The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 503
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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