Question – Does God love Satan?

Question:

Does God love Satan?

Answer:

The Bible tells us that God is love (1 John 4:16). Romans 8:38, 39, tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God. And Hebrews 9:28 and John 3:16 tell us that Christ died for all. However, there are several Inspired statements that say that repentance was impossible for Satan and that there was never a plan for Christ to redeem the fallen angels (Confrontation, 21).

“The law of love being the foundation of the government of God, [and] God desires from all His creatures the service of love … . He takes no pleasure in a forced obedience; and to all He grants freedom of will, that they may render Him voluntary service.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 34

“God made him [Lucifer] good and beautiful, as near as possible like Himself.

“God had made him [Lucifer] noble, had given him rich endowments. He gave him a high, responsible position. He asked of him nothing that was unreasonable.

“He was to administer the trust given him of God in a spirit of meekness and devotion, seeking to promote the glory of God, who had given him glory and beauty and loveliness.” The Truth About Angels, 26, 27

Did Lucifer love God?

“Peace and joy, in perfect submission to the will of Heaven, existed throughout the angelic host. Love to God was supreme, love for one another impartial. Such was the condition that existed for ages before the entrance of sin.

“He [Lucifer] had a knowledge of the inestimable value of eternal riches that man did not possess. He had experienced the pure contentment, the peace, the exalted happiness and unalloyed joys, of the heavenly abode. He had realized, before his rebellion, the satisfaction of the full approval of God. He had had a full appreciation of the glory that enshrouded the Father, and knew that there was no limit to His power.

“There was a time when … it was his [Satan’s] joy to execute the divine commands. His heart was filled with love and joy in serving his Creator.” Ibid., 28, 29

But something changed. In this place of peace and harmony, Lucifer exercised God’s gift of free will to make a terrible choice, and sin sprang up in his heart because he had been excluded from the inner council with God and His Son. He, next to Christ, was honored most by God and had been given power and glory above all the heavenly inhabitants, was given the name ‘son of the morning,’ and was first of the covering cherubs, holy and undefiled. He had been in the very presence of God, and the glory surrounding God rested upon him (Patriarchs and Prophets, 35), but as a result of persistent pride, there was no way back for him.

“So far as Satan himself was concerned, it was true that he had now gone too far to return.” The Truth About Angels, 42

“Satan trembled as he viewed his work. … His mighty frame shook as with a tempest. An angel from heaven was passing. He called him, and entreated an interview with Christ. This was granted him. He then related to the Son of God that he repented of his rebellion, and wished again the favor of God. He was willing to take the place God had previously assigned him, and be under His wise command. Christ wept at Satan’s woe, but told him, as the mind of God, that he could never be received into heaven. … The seeds of rebellion were still within him. …” Ibid., 46, 47

“Satan had declared that God knew nothing of self-denial, of mercy and love, but that he was stern, exacting, and unforgiving. Satan never tested the forgiving love of God; for he never exercised genuine repentance.” The Review and Herald, March 9, 1897