The Washington herald., 1921-09-10
THE DEVIL.
70 the Editor, The Washing ton Hera.i:

To the Editor, The Washington Hera.1:
+. NJ. Ottinger asked Open Court
where the devil is. The best way to
find out is to read about him in Holy
Writ, for there his entire history is
given.
Gods government is a great de-
mocracy, and He creates all of His
creatures which are endowed with
reason, with free will. The funda
mental law in Gods government is
love. He delights in blessing His
creatures. and He appreciates love
in return.
Lucifer means light-bearer. Luci-
fer was the covering cherub who
stood by the throne of Jehovah.
God says of him: Thou art the
anointed cherub that covereth; and
have set thee so. Thou vast upon
the holy mountain of God; thou hast
walked up and down in the midst
of the stones of FIRE. Thou vast
perfect in thy ways from the day
thou vast created till iniquity was
found in thee.
Thou hast been in Eden, the gar
den of God: every precious stone
was thy covering, the sardius, to-
paZ and the diamond, the beryl. the
onyx and the jasper, the sapphire,
the emerald and the carbuncle, and
gold; the workmanship Of thy tab
rets and thy pipes was prepared in
thee in the day thou vast created.
Thine heart was lifted up be-
cause of thy beauty; thou hast cor
rupted thy wisdom by reason of thy
brightness: / will cast thee to the
ground. l will lay thee before
kings. that they may behold thee.
Thou sealest up the sum, full of
wisdom. perfect in beauty"
This is the being known to US as
the devil. as God created him. The
hideous figure with horns, hoofs. red
tights. tail and carrying a pitch
fork is the product OF a diseased
brain, and stories regarding such a
figure came into existence during
the Dark Ages.
1t will be noted from the descrip-
ton of his ''tabrets and pipes" that
his singing voice was such that he
could sing all four parts at once.
The nearset approach we have to
such a voice is the pipe organ.
This being became lifted up be-
cause of his beauty" and he cor
rupted his wisdom by reason of his
brightness. Simply speaking. he
became jealous. He said: 'T will
ascend into heaven. I will exalt my
throne above the stars OF God. ]
will will sit also upon the mount of
the congregation. in the sides of
the north. 1 will ascend above the
heights of the clouds. 1 will be like
the Most High"
This created being aspired to be
equal with Jehovah, his Creator. He
led other angels in rebellion. The
name Satan means rebel" and after
was changed to Satan, also the
devil, meaning evil one.
God spared not the angels that
sinned, but cast them down to hell
and delivered them into chains of
darkness. to be reserved unto judg-
ment." This is the darkness of ut
ter hopelessness and despair in sin.
When Satan led man to sin, dark
ness was brought upon this world.
But God did not leave man to hope
lessness. In His mercy and great
love He caused the light of the
glorious gospel of Jesus Christ to
shine" to call men "out of the dark
ness into His marvellous light" The
wicked angels are kept in ever
lasting chains of darkness.
Note they were resolved unto
judgment, not cast Immediately into
fire. The judgment on these angels
was pronounced at the crucifxion
of Christ. for it was then evident
to all heaven that there was no hope
of their ever repenting of their
wicked course. That judgment has
not yet been executed F.. 1t will be
executed when the final punishment
of the wicked (or unrepentanO hu-
man beings of this world is execut-
ed. The Bible does not teach that
there is burning hell in existence
anywhere yet. The Hebrew word
"sheol'' is translated into English IN
the Bible many times grave"
meaning a place of darkness and
death. and many times hell" but
the thought is the same in both
words. When the idea of fiery
punishment Is expressed IL is eN-
pressed in the words lake of fire.
which will be on tho surfsce Of
this ear.b at The fink. fh> iudr.