Another deadly enemy of the eternal goodness of God is the subtle, sinister Spirit of Evil. This is not a delusion, but is the ultimate source, the moving force behind every evil and sin ever perpetrated in mankind, and the world, through angels, demons, and Satan. It is a stark reality that this spirit exists, and that it is ever present to aid Satan and all his evil hosts in their work of death, pain, and destruction.
 
        Although it is not a delusion, its life and purpose has always been to delude and deceive through whatever means it could, and it does that well.  Like a corrosive cloud of poisonous gas that permeates everywhere, the Spirit of Evil is in the very air we breathe. No person who has ever lived on earth has been exempt from its influence and control, for it entered our bodies unbidden the moment we were conceived.
 
        It is responsible for our separation from God, for it is the very spirit that inhabits Satan. This spirit manifested itself with the origin of sin and Lucifer's iniquity. This spirit is the moving force behind the mystery of sin; in fact, it is responsible in part for the fall of Lucifer, as we shall see.
 
Intimately Intertwined With Man:

        This spirit has been at work in man since the fall of Adam and Eve, and is more sinister and dangerous than Satan because it has been obscure and unknown. This spirit's ability to successfully keep its presence hidden is testimony of its subtle cunning. Why has it hidden itself? Because you can't fight something you don't know exists.

        We believe this study has been guided by God's Holy Spirit to relearn forgotten truth, obscured by centuries of neglect, and perhaps dimly understood by the prophets who wrote about it. Is this a bold claim?  Let the reader examine the evidence carefully.  From this point on for several pages, we will treat this information as a story being acted out on a stage, which in deed it is. After describing each scene and act (telling the story), we will then make a commentary, supplying background information as needed.
 
        "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 there 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." (Rev. 12:7)
 

        "It is impossible to so explain the origin of sin as to give a reason for its existence. Yet enough may be understood concerning both the origin and the final disposition of sin, to fully make manifest the justice and benevolence of God in all his dealings with evil. Nothing is more plainly taught in Scripture than that God was is in no way responsible for the entrance of sin; that there was no arbitrary withdrawal of divine grace, no deficiency in the divine government, that gave occasion for the uprising of rebellion. Sin is an intruder, for whose presence no reason can be given. It is mysterious, unaccountable; to excuse it, is to defend it. Could excuse for it be found, or cause be shown for its existence, it would cease to be sin. Our only definition of sin is that given in the Word of God; it is "the transgression of the law;" it is the outworking of a principle at war with the great law of love which is the foundation of the divine government." The Great Controversy, pp 492-493, by Ellen White.
 
        Why and how God permitted sin and suffering has been studied for millennia, but no consensus was possible, except for what was revealed through inspiration in the paragraph above, for God has been silent about this subject. That is why it is termed the "Mystery of Iniquity."  What has recently been revealed is a fascinating but tragic story of intrigue about the mystery of iniquity, and the origin of sin and evil. This is a never ending drama about heavenly beings and events that began in the eons of eternity past and stretches on into the eons of eternity future. It is a story about the Spirit of Evil that begins with heavenly angels who were created perfect yet somehow became imperfect; of Lucifer who introduced into God's perfect universe a deadly virus of sin. We will tell the story as a drama with scenes and acts. Then we will supply the biblical proof to support this story.
 
ETERNAL QUESTIONS:

        Where did this virus come from?  How could God the Father and His Son who could speak into existence the countless galaxies, solar systems,  and island universes with their orbiting suns, moons, and planets, inhabited and uninhabited, moving in perfect order by their mighty power, have allowed this virus to infect and mar their perfect creation? Knowing all things past and present, why did they not stop the spirit before it got started, thus saving terrible suffering and pain to so many of their subjects?
 
        These are some of the questions we hope to answer in this study through light revealed from heaven.  God has not kept silent on this matter, but has now spoken in clear, easy to understand language for any who care to know. Not that He has told us all, for we will study and learn throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity the miracles and secrets of God's wisdom and knowledge, the wonders of the plan of salvation.
 
        This drama is of war between the forces of light and darkness, how it began, and also how it will end.  It has been called by some the great controversy between Christ and Satan, the commander-in-chiefs of their respective forces.
 
        To understand the Spirit of Evil which crept into God's perfect universe, we must go back to the time before its existance was known, and see how it came to light.  This first part (printed in boldface type) is extracted from the inspired book The Great Controversy, by Ellen White, Chapter 29, entitled "The Origin of Sin," written in 1884. Interspersed throughout her narrative you will find new inspired light (printed in regular type) regarding the Spirit of Evil which Satan courted and which caused his spiritual demise.
 
        This spirit is very active in the world today, preparing for the final showdown, which battle has already begun.  This drama contains three acts.  In each the main character is the same, the Spirit of Evil.  Lucifer whose name changes to Satan in scene two, plays the supporting role as the spirit's ambassador, spreading the sin virus and evil wherever God permits him.
 
