in Romans 16:25. The Father unfolds His ways, thoughts, and truth over time because He has an endless supply. Therefore, the only way that finite beings can live with an infinite God who “remains forever strange, but wonderful” is through faith and love. These two attitudes explain how the Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit live together. They have faith in each other to do what is best in all circumstances and they love one another with all their hearts! There is never a moment of distrust among them. The Father’s children have to trust that He is righteous, honest, wise and fair, and His actions always spring from infinite love and wisdom. Therefore, faith in and love for the Father are nonnegotiable. This explains why salvation comes only through faith and love!

As Lucifer descended into bitterness and outright hatred for Jesus, he seduced many angels with sophisticated arguments. When circumstances were ripe, he quietly asked surrounding angels if anyone had noticed Jesus or the Father’s actions were questionable. He knew if he could get even a few to entertain his arguments, it would lead to dissension.

Ezekiel 28, Isaiah 14, and Genesis 2:16-17 suggest Lucifer may have used the following two arguments with great success. The first argument being, “Does everyone know that we must not eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil because on the day we do, Jesus will kill us?” Of course, the angels knew the law and after admitting so, Lucifer would ask, “If the Father is a God of love as Jesus says, why would He kill us for simply eating some fruit? Actually, I do not believe the Father is a God of love. Jesus is protecting the Father’s throne and His position as the archangel. If anyone dares to exercise ‘free will,’ consider the consequence! A death threat is not the way of love, it is the law of a tyrant who makes laws for self-serving purposes. The Father and Jesus are just interested in maintaining power over us. Have you really considered the situation we are in? If we violate any of the Father’s self-serving laws, the penalty is sudden death. Is this really fair?”34

After some quiet discussion and thinking about Lucifer’s logic, some angels, intelligent as angels are, began seeing his viewpoint. Little did they realize, as they began to agree with his tales, the devil was becoming their archangel!

Lucifer’s second argument may have been more effective on some of the angels not convinced by his first. When circumstances were right, he would quietly ask, “Have you ever wondered about the Father’s fairness? The Father commands us to worship one covering cherub, but we are forbidden to worship the other. This cannot be fair. Think about this: Two angels have identical positions as covering cherubs. Yet, Michael has authority and I do not.35 Why does the Father snub one covering cherub? I am just as qualified to lead angels as Michael. The Father is using Jesus to keep us at arm’s length. What are they hiding? The Father shows favoritism by honoring one angel and rejecting the other. Look around heaven, do you see favoritism? The Father and Jesus control heaven and they intend to keep it this way. Jesus says the Father is a God of love, but I am not feeling the love. Are you?”

Since Adam and Eve’s fall, Lucifer has exhibited brilliant sophistry. His tactical maneuvers lead the whole world astray!36 I am sure his arguments were much more creative, clever, and sophisticated than the two mentioned but I hope you get the idea. People who insist on “proof texts” for these two arguments often ridicule me and feel justified in rejecting them, but I did not create these arguments out of thin air. I found them by putting pieces together in such a way that when all of the known facts are considered, they make perfect sense to complete the story. After all, isn’t that what a good detective does to solve a difficult case?

Given the familiarity and contrast between Lucifer and Jesus, I believe the wickedness found in Lucifer began with covetousness. He wanted the authority, worship, and privileges of the lowly looking Jesus. The Bible describes Lucifer before his fall as “You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you. . . . Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.”37

“How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. [This mountain is also known as Jebel Aqra and has a long history as being sacred. It is located on the border with Turkey and Syria and has an elevation of 5,633 feet. In ancient times, the Canaanites believed the “storm god” lived at the top of this mountain, from where destruction originated.]. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ ”38 Lucifer could not have known the purpose and importance of the fifth law or its penalty (sudden death) before being cast out of heaven because the knowledge of good and evil did not exist. The devil was so sure of himself and wrongfully concluded the Father created the “sudden death law” so He would be justified if He killed an angel for disobedience. The devil thought the Father was the sole beneficiary of this law and over time, he led one-third of the angels to agree.

