patriarchs and prophets-第5节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


。　。　I　will　be　like　the　Most　High。〃　Isaiah　14：13；　14。　Though　all　his　glory
was　from　God；　this　mighty　angel　came　to　regard　it　as　pertaining　to　himself。
Not　content　with　his　position；　though　honored　above　the　heavenly　host；　he
ventured　to　covet　homage　due　alone　to　the　Creator。　Instead　of　seeking　to
make　God　supreme　in　the　affections　and　allegiance　of　all　created　beings；　it
was　his　endeavor　to　secure　their　service　and　loyalty　to　himself。　And
coveting　the　glory　with　which　the　infinite　Father　had　invested　His　Son；　this
prince　of　angels　aspired　to　power　that　was　the　prerogative　of　Christ　alone。

Now　the　perfect　harmony　of　heaven　was　broken。　Lucifer's　disposition　to　serve
himself　instead　of　his　Creator　aroused　a　feeling　of　apprehension　when
observed　by　those　who　considered　that　the

36

glory　of　God　should　be　supreme。　In　heavenly　council　the　angels　pleaded　with
Lucifer。　The　Son　of　God　presented　before　him　the　greatness；　the　goodness；
and　the　justice　of　the　Creator；　and　the　sacred；　unchanging　nature　of　His
law。　God　Himself　had　established　the　order　of　heaven；　and　in　departing　from
it；　Lucifer　would　dishonor　his　Maker　and　bring　ruin　upon　himself。　But　the
warning；　given　in　infinite　love　and　mercy；　only　aroused　a　spirit　of
resistance。　Lucifer　allowed　his　jealousy　of　Christ　to　prevail；　and　became
the　more　determined。

To　dispute　the　supremacy　of　the　Son　of　God；　thus　impeaching　the　wisdom　and
love　of　the　Creator；　had　become　the　purpose　of　this　prince　of　angels。　To
this　object　he　was　about　to　bend　the　energies　of　that　master　mind；　which；
next　to　Christ's；　was　first　among　the　hosts　of　God。　But　He　who　would　have
the　will　of　all　His　creatures　free；　left　none　unguarded　to　the　bewildering
sophistry　by　which　rebellion　would　seek　to　justify　itself。　Before　the　great
contest　should　open；　all　were　to　have　a　clear　presentation　of　His　will；
whose　wisdom　and　goodness　were　the　spring　of　all　their　joy。

The　King　of　the　universe　summoned　the　heavenly　hosts　before　Him；　that　in
their　presence　He　might　set　forth　the　true　position　of　His　Son　and　show　the
relation　He　sustained　to　all　created　beings。　The　Son　of　God　shared　the
Father's　throne；　and　the　glory　of　the　eternal；　self…existent　One　encircled
both。　About　the　throne　gathered　the　holy　angels；　a　vast；　unnumbered
throng〃ten　thousand　times　ten　thousand；　and　thousands　of　thousands〃
（Revelation　5：11。）；　the　most　exalted　angels；　as　ministers　and　subjects；
rejoicing　in　the　light　that　fell　upon　them　from　the　presence　of　the　Deity。
Before　the　assembled　inhabitants　of　heaven　the　King　declared　that　none　but
Christ；　the　Only　Begotten　of　God；　could　fully　enter　into　His　purposes；　and
to　Him　it　was　committed　to　execute　the　mighty　counsels　of　His　will。　The　Son
of　God　had　wrought　the　Father's　will　in　the　creation　of　all　the　hosts　of
heaven；　and　to　Him；　as　well　as　to　God；　their　homage　and　allegiance　were　due。
Christ　was　still　to　exercise　divine　power；　in　the　creation　of　the　earth　and
its　inhabitants。　But　in　all　this　He　would　not　seek　power　or　exaltation　for
Himself　contrary　to　God's　plan；　but　would　exalt　the　Father's　glory　and
execute　His　purposes　of　beneficence　and　love。

The　angels　joyfully　acknowledged　the　supremacy　of　Christ；　and　prostrating
themselves　before　Him；　poured　out　their　love　and　adoration。　Lucifer　bowed
with　them；　but　in　his　heart　there　was

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　37

a　strange；　fierce　conflict。　Truth；　justice；　and　loyalty　were　struggling
against　envy　and　jealousy。　The　influence　of　the　holy　angels　seemed　for　a
time　to　carry　him　with　them。　As　songs　of　praise　ascended　in　melodious
strains；　swelled　by　thousands　of　glad　voices；　the　spirit　of　evil　seemed
vanquished；　unutterable　love　thrilled　his　entire　being；　his　soul　went　out；
in　harmony　with　the　sinless　worshippers；　in　love　to　the　Father　and　the　Son。
But　again　he　was　filled　with　pride　in　his　own　glory。　His　desire　for
supremacy　returned；　and　envy　of　Christ　was　once　more　indulged。　The　high
honors　conferred　upon　Lucifer　were　not　appreciated　as　God's　special　gift；
and　therefore；　called　forth　no　gratitude　to　his　Creator。　He　glorified　in　his
brightness　and　exaltation　and　aspired　to　be　equal　with　God。　He　was　beloved
and　reverenced　by　the　heavenly　host；　angels　delighted　to　execute　his
commands；　and　he　was　clothed　with　wisdom　and　glory　above　them　all。　Yet　the
Son　of　God　was　exalted　above　him；　as　one　in　power　and　authority　with　the
Father。　He　shared　the　Father's　counsels；　while　Lucifer　did　not　thus　enter
into　the　purposes　of　God。　〃Why；〃　questioned　this　mighty　angel；　〃should
Christ　have　the　supremacy？　Why　is　He　honored　above　Lucifer？〃

