War in Heaven: The Power of Jesus Christ

War in Heaven

The Power of Jesus Christ

War in Heaven

The Power of Jesus Christ

Denton M. Hatch

Writings Publisher

© 2019 Denton M. Hatch

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form whatsoever, whether by graphic, visual, electronic, film, microfilm, tape recording, or any other means, without permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief passages embodied in critical reviews and articles.

The opinions and views expressed herein belong solely to the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions and views of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Permission for the use of sources, graphics, and photos is also solely the responsibility of the author.

ISBN-13: 978-1-7337138-2-5

Published by Writings Publisher

Utah, USA

Cover image by Dreamstime.

Cover design by Chelsea Jackson

Edited and typeset by Leah Welker and Sarah Dickson

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Contents

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Introduction

Section 1: Pre-Earth—The War Began

-The War Began with a Family Dispute

-Our Enemy

-Our Leader

-Our Father

-Creation

Section 2: Earth Life—The War Continues Within

-Temptation from Within

-Pride

-Doubt and Fear

Section 3: Weapons Against Temptation

-Obedience

-Faith

-Repentance

-Priesthood

-Baptism

-The Gift of the Holy Ghost

-Prayer and Charity and Fasting

Section 4: War on Morality

-Anger

-Honesty

-Chastity

-Marriage

-Forgiveness

-Work

-Parents

-Swearing

-The Sabbath

-Tithing

-Word of Wisdom

-Coveting and Gratitude

Section 5: War from Without

-Government and Agency

-History of Agency

-Imperfect Government

-Striving for Perfect Government

-Socialism: Satan’s Counterfeit

-Secret Combinations

-The United States of America

Section 6: Future—The War Ends

-Prophecy

-Triumph

-Judgment

Section 7: Summary

Acknowledgments

I thank my family and friends for their love and help, and Leah Welker, Sarah Dickson, and Chelsea Jackson for their valuable assistance in preparing this book.

About the Author

Denton M. Hatch is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has served in the Church and been a student of the gospel of Jesus Christ all of his life. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brigham Young University, cum laude, in 1971, emphasizing history and political science. He received a Master of Business Administration degree from Brigham Young University in 1973 and a Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from Brigham Young University in 1978. He practiced law for thirty-seven years as a city attorney in civil and criminal law, and in private practice, including fraud, insurance, contracts, business, estate planning, litigation, and family law. During 2005–2006 he was president of the Central Utah Bar Association. In addition to the above, he gained a practical education as a husband, father, and neighbor, which he thinks is as valuable as his formal education. Using his extensive background, he writes in a clear, down-to-earth manner about happiness.

Introduction

After I retired, I decided to write a booklet for my children and grandchildren. My children were starting families and my grandchildren were starting life, and I wanted to share my experience. I wanted to write what I thought might help them avoid heartache and find happiness, and with my thoughts written, they could read when they wanted. I enjoyed writing about our Savior, and I felt love, comfort, joy, and conviction. These feelings gave me momentum. During the next three years, and after thousands of hours, the booklet grew in size and scope and evolved into this book. I hope my children, and all readers, will feel what I felt when I wrote this book.

Our lives are an adventure more thrilling than any fantastic fiction novel or any amazing action movie. We are heroes and heroines, and we are warriors who will succeed against an evil power with the help of an invisible good power—the power of Jesus Christ. We succeeded as warriors with the help of Christ during the pre-earth war in heaven. As a result, all of us won the right to gain a body and come to earth, and with His help, we will win the last battle. This story is not fiction. It is real life, and we are real heroes and heroines with real power, and with that power, we will overcome real evil! We will be victors! Because this is our story and because it is a true story, it is even more fantastic than any fiction novel and more amazing than any action movie. Now tell me, can you imagine anything more exciting?

But wait, you say. I don’t feel heroic. When I look in the mirror, I don’t think, ‘I am heroic.’ At times I feel like a failure. I make mistakes. I struggle. I face obstacles and opposition, and I don’t always know the right answers. I even commit sin. You can’t be serious about me being heroic. Yes, I am serious. The above description is a description of all of us. No matter how lowly our circumstances, no matter that we have sinned, no matter whether we even profess Christianity, we are heroic. We already proved it in the war in heaven, and with God’s help, we will prove it again for the last time. In this book, we will discuss what we learned pre-earth, and how it helps us now.

