SATAN'S PLAN TO MAKE ADAM AND EVE REBEL

The evil angels were looking for Satan. Satan, with hatred and rebellion showing on his face, told the evil angels about his plan to get Adam and Eve to rebel against God. If Satan could trick them into disobeying, God might find a way to forgive them. Satan thought that if God forgave Adam and Eve, he and the evil angels might be forgiven too.SRme 1.50

If God did not forgive Adam and Eve, they would be rebels. Then Satan and his angels could join them. They would all live together in the Garden of Eden as their home. They would be able to eat the fruit of the tree of life that was in the middle of the garden. Doing so would make them as strong as the heavenly angels. Then God would not be able to force them to leave the garden.SRme 1.51

Satan discussed his plan with his evil angels. But not all of them agreed at first to join in Satan's terrible plan. Satan told the angels that he would not give any of them the work of tempting Adam and Eve. He thought he alone was wise enough to do the important work. Satan asked them to think about his plan while he went away by himself to work out the best way to get Adam and Eve to sin. This was their last hope. If Satan's plan failed, they could never get control of heaven or rule over any part of God's creation.SRme 1.52

Satan went off by himself to decide how best to tempt Adam and Eve. He was afraid that his plan might fail. If he got Adam and Eve to disobey God's law and become sinners, this might not help him; it would only increase his guilt.SRme 1.53

Satan's body shook when he thought of making happy human beings sin. That would make them feel as bad and as guilty as he did. Satan kept changing his mind. At first he thought he would go ahead with his plan. Then he thought he would not go ahead with his plan. Soon Satan's angels found him and told him that they had decided to help him in his plans. They were willing to accept the responsibility and guilt and whatever the results would be for bringing sin into this world.SRme 1.54

Satan forgot his feelings of discouragement and weakness. As the leader of the angels he would be brave in the fight against God. He would do everything he could to rebel against the authority of God and His Son. Satan told the evil angels about his plans. If he just went to Adam and Eve and told them that he did not think God was fair, they would not listen to him. Adam and Eve would be ready to keep Satan from deceiving them. Satan also could not use his power to force them to sin. Satan had been the most powerful angel, but he would not be able to force Adam and Eve to do what they did not want to do. Satan decided that he had to trick them into sinning.SRme 1.55