第 149 节
作者:闪啊闪      更新:2021-02-21 14:06      字数:9322
  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