Under God’s plan of salvation, most will not be doomed to eternal hell. We will be crowned with immortality, and with the exception of a relative few who willfully and knowingly rebel against God, as Satan did, we will inherit a kingdom of glory more wonderful than this earth life. My intent in this book is to explain how this is so.

However, even though with Christ’s help we have succeeded and will succeed against evil, the degree of our glory and joy will depend on the strength of our faith in Him and our repentance. Therefore, we are commanded to teach faith in Him and say nothing but repentance unto this generation.¹ When we were born, a veil was drawn over us and we forgot everything.² The veil of forgetfulness allows us to show our faith and prove whether we will keep His commandments.³ God teaches us about pre-earth life, but we still walk by faith and not recollection. We will talk about faith in Christ and repentance, and how simple and powerful they are.

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but this book is not authorized by my Church and should not be considered official Church doctrine. This is my personal attempt to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ based on His teachings given through scriptures and prophets, both ancient and modern. Any mistake in this book is mine and should not be ascribed to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I pray that any error I may make will not lead anyone away from Jesus Christ; my intent is to show why we should love and follow Him.

On the other hand, if you find something good in this book, it should be ascribed to Jesus Christ. He is the Author of His gospel. I am a scribe and a testifier of what I have received from Him, which I think is the role of everyone who writes truthfully about His gospel.

This book is my testament of Jesus Christ, which I add to millions of other testaments of Him. He is God and Creator of the world.⁴ He is also our Savior and best friend.⁵ This book is written for those who seek to know Him better. Sincerely studying Jesus Christ’s words brings His power into our lives because His words are spoken by the power of [His] Spirit.⁶ The power of His spirit is a gift of great worth and the reason we seek Him.

You may want to criticize me, but please don’t criticize the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is perfect and founded on love and filled with love, which we all need. Leo Tolstoy wrote of a priest who was criticized by a member of his congregation for not living as he should. The critic said the principles taught by the erring preacher must also be erroneous. The priest admitted that even though he tried to live the principles he taught, he failed. But he cried:

Attack me, [if you wish,] I do this myself, but [don’t] attack . . . the path I follow . . . . If I know the way home [but] am walking along it drunkenly, is it any less the right way simply because I am staggering from side to side?

Do not gleefully shout, Look at him! . . . There he is crawling into a bog! No, do not gloat, but give . . . your help [to anyone trying to walk the road back to God].⁷

This priest understood God’s love. If we try to be Christlike and fall short, we are not hypocrites, we are human.⁸ God expects us to be human, and His love does not waiver.

We will discuss how Christ’s words and spirit lead us to know the power and nature of His love.⁹ And the greatest truth is that God’s love never changes. Whether we feel it or not, it is there. Whether we feel worthy of it or not, it is there. No one is excluded. It is there for everyone. His loving arm is extended to all people who will repent and believe on his name.¹⁰ Thus, even though His love is offered to all, only those who believe Him and repent can feel His love. Put another way, He stands with open arms, and we must step toward Him to feel His embrace. A prophet explained it this way:

We were not placed on this earth to walk alone. What an amazing source of power, of strength, and of comfort is available to each of us. He who knows us better than we know ourselves, He who sees the larger picture and who knows the end from the beginning, has assured us that He will be there for us to provide help if we but ask. We have the promise: Pray always and be believing, and all things will work together for your good.

Your Heavenly Father loves you—each of you. That love never changes. It is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, or by the amount of money you have in your bank account. It is not changed by your talents and abilities. It is simply there. It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there.¹¹

We will speak of the Father and Son as if They are One because, even though they are two personages, They are perfectly unified in Their love for us and in every other way, which we will discuss later. Our Eternal Father and His Son love us with Their eternal love. Our Father sent His Son to save that which was lost, and if He finds one of his sheep, which is gone astray, He rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.¹²

We will discuss power. Power is not a bad word, although use of power may be bad. We all seek power. For some people, power is negative and associated with control. They may seek power, or fear it, because of control. With Jesus power is positive and associated with freedom. His followers seek power, and love it, because of freedom. We will discuss the relationship between love, power, and freedom, and how Jesus’s power and love protect freedom, and in contrast, how Satan’s power, hate, and unrighteous dominion destroy freedom. We will discuss how Satan tempts us from within and oppresses us from without, and how Jesus Christ saves and protects us.

