Now the perfect harmony of heaven was broken. Lucifer's disposition to serve himself instead of his Creator aroused a feeling of apprehension when observed by those who considered that the 36 glory of God should be supreme. In heavenly council the angels pleaded with Lucifer. The Son of God presented before him the greatness, the goodness, and the justice of the Creator, and the sacred, unchanging nature of His law. God Himself had established the order of heaven; and in departing from it, Lucifer would dishonor his Maker and bring ruin upon himself. But the warning, given in infinite love and mercy, only aroused a spirit of resistance. Lucifer allowed his jealousy of Christ to prevail, and became the more determined.

Det var blevet denne englefyrstes hensigt at bestride Guds Søns overhøjhed og derved drage Skaberens visdom og kærlighed i tvivl. Det var det mål, han var ved at rette sine vældige åndsevner imod, dette intelligensvæsen, der var den første blandt Guds hærskarer næst efter Kristus. Men han, som ville, at alle skabninger skulle have en fri vilje, tillod ikke, at nogen ubeskyttet mødte de forvirrende teorier, hvormed oprøreren søgte at refærdiggøre sig selv. Før den store kamp begyndte, skulle alle have en klar fremstilling af hans vilje, hvis visdom og godhed var kilden til al deres glæde.