按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
suffering people； and they feel the force of His own words： 〃Inasmuch as ye
have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren； ye have done it
unto Me。〃 Matthew 25：40。
The whole wicked world stand arraigned at the bar of God on the charge of
high treason against the government of heaven。 They have none to plead their
cause； they are without excuse； and the sentence of eternal death is
pronounced against them。
It is now evident to all that the wages of sin is not noble independence and
eternal life； but slavery； ruin； and death。 The wicked see what they have
forfeited by their life of rebellion。 The far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory was despised when offered them； but how desirable it now
appears。 〃All this；〃 cries the lost soul； 〃I might have had； but I chose to
put these things far from me。 Oh； strange infatuation！ I have exchanged
peace； happiness； and honor for wretchedness； infamy； and despair。〃 All see
that their exclusion from heaven is just。 By their lives they have declared：
〃We will not have this Man ＇Jesus＇ to reign over us。〃
As if entranced； the wicked have looked upon the coronation of the Son of
God。 They see in His hands the tables of the divine law； the statutes which
they have despised and
669
transgressed。 They witness the outburst of wonder； rapture； and adoration
from the saved； and as the wave of melody sweeps over the multitudes without
the city； all with one voice exclaim； 〃Great and marvelous are Thy works；
Lord God Almighty； just and true are Thy ways； Thou King of saints〃
（Revelation 15：3）； and； falling prostrate； they worship the Prince of life。
Satan seems paralyzed as he beholds the glory and majesty of Christ。 He who
was once a covering cherub remembers whence he has fallen。 A shining seraph；
〃son of the morning；〃 how changed； how degraded！ From the council where once
he was honored； he is forever excluded。 He sees another now standing near to
the Father； veiling His glory。 He has seen the crown placed upon the head of
Christ by an angel of lofty stature and majestic presence； and he knows that
the exalted position of this angel might have been his。
Memory recalls the home of his innocence and purity； the peace and content
that were his until he indulged in murmuring against God； and envy of
Christ。 His accusations； his rebellion； his deceptions to gain the sympathy
and support of the angels； his stubborn persistence in making no effort for
self…recovery when God would have granted him forgiveness all come vividly
before him。 He reviews his work among men and its resultsthe enmity of man
toward his fellow man； the terrible destruction of life； the rise and fall
of kingdoms； the overturning of thrones； the long succession of tumults；
conflicts； and revolutions。 He recalls his constant efforts to oppose the
work of Christ and to sink man lower and lower。 He sees that his hellish
plots have been powerless to destroy those who have put their trust in
Jesus。 As Satan looks upon his kingdom； the fruit of his toil； he sees only
failure and ruin。 He has led the multitudes to believe that the City of God
would be an easy prey； but he knows that this is false。 Again and again； in
the progress of the great controversy； he has been defeated and compelled to
yield。 He knows too well the power and majesty of the Eternal。
670
The aim of the great rebel has ever been to justify himself and to prove the
divine government responsible for the rebellion。 To this end he has bent all
the power of his giant intellect。 He has worked deliberately and
systematically； and with marvelous success； leading vast multitudes to
accept his version of the great controversy which has been so long in
progress。 For thousands of years this chief of conspiracy has palmed off
falsehood for truth。 But the time has now come when the rebellion is to be
finally defeated and the history and character of Satan disclosed。 In his
last great effort to dethrone Christ； destroy His people； and take
possession of the City of God； the archdeceiver has been fully unmasked。
Those who have united with him see the total failure of his cause。 Christ's
followers and the loyal angels behold the full extent of his machinations
against the government of God。 He is the object of universal abhorrence。
Satan sees that his voluntary rebellion has unfitted him for heaven。 He has
trained his powers to war against God； the purity； peace； and harmony of
heaven would be to him supreme torture。 His accusations against the mercy
and justice of God are now silenced。 The reproach which he has endeavored to
cast upon Jehovah rests wholly upon himself。 And now Satan bows down and
confesses the justice of his sentence。
〃Who shall not fear Thee； O Lord； and glorify Thy name？ for Thou only art
holy： for all nations shall come and worship before Thee； for Thy judgments
are made manifest。〃 Verse 4。 Every question of truth and error in the
long…standing controversy has now been made plain。 The results of rebellion；
the fruits of setting aside the divine statutes； have been laid open to the
view of all created intelligences。 The working out of Satan's rule in
contrast with the government of God has been presented to the whole
universe。 Satan's own works have condemned him。 God's wisdom； His justice；
and His goodness stand fully vindicated。 It is seen that all His dealings in
the great controversy have been conducted
671
with respect to the eternal good of His people and the good of all the
worlds that He has created。 〃All Thy works shall praise Thee； O Lord； and
Thy saints shall bless Thee。〃 Psalm 145：10。 The history of sin will stand to
all eternity as a witness that with the existence of God's law is bound up
the happiness of all the beings He has created。 With all the facts of the
great controversy in view； the whole universe； both loyal and rebellious；
with one accord declare： 〃Just and true are Thy ways； Thou King of saints。〃
Before the universe has been clearly presented the great sacrifice made by
the Father and the Son in man's behalf。 The hour has come when Christ
occupies His rightful position and is glorified above principalities and
powers and every name that is named。 It was for the joy that was set before
Himthat He might bring many sons unto glorythat He endured the cross and
despised the shame。 And inconceivably great as was the sorrow and the shame；
yet greater is the joy and the glory。 He looks upon the redeemed； renewed in
His own image； every heart bearing the perfect impress of the divine； every
face reflecting the likeness of their King。 He beholds in them the result of
the travail of His soul； and He is satisfied。 Then； in a voice that reaches
the assembled multitudes of the righteous and the wicked； He declares：
〃Behold the purchase of My blood！ For these I suffered； for these I died；
that they might dwell in My presence throughout eternal ages。〃 And the song
of praise ascends from the white…robed ones about the throne： 〃Worthy is the
Lamb that was slain to receive power； and riches； and wisdom； and strength；
and honor； and glory； and blessing。〃 Revelation 5：12。
Notwithstanding that Satan has been constrained to acknowledge God's justice
and to bow to the supremacy of Christ； his character remains unchanged。 The
spirit of rebellion； like a mighty torrent； again bursts forth。 Filled with
frenzy； he determines not to yield the great controversy。 The time has come
for a last desperate struggle against the King
672
of heaven。 He rushes into the midst of his subjects and endeavors to inspire
them with his own fury and arouse them to instant battle。 But of all the
countless millions whom he has allured into rebellion； there are none now to
acknowledge his supremacy。 His power is at an end。 The wicked are filled
with the same hatred of God that inspires Satan； but they see that their
case is hopeless； that they cannot prevail against Jehovah。 Their rage is
kindled against Satan and those who have been his agents in deception； and
with the fury of demons they turn upon them。
Saith the Lord： 〃Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God；
behold； therefore I will bring strangers upon thee； the terrible of the
nations： and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom；
and they shall defile thy brightness。 They shall bring thee down to the
pit。〃 〃I will destroy thee； O covering cherub； from the midst of the stones
of fire。 。 。 。 I will cast thee to the ground； I will lay thee before kings；
that they may behold thee。 。 。 。 I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth
in the sight of all them that behold thee。 。 。 。 Thou shalt be a terror； and
never shalt thou be any more。〃 Ezekiel 28：6…8； 16…19。
〃Every battle of the warrior is with confused noise； and garments rolled in
blood； but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire。〃 〃The indignation of
the Lord is upon all nations； and His fury upon all their armies： He hath
utterly destroyed them； He hath delivered them to the slaughter。〃 〃Upon the
wicked He shall rain quick burning coals； fire