        The setting for act one is in heaven, and is about Satan's apostasy and downfall.  Act two takes place here on earth after Satan is cast out of heaven, and is the longest act extending for six thousand years, and including tens of thousands separate acts and a cast of billions of people. Act three includes the end of sin and sinners which will not take place until the end of the seven thousandth year when the earth will be purged with fire in preparation for recreation by God. For this study we will not include any of act three and only the beginning of act two, to show the development of this Cosmic Spirit of Evil. But the influence of this spirit will be easily recognized throughout the remainder of this book especially delusions 13-17.
 
        It is now time to look and listen and go back in time to eternity past and see how this tragic saga happened. In your minds eye YOU ARE THERE.
 

               "The law of love being the foundation of the government of God, the happiness of all created beings depended upon their perfect accord with its great principles of righteousness. God desires from all his creatures the service of love,--homage that springs from an intelligent appreciation of his character. He takes no pleasure in a forced allegiance, and to all he grants freedom of will, that they may render him voluntary service.

         "But there was one that chose to pervert this freedom.  Sin originated with him, who, next to Christ, had been most honored of God, and who stood highest in power and glory among the inhabitants of Heaven. Before his fall, Lucifer was first of the covering cherubs, holy and undefiled. 'Thus saith the Lord God: Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering.' 'Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so; thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.' [EZE. 28:12-15,17]"

         In those eons of time past, God in His loving desire to give His created beings the power of choice, had two spirits of opposite character available to the angels in order for them to exercise their power of choice.

         These spirits were both spirits of knowledge, one of HEAVENLY HOLY WISDOM,  the other  of UNHOLY OR CREATURE KNOWLEDGE, known today as carnal, earthly, fleshly self-knowledge, which rightly describes its character.

         King Solomon mentions them in Proverbs and identified them as sisters which means they are female spirits. He calls the one sister "WISDOM" and the other "STRANGE WOMAN."  Why he named her Strange Woman, is probably because she represents the very essence of the sensual, sexual, fleshly spirit of unregenerated man.

         We will examine an apparition of this spirit later on in this chapter.  They are like twin sisters in that they both represent wisdom or knowledge.  But they are not identical twins,  for WISDOM is the KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD and STRANGE WOMAN is the KNOWLEDGE OF EVIL.

         After Lucifer sinned and was cast out of heaven, these spirits were placed by God in the tree of knowledge of good and evil that God placed in the garden with Adam and Eve. But before Lucifer fell, these spirits dwelt not in a tree but had dwelling places in heaven.

         Lucifer did not fully understand the feelings of pride and the desire that he felt, nor did he recognize where this would lead him if he continued to harbor these feeings.  How these feelings began in him had to do with with his CURIOSITY about the spirit of creature knowlege that dwelt in the heavenly home next door to Wisdom.

         He wanted to know that which God did not reveal to His creatures which was the knowledge of evil. It was not God's intention or desire that any of the angels ever become curious about this choice they could make.  That spirit was only there as a choice, because for angels to be free to choose they must have more than one thing to choose from.  Ellen White made the following statement which helps us understand better what happened to Lucifer.

         "God did not create evil; he only made good, which was like himself.  But Satan would not be content to know the will of God and do it.  His CURIOSITY WAS ON THE STRETCH to know that which God had designed he should not know." Testimonies Vol 5, p 503.

         As Lucifer's "curiosity was on the stretch," he became consumed with the desire to have access to the hidden knowledge of wisdom's sister. [It is important to know that every created being has, at the time they are created, implanted in them God's Spirit which is joined to their own spirit. The life of any of God's created beings comes only from His Spirit. With the angels it is to the Spirit of Wisdom (the knowledge of good) that they owe their spiritual life.]  Lucifer was curious about (lusted after) the knowledge of evil, he had made the choice that God never wanted any angel to make.  But because He would not control any creature and treat them as an automaton, He would did interfere with Lucifer's choice.

         Although Wisdom (another name for the knowledge of good) was given to all the created beings at their creation, Wisdom's sister the Knowledge or Spirit of Evil,  was confined to her home.  The only way she could get out was to be released by some created being, curious to know about her, and desire what she had to offer. This is exactly what happened with Lucifer.

         It was his curiosity that unlocked the door to her home and allowed her to escape.  As long as she was confined to her home,  there was no danger; she was harmless, passive and innocuous, which means she did not represent sin. SHE WAS ONLY A CHOICE. But once she was released by Satan that all changed.

         You see, this spirit had no life in herself to do anything. She had to join to the spirit of another created being in order to be active, and for her character traits to develop and be displayed in her host. What are those traits of character? They are all that Lucifer became.

         When the Spirit of Evil was released and took up residence within Lucifer's spirit, the Father's Holy Spirit, which we will later show is the same as the Spirit of Wisdom,  was forced out.  Lucifer was created with God's Spirit wedded to his spirit. This is what made him a holy spiritual being, an angel, a son of God. When God's Spirit was forced out by Lucifer's choice, he changed personalities completely, and took on the personality and character of the Spirit of Evil.

