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The Great Controversy 1888
earthly tribunals but faintly represents the interest evinced in the heav-
enly courts when the names entered in the book of life come up in
review before the Judge of all the earth. The divine Intercessor presents
the plea that all who have overcome through faith in his blood be for-
given their transgressions, that they be restored to their Eden home,
and crowned as joint-heirs with himself to the “first dominion.” [
Micah
4:8
.] Satan, in his efforts to deceive and tempt our race, had thought
to frustrate the divine plan in man’s creation; but Christ now asks that
this plan be carried into effect, as if man had never fallen. He asks for
his people not only pardon and justification, full and complete, but a
share in his glory and a seat upon his throne.
While Jesus is pleading for the subjects of his grace, Satan accuses
them before God as transgressors. The great deceiver has sought to
lead them into skepticism, to cause them to lose confidence in God, to
separate themselves from his love, and to break his law. Now he points
to the record of their lives, to the defects of character, the unlikeness
to Christ, which has dishonored their Redeemer, to all the sins that he
has tempted them to commit, and because of these he claims them as
his subjects.
Jesus does not excuse their sins, but shows their penitence and
faith, and, claiming for them forgiveness, he lifts his wounded hands
before the Father and the holy angels, saying, “I know them by name.
I have graven them on the palms of my hands. ‘The sacrifices of
God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou
wilt not despise.” [
Psalm 51:17
.] And to the accuser of his people he
declares, “The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath
chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee. Is not this a brand plucked out of the
fire?’ [
Zechariah 3:2
.] Christ will clothe his faithful ones with his
own righteousness, that he may present them to his Father “a glorious
church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.” [
Ephesians
5:27
.] Their names stand enrolled in the book of life, and concerning
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them it is written, “They shall walk with me in white; for they are
worthy.” [
Revelation 3:4
.]
Thus will be realized the complete fulfillment of the new-covenant
promise, “I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin
no more.” “In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity
of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of
Judah, and they shall not be found.” [
Jeremiah 31:34
;
50:20
.] “In that