Controversy Ended
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shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts.” [
Malachi 4:1
.] Some are
destroyed as in a moment, while others suffer many days. All are
punished “according to their deeds.” The sins of the righteous having
been transferred to Satan, he is made to suffer not only for his own
rebellion, but for all the sins which he has caused God’s people to
commit. His punishment is to be far greater than that of those whom
he has deceived. After all have perished who fell by his deceptions,
he is still to live and suffer on. In the cleansing flames the wicked are
at last destroyed, root and branch,—Satan the root, his followers the
branches. The full penalty of the law has been visited; the demands of
justice have been met; and Heaven and earth, beholding, declare the
righteousness of Jehovah.
Satan’s work of ruin is forever ended. For six thousand years he
has wrought his will, filling the earth with woe, and causing grief
throughout the universe. The whole creation has groaned and travailed
together in pain. Now God’s creatures are forever delivered from his
presence and temptations. “The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet;
they [the righteous] break forth into singing.” [
Isaiah 14:7
.] And a
shout of praise and triumph ascends from the whole loyal universe.
“The voice of a great multitude,” “as the voice of many waters, and as
the voice of mighty thunderings,” is heard, saying, “Alleluia; for the
Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”
While the earth was wrapped in the fire of destruction, the righteous
abode safely in the holy city. Upon those that had part in the first
resurrection, the second death has no power. [
Revelation 20:6
;
Psalm
84:11
.] While God is to the wicked a consuming fire, he is to his
people both a sun and a shield. [
Revelation 20:6
;
Psalm 84:11
.]
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven
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and the first earth were passed away.” [
Revelation 21:1
.] The fire that
consumes the wicked purifies the earth. Every trace of the curse is
swept away. No eternally burning hell will keep before the ransomed
the fearful consequences of sin.
One reminder alone remains: our Redeemer will ever bear the
marks of his crucifixion. Upon his wounded head, upon his side,
his hands and feet, are the only traces of the cruel work that sin has
wrought. Says the prophet, beholding Christ in his glory, “He had
bright beams coming out of his side; and there was the hiding of his
power.” [
Habakkuk 3:4
(Margin)] That pierced side whence flowed the