the great controversy-第92章

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the　pinnacle　of　the　temple；　the　malicious　intent　betrayed　in　urging　Him　to
cast　Himself　down　from　the　dizzy　height；　the　unsleeping　malice　that　hunted
Him　from　place　to　place；　inspiring　the　hearts　of　priests　and　people　to
reject　His　love；　and　at　the　last　to　cry；　〃Crucify　Him！　crucify　Him！all
this　excited　the　amazement　and　indignation　of　the　universe。

It　was　Satan　that　prompted　the　world's　rejection　of　Christ。　The　prince　of
evil　exerted　all　his　power　and　cunning　to　destroy　Jesus；　for　he　saw　that　the
Saviour's　mercy　and　love；　His　compassion　and　pitying　tenderness；　were
representing　to　the　world　the　character　of　God。　Satan　contested　every　claim
put　forth　by　the　Son　of　God　and　employed　men　as　his　agents　to　fill　the
Saviour's　life　with　suffering　and　sorrow。　The　sophistry　and　falsehood　by
which　he　had　sought　to　hinder　the　work　of　Jesus；　the　hatred　manifested
through　the　children　of　disobedience；　his　cruel　accusations　against　Him
whose　life　was　one　of　unexampled　goodness；　all　sprang　from　deep…seated
revenge。　The　pent…up　fires　of　envy　and　malice；　hatred　and　revenge；　burst
forth　on　Calvary　against　the　Son　of　God；　while　all　heaven　gazed　upon　the
scene　in　silent　horror。

When　the　great　sacrifice　had　been　consummated；　Christ　ascended　on　high；
refusing　the　adoration　of　angels　until　He　had　presented　the　request：　〃I　will
that　they　also；　whom　Thou　hast　given　Me；　be　with　Me　where　I　am。〃　John　17：24。
Then

502

with　inexpressible　love　and　power　came　forth　the　answer　from　the　Father's
throne：　〃Let　all　the　angels　of　God　worship　Him。〃　Hebrews　1：6。　Not　a　stain
rested　upon　Jesus。　His　humiliation　ended；　His　sacrifice　completed；　there　was
given　unto　Him　a　name　that　is　above　every　name。

Now　the　guilt　of　Satan　stood　forth　without　excuse。　He　had　revealed　his　true
character　as　a　liar　and　a　murderer。　It　was　seen　that　the　very　same　spirit
with　which　he　ruled　the　children　of　men；　who　were　under　his　power；　he　would
have　manifested　had　he　been　permitted　to　control　the　inhabitants　of　heaven。
He　had　claimed　that　the　transgression　of　God's　law　would　bring　liberty　and
exaltation；　but　it　was　seen　to　result　in　bondage　and　degradation。

Satan's　lying　charges　against　the　divine　character　and　government　appeared
in　their　true　light。　He　had　accused　God　of　seeking　merely　the　exaltation　of
Himself　in　requiring　submission　and　obedience　from　His　creatures；　and　had
declared　that；　while　the　Creator　exacted　self…denial　from　all　others；　He
Himself　practiced　no　self…denial　and　made　no　sacrifice。　Now　it　was　seen　that
for　the　salvation　of　a　fallen　and　sinful　race；　the　Ruler　of　the　universe　had
made　the　greatest　sacrifice　which　love　could　make；　for　〃God　was　in　Christ；
reconciling　the　world　unto　Himself。〃　2　Corinthians　5：19。　It　was　seen；　also；
that　while　Lucifer　had　opened　the　door　for　the　entrance　of　sin　by　his　desire
for　honor　and　supremacy；　Christ　had；　in　order　to　destroy　sin；　humbled
Himself　and　become　obedient　unto　death。

God　had　manifested　His　abhorrence　of　the　principles　of　rebellion。　All　heaven
saw　His　justice　revealed；　both　in　the　condemnation　of　Satan　and　in　the
redemption　of　man。　Lucifer　had　declared　that　if　the　law　of　God　was
changeless；　and　its　penalty　could　not　be　remitted；　every　transgressor　must
be　forever　debarred　from　the　Creator's　favor。　He　had　claimed　that　the　sinful
race　were　placed　beyond　redemption　and　were　therefore　his　rightful　prey。　But
the　death　of　Christ　was　an　argument　in　man's　behalf　that　could　not　be
overthrown。　The