When we study Christ’s words, we show our faith in Him and to them will I give power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on my name.¹³ Studying His atonement, humility, obedience, and love brings power to overcome the temptations and trials of life because all power is given unto [Him] in heaven and in earth.¹⁴ When we read His word, we can testify that [we] have heard [His] voice.¹⁵ And studying his word gives us power to find answers to our questions and to find knowledge:

As we read and ponder the scriptures, we will experience the sweet whisperings of the Spirit to our souls. We can find answers to our questions. We learn of blessings which come through keeping God’s commandments. We gain a sure testimony of our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of their love for us. When scripture study is combined with our prayers, we can of a certainty know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true.¹⁶

We will contrast our two brothers, Satan and Jesus Christ, and discuss why Satan is our enemy and Jesus our leader. We made that choice pre-earth, and it is the right choice. We will discuss the role of our beloved Father.

We will also discuss how Jesus’s love is the source of His power. His pure love, which is called charity in the scriptures, is the magnetic power that draws us to Him. We love His love. In addition to its magnetic power, we will discuss how Jesus’s love, manifested in His atonement, is the key that allows Him to inherit all power our Father in Heaven has—omnipotent power. This is more power than we can comprehend or describe. It is the power that is through all things.¹⁷ The power by which the planets move.¹⁸ And the power that gives us breath for life.¹⁹

Jesus Christ and our Father now stand in the perfect place of love, power, freedom, and joy. As our Father and Brother, they invite us to join them. All are invited. Even sinners. As fellow sinner, warrior, and friend I say, Come, the battle is heated. Let’s join Them.

We will rely on the words of His prophets—ancient and modern—because they are filled with His power. Based on words of His prophets, we’ll discuss the future and how the war ends with our final triumph over Satan under Christ’s banner. I will call modern prophets President or Elder, which refers to modern apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their words are found in conferences held by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In addition to the Bible and conferences, I will cite modern canonized scriptures which are consistent with the Bible in testifying of Christ. They include the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.²⁰ I will cite the Book of Mormon often, since it is the most correct of any book on earth . . . and a man will get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.²¹

The words of His prophets are scripture and the voice of the Lord and the power of God unto salvation.²² It is the Christian’s joy to acquire this power, to increase it within, and to share it with others. When a prophet or any person speaks or writes by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.²³

In addition to the power of God’s Spirit, which we feel when we study scriptures, scriptures have power because they are infallible. Therefore, at the beginning of a section, I will cite scriptures that form a foundation for the subject that follows, and when discussing the subject, I will refer back to those scriptures. I hope this reliance on the scriptures will keep us on Jesus’s path.

Writing this book changed me, and I hope this book will change you, because when we faithfully study His word, His Spirit gives us power to change. Joseph Smith experienced the power to change when he read James 1:5. Joseph said, Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. Because of the power he felt in his heart, Joseph changed, and he determined that he must do as James directs, that is, ask of God which church is true.²⁴

We will discuss Christ’s power to take the good in us and make it better and to take our weaknesses and make them strong. After King Benjamin taught his people, they said the Spirit of the Lord wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.²⁵ Likewise, after Ammon and his brethren taught the Lamanites, they became a righteous people; they did lay down the weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God anymore.²⁶ We will discuss how such changes are caused by Christ’s power and the other members of the Godhead—our Father and the Holy Ghost.

Not everything in this book is new. We receive His power by studying scripture we have studied before because His Spirit can testify to us anew of its truth. Repetition in scripture is a teacher. Studying the word of Jesus Christ is not a one-and-done activity. Most of what we study about Jesus is not new, since the Bible is by far the most widely read book in the world.²⁷ Therefore, we read for thoughts and feelings. If we desire of [Him] in faith the Holy Ghost will enlighten [our] mind and fill [our] soul with joy.²⁸ Thus, like a nourishing Sunday dinner strengthens our body even though we have tasted it before, our study of His word will spiritually give us power and strength even though we have tasted it before. And as our bodies need constant nourishment from good food, our spirits need constant spiritual nourishment from the power of Jesus Christ found in His word. We therefore press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ.²⁹

We will discuss judgment. Those who do not seek His power through study, prayer, and obedience are those who travel through life alone without His help. They receive "not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."³⁰ Nevertheless, at some future time, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess . . . that he is God, and those who live without God in the world will confess that His judgment is just.³¹ Yes, the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to the God who gave them life.³² After returning to Him, we will humbly confess His powerful love for us and His powerful, undeniable Godhood. None will escape. It is a matter of time which will pass quickly.

