the desire of ages-第183章

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fruits　of　Christ's　victory。

Not　until　the　death　of　Christ　was　the　character　of　Satan　clearly　revealed　to　the　angels　or　to　the　unfallen　worlds。　The　archapostate　had　so　clothed　himself　with　deception　that　even　holy　beings　had　not　understood　his　principles。　They　had　not　clearly　seen　the　nature　of　his　rebellion。

It　was　a　being　of　wonderful　power　and　glory　that　had　set　himself　against　God。　Of　Lucifer　the　Lord　says；　〃Thou　sealest　up　the　sum；　full　of　wisdom；　and　perfect　in　beauty。〃　Ezek。　28：12。　Lucifer　had　been　the　covering　cherub。　He　had　stood　in　the　light　of　God's　presence。　He　had　been　the　highest　of　all　created　beings；　and　had　been　foremost　in　revealing　God's　purposes　to　the　universe。　After　he　had　sinned；　his　power　to　deceive

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was　the　more　deceptive；　and　the　unveiling　of　his　character　was　the　more　difficult；　because　of　the　exalted　position　he　had　held　with　the　Father。

God　could　have　destroyed　Satan　and　his　sympathizers　as　easily　as　one　can　cast　a　pebble　to　the　earth；　but　He　did　not　do　this。　Rebellion　was　not　to　be　overcome　by　force。　Compelling　power　is　found　only　under　Satan's　government。　The　Lord's　principles　are　not　of　this　order。　His　authority　rests　upon　goodness；　mercy；　and　love；　and　the　presentation　of　these　principles　is　the　means　to　be　used。　God's　government　is　moral；　and　truth　and　love　are　to　be　the　prevailing　power。

It　was　God's　purpose　to　place　things　on　an　eternal　basis　of　security；　and　in　the　councils　of　heaven　it　was　decided　that　time　must　be　given　for　Satan　to　develop　the　principles　which　were　the　foundation　of　his　system　of　government。　He　had　claimed　that　these　were　superior　to　God's　principles。　Time　was　given　for　the　working　of　Satan's　principles；　that　they　might　be　seen　by　the　heavenly　universe。

Satan　led　men　into　sin；　and　the　plan　of　redemption　was　put　in　operation。　For　four　thousand　years；　Christ　was　working　for　man's　uplifting；　and　Satan　for　his　ruin　and　degradation。　And　the　heavenly　universe　beheld　it　all。

When　Jesus　came　into　the　world；　Satan's　power　was　turned　against　Him。　From　the　time　when　He　appeared　as　a　babe　in　Bethlehem；　the　usurper　worked　to　bring　about　His　destruction。　In　every　possible　way　he　sought　to　prevent　Jesus　from　developing　a　perfect　childhood；　a　faultless　manhood；　a　holy　ministry；　and　an　unblemished　sacrifice。　But　he　was　defeated。　He　could　not　lead　Jesus　into　sin。　He　could　not　discourage　Him；　or　drive　Him　from　a　work　He　had　come　on　earth　to　do。　From　the　desert　to　Calvary；　the　storm　of　Satan's　wrath　beat　upon　Him；　but　the　more　mercilessly　it　fell；　the　more　firmly　did　the　Son　of　God　cling　to　the　hand　of　His　Father；　and　press　on　in　the　bloodstained　path。　All　the　efforts　of　Satan　to　oppress　and　overcome　Him　only　brought　out　in　a　purer　light　His　spotless　character。

All　heaven　and　the　unfallen　worlds　had　been　witnesses　to　the　controversy。　With　what　intense　interest　did　they　follow　the　closing　scenes　of　the　conflict。　They　beheld　the　Saviour　enter　the　garden　of　Gethsemane；　His　soul　bowed　down　with　the　horror　of　a　great　darkness。　They　heard　His　bitter　cry；　〃Father；　if　it　be　possible；　let　this　cup　pass　from　Me。〃　Matt。　26：39。　As　the　Father's　presence　was　withdrawn；　they　saw　Him　sorrowful　with　a　bitterness　of　sorrow　exceeding　that　of　the　last　great　struggle　with　death。　The　bloody　sweat　was　forced　from　His　pores；　and

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fell　in　drops　upon　the　ground。　Thrice　the　prayer　for　deliverance　was　wrung　from　His　lips。　Heaven　could　no　longer　endure　the　sight；　and　a　messenger　of　comfort　was　sent　to　the　Son　of　God。

