The time had now come when Satan’s empire over the world was to be contested, his right disputed, and he feared that his power would be broken. He knew, through prophecy, that a Saviour was predicted, and that His kingdom would not be established in earthly triumph and with worldly honor and display. He knew that the prophecies foretold a kingdom to be established by the Prince of heaven upon the earth which he claimed as his dominion. This kingdom would embrace all the kingdoms of the world, and then the power and glory of Satan would cease, and he would receive his retribution for the sins he had introduced into the world, and for the misery he had brought upon the human race. He knew that everything which concerned his prosperity was depending upon his success or failure in overcoming Christ with his temptations; and he brought to bear on the Saviour every artifice at his command to allure Him from His integrity (The Signs of the Times, August 4, 1887).{5BC 1079.1}

(1079) Tidspunktet var nu kommet hvor Satans rige over verden skulle bestrides, hans ret bringes i tvivl, og han frygtede for at hans kraft ville blive brudt. Gennem profetien vidste han at en Frelser var forudsagt, og at Hans rige ikke ville etableres i jordisk triumf og med verdslig ære og opvisning. Han vidste at profetierne forudsagde et rige skulle oprettes af himlens Fyrste på jorden, som han krævede som sit domæne. Dette rige ville omfatte hele verdens riger, og så ville Satans magt og ære ophøre, og han ville modtage sin straf for de synder han havde introduceret i verden, og for den elendighed, han havde pådraget menneskeslægten. Han vidste at alt som vedrørte hans fremgang, beroede på om han havde succes eller fiasko med at overvinde Kristus i hans fristelser; og han pådrog Frelseren alle kunstgreb han kunne, for at lokke Ham fra Hans retskaffenhed. (ST 4. aug., 1887).