Plan of Salvation
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bosom of his Father, and choose a life of suffering and anguish, and
die an ignominious death to give life to others.
Said the angel, Think ye that the Father yielded up his dearly
beloved Son without a struggle? No, no. It was even a struggle with
the God of heaven, whether to let guilty man perish, or to give his
beloved Son to die for them. Angels were so interested for man’s
salvation that there could be found among them those who would
yield their glory, and give their life for perishing man. But, said my
accompanying angel, That would avail nothing. The transgression was
so great that an angel’s life would not pay the debt. Nothing but the
death and intercessions of his Son would pay the debt, and save lost
man from hopeless sorrow and misery.
But the work of the angels was assigned them, to ascend and
descend with strengthening balm from glory to soothe the Son of God
in his sufferings, and administer unto him. Also, their work would
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be to guard and keep the subjects of grace from the evil angels, and
the darkness constantly thrown around them by Satan. I saw that
it was impossible for God to alter or change his law, to save lost,
perishing man; therefore he suffered his beloved Son to die for man’s
transgression.
Satan again rejoiced with his angels that he could, by causing
man’s fall, pull down the Son of God from his exalted position. He
told his angels that when Jesus should take fallen man’s nature, he
could overpower him, and hinder the accomplishment of the plan of
salvation.
I was then shown Satan as he was, a happy, exalted angel. Then
I was shown him as he now is. He still bears a kingly form. His
features are still noble, for he is an angel fallen. But the expression
of his countenance is full of anxiety, care, unhappiness, malice, hate,
mischief, deceit, and every evil. That brow which was once so noble, I
particularly noticed. His forehead commenced from his eyes to recede
backward. I saw that he had demeaned himself so long, that every
good quality was debased, and every evil trait was developed. His eyes
were cunning, sly, and showed great penetration. His frame was large,
but the flesh hung loosely about his hands and face. As I beheld him,
his chin was resting upon his left hand. He appeared to be in deep
thought. A smile was upon his countenance, which made me tremble,
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it was so full of evil, and Satanic slyness. This smile is the one he