As will be discussed in the next chapter, the Father is not the beneficiary of this law. If He were, He would have implemented it the day Lucifer sinned. The arguments Lucifer used were a sympathetic ploy to gain support from those who loved him. He wanted them to feel the Father and Jesus were unfair and once their feelings were alienated, he knew their minds would follow.

Lucifer Rejected the Holy Spirit

For many years, the Holy Spirit observed Lucifer’s thoughts, words, and actions. He tried everything short of violating Lucifer’s free will to have him change his attitude and direction, but it was a losing battle. Additionally, the Holy Spirit kept Jesus and the Father updated moment by moment. Jesus confronted Lucifer many times about his behavior with truth, tenderness, and love. Each effort only made Lucifer angrier. Jesus knew this because the Holy Spirit revealed Lucifer’s thoughts to Jesus. Later, the same experience would inflame the Pharisees. They quickly saw that Jesus’ ability to know their thoughts created a no-win situation for them.39 Yet, Lucifer could not be swayed. It would be too humiliating. He came to loathe Jesus as the Pharisees did when Jesus was on Earth. Jesus plainly told Lucifer his motives were evil and his goal of being God was impossible.

A war of wills began. Jesus defended the Father’s ways and actions with arguments that left Lucifer speechless. Lucifer was determined to eliminate the lowly Jesus who was a “know it all.” His heart was filled with contempt and hatred for Jesus. Lucifer avoided Jesus and refused to worship Him. When Jesus kenw that Lucifer wanted to kill Him, He asked some of the angels who had rejected Lucifer’s arguments to speak with Lucifer, and encourage him to repent and change course. Lucifer refused because he could not bear the thought of being punished and humiliated before God and all of the angels. He chose to harbor the attitudes of bitterness and rebellion.

Lucifer lived in God’s house, an environment free of sin’s curse, a perfectly wholesome atmosphere beautiful beyond words. He had the highest position any created being could hold and was endowed with the most beauty; he wore the most extravagant clothing, and was adorned with precious ornamentation revealing his high rank; he was adored and loved, and gifted with talents and capabilities far beyond any other angel; and last, he had unfettered access to the Tree of Life. Still, he became dissatisfied. Can you imagine?

Looking ahead, what does this teach us about eternity, of the knowledge of good and evil, and the wisdom of the five laws? The Father was not surprised when Lucifer became unhappy. He foreknew Lucifer would exercise his power of choice in a harmful way before he was created. This leads to a profound point: The Father foreknew the future pain that Lucifer would cause Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Himself, the angels, and all who would live on Earth. Yet, the Father had Lucifer created and showered him with all that infinite love could give. This is why the Father wrote the Book of Life and secured it with seven seals. At the end of the 1,000 years, He plans to make the point perfectly clear that He will not, under any circumstances or at any price, use foreknowledge for self-serving purposes. This is an awesome fact to consider.

D-Day

In time, the Holy Spirit informed the Father and Jesus all decisions had been made: one-third of the angels had embraced Lucifer’s rebellion and two-thirds had rejected it. The Holy Spirit could not do anything more to change their hearts. You may think the Father was too patient and should have quashed Lucifer’s rebellion as soon as it began, but rest assured, the Father is infinitely wise. He waited until all the angels could hear and make a decision about Lucifer’s sophisticated arguments. They knew the five laws and had to be allowed to make up their own minds! They had been given intellect and the power of choice so were accountable and responsible for their actions.

The Father gave the angels considerable time to ponder Lucifer’s arguments because He wanted each of them to choose whom they would love and obey. When the last angel had made his choice, the Holy Spirit notified the Father who summoned every angel to a special meeting. When the meeting began, the two covering cherubs took their customary places. On the left side of the Father’s throne, Lucifer stood with an arrogant expression fixed on his face. Jesus stood on the right side with tears and great sadness I am sure.

