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The Desire of Ages
our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day
and night.”
Revelation 12:10
.
Satan saw that his disguise was torn away. His administration was
laid open before the unfallen angels and before the heavenly universe.
He had revealed himself as a murderer. By shedding the blood of
the Son of God, he had uprooted himself from the sympathies of
the heavenly beings. Henceforth his work was restricted. Whatever
attitude he might assume, he could no longer await the angels as
they came from the heavenly courts, and before them accuse Christ’s
brethren of being clothed with the garments of blackness and the
defilement of sin. The last link of sympathy between Satan and the
heavenly world was broken.
Yet Satan was not then destroyed. The angels did not even then
understand all that was involved in the great controversy. The princi-
ples at stake were to be more fully revealed. And for the sake of man,
Satan’s existence must be continued. Man as well as angels must see
the contrast between the Prince of light and the prince of darkness. He
must choose whom he will serve.
In the opening of the great controversy, Satan had declared that
the law of God could not be obeyed, that justice was inconsistent with
mercy, and that, should the law be broken, it would be impossible for
the sinner to be pardoned. Every sin must meet its punishment, urged
Satan; and if God should remit the punishment of sin, He would not
be a God of truth and justice. When men broke the law of God, and
defied His will, Satan exulted. It was proved, he declared, that the law
could not be obeyed; man could not be forgiven. Because he, after
his rebellion, had been banished from heaven, Satan claimed that the
human race must be forever shut out from God’s favor. God could not
be just, he urged, and yet show mercy to the sinner.
But even as a sinner, man was in a different position from that of
Satan. Lucifer in heaven had sinned in the light of God’s glory. To
him as to no other created being was given a revelation of God’s love.
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Understanding the character of God, knowing His goodness, Satan
chose to follow his own selfish, independent will. This choice was
final. There was no more that God could do to save him. But man was
deceived; his mind was darkened by Satan’s sophistry. The height and
depth of the love of God he did not know. For him there was hope in