The deception of sin had reached its height. All the agencies for depraving the souls of men had been put in operation. The Son of God, looking upon the world, beheld suffering and misery. With pity He saw how men had become victims of satanic cruelty. He looked with compassion upon those who were being corrupted, murdered, and lost. They had chosen a ruler who chained them to his car as captives. Bewildered and deceived, they were moving on in gloomy procession toward eternal ruin,--to death in which is no hope of life, toward night to which comes no morning. Satanic agencies were incorporated with men. The bodies of human beings, made for the dwelling place of God, had become the habitation of demons. The senses, the nerves, the passions, the organs of men, were worked by supernatural agencies in the indulgence of the vilest lust. The very stamp of demons was impressed upon the countenances of men. Human faces reflected the expression of the legions of evil with which they were possessed. Such was the prospect upon which the world's Redeemer looked. What a spectacle for Infinite Purity to behold!

Syndens bedrag havde nået sit højdepunkt. Alt, hvad der tjente til at nedværdige menneskesjæle, var blevet sat i gang. Når Guds Søn betragtede verden, så han lidelse og elendighed. Med medynk så han, hvordan mennesker var blevet ofre for Satans grusomhed. Han så med medlidenhed på dem, der var ved at blive fordærvede, myrdede og fortabte. De havde valgt sig en hersker, der lænkede dem som fanger til sin stridsvogn. Forvildede og bedraget drog de fremad i et sørgeligt optog hen imod evig tilintetgørelse, til en død, hvor der ikke findes noget håb om liv, henimod en nat, der ikke efterfølges af nogen morgen. Satans hjælpere havde taget bolig i mennesker. Menneskers legemer, der var skabt til bolig for Gud, var blevet opholdssted for onde ånder. Sanserne, nerverne, lidenskaberne, de menneskelige organer blev af overnaturlige kræfter påvirket til at hengive sig til de laveste lyster. De onde ånder havde sat deres eget stempel på menneskers ansigt. De menneskelige træk genspejlede udtrykket hos de hærskare af djævle, der havde besat dem. Det var et sådant billede, verdens Frelser betragtede.