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The Entrance of Sin
The angels were created to be ministering spirits:
“But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:13-14)
They were not created to be rulers of any kind.
However, unlike the angels, man was given the right to rule. He was given the right to rule over this world:
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:26)
Satan wanted to be like God:
“For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” (Isaiah 14:13-14)
God is the King and so to be like God Satan needed a kingdom to rule over.
Satan decided that if he could cause man to obey him, then he would become the ruler over man and therefore he would also rule over Earth. We normally think of this act of rebellion as an act of stupidity on Satan’s part, but really he had it figured out correctly. This is why we read that the serpent was subtle:
“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field…” (Genesis 3:1)
The Hebrew word for “subtil” can also be translated as "clever" or "wise".
Adam and Eve became sinners and this rebellious nature has been passed on to every human being:
“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51:5)
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