Sin, Heaven, and Satan

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Question posed on another forum. Curious to hear how you good apologists would approach it :o :Ok, Is there sin in heaven? If there isnt then how did satan sin? If there is then how is heaven paradise? Do you have the ability to be cast out of heaven for sinning?
 
Hi Marco,

Just like our first parents were free from concupiscence, yet were subjected to a trial by God, so the angels, who are free from sin were subjected to a trial and some failed. St. Thomas Aquinas believed that this trial occurred at the moment of their creation. It cannot re-occur as the angels are now confirmed in their sinlessness.

Verbum
 
Do you have an Aquinas reference that the angels’ trial occurred not so much in heaven but at their creation? Thx. :o
 
No, there is no sin once admitted to the Beatific Vision.

The angels had not yet been admitted to the Beatific Vision when they made their choice.
 
Hi Marco,

I have not found the direct quote on this, but here is what St. Thomas says on the subject of heaven (=beatitude)
To be established or confirmed in good is of the nature of beatitude. But the angels were not confirmed in good as soon as they were created; the fall of some of them shows this. Therefore the angels were not in beatitude from their creation.
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(ST, P. Prima, Q. 62, art. 1)

So he says that heaven was not theirs from the moment of their creation; they were subject to trial and failure and those who made it through were confirmed in beatitude. As there is no time in the world of angels, we can safely say that they were subjected to their trial “as soon as” they were created.

Verbum
 
Very good, thanks Verbum.

It also seems to me that the angels could be compared to man’s fall. Adam and Eve were said to be in “Paradise” yet they still sinned. Yet we know there will be no sin in the “new Jerusalem.” In that light, if we are to say the devil sinned in heaven and was cast out, then he did so like Adam and Eve—in “heaven” to be restored to sinlessness.
 
Did you ever wonder why Jesus told mary magdeline not to touch Him for he had yet ascended to heaven, yet,He told thomas to feel the nail holes and the side wound?

And why the gates of heaven were closed until Jesus could open them again and why was there paradise prior for the rightousdead to be held there until they were brought up into heaven?

Because, i believe, that sin entered heaven at the time of lucifer’s rebellion. And that sin had to be washed away also by the actual Blood of Jesus (akin to sprinkling blood on the mercy seat).is this what happened between mary M and thomas? The resaon of why Jesus said he needed to 'ascend" to His Father? Not to be confused with the very public ascension up into heaven on clouds and one day to return.

Now there is no sin in heaven for no sin can be present because of the Blood of Christ.
 
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