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not have given His Son； innocent and holy； to suffer the penalty which they
had incurred。 All this caused Cain's anger to burn the hotter。 Reason and
conscience told him that Abel was in the right； but he was enraged that one
who had been wont to heed his counsel should now presume to disagree with
him； and that he could gain no sympathy in his rebellion。 In the fury of his
passion he slew his brother。
Cain hated and killed his brother； not for any wrong that Abel had done； but
〃because his own works were evil； and his brother's righteous。〃 1 John 3：12。
So in all ages the wicked have hated those who were better than themselves。
Abel's life of obedience and unswerving faith was to Cain a perpetual
reproof。 〃Everyone that doeth evil hateth the light； neither cometh to the
light； lest his deeds should be reproved。〃 John 3：20。 The brighter the
heavenly light that is reflected from the character of God's faithful
servants； the more clearly the sins of the ungodly are revealed； and the
more determined will be their efforts to destroy those who disturb their
peace。
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The murder of Abel was the first example of the enmity that God had declared
would exist between the serpent and the seed of the womanbetween Satan and
his subjects and Christ and His followers。 Through man's sin； Satan had
gained control of the human race； but Christ would enable them to cast off
his yoke。 Whenever； through faith in the Lamb of God； a soul renounces the
service of sin； Satan's wrath is kindled。 The holy life of Abel testified
against Satan's claim that it is impossible for man to keep God's law。 When
Cain； moved by the spirit of the wicked one； saw that he could not control
Abel； he was so enraged that he destroyed his life。 And wherever there are
any who will stand in vindication of the righteousness of the law of God；
the same spirit will be manifested against them。 It is the spirit that
through all the ages has set up the stake and kindled the burning pile for
the disciples of Christ。 But the cruelties heaped upon the follower of Jesus
are instigated by Satan and his hosts because they cannot force him to
submit to their control。 It is the rage of a vanquished foe。 Every martyr of
Jesus has died a conqueror。 Says the prophet； 〃They overcame him ＇〃that old
serpent； called the devil； and Satan〃＇ by the blood of the Lamb； and by the
word of their testimony； and they loved not their lives unto the death。〃
Revelation 12：11； 9。
Cain the murderer was soon called to answer for his crime。 〃The Lord said
unto Cain； Where is Abel thy brother？ And he said； I know not： Am I my
brother's keeper？〃 Cain had gone so far in sin that he had lost a sense of
the continual presence of God and of His greatness and omniscience。 So he
resorted to falsehood to conceal his guilt。
Again the Lord said to Cain； 〃What hast thou done？ The voice of thy
brother's blood crieth unto Me from the ground。〃 God had given Cain an
opportunity to confess his sin。 He had had time to reflect。 He knew the
enormity of the deed he had done； and of the falsehood he had uttered to
conceal it； but he was rebellious still； and sentence was no longer
deferred。 The divine voice that had been heard in entreaty and admonition
pronounced the terrible words： 〃And now art thou cursed from the earth；
which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand。
When thou tillest the ground； it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her
strength； a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth。〃
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Notwithstanding that Cain had by his crimes merited the sentence of death； a
merciful Creator still spared his life； and granted him opportunity for
repentance。 But Cain lived only to harden his heart； to encourage rebellion
against the divine authority； and to become the head of a line of bold；
abandoned sinners。 This one apostate； led on by Satan； became a tempter to
others； and his example and influence exerted their demoralizing power；
until the earth became so corrupt and filled with violence as to call for
its destruction。
In sparing the life of the first murderer； God presented before the whole
universe a lesson bearing upon the great controversy。 The dark history of
Cain and his descendants was an illustration of what would have been the
result of permitting the sinner to live on forever； to carry out his
rebellion against God。 The forbearance of God only rendered the wicked more
bold and defiant in their iniquity。 Fifteen centuries after the sentence
pronounced upon Cain； the universe witnessed the fruition of his influence
and example； in the crime and pollution that flooded the earth。 It was made
manifest that the sentence of death pronounced upon the fallen race for the
transgression of God's law was both just and merciful。 The longer men lived
in sin； the more abandoned they became。 The divine sentence cutting short a
career of unbridled iniquity； and freeing the world from the influence of
those who had become hardened in rebellion； was a blessing rather than a
curse。
Satan is constantly at work； with intense energy and under a thousand
disguises； to misrepresent the character and government of God。 With
extensive； well…organized plans and marvelous power； he is working to hold
the inhabitants of the world under his deceptions。 God； the One infinite and
all…wise； sees the end from the beginning； and in dealing with evil His
plans were far…reaching and comprehensive。 It was His purpose； not merely to
put down the rebellion； but to demonstrate to all the universe the nature of
the rebellion。 God's plan was unfolding； showing both His justice and His
mercy； and fully vindicating His wisdom and righteousness in His dealings
with evil。
The holy inhabitants of other worlds were watching with the deepest interest
the events taking place on the earth。 In the condition of the world that
existed before the Flood they saw illustrated the results of the
administration which Lucifer had
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endeavored to establish in heaven； in rejecting the authority of Christ and
casting aside the law of God。 In those high…handed sinners of the
antediluvian world they saw the subjects over whom Satan held sway。 The
thoughts of men's hearts were only evil continually。 Genesis 6：5。 Every
emotion； every impulse and imagination； was at war with the divine
principles of purity and peace and love。 It was an example of the awful
depravity resulting from Satan's policy to remove from God's creatures the
restraint of His holy law。
By the facts unfolded in the progress of the great controversy； God will
demonstrate the principles of His rules of government； which have been
falsified by Satan and by all whom he has deceived。 His justice will finally
be acknowledged by the whole world； though the acknowledgment will be made
too late to save the rebellious。 God carries with Him the sympathy and
approval of the whole universe as step by step His great plan advances to
its complete fulfillment。 He will carry it with Him in the final eradication
of rebellion。 It wil