Leaving　his　place　in　the　immediate　presence　of　the　Father；　Lucifer　went
forth　to　diffuse　the　spirit　of　discontent　among　the　angels。　He　worked　with
mysterious　secrecy；　and　for　a　time　concealed　his　real　purpose　under　an
appearance　of　reverence　for　God。　He　began　to　insinuate　doubts　concerning　the
laws　that　governed　heavenly　beings；　intimating　that　though　laws　might　be
necessary　for　the　inhabitants　of　the　worlds；　angels；　being　more　exalted；
needed　no　such　restraint；　for　their　own　wisdom　was　a　sufficient　guide。　They
were　not　beings　that　could　bring　dishonor　to　God；　all　their　thoughts　were
holy；　it　was　no　more　possible　for　them　than　for　God　Himself　to　err。　The
exaltation　of　the　Son　of　God　as　equal　with　the　Father　was　represented　as　an
injustice　to　Lucifer；　who；　it　was　claimed；　was　also　entitled　to　reverence
and　honor。　If　this　prince　of　angels　could　but　attain　to　his　true；　exalted
position；　great　good　would　accrue　to　the　entire　host　of　heaven；　for　it　was
his　object　to　secure　freedom　for　all。　But　now　even　the　liberty　which　they
had　hitherto　enjoyed　was　at　an　end；　for　an　absolute　Ruler　had　been　appointed
them；　and　to　His　authority　all　must　pay　homage。　Such　were　the　subtle
deceptions　that　through　the　wiles　of　Lucifer　were　fast　obtaining　in　the
heavenly　courts。

38


There　had　been　no　change　in　the　position　or　authority　of　Christ。　Lucifer's
envy　and　misrepresentation　and　his　claims　to　equality　with　Christ　had　made
necessary　a　statement　of　the　true　position　of　the　Son　of　God；　but　this　had
been　the　same　from　the　beginning。　Many　of　the　angels　were；　however；　blinded
by　Lucifer's　deceptions。

Taking　advantage　of　the　loving；　loyal　trust　reposed　in　him　by　the　holy
beings　under　his　command；　he　had　so　artfully　instilled　into　their　minds　his
own　distrust　and　discontent　that　his　agency　was　not　discerned。　Lucifer　had
presented　the　purposes　of　God　in　a　false　lightmisconstruing　and　distorting
them　to　excite　dissent　and　dissatisfaction。　He　cunningly　drew　his　hearers　on
to　give　utterance　to　their　feelings；　then　these　expressions　were　repeated　by
him　when　it　would　serve　his　purpose；　as　evidence　that　the　angels　were　not
fully　in　harmony　with　the　government　of　God。　While　claiming　for　himself
perfect　loyalty　to　God；　he　urged　that　changes　in　the　order　and　laws　of
heaven　were　necessary　for　the　stability　of　the　divine　government。　Thus　while
working　to　excite　opposition　to　the　law　of　God　and　to　instill　his　own
discontent　into　the　minds　of　the　angels　under　him；　he　was　ostensibly　seeking
to　remove　dissatisfaction　and　to　reconcile　disaffected　angels　to　the　order
of　heaven。　While　secretly　fomenting　discord　and　rebellion；　he　with
consummate　craft　caused　it　to　appear　as　his　sole　purpose　to　promote　loyalty
and　to　preserve　harmony　and　peace。

The　spirit　of　dissatisfaction　thus　kindled　was　doing　its　baleful　work。　While
there　was　no　open　outbreak；　division　of　feeling　imperceptibly　grew　up　among
the　angels。　There　were　some　who　looked　with　favor　upon　Lucifer's
insinuations　against　the　government　of　God。　Although　they　had　heretofore
been　in　perfect　harmony　with　the　order　which　God　had　established；　they　were
now　discontented　and　unhappy　because　they　could　not　penetrate　His
unsearchable　counsels；　they　were　dissatisfied　with　His　purpose　in　exalting
Christ。　These　stood　ready　to　second　Lucifer's　demand　for　equal　authority
with　the　Son　of　God。　But　angels　who　were　loyal　and　true　maintained　the
wisdom　and　justice　of　he　divine　decree　and　endeavored　to　reconcile　this
disaffected　being　to　the　will　of　God。　Christ　was　the　Son　of　God；　He　had　been
one　with　Him　before　the　angels　were　called　into　existence。　He　had　ever　stood
at　the　right　hand　of　the　Father；　His　supremacy；　so　full　of　blessing　to　all
who　came　under　its　benignant　control；　had　not　heretofore

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　39

been　questioned。　The　harmony　of　heaven　had　never　been　interrupted；　wherefore
should　there　now　be　discord？　The　loyal　angels　could　see　only　terrible
consequences　from　this　dissension；　and　with　earnest　entreaty　they　counseled
the　disaffected　ones　to　renounce　their　purpose　and　prove　themselves　loyal　to
God　by　fidelity　to　His　government。

In　great　mercy；　according　to　His　divine　character；　God　bore　long　with
Lucifer。　The　spirit　of　discontent　and　disaffection　had　never　before　been
known　in　heaven。　It　was　a　new　element；　strange；　mysterious；　unaccountable。
Lucifer　himself　had　not　at　first　been　acquainted　with　the　real　nature　of　his
feelings；　for　a　time　he　had　feared　to　express　the　workings　and　imaginings　of
his　mi