         With his spirit now wedded to the Spirit of Evil, He was no longer a son of God, but a son of Hell named Satan, which name means "Adversary," and "To Cherish Animosity." He now became the adversary of His Creator Jesus, and if he did not repent of his mistake, open war was inevitable. It is impossible to sin cannot live in the presence of a pure and holy God, for it is consumed by God's Spirit.

         "Lucifer might have remained in favor with God, beloved and honored by all the angelic host, exercising his noble powers to bless others and to glorify his Maker. But, says the prophet, 'Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.' [1 EZE. 28:12-15, 17.]

         "Little by little, Lucifer came to indulge a desire for self-exaltation. 'Thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God.' 'Thou hast said: ... I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation.' 'I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.'[2 EZE. 28:6; ISA. 14:13, 14.] Instead of seeking to make God supreme in the affections and allegiance of his creatures, it was Lucifer's endeavor to win their service and homage to himself. And, coveting the honor which the infinite Father had bestowed upon his Son, this prince of angels aspired to power which it was the prerogative of Christ alone to wield.

         "All Heaven had rejoiced to reflect the Creator's glory and to show forth his praise. And while God was thus honored, all had been peace and gladness. But a note of discord now marred the celestial harmonies. The service and exaltation of self, contrary to the Creator's plan, awakened forebodings of evil in minds to whom God's glory was supreme. The heavenly councils pleaded with Lucifer. The Son of God presented before him the greatness, the goodness, and the justice of the Creator, and the sacred, unchanging nature of his law. God himself had established the order of Heaven; and in departing from it, Lucifer would dishonor his Maker, and bring ruin upon himself. But the warning, given in infinite love and mercy, only aroused a spirit of resistance. Lucifer allowed jealousy of Christ to prevail, and he became the more determined.

         "Pride in his own glory nourished the desire for supremacy. The high honors conferred upon Lucifer were not appreciated as the gift of God, and called forth no gratitude to the Creator. He gloried in his brightness and exaltation, and aspired to be equal with God. He was beloved and reverenced by the heavenly host. Angels delighted to execute his commands, and he was clothed with wisdom and glory above them all. Yet the Son of God was the acknowledged sovereign of Heaven, one in power and authority with the Father. In all the counsels of God, Christ was a participant, while Lucifer was not permitted thus to enter into the divine purposes. 'Why,' questioned this mighty angel, 'should Christ have the supremacy? Why is he thus honored above Lucifer?'

         "Leaving his place in the immediate presence of God, Lucifer went forth to diffuse the spirit of discontent among the angels. Working with mysterious secrecy, and for a time concealing his real purpose under an appearance of reverence for God, he endeavored to excite dissatisfaction concerning the laws that governed heavenly beings, intimating that they imposed an unnecessary restraint. Since their natures were holy, he urged that the angels should obey the dictates of their own will. He sought to create sympathy for himself, by representing that God had dealt unjustly with him in bestowing supreme honor upon Christ. He claimed that in aspiring to greater power and honor he was not aiming at self-exaltation, but was seeking to secure liberty for all the inhabitants of Heaven, that by this means they might attain to a higher state of existence." (Ibid pp 494-495)
 
         Having been released from her home and given residence within Lucifer's Spirit, Spirit of Evil then used Lucifer as her ambassador to recruit others to join their side.  This is what happened in heaven. Sin spread like a virus infecting all who would listen to Lucifer's lies. The main characteristic of the Spirit of Evil is pride, self, I, me, mine, self-love. Lucifer exemplified this perfectly in his desire to be like God.  The Spirit of Evil is the antithesis of her sister Wisdom and the character of God.

         "God, in his great mercy, bore long with Lucifer. He was not immediately degraded from his exalted station when he first indulged the spirit of discontent, nor even when he began to present his false claims before the loyal angels. Long was he retained in Heaven. Again and again he was offered pardon, on condition of repentance and submission. Such efforts as only infinite love and wisdom could devise, were made to convince him of his error.

         "The spirit of discontent had never before been known in Heaven. Lucifer himself did not at first see whither he was drifting;  he did not understand the real nature of his feelings. But as his dissatisfaction was proved to be without cause, Lucifer was convinced that he was in the wrong, that the divine claims were just, and that he ought to acknowledge them as such before all Heaven. Had he done this, he might have saved himself and many angels. He had not at this time fully cast off his allegiance to God. Though he had forsaken his position as covering cherub, yet if he had been willing to return to God, acknowledging the Creator's wisdom, and satisfied to fill the place appointed him in God's great plan, he would have been re-instated in his office. But pride forbade him to submit. He persistently defended his own course, maintained that he had no need of repentance, and fully committed himself, in the great controversy, against his Maker.

