The Great Controversy--Fundamental Belief #8

Art by Clyde Provonsha, Illustration © Review and Herald Publ. Assoc.

Fundamental Belief #8--The Great Controversy

All humanity is now involved in a great controversy between Christ and Satan regarding the character of God, His law, and His sovereignty over the universe. This conflict originated in heaven when a created being, endowed with freedom of choice, in self-exaltation became Satan, God's adversary, and led into rebellion a portion of the angels. He introduced the spirit of rebellion into this world when he led Adam and Eve into sin. This human sin resulted in the distortion of the image of God in humanity, the disordering of the created world, and its eventual devastation at the time of the worldwide flood. Observed by the whole creation, this world became the arena of the universal conflict, out of which the God of love will ultimately be vindicated. To assist His people in this controversy, Christ sends the Holy Spirit and the loyal angels to guide, protect, and sustain them in the way of salvation. (Find verses here: Rev. 12:4-9; Isa. 14:12-14; Eze. 28:12-18; Gen. 3; Rom. 1:19-32; 5:12-21; 8:19-22; Gen. 6-8; 2 Peter 3:6; 1 Cor. 4:9; Heb. 1:14.)

Along with the Bible verses above you may find Patriarchs and Prophets and The Great Controversy by Ellen G. White a good reference for this story.  

Why Was Sin Permitted 
The Flood   
The Controversy Ended 

 
The Story:

The Great War

Everyday I see stories on the news about wars and battles.  You can read about them and see them in newspapers, television and on computers.  Wars are terrible and cause such destruction and loss of life. Will wars ever end?  The Bible tells about the first war.  It has been going on for thousands of years and when it ends all wars will come to an end. 

A long time ago before this world was created there was a bright and shining angel named Lucifer.  He was the most beautiful and wisest of all the angels and God made him the highest angel in heaven.  All the other angels loved Lucifer and listened to his words and carried out his commands.  As time went on Lucifer began to feel as if God did not give him the power he should have.  Little by little Lucifer began to question, in his mind, why God did not consider him equal with Jesus.  But Lucifer could never be equal to Jesus because Jesus had created Lucifer and all the other angels in heaven.  They were to be God’s messengers and helpers.  They could never be God or equal to God.

Lucifer was jealous of Jesus and started to talk against Him to the angels, telling them God was unfair, telling them they would have a better heaven if God’s laws were changed.  Many angels listened and believed Lucifer but many more remained loyal to God.  

The Bible tells us there was a war in heaven.  Jesus and His angels fought against Lucifer and the angels who followed Him.  Lucifer and his followers could not stay in heaven.  God threw them out of heaven and they came to earth.  Lucifer, who was once a shining angel in heaven,  became Satan the evil angel who does not want anyone to love Jesus. 

When Adam and Eve were created and lived in the Garden of Eden, Satan was waiting for them.  The only place he could go was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.  Because God loved Adam and Eve He told them not to go near the tree because He knew Satan was at war and wanted Adam and Eve as his prisoners.   Adam and Eve believed Satan’s lies about God and the Great War that started in heaven continued on this earth. Since that time people have been choosing to follow God or Satan.

After Adam and Eve sinned the people on earth became very wicked. There were only a handful of people who followed and believed God.  God looked at his once-lovely earth and was very sad.  He would destroy this earth and everything in it with a flood of water because it was so very bad.  But he would save His people.  Noah and his family loved God and God gave them a way of escape. They were saved in a big boat along with some of the animals.  

Even after the flood, the Great War went on.  Satan successfully tempted people who did not stay close to Jesus.  Hundreds of years passed by until the time was right for Jesus to come to this earth as a little baby.  Satan was furious and tried to kill baby Jesus but God’s angels protected Him.  Satan knew if Jesus grew up and died for our sins, as He promised, he, Satan, would loose the Great War.   

Jesus did die on the cross for our sins.  We do not have to die the "forever" death because of this but Satan, our enemy, still continues fighting. The world is now very wicked again. People blame God for the horrible things that happen: for wars and death, for famine and flooding, even for bad weather.  They say God is not loving and kind.  They say God is just a made-up story.  Sometimes it seems as if Satan is winning but Jesus won the Great War when He died on the cross. The victory is His!  God loves us so much He promised to save us if we are willing to believe in Him.  He promised to give us power and strength over Satan.  The Holy Spirit and the holy angels are ready to come to our aid as soon as we call out for help.  We are not alone in the battle against Satan.

Satan knows his time is short so he is trying very hard to take as many prisoners with him as he can.  When Jesus comes again, with all the holy angels, the last battle will be fought. Satan will be destroyed along with all the evil angels and anyone who followed him.  Satan and sin will be defeated and everything will be made new again.  Sin will never again enter this world.  Everyone will know Satan was wrong and that God is loving and his laws are just and fair. We will be with Jesus and live forever in a wonderful, sinless world that He will re-create for us.

The Great War is ended. There is no more sin or sinners. Everything, our world and the whole universe, is clean from sin. Joy fills the world.  There is no disagreement. From Jesus, who created everything and everyone, comes life and light and gladness– it is throughout the reaches of never-ending space.  From the tiniest unseen speck to the biggest planet in the universes, all things that move or stay still, in their great beauty and perfect joy, shout out that God is love! 

Paraphrased from the book, The Great Controversy, p. 678

Prayer: Dear Jesus, we are on Your side.  We are waiting for this Great War to end so we can be with you forever.  We thank You for the power and strength You have given us over Satan.  Amen.


The Bible Verse:

There was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back.  But the dragon wasn’t strong enough. He and his angels lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was thrown down to the earth, and his angels with him. The dragon is that old serpent called the devil, or Satan. He leads the whole world down the wrong path. “...The devil has come down to you.  He is very angry. He knows his time is short.”  Revelation 12:7-9, 12


The Song:

The children may enjoy standing and marching on the chorus of Onward Christian Soldiers.

Onward, Christian Soldiers
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
~Words by Sabine Baring-Gould
#612 Seventh-day Adventist Hymnnal


The Colouring Sheet: There are two sheets that can be photocopied back to front and folded down the middle to make a little four-page booklet.

 This is the back page.                               This is the front page.

This is the middle.

Armour of God:  http://waycoolbibleschool.com/art/01-armorofgod/POSTER.gif

Adam and Eve:   http://www.biblekids.eu/anticotestamento/Adam_%20and_%20Eve/Adam_%20and_%20Eve_coloring/adam_%20and_%20eve_7.gif

Noah’s Ark:  http://www.bible-printables.com/Coloring-Pages/Old-Testament/old-test-story-pics/10-OT-003-noah.gif

Second Coming:  http://www.sermons4kids.com/ready_for_his_return_abda.gif

Angel:  http://cdn-5.howtodrawit.com/img/coloring-angel2.jpg