Heaven　beheld　the　Victim　betrayed　into　the　hands　of　the　murderous　mob；　and　with　mockery　and　violence　hurried　from　one　tribunal　to　another。　It　heard　the　sneers　of　His　persecutors　because　of　His　lowly　birth。　It　heard　the　denial　with　cursing　and　swearing　by　one　of　His　best…loved　disciples。　It　saw　the　frenzied　work　of　Satan；　and　his　power　over　the　hearts　of　men。　Oh；　fearful　scene！　the　Saviour　seized　at　midnight　in　Gethsemane；　dragged　to　and　fro　from　palace　to　judgment　hall；　arraigned　twice　before　the　priests；　twice　before　the　Sanhedrin；　twice　before　Pilate；　and　once　before　Herod；　mocked；　scourged；　condemned；　and　led　out　to　be　crucified；　bearing　the　heavy　burden　of　the　cross；　amid　the　wailing　of　the　daughters　of　Jerusalem　and　the　jeering　of　the　rabble。

Heaven　viewed　with　grief　and　amazement　Christ　hanging　upon　the　cross；　blood　flowing　from　His　wounded　temples；　and　sweat　tinged　with　blood　standing　upon　His　brow。　From　His　hands　and　feet　the　blood　fell；　drop　by　drop；　upon　the　rock　drilled　for　the　foot　of　the　cross。　The　wounds　made　by　the　nails　gaped　as　the　weight　of　His　body　dragged　upon　His　hands。　His　labored　breath　grew　quick　and　deep；　as　His　soul　panted　under　the　burden　of　the　sins　of　the　world。　All　heaven　was　filled　with　wonder　when　the　prayer　of　Christ　was　offered　in　the　midst　of　His　terrible　suffering；〃Father；　forgive　them；　for　they　know　not　what　they　do。〃　Luke　23：34。　Yet　there　stood　men；　formed　in　the　image　of　God；　joining　to　crush　out　the　life　of　His　only…begotten　Son。　What　a　sight　for　the　heavenly　universe！

The　principalities　and　powers　of　darkness　were　assembled　around　the　cross；　casting　the　hellish　shadow　of　unbelief　into　the　hearts　of　men。　When　the　Lord　created　these　beings　to　stand　before　His　throne；　they　were　beautiful　and　glorious。　Their　loveliness　and　holiness　were　in　accordance　with　their　exalted　station。　They　were　enriched　with　the　wisdom　of　God；　and　girded　with　the　panoply　of　heaven。　They　were　Jehovah's　ministers。　But　who　could　recognize　in　the　fallen　angels　the　glorious　seraphim　that　once　ministered　in　the　heavenly　courts？

Satanic　agencies　confederated　with　evil　men　in　leading　the　people　to　believe　Christ　the　chief　of　sinners；　and　to　make　Him　the　object　of　detestation。　Those　who　mocked　Christ　as　He　hung　upon　the　cross　were　imbued　with　the　spirit　of　the　first　great　rebel。　He　filled　them　with　vile

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and　loathsome　speeches。　He　inspired　their　taunts。　But　by　all　this　he　gained　nothing。

Could　one　sin　have　been　found　in　Christ；　had　He　in　one　particular　yielded　to　Satan　to　escape　the　terrible　torture；　the　enemy　of　God　and　man　would　have　triumphed。　Christ　bowed　His　head　and　died；　but　He　held　fast　His　faith　and　His　submission　to　God。　〃And　I　heard　a　loud　voice　saying　in　heaven；　Now　is　come　salvation；　and　strength；　and　the　kingdom　of　our　God；　and　the　power　of　His　Christ：　for　the　accuser　of　our　brethren　is　cast　down；　which　accused　them　before　our　God　day　and　night。〃　Rev。　12：10。

Satan　saw　that　his　disguise　was　torn　away。　His　administration　was　laid　open　before　the　unfallen　angels　and　before　the　heavenly　universe。　He　had　revealed　himself　as　a　murderer。　By　shedding　the　blood　of　the　Son　of　God；　he　had　uprooted　himself　from　the　sympathies　of　the　heavenly　beings。　Henceforth　his　work　was　restricted。　Whatever　attitude　he　might　assume；　he　could　no　longer　await　the　angels　as　they　came　from　the　heavenly　courts；　and　before　them　accuse　Christ's　brethren　of　being　clothed　with　the　garments　of　blackness　and　the　defilement　of　sin。　The　last　link　of　sympathy　between　Satan　and　the　heavenly　world　was　broken。

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。

In　the　opening　of　the　great　controversy；　Satan　had　declared　that　the　law　of　God　could　not　be　obeyed；　that　justice　was　inconsistent　with　mercy；　and　that；　should　the　law　be　broken；　it　would　be　impossible　for　the　sinner　to　be　pardoned。　Every　sin　must　meet　its　punishment；　urged　Satan；　and　if　God　should　remit　the　punishment　of　sin；　He　would　not　be　a　God　of　truth　and　justice。　When　men　broke　the　law　of　God；　and　defied　His　will；　Satan　exulted。　It　was　proved；　he　declared；　that　the　law　could　not　be　obeyed；　man　could　not　be　forgiven。　Because　he；　after　his　rebellion；　had　been　banished　from　heaven；　Satan　claimed　that　the　human　race　must　be　forever　shut　out　from　God's　fav