         "All the powers of his master-mind [controlled by Spirit of Evil], were now bent to the work of deception, to secure the sympathy of the angels that had been under his command. Even the fact that Christ had warned and counseled him, was perverted to serve his traitorous designs. To those whose loving trust bound them most closely to him, Satan had represented that he was wrongly judged, that his position was not respected, and that his liberty was to be abridged.  From misrepresentation of the words of Christ, he passed to prevarication and direct falsehood,  accusing the Son of God of a design to humiliate him before the inhabitants of Heaven. He sought also to make a false issue between himself and the loyal angels. All whom he could not subvert and bring fully to his side, he accused of indifference to the interests of heavenly beings. The very work which he himself was doing,  he charged upon those who remained true to God. And to sustain his charge of God's injustice toward him, he resorted to misrepresentation of the words and acts of the Creator. It was his policy to perplex the angels with subtle arguments concerning the purposes of God. Everything that was simple he shrouded in mystery, and by artful perversion cast doubt upon the plainest statements of Jehovah. His high position, in such close connection with the divine administration, gave greater force to his representations, and many were induced to unite with him in rebellion against Heaven's authority.

         "God in his wisdom permitted Satan to carry forward his work, until the spirit of disaffection ripened into active revolt. It was necessary for his plans to be fully developed, that their true nature and tendency might be seen by all. Lucifer, as the anointed cherub, had been highly exalted; he was greatly loved by the heavenly beings, and his influence over them was strong. God's government included not only the inhabitants of Heaven, but of all the worlds that he had created; and Satan thought that if he could carry the angels of Heaven with him in rebellion, he could carry also the other worlds. He had artfully presented his side of the question, employing sophistry and fraud to secure his objects. His power to deceive was very great, and by disguising himself in a cloak of falsehood he had gained an advantage. Even the loyal angels could not fully discern his character, or see to what his work was leading."
 
Satan's Acts Clothed With Mystery:

         "Satan had been so highly honored, and all his acts were so clothed with mystery, that it was difficult to disclose to the angels the true nature of his work. Until fully developed, sin would not appear the evil thing it was. Heretofore it had had no place in the universe of God, and holy beings had no conception of its nature and malignity. They could not discern the terrible consequences that would result from setting aside the divine law. Satan had, at first, concealed his work under a specious profession of loyalty to God. He claimed to be seeking to promote the honor of God, the stability of his government, and the good of all the inhabitants of Heaven. While instilling discontent into the minds of the angels under him, he had artfully made it appear that he was seeking to remove dissatisfaction.  When he urged that changes be made in the order and laws of God's government, it was under the pretense that these were necessary in order to preserve harmony in Heaven."
 
Could Only Employ Righteousness:

        "In his dealing with sin, God could employ only righteousness and truth. Satan could use what God could not--flattery and deceit. He had sought to falsify the word of God, and had misrepresented his plan of government before the angels, claiming that God was not just in laying laws and rules upon the inhabitants of Heaven; that in requiring submission and obedience from his creatures, he was seeking merely the exaltation of himself. Therefore it must be demonstrated before the inhabitants of Heaven as well as of all the worlds, that God's government was just, his law perfect. Satan had made it appear that he himself was seeking to promote the good of the universe.  The true character of the usurper, and his real object, must be understood by all. He had to have time to manifest himself by his wicked works."

God Charged:

         "The discord which his own course had caused in Heaven, Satan charged upon the law and government of God. All evil he declared to be the result of the divine administration. He claimed that it was his own object to improve upon the statutes of Jehovah. Therefore it was necessary that he should demonstrate the nature of his claims, and show the working out of his proposed changes in the divine law. His own work must condemn him. Satan had claimed from the first that he was not in rebellion. The whole universe must see the deceiver unmasked."
 
Satan Not Destroyed:

         "Even when it was decided that he could no longer remain in Heaven, infinite wisdom did not destroy Satan. Since the service of love can alone be acceptable to God, the allegiance of his creatures must rest upon a conviction of his justice and benevolence. The inhabitants of Heaven and of other worlds, being unprepared to comprehend the nature or consequences of sin, could not then have seen the justice and mercy of God in the destruction of Satan.

          "Had he been immediately blotted from existence, they would have served God from fear, rather than from love. The influence of the deceiver would not have been fully destroyed, nor would the spirit of rebellion have been utterly eradicated.  Evil must be permitted to come to maturity. For the good of the entire universe through ceaseless ages, Satan must more fully develop his principles, that his charges against the divine government might be seen in their true light by all created beings, that the justice and mercy of God and the immutability of his law might forever be placed beyond all question."

         "Satan's rebellion was to be a lesson to the universe through all coming ages, a perpetual testimony to the nature and terrible results of sin. The working out of Satan's rule, its effects upon both men and angels, would show what must be the fruit of setting aside the divine authority. It would testify that with the existence of God's government and his law is bound up the well-being of all the creatures he has made. Thus the history of this terrible experiment of rebellion was to be a perpetual safeguard to all holy intelligences, to prevent them from being deceived as to the nature of transgression, to save them from committing sin, and suffering its punishment."
 
