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They see just where their feet diverged from the path of purity and
holiness； just how far pride and rebellion have carried them in the
violation of the law of God。 The seductive temptations which they encouraged
by indulgence in sin； the blessings perverted； the messengers of God
despised； the warnings rejected； the waves of mercy beaten back by the
stubborn； unrepentant heartall appear as if written in letters of fire。
Above the throne is revealed the cross； and like a panoramic view appear the
scenes of Adam's temptation and fall； and the successive steps in the great
plan of redemption。 The Saviour's lowly birth； His early life of simplicity
and obedience； His baptism in Jordan； the fast and temptation in the
wilderness； His public ministry； unfolding to men heaven's most precious
blessings； the days crowded with deeds of love and mercy； the nights of
prayer and watching in the solitude of the mountains； the plottings of envy；
hate； and malice which repaid His benefits； the awful； mysterious agony in
Gethsemane beneath the crushing weight of the sins of the whole world； His
betrayal into the hands of the murderous
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mob； the fearful events of that night of horrorthe unresisting prisoner；
forsaken by His best…loved disciples； rudely hurried through the streets of
Jerusalem； the Son of God exultingly displayed before Annas； arraigned in
the high priest's palace； in the judgment hall of Pilate； before the
cowardly and cruel Herod； mocked； insulted； tortured； and condemned to
dieall are vividly portrayed。
And now before the swaying multitude are revealed the final scenesthe
patient Sufferer treading the path to Calvary； the Prince of heaven hanging
upon the cross； the haughty priests and the jeering rabble deriding His
expiring agony； the supernatural darkness； the heaving earth； the rent
rocks； the open graves； marking the moment when the world's Redeemer yielded
up His life。
The awful spectacle appears just as it was。 Satan； his angels； and his
subjects have no power to turn from the picture of their own work。 Each
actor recalls the part which he performed。 Herod； who slew the innocent
children of Bethlehem that he might destroy the King of Israel； the base
Herodias； upon whose guilty soul rests the blood of John the Baptist； the
weak； timeserving Pilate； the mocking soldiers； the priests and rulers and
the maddened throng who cried； 〃His blood be on us； and on our
children！〃all behold the enormity of their guilt。 They vainly seek to hide
from the divine majesty of His countenance； outshining the glory of the sun；
while the redeemed cast their crowns at the Saviour's feet； exclaiming： 〃He
died for me！〃
Amid the ransomed throng are the apostles of Christ； the heroic Paul； the
ardent Peter； the loved and loving John； and their truehearted brethren； and
with them the vast host of martyrs； while outside the walls； with every vile
and abominable thing； are those by whom they were persecuted； imprisoned；
and slain。 There is Nero； that monster of cruelty and vice； beholding the
joy and exaltation of those whom he once tortured； and in whose extremest
anguish he found satanic delight。 His mother is there to witness the result
of
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her own work； to see how the evil stamp of character transmitted to her son；
the passions encouraged and developed by her influence and example； have
borne fruit in crimes that caused the world to shudder。
There are papist priests and prelates； who claimed to be Christ's
ambassadors； yet employed the rack； the dungeon； and the stake to control
the consciences of His people。 There are the proud pontiffs who exalted
themselves above God and presumed to change the law of the Most High。 Those
pretended fathers of the church have an account to render to God from which
they would fain be excused。 Too late they are made to see that the
Omniscient One is jealous of His law and that He will in no wise clear the
guilty。 They learn now that Christ identifies His interest with that of His
suffering people； and they feel the force of His own words： 〃Inasmuch as ye
have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren； ye have done it
unto Me。〃 Matthew 25：40。
The whole wicked world stand arraigned at the bar of God on the charge of
high treason against the government of heaven。 They have none to plead their
cause； they are without excuse； and the sentence of eternal death is
pronounced against them。
It is now evident to all that the wages of sin is not noble independence and
eternal life； but slavery； ruin； and death。 The wicked see what they have
forfeited by their life of rebellion。 The far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory was despised when offered them； but how desirable it now
appears。 〃All this；〃 cries the lost soul； 〃I might have had； but I chose to
put these things far from me。 Oh； strange infatuation！ I have exchanged
peace； happiness； and honor for wretchedness； infamy； and despair。〃 All see
that their exclusion from heaven is just。 By their lives they have declared：
〃We will not have this Man ＇Jesus＇ to reign over us。〃
As if entranced； the wicked have looked upon the coronation of the Son of
God。 They see in His hands the tables of the divine law； the statutes which
they have despised and
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transgressed。 They witness the outburst of wonder； rapture； and adoration
from the saved； and as the wave of melody sweeps over the multitudes without
the city； all with one voice exclaim； 〃Great and marvelous are Thy works；
Lord God Almighty； just and true are Thy ways； Thou King of saints〃
（Revelation 15：3）； and； falling prostrate； they worship the Prince of life。
Satan seems paralyzed as he beholds the glory and majesty of Christ。 He who
was once a covering cherub remembers whence he has fallen。 A shining seraph；
〃son of the morning；〃 how changed； how degraded！ From the council where once
he was honored； he is forever excluded。 He sees another now standing near to
the Father； veiling His glory。 He has seen the crown placed upon the head of
Christ by an angel of lofty stature and majestic presence； and he knows that
the exalted position of this angel might have been his。
Memory recalls the home of his innocence and purity； the peace and content
that were his until he indulged in murmuring against God； and envy of
Christ。 His accusations； his rebellion； his deceptions to gain the sympathy
and support of the angels； his stubborn persistence in making no effort for
self…recovery when God would have granted him forgiveness all come vividly
before him。 He reviews his work among men and its resultsthe enmity of man
toward his fellow man； the terrible destruction of life； the rise and fall
of kingdoms； the overturning of thrones； the long succession of tumults；
conflicts； and revolutions。 He recalls his constant efforts to oppose the
work of Christ and to sink man lower and lower。 He sees that his hellish
plots have been powerless to destroy those who have put their trust in
Jesus。 As Satan looks upon his kingdom； the fruit of his toil； he sees only
failure and ruin。 He has led the multitudes to believe that the City of God
would be an easy prey； but he knows that this is false。 Again and again； in
the progress of the great controversy； he has been defeated and compelled to
yield。 He knows too well the power and majesty of the Eternal。
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The aim of the great rebel has ever been to justify himself and to prove the
divine government responsible for the rebellion。 To this end he has bent all
the power of his giant intellect。 He has worked deliberately and
systematically； and with marvelous success； leading vast multitudes to
accept his version of the great controversy which has been so long in
progress。 For thousands of years this chief of conspiracy has palmed off
falsehood for truth。 But the time has now come when the rebellion is to be
finally defeated and the history and character of Satan disclosed。 In his
last great effort to dethrone Christ； destroy His people； and take
possession of the City of God； the archdeceiver has b