Darius, the reason Satan is alive, in spite of his sinfulness, is due to the fact God is unnaturally sustaining his life. The same is true of us. The long lingering first death we die is not natural, that is, in the sense we would naturally die the same day we sin if it were not for the plan of salvation. Every time we sin, grace buys us another chance to get it right.

GC 498, 499
Even when it was decided that he could no longer remain in heaven, Infinite Wisdom did not destroy Satan. Since the service of love can alone be acceptable to God, the allegiance of His creatures must rest upon a conviction of His justice and benevolence. The inhabitants of heaven and of other worlds, being unprepared to comprehend the nature or consequences of sin, could not then have seen the justice and mercy of God in the destruction of Satan. Had he been immediately blotted from existence, they would have served God from fear rather than from love. The influence of the deceiver would not have been fully destroyed, nor would the spirit of rebellion have been utterly eradicated. Evil must be permitted to come to maturity. For the good of the entire universe through ceaseless ages Satan must more fully develop his principles, that his charges against the divine government might be seen in their true light by all created beings, that the justice and mercy of God and the immutability of His law might forever be placed beyond all question. {GC 498.3}

DA 761
[After Calvary] Yet Satan was not then destroyed. The angels did not even then understand all that was involved in the great controversy. The principles at stake were to be more fully revealed. And for the sake of man, Satan's existence must be continued. Man as well as angels must see the contrast between the Prince of light and the prince of darkness. He must choose whom he will serve. {DA 761.3}

Thomas,

You will agree that in pagan societies the moral image of God is more defaced than in Christian societies.

Rosangela,

It is not obvious that Ellen is speaking of the moral image. It looks more likely that she is speaking of the created image. There may be some context to change this but in such case it was slopy quoting.

/Thomas

Rosa, how do you know that your caricature of God is better than the pagan caricatures of God?

MM, you have sidestepped the question. Why has Lucifer not suffered the same first death we have? He should at least be on life support.

"He should at least be on life support."

That's what MM was saying is it not?

Redfog

Did you take that joke seriously, Redfog? Do you truly think the devil is in some hospital on life support?

Darius I was referring to this statement by MM: "Darius, the reason Satan is alive, in spite of his sinfulness, is due to the fact God is unnaturally sustaining his life."

Do you a better explanation for why Satan is still alive?

Redfog

Simple, Redfog. Sin does not kill, contrary to what many claim.

So the wages of sin is not death?

Redfog