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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4
are ready to receive his suggestions and to do his bidding. Yet, true
to his early cunning, he does not acknowledge himself to be Satan.
He claims to be the Prince who is the rightful owner of the world,
and whose inheritance has been unlawfully wrested from him. He
represents himself to his deluded subjects as a redeemer, assuring
them that his power has brought them forth from their graves, and
that he is about to rescue them from the most cruel tyranny. The
presence of Christ having been removed, Satan works wonders to
support his claims. He makes the weak strong, and inspires all with
his own spirit and energy. He proposes to lead them against the
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camp of the saints, and to take possession of the city of God. With
fiendish exultation he points to the unnumbered millions who have
been raised from the dead, and declares that as their leader he is well
able to overthrow the city, and regain his throne and his kingdom.
In that vast throng are multitudes of the long-lived race that
existed before the flood; men of lofty stature and giant intellect, who,
yielding to the control of fallen angels, devoted all their skill and
knowledge to the exaltation of themselves; men whose wonderful
works of art led the world to idolize their genius, but whose cruelty
and evil inventions, defiling the earth and defacing the image of
God, caused him to blot them from the face of his creation. There
are kings and generals who conquered nations, valiant men who
never lost a battle, proud, ambitious warriors whose approach made
kingdoms tremble. In death these experienced no change. As they
come up from the grave, they resume the current of their thoughts
just where it ceased. They are actuated by the same desire to conquer
that ruled them when they fell.
Satan consults with his angels, and then with these kings and
conquerors and mighty men. They look upon the strength and num-
bers upon their side, and declare that the army within the city is
small in comparison with theirs, and that it can be overcome. They
lay their plans to take possession of the riches and glory of the New
Jerusalem. All immediately begin to prepare for battle. Skillful
artisans construct implements of war. Military leaders, famed for
their success, marshal the throngs of warlike men into companies
and divisions.
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At last the order to advance is given, and the countless host moves
on,—an army such as was never summoned by earthly conquerors,