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Sin death and beyond

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SIN, DEATH AND BEYOND: M.M.NINAN<br />

Origen (184/185 – 253/254) interpreted such Old Testament passages as being about<br />

manifestations of the Devil. Tertullian (c. 160 – c. 225), also understood Isaiah 14:14 ("I will<br />

ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High") as spoken by the<br />

Devil. Merrill Unger in his book on demonology, argued that this segment of Ezekiel’s work<br />

spoke of the ancient fall of Satan (p. 15; cf. Coffman, 285ff). Similarly, C.H. Pember, in his<br />

book Earth’s Earliest Ages, contended for this view in his defense of the “gap theory,” which<br />

was an effort to harmonize the Genesis record with secular geology.”<br />

Apparently, this represents the actual beginning of sin in the universe—preceding the fall of the<br />

human Adam by an indeterminate time. <strong>Sin</strong> originated in the free will of Lucifer in which—with<br />

full underst<strong>and</strong>ing of the issues involved—he chose to rebel against the Creator. This mighty<br />

angelic being was rightfully judged by God: “I threw you to the earth” (Ezekiel 28:18). This<br />

doesn’t mean that Satan had no further access to heaven, for other Scripture verses clearly<br />

indicate that Satan maintained this access even after his fall (Job 1:6-12; Zechariah 3:1,2).<br />

However, Ezekiel 28:18 indicates that Satan was absolutely <strong>and</strong> completely cast out of God’s<br />

heavenly government <strong>and</strong> his place of authority (Luke 10:18).<br />

Wickedness of man grew greatly in the earth<br />

"Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, <strong>and</strong> daughters<br />

were born to them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful;<br />

<strong>and</strong> they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. And the LORD said, 'My Spirit<br />

shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred <strong>and</strong><br />

twenty years.' There were giants on the earth in those days, <strong>and</strong> also afterward, when the sons<br />

of God came in to the daughters of men <strong>and</strong> they bore children to them. Those were the<br />

mighty men who were of old, men of renown. Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man<br />

was great in the earth, <strong>and</strong> that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil<br />

continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, <strong>and</strong> He was grieved<br />

in His heart. So the LORD said, 'I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the<br />

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