SATAN CONTINUED TO JUSTIFY HIMSELF:

         "To the very close of the controversy in Heaven, the great usurper continued to justify himself. When it was announced that with all his sympathizers he must be expelled from the abodes of bliss, then the rebel leader boldly avowed his contempt for the Creator's law.

         "He reiterated his claim that angels needed no control, but should be left to follow their own will, which would ever guide them right. He denounced the divine statutes as a restriction of their liberty, and declared that it was his purpose to secure the abolition of law; that,  freed from this restraint, the hosts of Heaven might enter upon a more exalted, more glorious state of existence."
 
Banished From Heaven:

         "With one accord, Satan and his host threw the blame of their rebellion wholly upon Christ, declaring that if they had not been reproved, they would never have rebelled. Thus stubborn and defiant in their disloyalty, seeking vainly overthrow the government of God, yet blasphemously claiming to be themselves the innocent victims of oppressive power, the arch-rebel and all his sympathizers were at last banished from Heaven." (Ibid, pp 495-500)
 
 

EARTH FOCUS OF DRAMA:

         As this act opens, Satan banished from Heaven, is cast down to this earth with his rebellious angels. The one-third of them had fallen for his lies and had received the same Spirit of Evil as their leader. They too lost the God's Holy Spirit with which they were created, and now bore the image of evil.  Infected, they did not know what they would do, or how they would do it, or what the future held for them.  They did not know what God would do with them, or the final outcome.  At this time the earth became the focus of this drama and the theatre of the universe, planet Earth where the mystery drama of sin would be acted out.
 
THE INFECTION SPREADS:

         When Lucifer and his angels were cast out of heaven, they were cast down to newly created earth where Adam and Eve, created in the image of God lived in the Garden of Eden.  All eyes in the universe were focused upon this tiny planet created in the outer reaches of space.  Would these newly created beings, Adam and Eve be able to resist the evil spirit working through Satan?

         Of course we cannot know exactly God's thoughts when He created this earth,  but it may well have been that in His overall plan He used earth as an exhibit area in the universe for Satan to demonstrate where the principles of rebellion, sin, and anarchy would ultimately lead.

         Now that sin had erected its ugly head in God's perfect universe, God, who is only love, and operates only by principles of righteousness, could thereby prove to the universe, including His angels, that Satan's accusations about Him were wrong. The only way to do this was to let sin follow its course.
 
GOD'S CALCULATED RISK:

         As history records, having a democratic form of government was a calculated risk for God. If some chose to make the wrong choice, He would lose the love and loyalty of those created beings. This meant He needed a contingency plan in case the unthinkable happened. That contingency is called His PERMISSIVE WILL, which was an alternate backup plan in case His PERFECT WILL was not followed.  And that is what the plan of Salvation is all about.

         Because He is all knowing, He knew what would happen,  but the other inhabitants in the universe did not, for never had anything like this in eternity past ever happened.  God knew that Adam and Eve would fall, but this was the price that had to be paid for choosing to create beings with the power of choice, to be autonomous.  It was around this power of choice that sin and evil entered God's perfect universe, and it would have to be around the power of choice that God's righteousness, truth and justice would prevail.

         God knew the struggle would be titanic, and the consequences horrible, that He and mankind would have to pay a terrible price before sin would be eradicated. But this was a risk God was willing to take to create beings who were free moral agents, able to decide for themselves and whom they would serve.
 

         "After the earth was created, and the beasts upon it, the Father and Son carried out their purpose, which was designed before the fall of Satan, to make man in their own image.  They had wrought together in the creation of the earth and every living thing upon it. And now God says to His Son, 'Let us make man in our image.'  As Adam came forth from the hand of his Creator, he was of noble height, and of beautiful symmetry.  He was more than twice as tall as men now living upon the earth, and was well proportioned. His features were perfect and beautiful. His complexion was neither white, or sallow, but ruddy, glowing with the rich tint of heath. Eve was not quite as tall as Adam. Her head reached a little above his shoulders. She, too, was noble--perfect in symmetry, and very beautiful.

         "The sinless pair wore no artificial garments.  They were clothed with a covering of light and glory such as the angels wear. While they lived in obedience to God, this circle of light enshrouded them. Although everything God had made was in the perfection of beauty, and there seemed nothing wanting upon the earth which God had created to make Adam and Eve happy, yet he manifested his great love to them by planting a garden especially for them.

         "A portion of their time was to be occupied in the happy employment of dressing the garden, and a portion in receiving the visits of angels, listening to their instruction and in happy meditation.  Their labor was not wearisome, but pleasant and invigorating.  This beautiful garden was to be their home, their special residence.