The great missionary Ammon described Him this way: He has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.³³

He offers us what we desire—all power, understanding, and mercy. Is there any good reason to turn from Him toward the dark?

In addition to scripture, I use short parables or stories to illustrate how scriptures apply to life. In other words, I use parables to liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.³⁴ The parables I write are fiction, even though they describe occurrences of a familiar kind.³⁵ Although similar facts may exist, I avoided factual stories requiring permission.³⁶ The parables should be viewed as fiction novels are viewed. They are in italics.

SECTION ONE

Pre-Earth—The War Began

The War Began with a Family Dispute

John Saw the War

Before we came to earth, there was war in heaven. The phrase war in heaven comes from Revelation 12:7, where John says, There was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. Understanding the war is important because the war continues on earth, and understanding it helps us understand who we are fighting, why we are fighting, and how we can win.

Our Pre-Earth Family

As pre-earth spirits without bodies, we wanted to progress and become like our Father, who we knew and worshipped.³⁷ We wanted to obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize [our] divine destiny as heirs of eternal life.³⁸ Father’s plan of love was to make an earth, give His children agency, and prove His children to see if they would obey him, and if so, they would have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever. ³⁹ His plan included freedom to choose and a Redeemer.

Two Brothers Disagree

Jesus said, Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.⁴⁰

The war began when Satan proposed that salvation come automatically to all—not just some. No agency. Satan asked for God’s power and honor, and he promised universal redemption. He said, Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.⁴¹ In short, Satan sought glory by destroying the agency of man so no one could choose evil, and thus he would ensure redemption.

Our Family Conflict

God chose Jesus as Redeemer, and Satan was angry.⁴² Satan rebelled, and because he sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down.⁴³ Luke said Christ beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.⁴⁴ Isaiah summarized Lucifer’s fall, saying the son of the morning fell because he sought to exalt his throne above the stars of God and ascend above the heights of the clouds and be like the most High.⁴⁵

Family Split Followed

As described in Revelation, when the son of the morning did not prevail and was cast out, he convinced a third of the hosts of heaven to use their agency and turn away from God. They were cast out with him, and their place was not found any more in heaven. The devil, which deceiveth the whole world, and his angels were cast out into the earth before they could receive a body.⁴⁶ They were thrust down to hell and became the devil and his angels, who should tempt the children of men, or they could not be agents unto themselves; for if they never should have bitter they could not know the sweet.⁴⁷

Satan’s followers in pre-earth life are like the followers of a military despot who sought power. As a convincing leader, the despot rallied followers by telling them he would make them happy, powerful, and successful. When the despot had enough support, he promised more power to those who followed and protected him, and they promised to follow him at all cost. He organized armies and led his people to war with a promise to conquer. However, his armies were defeated, and the despot failed to give the people what he promised. His people suffered defeat, pain, and shame, but they remembered their promise and did not change their goals. They decided to work to conquer other nations with the hope of getting more power, success, and happiness.

Conversely, two-thirds of Father’s children did not follow Lucifer but were united against Lucifer. We were among that number, and we were those in favor of agency and redemption with Jesus Christ as our Savior. We were not cast out but were sent to earth to receive a body and prove ourselves according to God’s plan. Thus, every person on earth chose to follow Jesus Christ during the war in heaven. And we knew that our adversity and afflictions on earth would be but a small moment, and if we endure[d] it well, God would exalt us on high, and we would triumph over all [our] foes.⁴⁸

Our Joy and Sorrow

What will happen to those who followed Satan and were cast out? Those who followed Satan and kept not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate.⁴⁹ And according to Jude 1:6, the angels which kept not their first estate . . . he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

Pre-earth life is like a midterm exam, and earth life is like a final exam. A teacher told his students that all who passed the midterm could take a comprehensive final exam. If his students passed the final exam, they would graduate. All who passed the midterm looked forward to the final exam and graduation. Those who prepared for the final exam and passed it graduated and were happy. Those who did not prepare for the final exam and failed it suffered sorrow and disappointment.

During the war, we understood God’s plan of salvation. We wanted it, chose it, and agreed to it. We knew Father’s plan meant suffering for us when we came to earth, but we accepted that because we knew we would learn and grow, our reward would be glory and eternal life with Father if we succeeded.⁵⁰

In contrast, with Satan’s plan we would not experience such growth because we could not choose. We would give Satan all honor.⁵¹

We focused on the rewards of God’s plan, and we were happy to face the challenge. We knew that when facing hardship and suffering on earth, we would be tempted to criticize God. But we knew we could not justly criticize God for our choice. We could only justly thank Him for the opportunity.

