"Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." 1 Corinthians 10:11, 12. Satan well knows the material with which he has to deal in the human heart. He knows--for he has studied with fiendish intensity for thousands of years--the points most easily assailed in every character; and through successive generations he has wrought to overthrow the strongest men, princes in Israel, by the same temptations that were so successful at Baalpeor. All along through the ages there are strewn wrecks of character that have been stranded upon the rocks of sensual indulgence. As we approach the close of time, as the people of God stand upon the borders of the heavenly Canaan, Satan will, as of old, redouble his efforts to prevent them from entering the goodly land. He lays his snares for every soul. It is not the ignorant and uncultured 458 merely that need to be guarded; he will prepare his temptations for those in the highest positions, in the most holy office; if he can lead them to pollute their souls, he can through them destroy many. And he employs the same agents now as he employed three thousand years ago. By worldly friendships, by the charms of beauty, by pleasure seeking, mirth, feasting, or the wine cup, he tempts to the violation of the seventh commandment.

Dette skete med dem, så de kan være advarende eksempler, og det blev skrevet til påmindelse for os, til hvem de sidste tider er kommet. Derfor skal den, der mener at stå, tage sig i agt, at han ikke falder! 1. Kor. 10, 11-12. Satan har et grundigt kendskab til menneskehjertet. Han har studeret det i tusinder af år og kender svaghederne i alle menneskers karakter. I slægt efter slægt har han arbejdet på at besejre de stærkeste mænd, øversterne i Israel, ved hjælp af de samme fristelser, der var så virkningsfulde ved Baal Peor. I alle tidsaldre er menneskekarakterer blevet slået til vrag og kastet mod de sanselige lysters klippeskær. Lige før verdens ende, når Guds folk står ved grænsen til det himmelske Kanaan, vil Satan fordoble sine anstrengelser og ligesom tidligere forsøge at hindre dem i at drage ind i det herlige land. Han lægger sine snarer for hver eneste sjæl. Det er ikke blot de uvidende og ukultiverede, som behøver at være på vagt. Han vil friste mennesker i de højeste stillinger og i de helligste embeder. Hvis han kan få dem til at besmitte deres sjæl, kan han derigennem lede mange i fordærv. Han benytter de samme midler i dag som for tre tusind år siden. Ved hjælp af verdslige venskaber, skønhed, forlystelser, morskab og fest eller vinglasset frister han mennesker til at overtræde det syvende bud.