The Truth about Angels, Ellen G. White [free e novels .txt] 📗

faces from the sight.... {TA 59.4}

The angels prostrated themselves before Him. They offered their lives. Jesus said to them that He would by His death save many; that the life of an angel could not pay the debt. His life alone could be accepted of the Father as a ransom for man.—Early Writings, 149, 150. {TA 60.1}

The angels feared that they [Adam and Eve] would put forth the hand, and eat of the tree of life, and be immortal sinners. But God said that He would drive the transgressors from the garden. Angels were commissioned immediately to guard the way of the tree of life.—Spiritual Gifts 1:22. {TA 60.2}

The angels who had been appointed to guard Adam in his Eden home before his transgression and expulsion from paradise were now appointed to guard the gates of paradise and the way of the tree of life.—The Review and Herald, February 24, 1874. {TA 60.3}

When Adam and Eve realized how exalted and sacred was the law of God, the transgression of which made so costly a sacrifice necessary to save them and their posterity from utter ruin, they pled to die themselves, or to let them and their posterity endure the penalty of their transgression, rather than that the beloved Son of God should make this great sacrifice.... {TA 60.4}

Adam was informed that an angel’s life could not pay the debt. The law of Jehovah, the foundation of His government in heaven and upon earth, was as sacred as God Himself; and for this reason the life of an angel could not be accepted of God as a sacrifice for its transgression.... The Father could not abolish nor change one precept of His law to meet man in his fallen condition. But the Son of God, who had in unison with the Father created man, could make an atonement for man acceptable to God.... {TA 60.5}

When Adam, according to God’s special directions, made an offering for sin, it was to him a most painful ceremony. His hand must be raised to take life, which God alone could give, and make an offering for sin. It was the first time he had witnessed death. As he looked upon the bleeding victim, writhing in the agonies of death, he was to look forward by faith to the Son of God, whom the victim prefigured.—The Spirit of Prophecy 1:50-53. {TA 61.1}

Adam and Eve Expelled From Eden

They [Adam and Eve] were informed that they would have to lose their Eden home.... It was not safe for them to remain in the garden of Eden, lest in their state of sin, they gain access to the tree of life.—The Spirit of Prophecy 1:44. {TA 61.2}

They [Adam and Eve] earnestly entreated that they might remain in the home of their innocence and joy. They confessed that they had forfeited all right to that happy abode, but pledged themselves for the future to yield strict obedience to God. But they were told that their nature had become depraved by sin; they had lessened their strength to resist evil, and had opened the way for Satan to gain more ready access to them. In their innocence they had yielded to temptation; and now, in a state of conscious guilt, they would have less power to maintain their integrity. {TA 61.3}

In humility and unutterable sadness they bade farewell to their beautiful home, and went forth to dwell upon the earth, where rested the curse of sin.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 61. {TA 62.1}

Holy angels were sent to drive out the disobedient pair from the garden, while other angels guarded the way to the tree of life. Each one of these mighty angels had in his right hand a glittering sword.—Spiritual Gifts 3:45. {TA 62.2}

Strong angels, with beams of light representing flaming swords turning in every direction, were placed as sentinels to guard the way of the tree of life from the approach of Satan and the guilty pair.—The Review and Herald, February 24, 1874. {TA 62.3}

It was Satan’s studied plan that Adam and Eve should disobey God, receive His frown, and then partake of the tree of life, that they might perpetuate a life of sin. But holy angels were sent to debar their way to the tree of life. Around these angels flashed beams of light on every side, which had the appearance of glittering swords.—The Spirit of Prophecy 1:44. {TA 62.4}

After the fall, Satan bade his angels make special effort to foster the belief in man’s natural immortality; and when they had induced the people to receive this error, they led them to conclude that the sinner would live in eternal misery.—The Spirit of Prophecy 4:354. {TA 62.5}

 

Chapter 6—Angels Before and After Noah’s Flood

Chapter 6—Angels Before and After Noah’s Flood

The Plan of Salvation Explained Further

Angels held communication with Adam after his fall, and informed him of the plan of salvation, and that the human race was not beyond redemption.—Spiritual Gifts 3:52. {TA 63.1}

Angels informed Adam that, as his transgression had brought death and wretchedness, life and immortality would be brought to light through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.—The Spirit of Prophecy 1:51. {TA 63.2}

The garden of Eden remained upon the earth long after man had become an outcast from its pleasant paths. The fallen race were long permitted to gaze upon the home of innocence, their entrance barred only by the watching angels.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 62. {TA 63.3}

