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Spiritual Gifts, Volume 4a
act in his life which they could condemn, yet his very goodness made
him a subject of their jealousy and hate, and in their blind rage they
cried out, Crucify him! crucify him! The rejection of light leaves men
captives of Satan, subject to his temptations. When he controls the
mind, light will become darkness to that mind, good evil, and evil
good.
At the first advent of Christ, Satan knew that he had come to limit
his power, and set free captives which he had bound, and his skill
was especially exercised to lead the Jewish nation to believe Christ an
impostor. The prophecies furnished sufficient evidence to unprejudiced
minds that Christ was indeed the Son of God, the Saviour of the world.
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But the unbelieving Jews chose their own standard of virtue, and purity
of life. They would not be taught by the Just One, and continued to
perform their useless sacrifices and offerings, looking forward for a
Messiah which had already come.
Our heavenly Father designed to prove and test the professed faith
and obedience of his people. The sacrifices which they performed
under the law were typical of the Lamb of God, and illustrated his
great atonement. Yet the Jewish nation were so blinded and deceived
by Satan that when Christ came, whom their sacrifices and offerings
had been prefiguring, they would not receive him. They led him as a
lamb to the slaughter.
The same rebellion and hatred against Christ will be in the hearts
of men at his second advent. If Christ’s second coming should be
in the same humble manner as at his first advent, reproving sin, and
commending virtue and holiness, where there was then one voice
raised, crying, Crucify him! crucify him! there would be thousands
in this apostate age. Infidelity in regard to Christ’s being the true
Messiah, the Saviour of the world, will increase and spread to an
alarming degree previous to his second coming. Satan has lost none of
his skill and power which he has been exercising in past time. He can
better deceive man now than at Christ’s first advent.
The Son of God in this age will be as virtually despised and insulted
by corrupt men who pretend to be good men, as at his first advent.
Satan is now transforming himself into an angel of light, to hide the
deformity of his character, and thereby he and his evil angels receive
that worship from a blinded, deluded people, which belongs alone to
God. Christ is trampled under foot. Virtue and holiness are despised.