patriarchs and prophets-第14章
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would not be equal to theirs； and they were to minister to Him； to
strengthen and soothe Him under His sufferings。 They were also to be
ministering spirits； sent forth to minister for them who should be heirs of
salvation。 Hebrews 1：14。 They would guard the subjects of grace from the
power of evil angels and from the darkness constantly thrown around them by
Satan。
When the angels should witness the agony and humiliation of their Lord； they
would be filled with grief and indignation and would wish to deliver Him
from His murderers； but they were not to interpose in order to prevent
anything which they should behold。 It was a part of the plan of redemption
that Christ should suffer the scorn and abuse of wicked men； and He
consented to all this when He became the Redeemer of man。
Christ assured the angels that by His death He would ransom many； and would
destroy him who had the power of death。 He would recover the kingdom which
man had lost by transgression； and the redeemed were to inherit it with Him；
and dwell therein forever。 Sin and sinners would be blotted out； nevermore
to disturb the peace of heaven or earth。 He bade the angelic host to be in
accord with the plan that His Father had accepted； and rejoice that； through
His death； fallen man could be reconciled to God。
Then joy； inexpressible joy； filled heaven。 The glory and blessedness of a
world redeemed； outmeasured even the anguish and sacrifice of the Prince of
life。 Through the celestial courts echoed the first strains of that song
which was to ring out above the hills of Bethlehem〃Glory to God in the
highest； and on earth peace； good will toward men。〃 Luke 2：14。 With a deeper
gladness now than in the rapture of the new creation； 〃the morning stars
sang together； and all the sons of God shouted for joy。〃 Job 38：7。
To man the first intimation of redemption was communicated in the sentence
pronounced upon Satan in the garden。 The Lord declared； 〃I will put enmity
between thee and the woman； and between thy seed and her seed； it shall
bruise thy head； and thou shalt bruise his heel。〃 Genesis 3：15。 This
sentence； uttered in the
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hearing of our first parents； was to them a promise。 While it foretold war
between man and Satan； it declared that the power of the great adversary
would finally be broken。 Adam and Eve stood as criminals before the
righteous Judge； awaiting the sentence which transgression had incurred； but
before they heard of the life of toil and sorrow which must be their
portion； or of the decree that they must return to dust； they listened to
words that could not fail to give them hope。 Though they must suffer from
the power of their mighty foe； they could look forward to final victory。
When Satan heard that enmity should exist between himself and the woman； and
between his seed and her seed； he knew that his work of depraving human
nature would be interrupted； that by some means man would be enabled to
resist his power。 Yet as the plan of salvation was more fully unfolded；
Satan rejoiced with his angels that； having caused man's fall； he could
bring down the Son of God from His exalted position。 He declared that his
plans had thus far been successful upon the earth； and that when Christ
should take upon Himself human nature； He also might be overcome； and thus
the redemption of the fallen race might be prevented。
Heavenly angels more fully opened to our first parents the plan that had
been devised for their salvation。 Adam and his companion were assured that
notwithstanding their great sin； they were not to be abandoned to the
control of Satan。 The Son of God had offered to atone； with His own life；
for their transgression。 A period of probation would be granted them； and
through repentance and faith in Christ they might again become the children
of God。
The sacrifice demanded by their transgression revealed to Adam and Eve the
sacred character of the law of God； and they saw； as they had never seen
before； the guilt of sin and its dire results。 In their remorse and anguish
they pleaded that the penalty might not fall upon Him whose love had been
the source of all their joy； rather let it descend upon them and their
prosperity。
They were told that since the law of Jehovah is the foundation of His
government in heaven as well as upon the earth； even the life of an angel
could not be accepted as a sacrifice for its transgression。 Not one of its
precepts could be abrogated or changed to meet man in his fallen condition；
but the Son of God； who had created man； could make an atonement for him。 As
Adam's
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transgression had brought wretchedness and death； so the sacrifice of Christ
would bring life and immortality。
Not only man but the earth had by sin come under the power of the wicked
one； and was to be restored by the plan of redemption。 At his creation Adam
was placed in dominion over the earth。 But by yielding to temptation； he was
brought under the power of Satan。 〃Of whom a man is overcome； of the same is
he brought in bondage。〃 2 Peter 2：19。 When man became Satan's captive； the
dominion which he held； passed to his conqueror。 Thus Satan became 〃the god
of this world。〃 2 Corinthians 4：4。 He had usurped that dominion over the
earth which had been originally given to Adam。 But Christ； by His sacrifice
paying the penalty of sin； would not only redeem man； but recover the
dominion which he had forfeited。 All that was lost by the first Adam will be
restored by the second。 Says the prophet； 〃O tower of the flock； the
stronghold of the daughter of Zion； unto thee shall it come； even the first
dominion。〃 Micah 4：8。 And the apostle Paul points forward to the 〃redemption
of the purchased possession。〃 Ephesians 1：14。 God created the earth to be
the abode of holy； happy beings。 The Lord 〃formed the earth and made it； He
hath established it； He created it not in vain； He formed it to be
inhabited。〃 Isaiah 45：18。 That purpose will be fulfilled； when； renewed by
the power of God； and freed from sin and sorrow； it shall become the eternal
abode of the redeemed。 〃The righteous shall inherit the land； and dwell
therein forever。〃 〃And there shall be no more curse： but the throne of God
and of the Lamb shall be in it； and His servants shall serve Him。〃 Psalm
37：29； Revelation 22：3。
Adam； in his innocence； had enjoyed open communion with his Maker； but sin
brought separation between God and man； and the atonement of Christ alone
could span the abyss and make possible the communication of blessing or
salvation from heaven to earth。 Man was still cut off from direct approach
to his Creator； but God would communicate with him through Christ and
angels。
Thus were revealed to Adam important events in the history of mankind； from
the time when the divine sentence was pronounced in Eden； to the Flood； and
onward to the first advent of the Son of God。 He was shown that while the
sacrifice of Christ would be of sufficient value to save the whole world；
many would choose a life of sin rather than of repentance and obedience。
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Crime would increase through successive generations； and the curse of sin
would rest more and more heavily upon the human race； upon the beasts； and
upon the earth。 The days of man would be shortened by his own course of sin；
he would deteriorate in physical stature and endurance and in moral and
intellectual power； until the world would be filled with misery of every
type。 Through the indulgence of appetite and passion men would become
incapable of appreciating the great truths of the plan of redemption。 Yet
Christ； true to the purpose for which He left heaven； would continue His
interest in men； and still invite them to hide their weakness and
deficiencies in Him。 He would supply the needs of all who would come unto
Him in faith。 And there would ever be a few who would preserve the knowledge
of God and would remain unsullied amid the prevailing iniquity。
The sacrificial offerings were ordained by God to be to man a perpetual
reminder and a penitential acknowledgment of his sin and a confession of his
faith in the promised Redeemer。 They were
