Origin of Evil
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sophistry and falsehood by which he had sought to hinder the work
of Jesus, the hatred manifested through the children of disobedience,
his cruel accusations against Him whose life was one of unexampled
goodness, all sprung from deep-seated revenge. The pent-up fires of
envy and malice, hatred and revenge, burst forth on Calvary against the
Son of God, while all Heaven gazed upon the scene in silent horror.
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When the great sacrifice had been consummated, Christ ascended
on high, refusing the adoration of angels until he had presented the
request, “I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me
where I am.” [
John 17:24
.] Then with inexpressible love and power
came forth the answer from the Father’s throne, “Let all the angels of
God worship him.” [
Hebrews 1:6
.] Not a stain rested upon Jesus. His
humiliation ended, his sacrifice completed, there was given unto him a
name that is above every name.
Now the guilt of Satan stood forth without excuse. He had revealed
his true character as a liar and a murderer. It was seen that the very
same spirit with which he ruled the children of men, who were under
his power, he would have manifested had he been permitted to control
the inhabitants of Heaven. He had claimed that the transgression of
God’s law would bring liberty and exaltation; but it was seen to result
in bondage and degradation.
Satan’s lying charges against the divine character and government
appeared in their true light. He had accused God of seeking merely
the exaltation of himself in requiring submission and obedience from
his creatures, and had declared that while the Creator exacted self-
denial from all others, he himself practiced no self-denial, made no
sacrifice. Now it was seen that for the salvation of a fallen and sinful
race, the Ruler of the universe had made the greatest sacrifice which
love could make; for “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto
himself.” [
2 Corinthians 5:19
.] It was seen, also, that while Lucifer
had opened the door for the entrance of sin, by his desire for honor
and supremacy, Christ had, in order to destroy sin, humbled himself,
and become obedient unto death.
God had manifested his abhorrence of the principles of rebellion.
All Heaven saw his justice revealed, both in the condemnation of Satan
and in the redemption of man. Lucifer had declared that if the law
of God was changeless, and its penalty could not be remitted, every
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transgressor must be forever debarred from the Creator’s favor. He had