The Great
Controversy continued…
Chapter XLII - The
Controversy Ended
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 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 him,—that he might bring many sons unto
glory,—that 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 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 and
brimstone, and a horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.”
[Isaiah 9:5; 34:2; 11:6 (Margin).]
Fire comes down from
God out of Heaven. The earth is broken up. The weapons concealed in its depths
are drawn forth. Devouring flames burst from every yawning chasm. The very rocks
are on fire. The day has come that shall burn as an oven. The elements melt with
fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein are burned up.
[Malachi 4:1; 2 Peter 3:10.]
The earth’s surface seems one molten mass,—a
vast, seething lake of fire. It is the time of the judgment and perdition of
ungodly men,—“the day of the Lord’s vengeance, and the year of recompenses for
the controversy of Zion.” [Isaiah 34:8; Proverbs 11:31.] The wicked receive
their recompense in the earth. [Isaiah 34:8; Proverbs 11:31.] They “shall be
stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts.”
[Malachi 4:1.] Some are destroyed as in a moment, while others suffer many
days. All are punished “according to their deeds.”
The sins of the righteous having been
transferred to Satan, he is made to suffer not only for his own rebellion, but
for all the sins which he has caused God’s people to commit. His punishment is
to be far greater than that of those whom he has deceived. After all have
perished who fell by his deceptions, he is still to live and suffer on.
In the cleansing
flames the wicked are at last destroyed, root and branch,—Satan the root, his
followers the branches. The full penalty of the law has been visited; the
demands of justice have been met; and Heaven and earth, beholding, declare the
righteousness of Jehovah. Satan’s work of ruin is forever ended. For six
thousand years he has wrought his will, filling the earth with woe, and causing
grief throughout the universe. The whole creation has groaned and travailed
together in pain. Now God’s creatures are forever delivered from his presence
and temptations. “The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet; they [the
righteous] break forth into singing.” [Isaiah 14:7.] And a shout of praise and
triumph ascends from the whole loyal universe. “The voice of a great
multitude,” “as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty
thunderings,” is heard, saying, “Alleluia; for the Lord God omnipotent
reigneth.” While the earth was wrapped in the fire of destruction, the righteous
abode safely in the holy city. Upon those that had part in the first
resurrection, the second death has no power. [Revelation 20:6; Psalm 84:11.]
While God is to the
wicked a consuming fire, he is to his people both a sun and a shield.
[Revelation 20:6; Psalm 84:11.] “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for
the first Heaven and the first earth were passed away.” [Revelation21:1.] The fire
that consumes the wicked purifies the earth. Every trace of the curse is swept
away. No eternally burning hell will keep before the ransomed the fearful
consequences of sin. One reminder alone remains: our Redeemer will ever bear
the marks of his crucifixion. Upon his wounded head, upon his side, his hands
and feet, are the only traces of the cruel work that sin has wrought.
Says the prophet, beholding Christ in his
glory, “He had bright beams coming out of his side; and there was the hiding of
his power.” [Habakkuk 3:4 (Margin)] That pierced side whence flowed the crimson
stream that reconciled man to God,—there is the Saviour’s glory, there “the
hiding of his power.” “Mighty to save,” through the sacrifice of redemption, he
was therefore strong to execute justice upon them that despised God’s mercy.
And the tokens of his humiliation are his highest honor; through the eternal
ages the wounds of Calvary will show forth his praise, and declare his power.
“O Tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall
it come, even the first dominion.” [Micah 4:8; Ephesians 1:14.]
No comments:
Post a Comment