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The Truth About Angels
tions against the government of God. He is the object of universal
abhorrence.
Satan sees that his voluntary rebellion has unfitted him for
heaven.... His accusations against the mercy and justice of God are
now silenced. The reproach which he has endeavored to cast upon
Jehovah rests wholly upon himself. And now Satan bows down, and
confesses the justice of his sentence.... Every question of truth and
error in the longstanding controversy has now been made plain....
Notwithstanding that Satan has been constrained to acknowledge
God’s justice, and to bow to the supremacy of Christ, his character
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remains unchanged. The spirit of rebellion, like a mighty torrent,
again bursts forth. Filled with frenzy, he determines not to yield the
great controversy. The time has come for a last desperate struggle
against the King of heaven. He rushes into the midst of his subjects,
and endeavors to inspire them with his own fury, and arouse them to
instant battle. But of all the countless millions whom he has allured
into rebellion, there are none now to acknowledge his supremacy. His
power is at an end.... Their rage is kindled against Satan and those
who have been his agents in deception, and with the fury of demons
they turn upon them....
Fire comes down from God out of heaven. The earth is broken up....
Devouring flames burst from every yawning chasm.... The day has
come that shall burn as an oven. The elements melt with fervent heat,
the earth also, and the works that are therein are burned up.
Malachi
4:1
;
2 Peter 3:10
. The earth’s surface seems one molten mass—a vast,
seething lake of fire....
The wicked receive their recompense.... 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.—
The
Great Controversy, 670-673
.
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By a life of rebellion, Satan and all who unite with him place
themselves so out of harmony with God that His very presence is to