Complaining about our suffering here on earth is like a person who signed a contract that gave him a large salary and then complained about his job. He knew at the beginning his job would be stressful and difficult. However, once he began, he complained and blamed others for the difficulty of his job. He blamed his employer and said his employer treated him unfairly and his job was too hard, even though he originally agreed to face the problems related to his job because of the large salary he would receive. Because of his criticism and complaining, the person felt anger and frustration and was not happy.

Our Enemy

Satan Is the Enemy

One thing we learn from the war in heaven is who our friends and enemies are. In the parable of the sower, Jesus referred to Satan as the enemy.⁵² As painful as it may be for some of us to label our brother the enemy, it is less painful than it will be if we call him our friend. As much as some of us may want to say something nice, and as much as Satan wants us to honor him, it cannot be done. We can acknowledge Satan’s power and respect his great talent, but we can say nothing good about his goals. We do not have to judge the devil; God has done that for us. He is the enemy.⁵³

Satan is our enemy on earth because we opposed him during the war in heaven and it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them.⁵⁴ He is miserable and seeks to make all men miserable like unto himself.⁵⁵ He does this through deception.⁵⁶ The war is the same now, except now we have a body and we can no longer remember our pre-earth existence. But the core issues are the same: agency and power and love. As the battle between us and Satan continues, there is no middle ground. We must choose. Jesus stated in Matthew 12:30, He that is not with me is against me. Also, There is nothing good save it comes from the Lord: and that which is evil cometh from the devil.⁵⁷

Satan Is a Powerful Enemy

We know that when we talk about Satan, we also talk about his hosts: a third part of the hosts of heaven.⁵⁸ That large number means that, at any given time, those living on earth are outnumbered by Satan and his hosts. No wonder Satan accomplishes as much as he does. No wonder the battle is challenging and difficult.

In Ephesians 6:11–18, a new testament prophet described the battle with Satan and his hosts:

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

In order to win this war—and despite Satan’s efforts to make us believe otherwise—we believe that Satan exists and that he wants to exercise his power over us.⁵⁹ In addition to acknowledging the enemy, we acknowledge the war. Again, it is a war of deception, and Satan’s goal is to deceive and to blind men.⁶⁰ All Satan has to offer is misery, so he must lie and deceive. He is the father of lies.⁶¹

Our war with Satan is similar to a war fought by a general against a skilled enemy. The general tried to detect the enemy’s location and determine what the enemy was planning. However, the enemy hid itself and communicated in code. The enemy also tried to jam the general’s communications. It took great effort, but with the help of others, the general was able to break the code used by the enemy and determine the enemy’s position. Because of his diligence, the general defeated the enemy.

Satan Wants Infighting

Satan is also the father of contention.⁶² He wants us to fight each other instead of him. We are at war together. We do not fight alone. Two-thirds of the hosts of Heaven have a common cause. That is us—mankind—every man and woman on the earth. We came to fight Satan, not each other. The spirit of contention is not of me, says Jesus Christ, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. [But] this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away.⁶³ Those who follow Christ avoid contention and extend a hand to those in need.

Our unity in the war against Satan can be like the unity of a group of marines, whose sergeant told them they would each fight personal battles, but they would be most effective when they fought shoulder-to-shoulder and helped their comrades, including those injured and in trouble. He said a marine’s motto is to leave no man behind, and therefore marines send search-and-rescue teams to save downed or missing forces. The sergeant also taught his men to obey their leaders and not to destroy themselves with infighting. In battle, the marines were unified and fought effectively and saved many lives.

Satan Has a Strong Personality

Satan described his own personality in one sentence when he proposed to redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.⁶⁴ When we analyze this statement, we see that Satan seeks authority. How could he guarantee that not one man would be lost if he did not have ultimate authority? It sounds like a big task to control every person every moment and guarantee redemption. Nevertheless, this was his proposal, and he was cast out because he sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him.⁶⁵ Agency means action or active force . . . by which something is done.⁶⁶ If we are given agency, we are given the right to act. It is clear that agency was sacred to our Father but hated by Satan. And it is also clear that we loved agency.

Satan’s request for complete authority was followed by his request for complete honor when he proposed that he be given thine honor, meaning God’s honor. This was the second reason Satan was cast out.⁶⁷ This is another request that seems to have no bounds.

Satan was bold. He