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36
The Beginning of the End
must return to dust, they listened to words that could not fail to give
them hope. They could look forward to final victory!
Satan knew that his work of depraving human nature would be
interrupted, that by some means men and women would be enabled
to resist his power. Yet Satan rejoiced with his angels that, having
caused mankind to fall, he could bring down the Son of God from
His exalted position. When Christ would take upon Himself human
nature, He also might be overcome.
Heavenly angels explained the plan of salvation more fully
opened to our first parents. Adam and his companion were not
to be abandoned to Satan. Through repentance and faith in Christ
they might again become the children of God.
Adam and Eve saw as never before the guilt of sin and its results.
They pleaded that the penalty might not fall on Him whose love had
been the source of all their joy; rather let it come on them and their
descendants.
They were told that since the law of Jehovah is the foundation
of His government. Even the life of an angel could not be accepted
[24]
as a sacrifice for transgression, but the Son of God, who had created
them, could make an atonement for them. As Adam’s transgression
had brought misery and death, so the sacrifice of Christ would bring
life and immortality.
At his creation Adam was placed in dominion over the earth, but
by yielding to temptation he became Satan’s captive. The dominion
passed to the one who had conquered him, thus Satan became “the
god of this world” (
2 Corinthians 4:4
, KJV). But Christ by His
sacrifice would not only redeem the human family but recover the
dominion they had forfeited. All that was lost by the first Adam will
be restored by the second (see
Micah 4:8
).
God created the earth to be the home of holy, happy beings. That
purpose will be fulfilled when, renewed by the power of God and
freed from sin and sorrow, it shall become the eternal home of the
redeemed.