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God's Eternal Purpose

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 10, 1903

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 80, No. 10.

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God's Eternal Purpose

By R. D. Quinn

R. D. QUINN
The revelation of the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal, and which is to close in this generation, under the sounding of the seventh angel,—for “when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished,”—is simply the unfolding of those principles in God’s “eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord” from the beginning, before sin’s inception in heaven. For “the plan of our redemption was not an afterthought, a plan formulated after the fall of Adam. It was a revelation of ‘the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal.’ It was an unfolding of the principles that from the eternal ages have been the foundation of God’s throne.” Consequently, when sin made its appearance in heaven, and later, in the fall of our first parents, the plan for our redemption did not call into action some new principle, nor necessitate a change in God’s eternal purpose; for provision had been made for just such an emergency in the councils of God and his Son, from the days of eternity. But it did call for the actual and visible revelation of the mystery which is “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” God manifest in the flesh. “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.”
From the day that it entered into the heart of Lucifer to exalt his throne above the stars of God, and to “be like the most High,” until this time, he has posed before the universe as a reformer. It was thus that he deceived angels and consequently the whole world, and therefore God has been, as it were, placed on trial before the universe, charged by Satan as being the author of an unjust and defective system of government; and it ever has been Satan’s studied purpose to make these claims evident, and at the same time to demonstrate that the principles which are the foundation of his system of government are superior. So great was the deception, that a vast number of the angels were drawn into the apostasy. Disaffection, alienation, and rebellion followed, and “the world was dark through misapprehension of God.” The reproach that Satan had cast upon God and his subjects must be forever removed. For it is written, “Though ‘clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the foundation of his throne.’ This the inhabitants of the universe, both loyal and disloyal, will one day understand, . . . though the acknowledgment will be made too late to save the disobedient.” “For all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.”
God’s justice must be set forth in contradistinction to Satan’s so-called reforms, in such unmistakable object-lessons that when the mystery of God shall have been finished, the government of God will be put on such an eternal basis of security that rebellion (the mystery of iniquity) will be annihilated, never again to enter the universe. Therefore, “in the councils of heaven it was decided that time must be given for Satan to develop the principles which were the foundation of his system of government, . . . that they might be seen by the heavenly universe.” And so, from the day that Adam and Eve joined in the apostasy, until this hour, this earth has become the theater for Satan’s operations, and the lesson book of the universe. “For we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.”
Satan’s seat of government is here, and his boasted reforms are in active operation, and ever have been since the fall. However, God has not left the world without the knowledge of his righteous will, and has done all he could to uplift fallen man and place him on vantage ground. It is true that God has allowed Satan to develop the principles of his system of government, that they might be seen in their true light, but he has never allowed one of his subjects to fall under the power of the apostate, unless it were by his own voluntary choice. It is true that the controversy has lasted six thousand years, and has cost rivers of blood, and some have grown impatient at the seeming delay, and even inspiration itself cries out, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?”
But “the work of human redemption is not all that is accomplished by the cross. The love of God is manifested to the universe. The prince of this world is cast out. The accusations which Satan has brought against God are refuted. The reproach which he has cast upon heaven is forever removed. Angels as well as men are drawn to the Redeemer.” For Christ declared, “I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all unto me.” For “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself.” “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” To the intent, “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; even in him.” This is the eternal purpose of God.
Therefore God, who can see the end from the beginning, who can see the amazing achievements to be wrought out in the great controversy, allows the scroll to be unrolled no faster than can be comprehended by the heavenly intelligences. For “God carries with him the sympathy and approval of the whole universe, as step by step his great plan advances to complete fulfillment.” And “he will carry it with him in the final eradication of rebellion.” For the angels to whom it is given to pour out the vials of God’s wrath are heard saying, “Thou art righteous, O Lord, . . . because thou hast judged thus.” And another, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.” And the song of the redeemed will be, “Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou king of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.”
“But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished.” For “there shall be delay no longer.”