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 global flood, as presented in the historical account of Genesis 1-11.

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. (Gen 3; 6-8; Job 1:6-12; Isa 14:12-14; Ezek 28:12-18;

Rom 1:19-32; 3:4; 5:12-21; 8:19-22; 1 Cor 4:9; Heb 1:14; 1 Peter 5:8;

2 Peter 3:6; Rev 12:4-9.)