the immortal state. This is evident. Now suppose we are
wrong, and that Paul’s childhood represents the church in his
day, endowed with the gifts; and that his manhood represents the
church after his death, stripped of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and
fast sinking away toward the great apostasy! Absurdity!
And still the apostle continues with another beautiful
illustration of the change from the present dispensation, during
which the Church was to enjoy the comparatively-dim light of
the gifts, as she walked by faith and hope, to the open glories
of the world to come, when the redeemed shall walk with God
in Eden restored, and talk face to face with Christ and angels.
He says: “For now we see through a glass darkly; but then, face
to face.” Verse 12. To the view that the gifts were to cease at
the death of the first apostles, and that with their death came the
glorious change illustrated by these words of the apostle, we need
only to repeat, absurdity!
The truth of God upon this subject is consistent and
harmonious with itself, and with all divine truth. The spirit of
prophecy, in consequence of the fall and man’s separation from
the visible presence of God, became a necessity. This necessity
has not been obviated by any past change of dispensation. And
no dispensation needs the gifts of the Holy Spirit more than
the Christian age; and at no time in the long period of man’s
separation from God’s visible presence, have they been so much
needed as amid the perils of the raging tempests of the last days.
But when the Redeemer shall come, the controversy be ended, the
saints’ rest given, and they, all immortal, meet around the throne
with angels, and face to face behold the glory of God and the
Lamb, the spirit of prophecy will be numbered among Heaven’s
choicest blessings of the past.
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The Great Controversy
Chapter I. - The Fall of Satan.
Satan in Heaven, before his rebellion, was a high and exalted
angel, next in honor to God’s dear Son. His countenance, like
those of the other angels, was mild and expressive of happiness.
His forehead was high and broad, showing a powerful intellect.
His form was perfect; his bearing noble and majestic. A special
light beamed in his countenance, and shone around him brighter
and more beautiful than around the other angels; yet Jesus, God’s
dear Son, had the pre-eminence over all the angelic host. He
was one with the Father before the angels were created. Satan
was envious of Christ, and gradually assumed command which
devolved on Christ alone.
The great Creator assembled the heavenly host, that he might
in the presence of all the angels confer special honor upon his
Son. The Son was seated on the throne with the Father, and
the heavenly throng of holy angels was gathered around them.
The Father then made known that it was ordained by himself that
Christ, his Son, should be equal with himself; so that wherever
was the presence of his Son, it was as his own presence. The
word of the Son was to be obeyed as readily as the word of the
Father. His Son he
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had invested with authority to command the heavenly host.
Especially was his Son to work in union with himself in the
anticipated creation of the earth and every living thing that should
exist upon the earth. His Son would carry out his will and his
purposes, but would do nothing of himself alone. The Father’s
will would be fulfilled in him.
Satan was envious and jealous of Jesus Christ. Yet when all
the angels bowed to Jesus to acknowledge his supremacy and
high authority and rightful rule, Satan bowed with them; but his
heart was filled with envy and hatred. Christ had been taken into
the special counsel of God in regard to his plans, while Satan
was unacquainted with them. He did not understand, neither
was he permitted to know, the purposes of God. But Christ was
acknowledged sovereign of Heaven, his power and authority to
be the same as that of God himself. Satan thought that he was
himself a favorite in Heaven among the angels. He had been
highly exalted; but this did not call forth from him gratitude
and praise to his Creator. He aspired to the height of God
himself. He gloried in his loftiness. He knew that he was honored
by the angels. He had a special mission to execute. He had
been near the great Creator, and the ceaseless beams of glorious
light enshrouding the eternal God, had shone especially upon
him. Satan thought how angels had obeyed his command with
pleasurable alacrity. Were not his garments light and beautiful?
Why should Christ thus be honored before himself?
He left the immediate presence of the Father, dissatisfied,
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
and filled with envy against Jesus Christ. Concealing his real
purposes, he assembled the angeli