         "In this garden the Lord placed trees of every variety for usefulness and beauty. There were trees laden with luxuriant fruit, of rich fragrance, beautiful to the eye, and pleasant to the taste, designed of God to be food for the holy pair.  There were lovely vines which grew upright, laden with their burden of fruit, unlike anything man has seen since the fall. The fruit was very large, and of different colors; some nearly black, some purple, red, pink, and light green. This beautiful and luxuriant growth of fruit upon the branches of the vine was called grapes.  They did not trail upon the ground, although not supported by trelises, but the weight of the fruit bowed them down.  It was the happy labor of Adam and Eve to form beautiful bowers from the branches of the vine, and train them,  forming dwellings of nature's beautiful, living trees and foliage, laden with fragrant fruit.

        "The earth was clothed with beautiful verdure, while myriads of fragrant flowers of every variety and hue sprang up in rich profusion around them.  Everything was tastefully and gloriously arranged. In the midst of the garden stood the tree of life, the glory of which surpassed all other trees. Its fruit looked like apples of gold and silver, and was to perpetuate immortality.  The leaves contained healing properties. Very happy were the holy pair in Eden. Unlimited control was given them over every living thing.  The lion and the lamb sported together peacefully and harmlessly around them, or slumbered at their feet. Birds of every variety of color and plumage flitted among the trees and flowers, and about Adam and Eve, while their mellow-toned music echoed among the trees in sweet accord to the praises of their Creator.

        "Adam and Eve were charmed with the beauties of their Eden home.  They were delighted with the little songsters around them, wearing their bright yet graceful plumage, and warbling forth their happy, cheerful music. The holy pair united with them and raised their voices in harmonious songs of love, praise and adoration, to the Father and his dear Son, for the tokens of love which surrounded them. They recognized the order and harmony of creation, which spoke of wisdom and knowledge that were infinite. Some new beauty and additional glory of their Eden home they were continually discovering, which filled their hearts with deeper love, and brought from their lips expressions of gratitude and reverence to their Creator.

         "In the midst of the garden, near the tree of life, stood the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  This tree was especially designed of God to be the pledge of their obedience, faith and love to him. Of this tree the Lord commanded our first parents not to eat, neither to touch it, lest they die. He told them that they might freely eat of all the trees in the garden except one; but if they ate of that tree they should surely die.  "When Adam and Eve were placed in the beautiful garden, they had everything for their happiness which they could desire.  But he chose, in his all-wise arrangements, to test their loyalty before they could be rendered eternally secure.  They were to have his favor, and he was to converse with them, and they with him. Yet he did not place evil out of their reach. Satan was permitted to tempt them. If they endured the trial they were to be in perpetual favor with God and the heavenly angels.
 

  Thus was the mind of Satan as he found himself forever banished from heaven.  Motivated by the Spirit of Evil, the only recourse he had was to continue with his rebellion and now try to cause Adam and Eve to fall.
 

         "His followers were seeking him; and he aroused himself and, assuming a look of defiance, informed them of his plans to wrest from God the noble Adam and his companion Eve. If he could, in any way, beguile them to disobedience, God would make some provision whereby they might be pardoned, and then himself and all the fallen angels would be in a fair way to share with them of God's mercy. If this should fail,  they could unite with Adam and Eve; for when once they should transgress the law of God, they would be subjects of God's wrath, like themselves.  Their transgression would place them also, in a state of rebellion; and they could unite with Adam and Eve, take possession of Eden, and hold it as their home. And if they could gain access to the tree of life in the midst of the garden, their strength would, they thought, be equal to that of the holy angels, and even God himself could not expel them.

         "Satan went alone to mature plans that would most surely secure the fall of Adam and Eve.  He had fears that his purposes might be defeated.  And again, even if he should be successful in leading Adam and Eve to disobey the commandment of God, and thus become transgressors of His law,  and no good come to himself, his own case would not be improved; his guilt would only be increased.

         "He shuddered at the thought of plunging the holy, happy pair into the misery and remorse he was himself enduring. He seemed in a state of indecision; at one time firm and determined, then hesitating and wavering. His angels were seeking him, their leader, to acquaint him with their decision. They will unite with Satan in his plans, and with him bear the responsibility, and share the consequences. Satan cast off his feelings of despair and weakness, and, as their leader, fortified himself to brave out the matter, and do all in his power to defy the authority of God and his Son. If he should come boldly upon Adam and Eve and make complaints of God's own Son, they would not listen to him for a moment, but would be prepared for such an attack.  Should he seek to intimidate them because of his power, so recently an angel in high authority, he could accomplish nothing. He decided that cunning and deceit would do what might, or force, could not." (Ibid pp 30-32)
 
 

         "The angels graciously and lovingly gave them the information they desired.  They also gave them the sad history of Satan's rebellion and fall. They then distinctly informed them that the tree of knowledge was placed in the garden to be a pledge of their obedience and love to God; that the high and happy estate of the holy angels was to be retained upon condition of obedience;  that they were similarly situated; that they could obey the law of God and be inexpressibly happy, or disobey, and lose their high estate, and be plunged into hopeless despair.

