Ellen Chat Conversation

Ellen White describes the existence of the Ten Commandments in the heavenly sanctuary, noting that the original tables of stone are preserved within the ark of the testament in heaven (1SAT 38.2). During visions of the celestial temple, the cover of this ark is shown being raised to reveal the Decalogue, highlighting the central importance of the fourth commandment, which is distinguished by a special halo of light (CET 85.5), (LS 95.5). The presence of this law in heaven serves as the foundation of God's government and the ultimate standard for the judgment of humanity (HF 255.3).

It is described as the same righteous code that was proclaimed at Sinai, now kept in the heavenly temple where Christ performs His work of mediation for mankind (1SAT 38.2). In the final scenes of earth's history, the Ten Commandments are depicted as being miraculously displayed in the sky to all inhabitants of the world (Hvn 29.1). This manifestation involves a celestial hand holding the tables of stone, which open to reveal the precepts of the Decalogue written in characters of fire (DD 48), (GC 639.1).

This public revelation of the law serves to clear away all human superstition and heresy, presenting the brief and authoritative words of God as the rule by which all are judged (Hvn 29.3).

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Before the entrance of sin, the law of God existed as the foundation of the divine government and was the source of joy for the angelic host. The angels were created with a nature full of goodness and love, which prompted them to find supreme delight in hearkening to God's word and fulfilling His commandments (TA 30). During these ages of peace, the heavenly current of purity flowed through the universe without any shadow of evil, as all beings lived in perfect submission to the will of Heaven (TA 28), (PH080 27.3). The rebellion of Lucifer was specifically characterized as a rejection of this divine authority and a casting aside of God's law (PP 78.4).

Before his fall, Lucifer held a high and exalted position next to the Son of God, but he became dissatisfied with his position and envious of the pre-eminence of Christ (SR 13). This internal pride led him to challenge the nature of the divine government, eventually leading a portion of the angelic family to refuse submission to the high commands of the Father (3SG 36), (TA 51.5). The origin of sin in heaven is described as a mystery where beings who were once perfect began to view the law of God not as a delight, but as a restraint to be overthrown (TA 30), (HLv 12).

When Satan later led humanity into transgression, it was a continuation of this same conflict against the law that had begun in the celestial courts (CIHS 28.2). The inhabitants of other unfallen worlds watched the subsequent history of earth as a demonstration of what happens when the restraint of God's holy law is removed (PP 78.4).

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