Worship at the Cherubim-guarded Gate

At the cherubim-guarded gate of Paradise the glory of the Lord was revealed, and hither came the first worshipers.... It was here that Cain and Abel had brought their sacrifices, and God had condescended to communicate with them. {TA 63.4}

Skepticism could not deny the existence of Eden while it stood just in sight, its entrance barred by watching angels. The order of creation, the object of the garden, the history of its two trees so closely connected with man’s destiny, were undisputed facts. And the existence and supreme authority of God, the obligation to His law, were truths which men were slow to question while Adam was among them.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 83, 84. {TA 64.1}

[Cain and Abel] had been instructed in regard to the provision made for the salvation of the human race. They were required to carry out a system of humble obedience, showing their reverence for God, and their faith and dependence upon the promised Redeemer, by slaying the firstlings of the flock, and solemnly presenting it with the blood, as a burnt offering to God.... {TA 64.2}

He [Cain] was unwilling to strictly follow the plan of obedience, and procure a lamb and offer it with the fruit of the ground. He merely took of the fruit of the ground and disregarded the requirement of God.... Abel advised his brother not to come before the Lord without the blood of a sacrifice. Cain being the eldest, would not listen to his brother.... {TA 64.3}

Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat as God had commanded; and in full faith of the Messiah to come, and with humble reverence, he presented the offering. God had respect unto his offering. A light flashes from heaven and consumes the offering of Abel. Cain sees no manifestation that his is accepted. He is angry with the Lord, and with his brother. God condescends to send an angel to Cain to converse with him. {TA 64.4}

The angel inquires of him the reason of his anger, and informs him that if he does well, and follows the directions God has given, He will accept him, and respect his offering. But if he will not humbly submit to God’s arrangements, and believe and obey Him, He cannot accept his offering. The angel tells Cain that it was no injustice on the part of God, or partiality shown to Abel; but that it was on account of his own sin, and disobedience of God’s express command, why He could not respect his offering—and if he would do well he would be accepted of God.... But even after being thus faithfully instructed, Cain did not repent.... In his jealousy and hatred he contends with Abel, and reproaches him.... While Abel justifies the plan of God, Cain becomes enraged, and his anger increases and burns against Abel, until in his rage he slays him.—Spiritual Gifts 3:47-49. {TA 65.1}

Adam and Angels Instructed Antediluvians

The advantages enjoyed by men of that age [pre-Flood] to gain a knowledge of God through His works have never been equaled since. And so far from being an era of religious darkness, that was an age of great light. All the world had opportunity to receive instruction from Adam, and those who feared the Lord had also Christ and angels for their teachers.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 83. {TA 65.2}

Men lived nearly a thousand years in those days [before the Flood], and angels visited them with instruction directly from Christ.—Selected Messages 1:230. {TA 65.3}

Enoch

Enoch learned from the lips of Adam the painful story of the fall, and the precious story of God’s condescending grace in the gift of His Son as the world’s Redeemer. He believed and relied upon the promise given. Enoch was a holy man. He served God with singleness of heart. He realized the corruptions of the human family, and separated himself from the descendants of Cain, and reproved them for their great wickedness.... His soul was vexed as he daily beheld them trampling upon the authority of God.... He chose to be separate from them and spent much of his time in solitude, giving himself to reflection and prayer. He waited before God, and prayed to know His will more perfectly, that he might perform it. God communed with Enoch through His angels, and gave him divine instruction. He made known to him that He would not always bear with man in his rebellion—that it was His purpose to destroy the sinful race by bringing a flood of waters upon the earth. {TA 66.1}

The Lord opened more fully to Enoch the plan of salvation, and by the Spirit of prophecy carried him down through the generations which should live after the flood, and showed him the great events connected with the second coming of Christ and the end of the world. {TA 66.2}

Enoch was troubled in regard to the dead. It seemed to him that the righteous and the wicked would go to the dust together, and that would be their end. He could not see the life of the just beyond the grave. In prophetic vision he was instructed in regard to the Son of God, who was to die man’s sacrifice, and was shown the coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven, attended by the angelic host, to give life to the righteous dead, and ransom them from their graves.... {TA 66.3}

Enoch faithfully rehearsed to the people all that had been revealed to him by the Spirit of prophecy. Some believed his words, and turned from their wickedness to fear and worship God.—The Signs of the Times, February 20, 1879. {TA 67.1}

He [Enoch] chose certain periods for retirement, and would not suffer the people to find him, for they interrupted his holy meditation and communion with God. He did not exclude himself at all times from the society of those who loved him and listened to his words of wisdom; neither did he separate himself wholly from the corrupt. He met with the good and bad at stated times, and labored to turn the