the great controversy-第168章
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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
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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
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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 an horrible
tempest： this shall be the portion of their cup。〃 Isaiah 9：5； 34：2； Psalm
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 massa vast； seething
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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。
The wicked receive their recompense in the earth。 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 branchSatan 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。〃 Revelation 19：6。
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。 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。
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〃I saw a new heaven and a new earth： for the first heaven and the first
earth were passed away。〃 Revelation 21：1。 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 H
