Sabbath, September 29, 2007

“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 universe–what nothing less than this plan of atonement could have sufficed to do–that justice and mercy are the foundation of the law and government of God.” –The Great Controversy, p. 503.

Witness Of The Universe

1. When and how will God’s character of love be vindicated before the whole universe?

“In the judgment of the universe, God will stand clear of blame for the existence or continuance of evil. It will be demonstrated that the divine decrees are not accessory to sin. There was no defect in God’s government, no cause for disaffection.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 58.

“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.” –The Great Controversy, p. 670.

“For six thousand years the great controversy has been in progress; the Son of God and his heavenly messengers have been in conflict with the power of the evil one, to warn, enlighten, and save the children of men. Now all have made their decision; the wicked have fully united with Satan in his warfare against God. The time has come for God to vindicate the authority of his downtrodden law. Now the controversy is not alone with Satan, but with men.” –The Great Controversy, p. 656.

2. What declaration will be made by all created intelligences?

Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
Revelation 15:3, 4 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 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.
Psalm 145:10, 17 All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee… The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

“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.’ ” –The Great Controversy, p. 671.

Satan’s Character Fully Exposed

3. What truth about Satan’s character during his six thousand years of activity on earth will soon be open for all to see?
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

4. What will He unwillingly acknowledge?

Philippians 2:10, 11 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

“God’s dealings with rebellion will result in fully unmasking the work that has so long been carried on under cover. The results of Satan’s rule, the fruits of setting aside the divine statutes, will be laid open to the view of all created intelligences. The law of God will stand fully vindicated. It will be seen that all the dealings of God have been conducted with refer­ence to the eternal good of His people, and the good of all the worlds that He has created. Satan himself, in the presence of the witnessing universe, will confess the justice of God’s government and the righteousness of His law.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 338, 339.

5. What event has already transpired that proved that God is love?
Galatians 4:4, 5 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

“In His dying agony on the cross, Christ was scorned by the people who claimed to be waiting for the Messiah, but who showed by their actions the value of their spirituality. Surely Christ has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. Surely he was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. But did not Satan understand that while He was bruising the heel of the Son of God, the Son of God was bruising his head? What great and wonderful effects have resulted from the crucifixion! What a view of the character of God, Christ’s sacrifice has opened to the universe! His love for man, far surpassing all human love, has lifted the law of God to its own eternal dignity. The attributes of God have been revealed, and the holy requirements of His law have been vindicated. The effects of the sacrifice on the cross are still felt; but all who would be saved must them­selves have an interest in the crucified One.” –The Signs of the Times, April 14, 1898.

God’s People Triumphant

6. How does God portray His people who have maintained their allegiance to Him and kept His commandments?
Revelation 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

“From every nation, kindred, tongue, and people is to be gathered out a people who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus. This is the work to be accomplished in these last days. Since Satan’s rebellion in heaven against the commandments of God, he has kept up a continual warfare against these commandments, and he will continue to carry on his work relentlessly to the end.” –Manuscript Releases, vol. 20, pp. 221, 222.

“God will have a people upon the earth who will vindicate His honor by having respect to all of His commandments….” –Faith and Works, p. 42.

7. What is promised to God’s elect after Satan’s deceptive ac­tivities have ended?
Daniel 7:18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

“The great plan of redemption results in fully bringing back the world into God’s favor. All that was lost by sin is restored. Not only man but the earth is redeemed, to be the eternal abode of the obedient. For six thou­sand years Satan has struggled to maintain possession of the earth. Now God’s original purpose in its creation is accomplished.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 342.

Wonderful Attainments

8. Why will the controversy between good and evil never be repeated in the universe?
Nahum 1:9 What do ye imagine against the Lord? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

“The inhabitants of all worlds will be convinced of the justice of the law in the overthrow of rebellion and the eradication of sin. When man, beguiled by Satan’s power, disobeyed the divine law, God could not, even to save the lost race, change that law. God is love, and to change the law would be to deny Himself, to overthrow those principles with which are bound up the good of the universe. The working out of the plan of salvation reveals not only to men, but to angels, the character of God, and through the ages of eternity the malignant character of sin will be understood by the cost to the Father and the Son of the redemption of a rebel race. In Christ, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, all worlds will behold the marks of the curse, and angels as well as men will ascribe honor and glory to the Redeemer, through whom they are all made secure from apostasy. The efficiency of the cross guards the redeemed race from the danger of a second fall. The life and death of Christ effectually unveils the deceptions of Satan, and refutes his claims. The sacrifice of Christ for a fallen world draws not only men, but angels unto Him in bonds of indissoluble union.

“Through the plan of salvation the justice and mercy of God are fully vindicated, and to all eternity rebellion will never again arise, affliction never again touch the universe of God.” –The Messenger, June 7, 1893.

9. What will all of heaven see in those who will be eternally redeemed?
1 Corinthians 6:11 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
1 John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

“God’s people are in danger of being separated from the Sun of Righ­teousness. ‘This is the will of God,’ the apostle says, ‘even your sanctifica­tion.’ This sanctification means perfect love, perfect obedience, entire con­formity to the will of God. We are to be sanctified to him through obedience to the truth. Our conscience must be purged from dead works to serve the living God. If our lives are conformed to the life of Christ through the sanctification of mind, soul, and body, our example will have a powerful in­fluence on the world. We are not perfect; but it is our privilege to cut away from the entanglement of self and sin, and go on unto perfection. ‘We all, with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.’ Great possibilities, high and holy attainments, are placed within the reach of all who have true faith. Shall we not anoint our eyes with eyesalve, that we may discern the wonderful things God has for us?” –The Youth’s Instructor, August 24, 1899.

Conclusion

“The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, through­out the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love.” –The Great Controversy, p. 678.