Basic HTML Version
456
From Heaven With Love
and in their zeal to enforce these laws they will oppress their fellow
men.
The warfare against God’s law will continue until the end of
time. All will be called to choose between the law of God and the
laws of men. There will be but two classes. Every character will be
fully developed. All will show whether they have chosen the side of
loyalty or that of rebellion.
Then the end will come. God will vindicate His law and deliver
His people. Satan and all who join him in rebellion will be cut off.
Sin and sinners will perish, root and branch. See
Malachi 4:1
.
This is not an arbitrary act on the part of God. The rejecters of
His mercy reap that which they have sown. God is the fountain of
[511]
life, and when one chooses sin, he cuts himself off from life. Christ
says, “All they that hate Me love death.”
Proverbs 8:36
. God gives
them existence for a time that they may develop their character and
reveal their principles. This accomplished, they receive the results of
their own choice. Satan and all who unite with him place themselves
so out of harmony with God that the very presence of Him who is
love will destroy them.
At the beginning of the great controversy, the angels did not
understand this. Had Satan and his host then perished, a doubt of
God’s goodness would have remained in their minds as evil seed to
produce its deadly fruit of sin.
But not so when the great controversy shall be ended. Then, the
plan of redemption having been completed, the character of God
is revealed to all created intelligences. The precepts of His law are
seen to be perfect and immutable. Sin has made manifest its nature,
Satan his character. The extermination of sin will vindicate God’s
love and establish His honor before the universe.
Well, then, might the angels rejoice as they looked on the
Saviour’s cross; for though they did not then understand all, they
knew that the destruction of Satan was made certain, the redemption
of man was assured, and the universe was made eternally secure.
To all these results of His sacrifice Christ Himself looked forward
when on the cross He cried out, “It is finished.”
[512]