the spirit of hatred and resistance。 When God's messages of warning are
brought home to the conscience； Satan leads men to justify themselves and to
seek the sympathy of others in their course of sin。 Instead of correcting
their errors； they excite indignation against the reprover； as if he were
the sole cause of difficulty。 From the days of righteous Abel to our own
time such is the spirit which has been displayed toward those who dare to
condemn sin。
By the same misrepresentation of the character of God as he had practiced in
heaven； causing Him to be regarded as severe and tyrannical； Satan induced
man to sin。 And having succeeded thus far； he declared that God's unjust
restrictions had led to man's fall； as they had led to his own rebellion。
But the Eternal One Himself proclaims His character： 〃The Lord God； merciful
and gracious； long…suffering； and abundant in goodness and truth； keeping
mercy for thousands； forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin； and that
will by no means clear the guilty。〃 Exodus 34：6； 7。
In the banishment of Satan from heaven； God declared His justice and
maintained the honor of His throne。 But when man had sinned through yielding
to the deceptions of this apostate spirit； God gave an evidence of His love
by yielding up His only…begotten Son to die for the fallen race。
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In the atonement the character of God is revealed。 The mighty argument of
the cross demonstrates to the whole universe that the course of sin which
Lucifer had chosen was in no wise chargeable upon the government of God。
In the contest between Christ and Satan； during the Saviour's earthly
ministry； the character of the great deceiver was unmasked。 Nothing could so
effectually have uprooted Satan from the affections of the heavenly angels
and the whole loyal universe as did his cruel warfare upon the world's
Redeemer。 The daring blasphemy of his demand that Christ should pay him
homage； his presumptuous boldness in bearing Him to the mountain summit and
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
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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
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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 pronounce