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penalty　of　the　law　fell　upon　Him　who　was　equal　with　God；　and　man　was　free　to
accept　the　righteousness　of　Christ　and　by　a　life　of　penitence　and
humiliation　to　triumph；　as　the　Son　of　God　had　triumphed；　over　the　power　of
Satan。　Thus　God　is　just　and　yet　the　justifier　of　all　who　believe　in　Jesus。

But　it　was　not　merely　to　accomplish　the　redemption　of　man　that　Christ　came
to　the　earth　to　suffer　and　to　die。　He　came　to　〃magnify　the　law〃　and　to　〃make
it　honorable。〃　Not　alone　that　the　inhabitants　of　this　world　might　regard　the
law　as　it　should　be　regarded；　but　it　was　to　demonstrate　to　all　the　worlds　of
the　universe　that　God's　law　is　unchangeable。　Could　its　claims　have　been　set
aside；　then　the　Son　of　God　need　not　have　yielded　up　His　life　to　atone　for
its　transgression。　The　death　of　Christ　proves　it　immutable。　And　the
sacrifice　to　which　infinite　love　impelled　the　Father　and　the　Son；　that
sinners　might　be　redeemed；　demonstrates　to　all　the　universewhat　nothing
less　than　this　plan　of　atonement　could　have　sufficed　to　dothat　justice　and
mercy　are　the　foundation　of　the　law　and　government　of　God。

In　the　final　execution　of　the　judgment　it　will　be　seen　that　no　cause　for　sin
exists。　When　the　Judge　of　all　the　earth　shall　demand　of　Satan；　〃Why　hast
thou　rebelled　against　Me；　and　robbed　Me　of　the　subjects　of　My　kingdom？〃　the
originator　of　evil　can　render　no　excuse。　Every　mouth　will　be　stopped；　and
all　the　hosts　of　rebellion　will　be　speechless。

The　cross　of　Calvary；　while　it　declares　the　law　immutable；　proclaims　to　the
universe　that　the　wages　of　sin　is　death。　In　the　Saviour's　expiring　cry；　〃It
is　finished；〃　the　death　knell　of　Satan　was　rung。　The　great　controversy　which
had　been　so　long　in　progress　was　then　decided；　and　the　final　eradication　of
evil　was　made　certain。　The　Son　of　God　passed　through　the　portals　of　the
tomb；　that　〃through　death　He　might　destroy　him　that　had　the　power　of　death；
that　is；　the　devil。〃　Hebrews　2：14。　Lucifer's　desire　for　self…exaltation　had
led　him　to　say：　〃I　will　exalt　my　throne　above　the　stars　of　God：　。　。　。　I　will
be　like　the　Most　High。〃　God　declares：　〃I　will　bring

504

thee　to　ashes　upon　the　earth；　。　。　。　and　never　shalt　thou　be　any　more。〃
Isaiah　14：13；　14；　Ezekiel　28：18；　19。　When　〃the　day　cometh；　that　shall　burn
as　an　oven；。　。　。　。all　the　proud；　yea；　and　all　that　do　wickedly；　shall　be
stubble：　and　the　day　that　cometh　shall　burn　them　up；　saith　the　Lord　of
hosts；　that　it　shall　leave　them　neither　root　nor　branch。〃　Malachi　4：1。

The　whole　universe　will　have　become　witnesses　to　the　nature　and　results　of
sin。　And　its　utter　extermination；　which　in　the　beginning　would　have　brought
fear　to　angels　and　dishonor　to　God；　will　now　vindicate　His　love　and
establish　His　honor　before　the　universe　of　beings　who　delight　to　do　His
will；　and　in　whose　heart　is　His　law。　Never　will　evil　again　be　manifest。　Says
the　word　of　God：　〃Affliction　shall　not　rise　up　the　second　time。〃　Nahum　1：9。
The　law　of　God；　which　Satan　has　reproached　as　the　yoke　of　bondage；　will　be
honored　as　the　law　of　liberty。　A　tested　and　proved　creation　will　never　again
be　turned　from　allegiance　to　Him　whose　character　has　been　fully　manifested
before　them　as　fathomless　love　and　infinite　wisdom。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　30

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Enmity　Between　Man　and　Satan


〃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。　The　divine　sentence　pronounced　against　Satan　after　the　fall　of　man　was
also　a　prophecy；　embracing　all　the　ages　to　the　close　of　time　and
foreshadowing　the　great　conflict　to　engage　all　the　races　of　men　who　should
live　upon　the　earth。

