The Great Controversy - Righteousness is Love

388tomb, that "through death He might destroy him that had the power ofdeath, that is, the devil." Hebrews 2:14. Lucifer's desire for self-exaltationhad led him to say: "I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: . . . I willbe like the Most High." God declares: "I will bring thee to ashes upon theearth, . . . and never shalt thou be any more." Isaiah 14:13, 14; Ezekiel28:18, 19. When "the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven;. . . .all theproud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day thatcometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave themneither root nor branch." Malachi 4:1.The whole universe will have become witnesses to the nature and results ofsin. And its utter extermination, which in the beginning would have broughtfear to angels and dishonor to God, will now vindicate His love andestablish His honor before the universe of beings who delight to do His will,and in whose heart is His law. Never will evil again be manifest. Says theword of God: "Affliction shall not rise up the second time." Nahum 1:9. Thelaw of God, which Satan has reproached as the yoke of bondage, will behonored as the law of liberty. A tested and proved creation will never againbe turned from allegiance to Him whose character has been fully manifestedbefore them as fathomless love and infinite wisdom.