| The War Has Been Won At the cross, Jesus won the war. As he died that awful second death, he gave the mighty victory cry, “It is finished!”[150] This statement held deep significance to the onlooking universe. The unfallen beings had not realized Satan’s character until that time. The doubts they may have had until that time were forever settled. Speaking of his crucifixion, Christ said, “Now is the judgment of this world; now shall the prince of this world be cast out [of the sympathies of the unfallen beings]. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth [on the cross], will draw all [men and angels, fallen and unfallen beings] unto me.”[151] At the cross, the charges of Satan were forever refuted, and the nature and result of sin were made plain. The character of God was vindicated before the entire universe. “Having spoiled [satanic] principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”[152] The entire universe saw God and Satan’s characters contrasted: selflessness and selfishness; love and hate; life and death were utterly contrasted. The book of Revelation indicates that the inhabitants of the heavenly universe “overcame” and “rejoiced” when Christ triumphed over Satan at Calvary[153]. Peter tells us that even the angels show great interest and desire to understand this[154]. In the cross, they saw that God’s nature was to love and serve his creatures no matter what the cost to himself. Likewise, Calvary made clear what sin does—in Satan they saw the ultimate outworking of selfishness. It was seen that there is no length to which Satan would not go, no suffering he would not cause—even to the point of taking the life of the One who had given him life, One who had only given him kindness, love, mercy and every other good thing. Through the cross, Christ secured the allegiance of all his children—not just those on this little world— “That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, in him.”[155] “To make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God... to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.”[156] “Having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things to himself, by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”[157] All doubt was forever settled throughout the entire universe, and they have never tired of telling God he was right and won the war[158]. Some people teach that God loves us so much that no one will be lost. The death of Jesus proves that those who choose to live in rebellion to the law of life will die. God himself demonstrated it. God does love us, in a way we can never understand. Since God does not change[159], we can’t do anything to make him love us any less. His attitude towards his incorrigible children is always one of love. If it were his choice, no one would be lost[160]. Yet millions, like Satan, have lost the desire or even the capacity to change. Even the all-powerful Creator can do nothing for them. They are terminal, hopeless cases; and they will die. One of the most painful experiences in life is losing a loved one to death, especially your own children. Yet this is only a tiny glimpse of what God feels. Even though we are in the highest order of beings, God is infinitely greater than we mere creatures are. How will the Infinite One feel as he sees millions of his children perishing? He holds each one of them dear. He could create a billion more, but no one could ever replace even one of them in his heart. He will weep as they perish. “How, oh how can I give you up! How, oh how can I hand you over? My heart recoils within me, all my compassion is kindled.”[161] His most brilliant son, Lucifer, will leave an eternal void in the great heart of God. Though he went terribly wrong, a son gone wrong is still a son.[162] |
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| 150 John 19:30; compare Matthew 27:50 151 John 12:31, 32. The word men was supplied by the translators; the original Greek simply says, "all". 152 Colossians 2:15. See also I Peter 1:12 153 Revelation 12:10-12 154 I Peter 1:12 155 Ephesians 1:10 156 Ephesians 3:9-11 157 Colossians 1:20. 158 see Revelation 4:2, 8-11; Revelation 5:9-13; Revelation 15:3, 4; Revelation 19:1-7 159 Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8 160 2 Peter 3:9 161 Hosea 11:8, Phillips 162 Read 2 Samuel 15:1-6, 13-14; 2 Samuel 18:1-33, especially verse 33. Compare I Samuel 13:14 |
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