The Problem of Pain – C. S. Lewis (1952)
There is a saying, if you achieve at failing, would you be classed as a winner or a loser? I mean, if you had planned to fail all along then you have succeeded in your aim, so therefore technically you are a winner.
Likewise, the achievement of instigating a plan to go against something, especially authority or the church and then mustering a following of like-minded people could merit the label of rebel, but on the other hand you would then be seen as the leader of that group.
So, who has the authority to say that a group, cause, way of life or religion is right, thus making those that go against it rebels … maybe whoever they are were just the rebels of their day.