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The Truth About Angels
God’s purpose to destroy Sodom, and who bore to him the promise
of this same son Isaac, and he went to the place where he had several
times met the heavenly messengers, hoping to meet them again, and
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receive some further direction; but none came to his relief.—
Patriarchs
and Prophets, 147, 148
.
All day he had hopes of meeting an angel coming to bless and com-
fort him, or perhaps to revoke the command of God, but no messenger
of mercy appeared.... The second long day comes to a close, another
sleepless night is spent in humiliation and prayer, and the journey of
the third day is commenced.—
The Signs of the Times, April 1, 1875
.
At the appointed place they built the altar and laid the wood upon
it. Then with trembling voice, Abraham unfolded to his son the divine
message. It was with terror and amazement that Isaac learned his fate,
but he offered no resistance.... He was a sharer in being called to give
his life as an offering to God....
And now the last words of love are spoken, the last tears are shed,
the last embrace is given. The father lifts the knife to slay his son,
when suddenly his arm is stayed. An angel of God calls to the patriarch
out of heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” He quickly answers, “Here am
I.” And again the voice is heard, “Lay not thine hand upon the lad,
neither do thou anything unto him; for now I know that thou fearest
God, seeing thou has not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me.”
...
God gave His Son to a death of agony and shame. The angels who
witnessed the humiliation and soul anguish of the Son of God were
not permitted to interpose, as in the case of Isaac. There was no voice
to cry, “It is enough.” To save the fallen race, the King of glory yielded
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up His life....
Heavenly beings were witnesses of the scene as the faith of Abra-
ham and the submission of Isaac were tested.... All heaven beheld with
wonder and admiration Abraham’s unfaltering obedience. All heaven
applauded his fidelity. Satan’s accusations were shown to be false....
It had been difficult even for the angels to grasp the mystery of
redemption—to comprehend that the Commander of heaven, the Son
of God, must die for guilty man. When the command was given to
Abraham to offer up his son, the interest of all heavenly beings was
enlisted. With intense earnestness they watched each step in the fulfill-
ment of this command. When to Isaac’s question, “Where is the lamb