Good angels wept to hear the words of Satan, and his exulting boasts. God declared that the rebellious should remain in Heaven no longer. Their high and happy state had been held upon condition of obedience to the law which God had given to govern the high order of intelligences. But no provision had been made to save those who should venture to transgress his law. Satan grew bold in his rebellion, and expressed his contempt of the Creator’s law. This Satan could not bear. He claimed that angels needed no law; but should be left free to follow their own will, which would ever guide them right; that law was a restriction of their liberty, and that to abolish law was one great object of his standing as he did. The condition of the angels he thought needed improvement. Not so the mind of God, who had made laws and exalted them equal to himself. The happiness of the angelic host consisted in their perfect obedience to law. Each had his special work assigned him; and until Satan rebelled, there had been perfect order and harmonious action in Heaven. Then there was war in Heaven. The Son of God, the Prince of Heaven, and his loyal angels, engaged in conflict with the arch rebel and those who united with him. The Son of God and true, loyal angels prevailed; and Satan and his sympathizers were expelled from Heaven. All the heavenly host acknowledged and adored the God of justice. Not a taint of rebellion was left in Heaven. All was again peaceful and harmonious as before. {1SP 22.3}

De gode engle græd da de hørte Satans ord, og hans triumferende praleri. Gud erklærede at oprørende ikke skulle blive længere i himmelen. De havde fået deres ophøjede og lykkelige tilstand på den betingelse, at de skulle vise lydighed mod den lov som Gud havde givet til at styre denne høje klasse af fornuftige væsener. Men ingen foranstaltning var gjort for at frelse dem som vovede at overtræde hans lov. (23) Satan var stærk i sit oprør, og udtalte sin foragt for Skaberens lov. Djævelen kunne ikke fordrage den. Han påstod at engle behøvede ingen lov; men burde være fri til at følge deres egen vilje, som altid ville lede dem ret; at loven var en indskrækning af deres frihed, og at en stor hensigt med hans oprør var at afskaffe loven. Han mente at englenes tilstand behøvede forbedring. Men Gud, som havde givet loven og ophøjet den lige med sig selv, tænkte ikke således. Englehærens lykke bestod i deres fuldkomne lydighed med loven. Enhver var blevet anvist et særdeles værk; og der havde været fuldkommen orden og harmoni i himmelen indtil Satan gjorde oprør. Da blev der strid i himlen. Guds Søn himmelens Fyrste, og hans tro engle stred imod ærkeoprøren og hans deltagere. Guds Søn og de gode engle vandt sejr; og Satan og hans deltagere blev udstødte af himlen. Hele himmelens hær anerkendte og tilbad retfærdighedens Gud. Ingen smitte af oprøret blev tilbage i himmelen. Alt var igen fred og harmoni som tidligere.