In the opening of the great controversy, Satan had declared that the law of God could not be obeyed, that justice was inconsistent with mercy, and that, should the law be broken, it would be impossible for the sinner to be pardoned. Every sin must meet its punishment, urged Satan; and if God should remit the punishment of sin, He would not be a God of truth and justice. When men broke the law of God, and defied His will, Satan exulted. It was proved, he declared, that the law could not be obeyed; man could not be forgiven. Because he, after his rebellion, had been banished from heaven, Satan claimed that the human race must be forever shut out from God's favor. God could not be just, he urged, and yet show mercy to the sinner.

Ved begyndelsen af den store strid havde Satan erklæret, at det ikke var muligt at overholde Guds lov, at retfærdighed ikke lod sig forene med barmhjertighed, og at det ville være umuligt for en synder at få tilgivelse, hvis han overtrådte loven. Satan hævdede, at enhver synd burde have sin straf, og hvis Gud ville eftergive straffen for synd, ville han ikke være sandhedens og retfærdighedens Gud. Satan frydede sig, når mennesker brød Guds lov og trodsede hans vilje. Han erklærede, at det var bevist, at loven ikke kunne overholdes. Mennesket kunne ikke få tilgivelse. Fordi Satan efter sit oprør var blevet forvist fra Himmelen, hævdede han, at menneskeslægten for evigt måtte være udelukket fra Guds velbehag. Han påstod, at Gud ikke kunne være retfærdig og alligevel vise synderen barmhjertighed.