If professed Christians were all sincere and earnest in their efforts to promote the glory of God, what a stir would be made in the enemy’s ranks. Satan is earnest and sincere in his work. He does not want souls saved. He does not want his power upon them broken. Satan does not merely pretend. He is in earnest. He beholds Christ inviting souls to come to Him that they may have life, and he is earnest and zealous in his efforts to prevent them from accepting the invitation. He will leave no means untried to prevent them from leaving his ranks and standing in the ranks of Christ. Why cannot the professed followers of Jesus do as much for Him as His enemies do against Him? Why not do all they can? Satan does all he can to keep souls from Christ. He was once an honored angel in heaven, and although he has lost his holiness, he has not lost his power. He exerts his power with terrible effect. He does not wait for his prey to come to him. He hunts for it. He goes to and fro in the earth like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. He does not always wear the ferocious look of the lion, but when he can work to better effect he transforms himself into an angel of light. He can readily exchange the roar of the lion for the most persuasive arguments or for the softest whisper. He has legions of angels to aid him in his work. He often conceals his snares, and allures by pleasing deception. He charms and deludes many by flattering their vanity. Through his agents he presents the pleasures of the world in an attractive light, and strews the path to hell with tempting flowers, and thus souls are charmed and ruined. After every advance step in the downward road, Satan has some special temptation to lead them still further on the wrong track. {2T 286.3}

Hvis alle bekendende kristne var oprigtige og alvorlige i deres bestræbelser på at virke for Guds ære, hvilket oprør vil da ikke blive iblandt fjendens rækker. Han ønsker ikke at sjæle skal frelses. Han ønsker ikke at hans magt (287) over dem skal brydes. Satan leger ikke bare. For ham er det alvor. Han ser Kristi indbudte sjæle komme til ham så de kan få liv og han er alvorlig og nidkær i hans bestræbelse på at forhindre dem i at tage imod invitationen. Han vil ikke lade nogen midler være uprøvede for at forhindre dem i at forlade hans rækker og stå i Kristi rækker. Hvorfor kan Jesu bekendende efterfølgere ikke gøre så meget for ham som hans fjender gør imod ham? Hvorfor gør de ikke alt hvad de kan? Satan gør alt hvad han kan for at holde sjæle fra Kristus. Han var tidligere en æret engel i Himlen og selvom han har mistet sin hellighed, har han ikke mistet sin magt. Han udøver sin magt med en frygtelig effekt. Han venter ikke på at hans bytte skal komme til ham. Han jager efter det. Han går frem og tilbage på jorden som en brølende løve og søger hvem han kan sluge. Han har ikke altid en løves glubske udseende, men når han skal arbejde har det en bedre virkning at han er forvandlet til en lysets engel. Han kan hurtigt skifte løvens brøl til de mest overbevisende argumenter eller til den svageste hvisken. Han har legioner af engle til hjælp i sit arbejde. Han skjuler ofte sine snarer og lokker ved tiltrækkende bedrag. Han fortryller og vildleder mange ved at smigere deres forfængelighed. Gennem sine agenter fremstiller han verdens glæder i et tiltrækkende lys og bestrøer stien til helvede med forlokkende blomster og således fortrylles og ødelægges sjæle. Efter hvert skridt fremad på den nedadgående vej, har Satan nogle særlige fristelser der leder dem endnu mere ind på det forkerte spor.