The Controversy Between Christ and Satan

From the very beginning, a great cosmic conflict has been unfolding—a war not of weapons, but of loyalty, truth, and worship—a controversy between Christ and Satan. The Bible reveals that long before humanity existed, an angel named Lucifer rebelled against God’s government in heaven. His rebellion was not a display of brute force, but a political and moral challenge to God’s character and law. Instead of destroying Lucifer immediately, God allowed his claims to be tested before the watching universe.

This controversy now extends to our world. Deception, pain, suffering, and death—all stem from this original conflict. Yet behind the chaos lies a deeper reality: God is love, and He is working to expose Satan’s lies, rescue humanity, and restore peace to His creation. Every one of us is involved in this battle, whether we realise it or not. In these final moments of earth’s history, the central issue is worship. Who will you choose to obey? God, the Creator—or Satan, the deceiver?

This article explores why God allowed Satan’s rebellion to continue, how deception has shaped human history, and why worship and obedience are at the heart of the final crisis facing our world.

THE ORIGINS OF REBELLION

Most people are familiar with Jesus Christ, but fewer understand the origins of Satan—where he came from, why he rebelled, and how his spirit of rebellion made its way to Earth.

Satan was not always the archenemy of God. Before his fall, he was known as Lucifer, “son of the morning” (Isaiah 14:12). He held a position of great honour in heaven as the anointed covering cherub, standing in the very presence of God (Ezekiel 28:14). Scripture tells us he was created “perfect in wisdom and beauty” (Ezekiel 28:12, 15).

But despite his exalted position, Lucifer became dissatisfied. Pride took root in his heart, and he began to covet the worship and honour that belonged to God alone.

“For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’”—Isaiah 14:13–14

Determined to usurp God's authority, Lucifer set out to deceive the angels. Through cunning and subtlety, he managed to persuade a third of heaven’s angels to join his rebellion (Revelation 12:4). Given that Hebrews 12:22 describes the number of angels as “innumerable,” this was an enormous defection.

To draw such a multitude of holy beings into rebellion, Lucifer must have presented arguments that sounded reasonable—even just. While the Bible does not record the full nature of the debate that divided heaven, we can infer much from how Satan has used earthly systems and institutions to war against God and His people throughout history. By tracing these patterns, we begin to see the heart of this great controversy.

WHY HAS GOD ALLOWED SATAN'S REBELLION TO CONTINUE?

Satan’s conflict with God is not a contest of power—it’s a political and moral challenge. If it were merely about who is stronger, God could have ended the rebellion instantly. But Satan’s revolt was rooted in false accusations against God’s character and government. To immediately destroy him would have made Satan appear to be a martyr for a just cause, casting suspicion on God and sowing the seeds for future rebellion.

Lucifer held a position of honour among the angels. He was deeply loved and trusted. When he first presented his claims, his selfish intentions were not obvious. He disguised his rebellion as a noble cause—suggesting that he was standing up for justice and fairness within God's government. Before sin entered the universe, deceit and manipulation were unknown. Heaven had only known peace, harmony, and trust. In this context, the other angels did not immediately perceive the danger.

Had God destroyed Lucifer on the spot, the angels—still unaware of his true character—would have misunderstood. Fear and doubt would have replaced love and confidence. God would have been seen as a tyrant, and dissatisfaction would have taken root. Future rebellion would have been guaranteed.

Instead, God chose the path of ultimate wisdom and mercy. Though He would have been justified in immediately eliminating Satan, He allowed the rebellion to play out. In doing so, He preserved the freedom and trust of His creation.

Notice that it was with his tail that Satan drew a third of the stars (angels) of heaven,

“And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth…”—Revelation 12:4

In Scripture, the tail of the dragon is symbolic of deception:

“The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.”—Isaiah 9:15

Satan used lies to sweep a third of the angels into rebellion. For the entire universe to fully understand the justice of God’s eventual judgment, Satan’s character and system of government had to be exposed. This was the only way to answer his accusations and forever affirm the righteousness of God’s law and the foundation of His kingdom—selfless love.

There is wisdom in the saying, “Give a man enough rope, and he will hang himself.” God, in His foreknowledge, allowed Satan time to reveal the results of his rebellion. Earth has become the theater of this great controversy—a living demonstration of what happens when God’s authority is rejected. The result is a world marred by pride, selfishness, hatred, violence, and every imaginable evil.

The conflict is now settled in heaven. Satan has been unmasked as a liar and a murderer from the beginning. God’s character and government have been vindicated before the heavenly hosts. Time now continues on Earth not because God is idle, but because He is merciful—longing to save all who are willing to turn to Him.

SATAN'S WAR AGAINST GOD'S LAW AND HUMAN ALLEGIANCE

When Satan deceived Adam and Eve into distrusting God’s love and disobeying His command, humanity became infected with the same spirit of rebellion that began in heaven. From that moment, the human race was drawn into the great controversy, carrying the seed of distrust, pride, and self-exaltation that originated with Lucifer.

Satan’s accusations against God have not changed. Deception remains his most powerful weapon, and worship remains his ultimate goal. His ambition is to receive the reverence that belongs to God alone. To achieve this, he has targeted the very foundation of God’s government—His law. By undermining it, Satan seeks to usurp God's authority and redirect the allegiance of humanity.

This ambition is clearly reflected in the prophetic symbol of the “little horn” found in Daniel 7—a religious system that embodies the rebellious principles of Satan.

