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From Eternity Past
Satan knew that his work of depraving human nature would be
interrupted, that by some means man would be enabled to resist his
power. Yet Satan rejoiced with his angels that, having caused man’s
fall, he could bring down the Son of God from His exalted position.
When Christ should take upon Himself human nature, He also might
be overcome.
Heavenly angels more fully opened to our first parents the plan for
their salvation. 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 upon Him whose love had
been the source of all their joy; rather let it descend upon them and
their posterity.
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 as
a sacrifice for transgression. But the Son of God, who had created
man, could make an atonement for him. As Adam’s transgression had
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brought wretchedness 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 his conqueror. Thus Satan became “the god of this world.”
2
Corinthians 4:4
. But Christ by His sacrifice would not only redeem
man, but recover the dominion he 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 abode 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 abode of the redeemed.
The Terrible Fruits of Sin
Sin brought separation between God and man, and the atonement
of Christ alone could span the abyss. God would communicate with
man through Christ and angels.
Adam was shown that while the sacrifice of Christ would be suffi-
cient to save the whole world, many would choose a life of sin rather
than of repentance and obedience. Crime would increase through