God　declares：　〃I　will　put　enmity。〃　This　enmity　is　not　naturally　entertained。
When　man　transgressed　the　divine　law；　his　nature　became　evil；　and　he　was　in
harmony；　and　not　at　variance；　with　Satan。　There　exists　naturally　no　enmity
between　sinful　man　and　the　originator　of　sin。　Both　became　evil　through
apostasy。　The　apostate　is　never　at　rest；　except　as　he　obtains　sympathy　and
support　by　inducing　others　to　follow　his　example。　For　this　reason　fallen
angels　and　wicked　men　unite　in　desperate　companionship。　Had　not　God
specially　interposed；　Satan　and　man　would　have　entered　into　an　alliance
against　Heaven；　and　instead　of　cherishing　enmity　against　Satan；　the　whole
human　family　would　have　been　united　in　opposition　to　God。

Satan　tempted　man　to　sin；　as　he　had　caused　angels　to　rebel；　that　he　might
thus　secure　co…operation　in　his　warfare　against　Heaven。　There　was　no
dissension　between　himself　and　the　fallen　angels　as　regards　their　hatred　of
Christ；　while　on　all

506

other　points　there　was　discord；　they　were　firmly　united　in　opposing　the
authority　of　the　Ruler　of　the　universe。　But　when　Satan　heard　the　declaration
that　enmity　should　exist　between　himself　and　the　woman；　and　between　his　seed
and　her　seed；　he　knew　that　his　efforts　to　deprave　human　nature　would　be
interrupted；　that　by　some　means　man　was　to　be　enabled　to　resist　his　power。

Satan's　enmity　against　the　human　race　is　kindled　because；　through　Christ；
they　are　the　objects　of　God's　love　and　mercy。　He　desires　to　thwart　the
divine　plan　for　man's　redemption；　to　cast　dishonor　upon　God；　by　defacing　and
defiling　His　handiwork；　he　would　cause　grief　in　heaven　and　fill　the　earth
with　woe　and　desolation。　And　he　points　to　all　this　evil　as　the　result　of
God's　work　in　creating　man。

It　is　the　grace　that　Christ　implants　in　the　soul　which　creates　in　man　enmity
against　Satan。　Without　this　converting　grace　and　renewing　power；　man　would
continue　the　captive　of　Satan；　a　servant　ever　ready　to　do　his　bidding。　But
the　new　principle　in　the　soul　creates　conflict　where　hitherto　had　been
peace。　The　power　which　Christ　imparts　enables　man　to　resist　the　tyrant　and
usurper。　Whoever　is　seen　to　abhor　sin　instead　of　loving　it；　whoever　resists
and　conquers　those　passions　that　have　held　sway　within；　displays　the
operation　of　a　principle　wholly　from　above。

The　antagonism　that　exists　between　the　spirit　of　Christ　and　the　spirit　of
Satan　was　most　strikingly　displayed　in　the　world's　reception　of　Jesus。　It
was　not　so　much　because　He　appeared　without　worldly　wealth；　pomp；　or
grandeur　that　the　Jews　were　led　to　reject　Him。　They　saw　that　He　possessed
power　which　would　more　than　compensate　for　the　lack　of　these　outward
advantages。　But　the　purity　and　holiness　of　Christ　called　forth　against　Him
the　hatred　of　the　ungodly。　His　life　of　self…denial　and　sinless　devotion　was
a　perpetual　reproof　to　a　proud；　sensual　people。　It　was　this　that　evoked
enmity　against　the　Son　of　God。　Satan　and　evil　angels　joined　with　evil　men。
All　the　energies　of　apostasy　conspired　against　the　Champion　of　truth。

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The　same　enmity　is　manifested　toward　Christ's　followers　as　was　manifested
toward　their　Master。　Whoever　sees　the　repulsive　character　of　sin；　and　in
strength　from　above　resists　temptation；　will　assuredly　arouse　the　wrath　of
Satan　and　his　subjects。　Hatred　of　the　pure　principles　of　truth；　and　reproach
and　persecution　of　its　advocates；　will　exist　as　long　as　sin　and　sinners
remain。　The　followers　of　Christ　and　the　servants　of　Satan　cannot　harmonize。
The　offense　of　the　cross　has　not　ceased。　〃All　that　will　live　godly　in　Christ
Jesus　shall　suffer　persecution。〃　2　Timothy　3：12。

Satan's　agents　are　constantly　working　under　his　direction　to　establish　his
authority　and　build　up　his　kingdom　in　opposition　to　the　government　of　God。
To　this　end　they　seek　to　deceive　Christ's　f