“He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.”—Daniel 7:25

Allegiance is demonstrated through obedience. When we keep God’s commandments, we show that we belong to Him. But when we follow laws that oppose God’s will, we place ourselves under the authority of another. So what law did the little horn seek to change?

In A.D. 364, at the Council of Laodicea, the Roman Church officially attempted to shift the sanctity of the Sabbath from the seventh day (Saturday) to the first day (Sunday). This change—later reinforced through both tradition and civil authority—is why most Christians today worship on Sunday. Yet Scripture makes it clear that the little horn could only “intend” or “think” to change God’s law (Daniel 7:25, NKJV/NASB). No earthly power has the authority to alter the law of the Creator. (To learn more about the little horn click here.)

Further evidence of this tampering can be found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, where the second commandment—prohibiting the worship of images—has been omitted, and the tenth commandment has been divided in two to preserve the total number of ten.

At the heart of this issue is worship. The call to worship God is grounded in the fact that He is our Creator—the One to whom all life owes its existence.

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”—Psalm 95:6

“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”—Revelation 4:11

Satan’s counterfeit system challenges the authority of the Creator by substituting His commandments with human tradition. The great controversy is ultimately about who we worship—and whether our loyalty is with God, or with an imposter.

WORSHIP AT THE HEART OF THE FINAL CRISIS

The Sabbath is more than just a day of rest—it is a sacred memorial of God's creative power. Instituted at Creation, it serves as a continual reminder that God alone is worthy of our worship. For in six days He made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and on the seventh day He rested. The fourth commandment enshrines this truth, calling us to remember and honour our Creator.

Because of this, Satan has targeted the Sabbath with particular fury. By attacking the very commandment that honours God as Creator, he issues a direct insult to the majesty and authority of God. Then, having undermined the seventh-day Sabbath, he replaces it with a counterfeit—a day of his own choosing. In doing so, he seeks to redirect human loyalty and worship away from God and toward himself.

Although Sunday observance stands in contradiction to God's law, the Lord looks with compassion on the millions of sincere Christians who keep this day in ignorance. Many have never been taught the truth about the seventh-day Sabbath or its significance. God judges each of us according to the light we have received. But when the truth is revealed, He also calls us to respond. As the final crisis approaches, a time is soon coming when Sunday observance will no longer be a matter of tradition or preference—it will be enforced by law. At that time, God’s final message will shine across the world with astonishing clarity, calling all people to choose their allegiance. (To learn more about the setting up of the image to the beast click here.)

Satan does not come openly as a hideous monster with horns and a pitchfork. The Bible tells us that “Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). Just as he used the form of a serpent to deceive Eve, today he hides behind the cloak of apostate Christianity to mislead the world. What better disguise than to work through a religious system that claims to speak for Christ, while subtly turning people away from God's Word?

Satan is a master at mingling truth with error. When he tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he used Scripture—but twisted its meaning. Christ overcame this deception by standing firmly on the truth of God's Word. We must do the same if we hope to resist the final delusion.

At the very core of the last great conflict is worship. This has always been Satan’s goal—to receive the reverence that belongs only to God. Revelation 13 presents a vivid picture of this global showdown. All will be called to worship—either the beast and its image, thus giving homage to Satan, or the Creator by keeping His commandments.

This is the ultimate choice facing each soul: Will we side with rebellion or loyalty? Will we honour human tradition or divine truth? Will we worship the beast or the Creator?

A CHOICE OF ETERNAL CONSEQUENCE

Many have asked, “Why didn’t God destroy Satan at the beginning? Why did He create him at all?” The answer lies in a powerful principle: free will. Love can only exist in an atmosphere of freedom. A robot programmed to say, “I love you,” is not expressing real love—it is only following its code. God desires genuine love from His creation, and that can only come when we are free to choose whether to love Him or not.

But with freedom comes risk—the risk of sin, rebellion, and suffering. The crimes, pain, and tragedies we see around us are not the result of God's will, but the misuse of the free choice He gave us. God does not control us like puppets; He allows us to choose our path, whether good or evil. However, this does not mean evil will go unpunished. The day is coming when all who cling to sin and reject God’s saving grace will face judgment in the lake of fire.

The final battle between Christ and Satan is not just a story of angels and demons—it is a battle over your heart and mine. God created us with the freedom to choose, because only free beings can truly love. Satan has abused that freedom to spread doubt, rebellion, and ruin, while God has responded with patience, truth, and the sacrificial love of Christ.

At the cross, Jesus revealed the heart of God and exposed the lies of Satan. His death purchased our freedom and sealed the fate of the enemy. Now, every person is called to make a choice: to follow Christ in obedience and love, or to align—knowingly or unknowingly—with the spirit of rebellion. Only by the precious blood of Christ can we be saved from ourselves and a sin-darkened world.

Very soon, the world will be brought to a moment of decision. Every soul will be made aware of the truth about God's law, His Sabbath, and His authority as Creator. Worship will be the dividing line—whether we follow the commandments of God or the traditions of men.

God doesn’t force allegiance. He invites it. He pleads through His Word and Spirit for each of us to choose life, truth, and love. The offer of salvation still stands—forgiveness, freedom from sin, and eternal life are ours through Jesus Christ.

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”—1 Corinthians 2:9

Now is the time to decide. Will you stand with God, the Author of truth and love? Will you choose His kingdom over the passing kingdoms of this world?

For a deeper explanation of how the Catholic Church fulfils the role of the little horn in Daniel 7 and the first beast of Revelation 13, we encourage you to read our companion tract, The Final Crisis, available on the homepage. Or, click below to read our next article: 'Unmasking the Antichrist.'