During this meeting, the Father did a most unusual thing. He spoke. On this occasion, “The Word” did not speak for Him because the Father only speaks when glorifying Jesus.40 The innumerable host heard the Father’s unforgettable voice. He affirmed Jesus was a member of deity living in the form of an unremarkable angel. He explained why Jesus had a humble appearance and Jesus, as a member of deity, was His equal. When the Father said this, Jesus was immediately glorified. A blinding radiance emitted from Jesus. He was transfigured before their eyes! For a few indelible moments, Jesus was engulfed with and exhibited the same brilliant light which constantly envelopes the Father.41 The angels were awed; they had never seen anything like this. They had no idea the lowly Jesus had this kind of authority!

You may be wondering if there is any hint in the Bible that such an event occurred. I believe there is. Shortly before Jesus was arrested in the garden, He prayed, “Father, the hour [for My death] has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.”42 Jesus requested His full identity be revealed, so He could then, in turn, glorify the Father. Jesus did not make this request for a selfish reason. He asked to be glorified because if people knew He was deity sent to redeem sinners, the Father would be glorified because of the price Jesus was willing to pay. John 3:16 means: For God [the Father] so loved His neighbors that He gave up one whom He loved with all of His heart, mind, and soul.

Jesus also wanted the world to know the price of salvation: the death of a deity. He knew when sinners understood the price of salvation, its story would become the greatest story ever told! “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”43

As He continued in prayer, Jesus made an even more precise request, “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”44 I believe these words refer to an event in heaven that occurred “in the Father’s presence” before the world was created. This event occurred when Jesus was transfigured before the angels in a one time show of His divine power. A similar event occurred on Earth when Jesus was transfigured from the form of an ordinary man into deity before three witnesses. “There he [Jesus] was transfigured before them [Peter, James and John]. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.”45 Peter described the event this way: “He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.”46

The parallel between both events is simple. In each event, the Father glorified Jesus to confirm that He is deity. For 2,000 years, the Bible has declared Jesus is “God.” John wrote, “And the Word was God. . . . The Word became flesh. . . . We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. . . . No one has ever seen God [the Father], but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, [He] has made him [the Father] known.”47

After Jesus was transfigured before the angels, the Father explained the truth about Lucifer to the angels. He stripped each layer of the devil’s clever facade away, revealing his covetousness, subversion, goals, and lies. The Father, using Lucifer’s behavior, provided examples of how sin makes a predator out of every sinner, and showed them how Lucifer had preyed on them. He also explained how time and again the Holy Spirit and Jesus had tried to get Lucifer to change his heart and mind. The Godhead did everything possible, short of overriding Lucifer’s free will; but like Pharaoh to come, he only hardened his heart.

The Father concluded His remarks by reminding the angels, because they had free will, it was not too late to turn back. He would gladly provide atonement for their sins if any rebellious angel would repent. As Joshua would echo millennia later, the Father concluded with, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve!”48 The Father then commanded everyone to bow down before Jesus and worship Him as the third law of the universe required. Two-thirds of the angels dropped to their knees without hesitation, but Lucifer and his followers refused even after seeing Jesus transfigured before their eyes!

This is a sobering fact: Once rebellion against the Holy Spirit takes root in a being having free will, there is a remote possibility of repentance, but it is practically impossible. The Bible describes this about the leaders of Israel: “Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: ‘Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’ For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: ‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.’ Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.”49

There was an awkward silence in heaven. Two-thirds of the angels were on their knees, one-third defiantly standing. Suddenly the silence was broken by a crackling sound, the kind lightning makes as it rips through the atmosphere. A deafening peal of thunder followed immediately, the sound wave shaking the entirety of heaven. There followed an earthquake. The unapproachable light from the Father’s throne flared into a huge arc. A giant crevice appeared. Every defiant angel was thrown into the opening and then it closed. In an instant, the rebellious angels were cast out of heaven before they could resist. The loyal angels were shocked. They had never witnessed anything like this. The cast outs were overwhelmed. Suddenly they were homeless, lost in the vast and endless darkness of space.

