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University SDA Church- East Lansing

The Great Controversy

David Shin

1. The Origin of Evil

2. Behind the Curtain

3. The Lamb and the Law

He wrote another book called A Trip Into the Supernatural after he wrote that book.

And Roger Morneau tells his testimony of how he came out of spiritualism and became a Seventh-day Adventist Christian.

He tells some harrowing accounts of some of the experiences that he had.

And in 1 of his stories, he talks about how he was giving a Bible study after he became a Christian to another individual.

And he says that in that moment that the curtain was lifted between the visible and the invisible.

And while he was giving the Bible study to this certain gentleman, he said that behind the man that was receiving the Bible study, he saw another being that was standing behind him.

This was not a human being, a supernatural being.

And it seemed that as Roger would relay the contents of the Holy Scripture that this supernatural being would try to influence and counteract the Bible study that was taking place.

At a certain moment, Roger says that the being and him had eye contact and the supernatural being was startled recognizing that he was now visible to Roger.

After a moment he kind of shrugged it off and continued to try to influence the Bible study.

The Bible tells us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, amen, but against principalities, against powers of darkness, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

And there is, believe it or not, an invisible reality around us that we cannot see.

There are evil angels, there are righteous angels that are all around us and I think that if all of us were able to see the great controversy being played out right before our very eyes, it would drive us to our knees.

Today we are continuing in our series of messages called The Great Controversy and in our Scripture reading today, we are given a glimpse for a brief moment in which the curtain between the visible and the invisible is taken back, and you're able to see a conversation between Satan and God.

This is the only place, I believe, in the Holy Scriptures where we're able to see this type of dialogue between God and Satan that is not on planet Earth.

So, I want to invite you to turn with me in your Bibles to the book of Job, Job 1, 6-12.

And we want to pick up as this dialogue begins in another place in another time.

Genesis, not Genesis, but the book of Job was written before the book of Genesis.

Now, there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came among them." Scholars believe that this was a kind of United Nations meeting in the universe.

Sons of God are representatives from these other places in the far reaches of God's creation.

And Satan, notice, comes as a representative of planet Earth.

Adam was the original representative, but after the fall, he forfeited that title.

And even in the New Testament, you'll notice that Jesus refers to Satan as the prince of this world.

And in verse 7, you have almost kind of a greeting, an initial part, some niceties are exchanged, as it were, in verse 7, And the Lord said to Satan, from where do you come?

So Satan answered the Lord and said, from going to and fro on the earth and from walking back and forth on it.

Then the Lord said to Satan, have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, blameless and upright man, 1 who fears God and shuns evil?

So Satan answered the Lord and said, Does Job fear God for nothing?

Have you not made a hedge around him, around his household, around all that he has on every side?

You have blessed the work of his hands and his possessions have increased in the land.

Now stretch out your hand and touch all that he has and he will surely curse you to your face.

And the Lord said to Satan, behold, all that he has is in your power.

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

You're able to see some of the nuances in the great controversy as you study these passages.

And I want to invite you at this time to take out your study guide, which is in your bulletin.

And if you don't have 1, raise your hand.

Daniel Jean-Francois is in the back, and we'll get you a study guide.

This is a brief outline of today's presentation.

It's a study guide, and I want to begin with asking some elementary questions about this dialogue, which we have just read.

Who were present at this special meeting before God?

Verse 6, now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them." So there are 3 parties that are present at this meeting, 3 constituents as it were, the Lord, Satan, and the sons of God.

And you will notice that the person on trial in this dialogue is not Job.

As you look at some of the implications and some of the nuances of Satan's argument, the person that is really being grilled is God.

And we'll get into that a little bit later.

So this dialogue is taking place between God and Satan, and the universe is watching this dialogue.

The book of Corinthians tells us that we are made a spectacle before men and angels.

So the universe is watching this exchange between God and Satan, before the sons of God is this interesting and fascinating dialogue.

Here we get to the crux of a central issue in the great controversy.

God immediately, after exchanging some of the niceties, after saying, hey, where have you come from?

And then he says, from going to and fro on the planet, Job is immediately brought up by God.

He says, hey, Have you considered my servant Job?

That there is none like him on the earth, and you can fill out your study guide.

I wanted to highlight this word, blameless.

I looked up the word blameless in a thesaurus, and it has some things like irreproachable, impeccable, righteous.

So there's something about Job's life, his blameless life, that validates or vindicates God's side.

He says, look, he lives a blameless and upright life by the grace of God, 1 who fears God and shuns evil.

Moving on very quickly to our next question.

What did Satan claim was Job's motive in faithfulness?

So Satan answered the Lord and said, does Job fear God for nothing?

Have you not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side?

You have blessed the work of his hands and his possessions and have increased in the land, but now stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse you to your face." The implication is, the only reason why Job, or anyone for that matter, would serve you is not because of who you are, but because of the benefits that you bring.

The insinuation given by Satan is that, look, if you take away all of the accoutrements, all of the luxuries, all of the benefits, then Job will have no reason to serve you.

Because God's character is not such that is worth serving.

And the Lord said to Satan, behold, all that he has is in your hand.

Only do not lay a hand on this person, so Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Job, needless to say, is oblivious to this conversation.

He has no idea that this quote deal has been struck.

And the next few verses are astonishing in the rapid succession of loss that Job undertakes.

And you'll notice a phrase that is repeated over and over again.

And I have the words on the screen because I looked it up in the New Living Translation.

Now, it's not my favorite translation, but sometimes some of these modern translations give us a little bit more of a bite to them.

And this was no exception, the New Living Translation.

I want to read to you what happens in verse 13 as Satan unleashes his fury upon this poor, unsuspecting individual named Job after this conversation.

1 day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother's house, a messenger arrived at Job's home with the news, your oxen were plowing with the donkeys." It's been a short night, friends.

Your oxen were plowing with the donkeys, feeding beside them.

When the Sabians raided us, they stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands, And I am the only 1 who has escaped to tell you.

1 servant is freed or allowed to live to bear this news to Job.

So as this individual is finishing his sentence of this tragic loss, another messenger arrives with the news, the fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds.

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Series

The Great Controversy

2. Behind the Curtain

Transcript

Parent Series

Sponsor

Recorded

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Restoration 2023

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Plenary

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The Atheist Who Found God

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Sanctuary, Salvation & Our Savior

Sanctuary, Salvation and Our Savior: Glorified in the Most Holy Place

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Encounters With Jesus

Jesus’ Encounter with the Disciples in the Storm

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The Purpose of Trials

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A God You Can Trust

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Pagan Christianity Fulfilling Prophecy

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Why God Won’t Leave

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The Final Call

5- Safe and Secure, or Not so Sure?

53m

Sound Doctrine