At the beginning of the great controversy, the angels did not understand this. Had Satan and his host then been left to reap the full result of their sin, they would have perished; but it would not have been apparent to heavenly beings that this was the inevitable result of sin. A doubt of God's goodness would have remained in their minds as evil seed, to produce its deadly fruit of sin and woe.

Ved begyndelsen til den store strid forstod englene ikke dette. Hvis Satan og hans hærskarer dengang havde fået lov til at høste alt, hvad der var opnået ved deres synd, ville de være gået til grunde; men det ville ikke have været indlysende for himmelske skabninger, at dette var den uundgåelige følge af synden. Tvivlen om Guds godhed ville have dvælet i deres sjæl som en ond sæd, der ville have avlet dødens frugter af synd og smerte.