The Constitution of the Government of God As It Was Before the Entrance of Sin.

"Such a study is an essential introduction to understanding God's government as it

was after the entrance of rebellion. While such an investigation is

proceeding, continually keep in mind "that tradition and misinterpretation

have obscured the teaching of the Bible concerning the

character of God, the nature of His government, and the principles

of His dealing with sin." The Great Controversy, 492.

Every one of these traditions and misinterpretations of God have

been authored by Satan. This explains why, when Christ came to

the earth, the representation of God which He gave was totally opposite

from that given by Satan, as it is written, "He presented to

men that which was exactly contrary to the representations of the

enemy in regard to the character of God .. ." Fundamentals of

Christian Education, 177.

Therefore, if we find the truth on this question as that truth is

written in the Holy Scriptures, then we will find that which is exactly

contrary to what is generally believed. This means we would

enter into a set of wholly revised and reversed concepts of God's

government and character. At the same time, there would be the

continual pressure of traditionally held theories seeking to drag

the mind back to the old ways again—a pressure which must be

consciously resisted in order to arrive at the pure truth