THE REBELLION, Chapter 5 part 3 of Kingdom Of God Volume 1

    Did the Rebellious Go? Our pre-mortal existence in heaven apparently had a greater impact on each of us than does mortality–for three reasons:   We lived there for a much longer time. In our dispensation, we live for a few days or up to about 100 years. But in that world we lived for many thousands and even millions of years.   We developed our character there. When we are born into mortality, our character, disposition, and talents have already been determined. Prophets, military and political leaders, teachers and inventors, etc., were pre-selected for the time and place of their birth into mortality.   Two great leaders established two great kingdoms in the Pre-Existence. Christ and Lucifer organized all the spirit children of God into those two kingdoms based on our choices there. During this character molding and polishing process, some qualified to be prophets, kings, and even heads of dispensations. On the other hand, many grew mean and miserable. They became rebellious, filled with hate, and sought to destroy all that belonged to God. Thus we see a great gulf being created among the spirits even before arriving in mortality. This gulf between the followers of Christ and Lucifer kept getting wider and wider until it led to open rebellion and war. The two leaders in this war did not lack knowledge; so if they both possessed such great knowledge, why did they grow [63] so far apart? It appears that just learning does not qualify a man to be good or bad–it is wisdom and understanding in applying their learning. Solomon wrote, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments. . . .” (Ps. 111:10)