Part 1: Satan’s Part
1. Who causes suffering?
“And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.” Job 2:6-7 For further study see Job 1:12.

Note: “The Scriptures declare that upon one occasion, when the angels of God came to present themselves before the Lord, Satan came also among them ( Job 1:6), not to bow before the Eternal King, but to further his own malicious designs against the righteous.” {Ellen White, GC pg. 518.3} “The history of Job had shown that suffering is inflicted by Satan, and is overruled by God for purposes of mercy.” {Ellen White, DA pg. 471}

2. How did Peter describe the character of satan?
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” 1 Peter 5:8 For further study see Revelation 12:10.

Note: The term satan means hater, accuser and adversary. From the beginning satan accused. he accused God of creating an “unjust law,” and claims that the angels needed no such law. he whispers “God is a harsh and exacting master.” and then blames God for the human suffering which he (satan) caused. By attacking God’s law satan has attempted to overthrow God’s government and thus succeed to the throne.

3. What was satan’s first sin?
“Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee….Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee.” Ezekiel 28:17,9

Note: “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.” {Ellen White, GC 498.3}

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