Satan was seeking to shut out from men a knowledge of God, to turn their attention from the temple of God, and to establish his own kingdom. His strife for supremacy had seemed to be almost wholly successful. It is true that in every generation God had His agencies. Even among the heathen there were men through whom Christ was working to uplift the people from their sin and degradation. But these men were despised and hated. Many of them suffered a violent death. The dark shadow that Satan had cast over the world grew deeper and deeper.

Satan prøvede at udelukke menneskene fra at kende Gud, at vende deres opmærksomhed bort fra Guds tempel og oprette sit eget rige. Hans kamp for at vinde overherredømmet var tilsyneladende næsten helt igennem lykkedes. Det er sandt, at Gud i ethvert slægtled har haft sine hjælpere. Selv blandt hedningerne var der mennesker, ved hvem Kristus arbejdede for at højne folket fra dets synd og nedværdigelse. Men disse mennesker blev foragtet og hadet. Mange af dem led en voldsom død. De mørke skygger, som Satan havde kastet over jorden, blev dybere og dybere.