74
Spiritual Gifts. Volume 1
and those who had this exalted privilege felt that they had had an
interview with God, with his Son Jesus, and with his disciples. But
this blessed privilege cost many of them their lives. If discovered, they
were taken from reading the sacred Word to the chopping block, the
stake, or to the dungeon to die from starvation.
Satan could not hinder the plan of salvation. Jesus was crucified,
and arose again the third day. He told his angels that he would make
[110]
even the crucifixion and resurrection tell to his advantage. He was
willing that those who professed faith in Jesus should believe that the
laws regulating the Jewish sacrifices and offerings ceased at the death
of Christ, if he could push them further, and make them believe that
the law of ten commandments died also with Christ.
I saw that many readily yielded to this device of Satan. All heaven
was moved with indignation, as they saw the holy law of God trampled
under foot. Jesus and all the heavenly host were acquainted with the
nature of God’s law; they knew that he would not change or abolish it.
The hopeless condition of man caused the deepest sorrow in heaven,
and moved Jesus to offer to die for the transgressors of God’s holy
law. If his law could be abolished, man might have been saved without
the death of Jesus. The death of Christ did not destroy the law of his
Father; but magnified and honored it, and enforces obedience to all
its holy precepts. Had the church remained pure and steadfast, Satan
could not have deceived them, and led them to trample on the law of
God. In this bold plan, Satan strikes directly against the foundation
of God’s government in heaven and on earth. His rebellion caused
him to be expelled from heaven. After he rebelled, in order to save
himself, he wished God to change his law; but God told Satan, before
[111]
the whole heavenly host, that his law was unalterable. Satan knows
that if he can cause others to violate God’s law he is sure of them; for
every transgressor of his law must die.
Satan decided to go still further. He told his angels that some would
be so jealous of God’s law that they could not be caught in this snare;
that the ten commandments were so plain that many would believe that
they were still binding; therefore he must seek to corrupt the fourth
commandment which brings to view the living God. He led on his
representatives to attempt to change the Sabbath, and alter the only
commandment of the ten which brings to view the true God, the maker
of the heavens and the earth. Satan presented before them the glorious