Lucifer had at first so conducted his temptations that he himself stood uncommitted. The angels whom he could not bring fully to his side, he accused of indifference to the interests of heavenly beings. The very work which he himself was doing, he charged upon the loyal angels. It was his policy to perplex with subtle arguments concerning the purposes of God. Everything that was simple he shrouded in mystery, and by artful perversion cast doubt upon the plainest statements of Jehovah. And his high position, so closely connected with the divine government, gave greater force to his representations. 42

Lucifer havde til at begynde med tilrettelagt sine fristelser sådan, at han ikke kompromitterede sig selv. De engle, som han ikke kunne få helt over på sin side, beskyldte han for ligegyldighed over for de himmelske væseners interesser. Det arbejde han selv udførte, beskyldte han de trofaste engle for. Hans plan gik ud på at skabe uklarhed med hensyn til Guds hensigter ved hjælp af spidsfindige argumenter. Alt, hvad der var ligetil, indhyllede han i mystik og ved snedige forvrængninger kastede han tvivl over selv de enkleste af Guds forklaringer. Og hans høje stilling og nære tilknytning til den guddommelige regering gav hans argumenter større styrke.