Angels From Sinai to the Taking of Jericho
75
have been on Pisgah’s summit! ... He viewed the panoramic scenes
passing before him in which he saw the sufferings of the Angel who
had led the Israelites through the wilderness, guiding them in their
wandering journey from Egypt to Canaan.... When he beheld the
Saviour’s ascension and saw that he himself would be one of those
who should attend the Saviour and open to Him the everlasting gates,
what a change took place in the expression on his face! ...
He saw the earth purified by fire and cleansed from every vestige
of sin, every mark of the curse, and renovated and given to the saints
to possess forever and ever.... As Moses beheld this scene, joy and
triumph were expressed in his countenance. He could understand the
force of all the angels revealed to him. He took in the whole scene as
it was presented before him.—10MR 151, 152, 154, 155, 158, 159.
After he had viewed Canaan to his satisfaction, he lay down like
a tired warrior, to rest. Sleep came upon him, but it was the sleep of
death. Angels took his body and buried it in the valley. The Israelites
could never find the place where he was buried....
Satan exulted that he had succeeded in causing Moses to sin against
God. For this transgression, Moses came under the dominion of death.
If he had continued faithful, and his life had not been marred with
that one transgression, in failing to give to God the glory of bringing
water from the rock, he would have entered the Promised Land, and
would have been translated to heaven without seeing death. Michael,
or Christ, with the angels that buried Moses, came down from heaven,
[105]
after he had remained in the grave a short time, and resurrected him.—
Spiritual Gifts 4a:57, 58
.
The power of the grave had never been broken, and all who were
in the tomb he [Satan] claimed as his captives, never to be released
from his dark prison-house.
For the first time, Christ was about to give life to the dead. As the
Prince of life and the shining ones approached the grave, Satan was
alarmed for his supremacy. With his evil angels he stood to dispute an
invasion of the territory that he claimed as his own.—
Patriarchs and
Prophets, 478
.
As Christ and the angels approached the grave, Satan and his angels
appeared at the grave, and were guarding the body of Moses, lest it
should be removed. As Christ and His angels drew nigh, Satan resisted
their approach, but was compelled, by the glory and power of Christ