Satan was determined to keep his hold on the land of Canaan, and when it was made the habitation of the children of Israel, and the law of God was made the law of the land, he hated Israel with a cruel and malignant hatred and plotted their destruction. 689 Through the agency of evil spirits strange gods were introduced; and because of transgression, the chosen people were finally scattered from the Land of Promise. This history Satan is striving to repeat in our day. God is leading His people out from the abominations of the world, that they may keep His law; and because of this, the rage of "the accuser of our brethren" knows no bounds. "The devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." Revelation 12:10, 12. The antitypical land of promise is just before us, and Satan is determined to destroy the people of God and cut them off from their inheritance. The admonition, "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation" (Mark 14:38), was never more needed than now.

Satan var fast besluttet på at beholde magten i Kanaans land, og da Israels børn tog det i besiddelse, og Guds lov blev Kanaans lov, lod han sit frygtelige og brændende had gå ud over Israel og besluttede at tilintetgøre dem. Satan lod sine onde ånder tilskynde Israel til at dyrke fremmede guder, og på grund af israelitternes lovløse adfærd fordrev Herren til sidst det udvalgte folk fra det forjættede land. Satan bestræber sig på at få historien til at gentage sig. Gud leder sit folk bort fra verdens ondskab for at give dem mulighed for at holde hans lov, men dette får "vore brødres anklager" til at skumme over af vrede. "Djævelen er kommet ned til jer; hans harme er stor, fordi han ved, hans tid er kort." Åb. 12, 10. og 12. Vi står lige ved grænsen til det modbilledlige forjættede land, og Satan er fast besluttet på at tilintetgøre Guds folk og berøve dem deres arv. Opfordringen: "Våg og bed, for at I ikke skal falde i fristelse," har aldrig været så påkrævet som nu. (Mark. 14, 38.)