         "They told Adam and Eve that God would not compel them to obey--that he had not removed from them power to go contrary to his will; that they were moral agents, free to obey or disobey. There was but one prohibition that God had seen fit to lay upon them as yet. If they should transgress the will of God, they would surely die. They told Adam and Eve that the most exalted angel, next in order to Christ,  refused obedience to the law of God which he had ordained to govern heavenly beings; that this rebellion had caused war in Heaven which resulted in the rebellious being expelled therefrom, and every angel was driven out of Heaven who united with him in questioning the authority of the great Jehovah; and that this fallen foe was now an enemy to all that concerned the interest of God and his dear Son.

         "They told them that Satan purposed to do them harm, and it was necessary for them to be guarded, for they might come in contact with the fallen foe; but he could not harm them while they yielded obedience to God's command; for, if necessary, every angel from Heaven would come to their help rather than that he should in any way do them harm.  But if they disobeyed the command of God, then Satan would have power to ever annoy, perplex, and trouble them.  If they remained stedfast against the first insinuations of Satan, they were as secure as the heavenly angels.  But if they yielded to the tempter; He who spared not the exalted angels would not spare them.  They must suffer the penalty of their transgression; for the law of God was as sacred as himself and he required implicit obedience from all in Heaven and on earth.

         "The angels cautioned Eve not to separate from her husband in  her employment; for she might be brought in contact with this fallen foe. If separated from each other, they would be in greater danger than if both were together. The angels charged them to closely follow the instructions God had given them in reference to the tree of knowledge; for in perfect obedience they were safe, and this fallen foe could then have no power to deceive them. God would not permit Satan to follow the holy pair with continual temptations. He could have access to them only at the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

         "Adam and Eve assured the angels that they should never transgress the express command of God; for it was their highest pleasure to do his will.  The angels united with Adam and Eve in holy strains of harmonious music; and as their songs pealed forth from blissful Eden, Satan heard the sound of their strains of joyful adoration to the Father and Son. And as Satan heard it, his envy, hatred, and malignity increased, and he expressed his anxiety to his followers to incit them (Adam and Eve) to disobedience, and at once bring down the wrath of God upon them, and change their songs of praise to hatred, and curses to their Maker. [This was the designs of the Spirt of Evil.]" (Ibid pp 32-35)
 

         "Eve, unconsciously at first, separated from her husband in her employment.  When she became aware of the fact, she felt that there might be danger; but again she thought herself secure, even if she did not remain close by the side of her husband. She had wisdom and strength to know if evil came, and to meet it. This the angles had cautioned her not to do.  Eve found herself gazing with mingled curiosity and admiration upon the fruit of the forbidden tree. She saw it was very lovely, and was reasoning with herself why God had so decidedly prohibited their eating or touching it. Now was Satan's opportunity. He addressed her as though he was able to divine her thoughts;

         "'Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?'" Thus, with soft and pleasant words, and with musical voice, he addressed the wondering Eve.  She has startled to hear a serpent speak.  He extolled her beauty and exceeding loveliness [Spirit of Evil injecting pride as she did with Lucifer], which was not displeasing to Eve.  But she was amazed, for she knew that to the serpent God had not given the power of speech.  "Eve's curiosity was aroused [Like Lucifer, her curiosity was on the stretch].  Instead of fleeing from the spot, she listened to hear a serpent talk. It did not occur to her mind that it might be that fallen foe, using the serpent as a medium.

         "It was Satan that spoke, not the serpent. Eve was beguiled, flattered, infatuated.  Had she met a commanding personage, possessing a form like the angels, and resembling them, she would have been upon her guard. But that strange voice should have driven her to her husband's side to inquire of him why another should thus freely address her. But she enters into a controversy with the serpent. She answers his question,

         "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden. But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." The serpent answers, 'Ye shall not surely die; for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.'

         "Satan would convey the idea that by eating of the forbidden tree, they would receive a new and more noble kind of knowledge than they had hitherto attained.  This has been his special work with great success ever since his fall, to lead men to pry into the secrets of the Almighty, and not to be satisfied with what God has revealed, and not careful to obey that which he has commanded.

         "It was not the will of God that this sinless pair should have any knowledge of evil. He had freely given them the good [The Spirit of Wisdom], but witheld the evil [Spirit of Evil]. Eve thought the words of the serpent wise, and she received the broad assertion, 'Ye shall not surely die; for God doth know that in the day ye heat thereof then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods knowng good and evil' making God a liar. Satan boldly insinuates that God had deceived them to keep them from being exalted in knowledge equal with himself. God said, If you eat 'ye shall surely die.' The serpent said, If ye eat 'ye shall not surely die.'