The Devil and His Angels Spared

The Father did not destroy Lucifer and his followers on the day they were cast out of heaven because He, having perfect foreknowledge and infinite wisdom, knew it would be best, although very painful, to allow the devil and his demons to live a while longer. The Father foreknew the devil would prey on Eve and trap her with lies. He also foreknew Adam and Eve would become sinners. Now that sin had appeared, the Father wanted the curse of sin to run its ugly and painful course.

God allowed the curse of sin to propagate so everyone in the universe could be educated on the knowledge of good and evil as eternity unfolded. He would use the actions and experiences of fallen angels as well as human beings to document the curse of sin. This knowledge would inevitably demonstrate the wisdom behind the “sudden death law.” Thus, He stayed the execution of Lucifer and his followers, and later, the executions of Adam and Eve when they sinned. Contrary to what the devil claimed, the Father is not the sole beneficiary of the sudden death law.

When angels were created, the Father appointed some of them to record everything that happened in real time. The Holy Spirit gave them the ability to record words, thoughts, and actions of angels–including Lucifer and his demons–and later on, human beings. The Holy Spirit is omnipresent and knows every being inside and out, and sends this genuine and truthful information to these angels. Their recordings will be used when the time comes for human beings to be judged. Jesus, the Judge of Mankind, will investigate the life of each person, and based on the records provided by these angels, He will determine who is to be saved or lost. In the Bible, these recordings are called books since video did not exist and could not be described at the time,50 even though the technology used by these recording angels goes far beyond what can be done with books, video, and audio equipment.

The Father ordained this process so once the drama with sin is completed, His ever expanding universe could have the truth about good and evil. Because new worlds with new people will be forthcoming throughout eternity, the Father will require the inhabitants of every new planet to thoroughly study the effects of sin which is documented in graphic detail. His purpose is to ensure no one having free will shall ever choose to sin again. The Father’s long-range purposes always have a higher and greater value than an immediate solution. This is why faith in and love for God is nonnegotiable.

To be as clear as possible, the sudden death law was created to benefit the universe. Because the two laws of love are at the center of everything the Godhead does, all of God’s children are given the gifts of free will and the power of choice. This means the Godhead will not prevent anyone from sinning. They did not prevent Lucifer, one-third of the angels, or Adam and Eve. Since the Godhead will not prevent a person from sinning, the Father created a sudden death law. This law has been stayed until the drama with sin is over and the knowledge of good and evil is complete. After this law becomes enforceable, it will protect the universe from the curse of sin which is like a virus, worming its way into a harmonious and holy society. By eliminating a defiant sinner on the day he sins, the Father ensures never again will the curse of sin exist in His universe. We will discuss this point further in the next chapter.

The Creation of Earth

Shortly after Lucifer and his followers were cast out of heaven, Jesus created Earth. Although every angel had been told from the beginning Jesus was deity and the Creator of the universe, they had not seen Him create anything and had to accept it by faith. Perhaps one of Lucifer’s arguments was that Jesus was not the Creator. How could he be proved wrong? This is identical to what happened on Earth. Adam did not see Jesus create the Earth or Eve. By faith, they believed Jesus was their Creator and worshiped Him accordingly.

Today, when parents conceive a child, they do not see the creation of life!51 And after the entire Earth has been tested during the Great Tribulation,52 all who put their faith in Jesus and worship Him as their Creator53 will see Him create a new heaven and a new Earth!54

After Lucifer was cast out of heaven, God richly rewarded the love and faithfulness of the holy angels. They witnessed Jesus creating Earth! How exciting! What a great privilege for them to see Jesus exercise His divine power. This point is underscored in a conversation between Jesus and Job, “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone – while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?”55 Faith in God, when seen in reverse, always makes sense.

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