Angels From Christ’s Passion Until His Death
143
By those who mocked Christ as He hung on the cross, Satan and
his angels were personified. He filled them with vile and loathsome
speeches. He inspired their taunts.—
Manuscript Releases 18:72
.
The principalities and powers of darkness assembled round His
cross. The arch apostate, still retaining his lofty stature, led the apostate
host, who were leagued with human beings in the strife against God.—
The Signs of the Times, April 14, 1898
.
He [Christ] was struggling with the power of Satan, who was
declaring that he had Christ in his power, that he was superior in
strength to the Son of God, that the Father had disowned His Son, and
that He was no longer in the favor of God any more than himself.—
Testimonies for the Church 2:214
.
Christ yielded not to the torturing foe, even in his bitterest anguish.
Legions of evil angels were all about Him; yet the holy angels were
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bidden not to break their ranks, and engage in conflict with the taunting,
railing adversary, nor were they permitted to minister to the anguished
spirit of the divine Sufferer. It was in this terrible hour of darkness, the
face of His Father hidden, legions of evil angels enshrouding Him, the
sins of the world upon Him, that from His pale lips were wrenched the
words, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”—
Bible Echo
and Signs of the Times, January 1, 1887
.
The darkness that covered the earth at His crucifixion concealed
the company of heaven’s powerful agencies, but the earth quaked at
the tread of the heavenly throng. The rocks were rent; for three hours
the earth was shrouded in impenetrable darkness; nature with her dark
robes hid the sufferings of the Son of God.—
Manuscript Releases
5:353
.
The Father, with His heavenly angels, was enclosed in that thick
darkness. God was close beside His Son, though not manifesting
Himself to Him or to any human being. Had one ray of His glory and
power penetrated the thick cloud that enveloped Him, every spectator
would have been extinguished.—
Manuscript Releases 12:385
.
How could heaven keep silent? Can we wonder at the horrible
unnatural darkness that hung over the cross? Can we wonder at the
rending rocks, the rolling thunder, the flashing lightning, the shaking
of the earth beneath the tread of the heavenly army as they beheld their
loved Commander suffering such indignity?—
The Review and Herald,
September 1, 1891
.
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