         "The tempter assured Eve that as soon as she ate of the fruit she would receive a new and superior knowledge that would make her equal with God.  He called her attention to himself. He ate freely of the tree and found it not only perfectly harmless, but delicious and exhilarating; and told her that it was becasue of its wonderful properites to impart wisdom and power that God had prohibited them from tasting or even touching it; for he knew its wondeful qualities.

         "He stated that by eating of the fruit of the tree forbidden them was the reason he had attained the power of speech.  He intimated that God would not carry out his word. It was merely a threat to intimidate them and keep them from great good.  He further told them that they could not die. Had they not eaten of the tree of life which perpetuates immortality?  He said that God was deceiving them to keep them from a higher state of felicity and more exalted happiness.

         The tempter plucked the fruit and passed it to Eve. She took it in her hand. Now, said the tempter, you were prohibited from even touching it lest you die. He told her that she would realize no more sense of evil and death in eating than in touching or handling the fruit.

         "Eve was emboldened because she felt not the immediate signs of God's displeasure. She thought the words of the tempter all wise and correct.  She ate, and was delighted with the fruit. It seemed delicious to her taste, and she imagined that she realized in herself the wonderful effects of the fruit.

         "She then plucked for herself of the fruit and ate, and imagined she felt the quickening power of a new and elevated existence as the result of the exhilarating influence of the forbidden fruit. She was in a strange an unnatural excitement as she sought her husband, with her hands filled with the forbidden fruit. She related to him the wise discourse of the serpent, and wished to conduct him at once to the tree of knowledge.  She told him she had eaten of the fruit, and instead of her feeling any sense of death, she realized a pleaseing, exhilarating influnce. As soon as Eve had disobeyed, she became a powerful medium through which to occasion the fall of her husband [The virus of evil was spreading].

         "I saw a sadness come over the countenance of Adam.  He appeared afraid and astonished. A struggle appeared to be going on in his mind. He told Eve he was quite certain that this was the foe that they had been warned against; and if so, that she must die. She assured him she felt no ill effects, but rather a very pleasant influence, and entreated him to eat.

         "Adam quite well understood that his companion had transgressed the only prohibition laid upon them as a test of their fidelity and love. Adam regretted that Eve had left his side; but now the deed was done. He must be separated from her whose society he had loved so well. How could he have it thus? His love for Eve was strong.  And in utter discouragement he resolved to share her fate.  He reasoned that Eve was a part of himself; and if she must die, he would die with her; for he could not bear the thought of separation from her.

         "The news of man's fall spread through Heaven--every harp was hushed.  The angels cast their crowns from their heads in sorrow. All Heaven was in agitation.  The angels were grieved at the base ingratitude of man, in return for the rich bounties God had provided. A council was held to decide what must be done with the guilty pair. The angels feared that they would put forth the hand, and eat of the tree of life, and thus perpetuate a life of sin.

         "The Lord visited Adam and Eve, and made known to them the consequence of their disobedience.  As they hear God's majestic approach, they seek to hide themselves from his inspection, whom they delighted, while in their innocence and holiness to meet. 'And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked?  Hast thou eaten of the tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?'  This question was asked by the Lord, not because he needed information, but for the conviction of the guilty pair.  'How didst thou become ashamed and fearful?' And unto Adam he said, 'Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it, cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return unto the ground.'

         "God cursed the ground because of their sin in eating of the tree of knowledge, and declared, 'In sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.' He had apportioned them the good, but withheld the evil.  Now God declares that they shalleat of it,  that is, THEY SHOULD BE ACQUAINTED WITH EVIL ALL THE DAYS OF THEIR LIFE.

        "The race from that time forward was to be afflicted by Satan's temptations.  A life of perpetual toil and anxiety was appointed unto Adam, instead of the happy, cheerful labor he had hitherto enjoyed. They should be subject to disappointment, grief and pain, and finally come to dissolution. They were made of the dust of the earth, and unto dust should they return.

         "They were informed that they would have to lose their Eden home.  they had yielded to Satan's deception and believed the word of Satan, that God would lie.  By their transgression they had opened a way for Satan to gain access to them more readily, and it was not safe for them to remain in the garden of Eden, lest in their state of sin, they gain access to the tree of life, and perpetuate a life of sin.

         "They entreated to be permitted to remain although they acknowledged that they had forfeited all right to blissful Eden. They promised that they would in the future yield to God implicit obedience {not unlike Satan after he was cast out}.  They were informed that in their fall from innocence to guilt, they gained no strength but great weakness. They had not preserved their integrity while they were in a state of holy, happy innocence, and they would have far less strength to remain true and loyal in a state of conscious guilt.  They were filled with keenest anguish and remorse. They now realized that the penalty of sin was death.

         "Angels were commissioned to immediately guard the way of the tree of life. It was Satan's studied plan that Adam and Eve should disobey God,  receive his frown, and then partake of the tree of life, that they might perpetuate a life of sin.  But holy angels were sent to debar their way to the tree of life.  Around these angels flashed beams of light on every side, which had the appearance of glittering swords.  (Ibid, pp 31-44).