546
The Great Controversy 1888
unceasing activity has banished reflection; but he is now deprived of
his power, and left to contemplate the part which he has acted since
first he rebelled against the government of Heaven, and to look forward
with trembling and terror to the dreadful future, when he must suffer
for all the evil that he has done, and be punished for the sins that he
has caused to be committed.
To God’s people, the captivity of Satan will bring gladness and
rejoicing. Says the prophet: “It shall come to pass in the day that the
Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy trouble, and
from the hard service wherein thou wast made to serve, that thou shalt
take up this proverb against the king of Babylon [here representing
Satan], and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! ... The Lord hath
broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers; that smote
the peoples in wrath with a continual stroke, that ruled the nations in
anger, with a persecution that none restrained.” [
Isaiah 14:3-6
, Revised
Version.]
During the thousand years between the first and the second res-
urrection, the Judgment of the wicked takes place. The apostle Paul
points to this Judgment as an event that follows the second advent.
“Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will
bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest
the counsels of the hearts.” [
1 Corinthians 4:5
.] Daniel declares that
when the Ancient of days came, “Judgment was given to the saints of
[661]
the Most High.” [
Daniel 7:22
.] At this time the righteous reign as kings
and priests unto God. John in the Revelation says: “I saw thrones, and
they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them.” “They shall
be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand
years.” [
Revelation 20:4, 6
;
1 Corinthians 6:2, 3
.] It is at this time that,
as foretold by Paul, “the saints shall judge the world.” [
Revelation
20:4, 6
;
1 Corinthians 6:2, 3
.] In union with Christ they judge the
wicked, comparing their acts with the statute book, the Bible, and
deciding every case according to the deeds done in the body. Then the
portion which the wicked must suffer is meted out, according to their
works; and it is recorded against their names in the book of death.
Satan also and evil angels are judged by Christ and his people.
Says Paul, “Know ye not that we shall judge angels?” [
Revelation
20:4, 6
;
1 Corinthians 6:2, 3
.] And Jude declares that “the angels
which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath