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Ellen White describes a profound transformation in the physical appearance of Lucifer and his followers following their rebellion, though she focuses more on the loss of their divine character and the resulting gloom than on a specific chronological aging process. She notes that before the fall, not a single shade of discontent marred their perfect bliss, but after their expulsion from heaven, their entire condition changed (1SP 28.1). The countenances of these fallen angels, which had previously reflected the image of their Creator, became marked by gloom and despair (SR 24.3). While the term "older" is not explicitly used to describe Lucifer's immediate post-fall appearance, the writings emphasize a loss of "comeliness" and "strength" as a direct result of the curse of sin. This degeneration is particularly visible in the human race, where each succeeding generation has grown weaker and more subject to disease (EW 184.2).

The original "halo of glory" that covered holy beings was lost upon transgression, replaced by the visible effects of the curse (BEcho October 20, 1913, par. 11). The change in the fallen angels was so stark that Satan himself stood in amazement at his new, unhappy condition (1SP 28.1). The atmosphere of strife, discord, and bitter recrimination that replaced their former harmony contributed to a transformation where their once-noble appearance was "turned into corruption" when contrasted with the light of unfallen heavenly beings (3SM 354.1).

This loss of original purity and the manifestation of "every type" of suffering and sickness are the primary ways the writings describe the physical toll of sin (BEcho October 20, 1913, par. 11).

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You might also want to explore:What did Ellen White teach about the physical appearance of Satan when he tempted Christ?How does the "law of decay" affect the earth and its inhabitants according to her writings?What practical counsel did she give regarding how our thoughts and character affect our physical countenance?

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According to Ellen White’s writings, the "law of decay" (often referred to as the "blight of decay") is not a part of God's original creation but is a direct consequence of sin and the transgression of God's law. The most relevant passage explaining this transition from perfection to decay is found in *Steps to Christ*: > "God made man perfectly holy and happy; and the fair earth, as it came from the Creator's hand, bore no blight of decay or shadow of the curse. It is transgression of God's law—the law of love—that has brought woe and death. Yet even amid the suffering that results from sin, God's love is revealed. It is written that God cursed the ground for man's sake. Genesis 3:17. The thorn and the thistle—the difficulties and trials that make his life one of toil and care—were appointed for his good as a part of the training needful in God's plan for his uplifting from the ruin and degradation that sin has wrought." — *Steps to Christ*, SC 9.3 ### Context This passage is from the first chapter of *Steps to Christ*, titled **"God's Love for Man."** White explains that while the earth now experiences decay, thorns, and thistles, these were permitted by God to serve as a means of discipline and "uplifting" for humanity after the Fall. She emphasizes that even though the "law of decay" is visible in nature, God’s love is still revealed through the beauty that remains, such as "flowers upon the thistles." In other writings, such as *Education*, she notes that the "law of decay" is seen in the "falling leaf and the fading flower," serving as a constant reminder of the results of rebellion against God's government (see *Education*, Ed 99.1). *** **Search Results Summary:** Found thousands of passages containing these keywords. For the complete list with filters, try the Full-Text Search: [Full-Text Search](/advanced-search?q=law+of+decay) **Book breakdown:** * 1SP (231) * GC (185) * GC88 (176) * DA (170) * 2SM (136)