Satan was permitted to cut short the earthly life of God's messenger; but that life which "is hid with Christ in God," the destroyer could not reach. Col. 3:3. He exulted that he had brought sorrow upon Christ, but he had failed of conquering John. Death itself only placed him forever beyond the power of temptation. In this warfare, Satan was revealing his own character. Before the witnessing universe he made manifest his enmity toward God and man.

Satan fik lov til at afkorte Guds sendebuds jordiske liv; men det liv, som "er skjult med Kristus i Gud", kunne ødelæggeren ikke nå. Kol. 3,3. Han frydede sig over, at han havde voldt Kristus sorg, men det var ikke lykkedes ham at besejre Johannes. Selve døden bragte ham for stedse uden for fristelsens magt. Ved denne krigsførelse afslørede Satan sin egen karakter. Universet var vidne til, at han viste sit fjendskab mod Gud og mennesker.