This is the sixth post in a series on the Great Controversy.  For the previous post please click HERE.  Each post builds on themes and arguments presented so if you have not read my others I recommend starting with the first by clicking HERE.

For the Great Controversy to be true it would need to be Biblically necessary for the character of God to be in question.  Also, the scriptures would have to teach that created beings are in some way standing in judgement over God at least in the same sense as a Jury does over a defendant in a court of law.

“Jesus was bearing the sin of the world; he was enduring the curse of the law; he was vindicating the justice of God. Separation from his Father, the punishment for transgression, was to fall upon him in order to magnify God’s law and testify to its immutability. And this was forever to settle the controversy between Satan and the Prince of heaven in regard to the changeless character of that law.” EGW, Signs of the Times, Feb. 13, 1896.

The Soveriegnty of God

In my last post in this series I demonstrated how the Bible teaches that God is Holy.  Are there people who call this into question today and shake their fist at God?  Yes of course there are.  The problem is that their rebellion is irrelevant.  The Great Controversy portrays a universe at risk.  One in which the only answer is for God to vindicate himself.  Scritpture does not teach this.  Instead it teaches something very clear which outright contradicts such a motif.

“Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.; Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?; But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.” Psa 115:1-3 KJV

Notice above that the verse essentially says God does what he wants.  This is true even when the heathen question him.  This passage does not portray God pleading with the heathen but rather their complaints are quite irrelevant to his actions.

“For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.; Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.; He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.” Psa 135:5-7 KJV

Notice this passage not only ascribes dominion of the universe to God, but it is clear that even things we would not think of him as being in control of he is.  Yes, God controls the weather.  That came as a shock for me, as an SDA I had more of a clockmaker picture of God in my head.  I assumed he created it as he wanted it to be and kinda let the universe do its thing most of the time.  Instead we see the Bible teaches he is sovereign over all.

“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:; Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,” Isa 46:10-9 KJV

Read the above verse one more time, are you getting a picture of someone who is on trial?  Is he trying to prove his innocence here?  Think about it.

“And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” Dan 4:35 KJV

That’s right, on a cosmic scale you and I are reputed as nothing.  This isn’t showing a picture of someone hoping to change everyone’s mind about himself.  Instead it says he “doeth according to his will”.

“Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?; Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?;  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?” Rom 9:19-21 KJV

Above it rebukes one for even thinking they can argue against God.  If such a thing is to receive a heavenly rebuke why would we think a grand display of questioning God would be entertained in the courts of heaven?  There is no reason to think that at all unless one is pulling their theology from extra Biblical sources.

“The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,; Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.; He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.” Psa 2:2-4 KJV

Above we see kings and rulers questioning God.  What is his response?  Does it say that he pines away and plots a scheme to vindicate himself?  No instead it says he laughs and “shall have them in derision”.

“And said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?” 2 Chr 20:6 KJV

Above it says “none is able to withstand thee”.  Please notice, that would include Satan.  He cannot withstand God, he is certainly not a threat to God at all.  Certainly not a “great” controversy with no threat of failure if you ask me.

Above I have made my case for the power and sovereignty of God.  I chose to use clear passages that are not commonly quoted.  There is actually a great deal more depth to this doctrine if you wish to dig deeper.  If you want the list of verses I was pulling from though you can find them HERE.

But reason for yourself, we are talking about an un-created Being who is creator and sustain-er of all things.  Creation is not in any way on equal footing with him.  Its straight up blasphemous to think creation is judging him.  Furthermore he owes us nothing.  Everything we have is given to us by grace.

Look closely at the pictures below.  Which one do you think is a Biblical presentation?  Picture #1 I found on an SDA blog that was arguing for the Great Controversy.  Notice how it shows the Devil and Christ in an arm wrestle.  Each is on equal footing with the color scheme split equally indicating good vs evil.

On picture #2 I found a more accurate representation.  Notice how Christ stands above the devil.  In this Satan is nothing to him.  If I could have found a picture of Satan being crushed by the foot of God like a bug I would have used that instead.  Why am I going on and on over a few pictures?  The reason is because pictures are worth a 1000 words.

Make no mistake #1 is an SDA view of God and the devil and #2 is a Christian one.  Which of these do you confess?