As Satan accused Joshua and his people, so in all ages he accuses those who are seeking the mercy and favor of God. In the Revelation he is declared to be the “accuser of our brethren,” “which accused them before our God day and night.” The controversy is repeated over every soul that is rescued from the power of evil and whose name is registered in the Lamb’s book of life. Never is one received from the family of Satan into the family of God without exciting the determined resistance of the wicked one. Satan’s accusations against those who seek the Lord are not prompted by displeasure at their sins. He exults in their defective characters. Only through their transgression of God’s law can he obtain power over them. His accusations arise solely from his enmity to Christ. Through the plan of salvation, Jesus is breaking Satan’s hold upon the human family and rescuing souls from his power. All the hatred and malignity of the archrebel is stirred as he beholds the evidence of Christ’s supremacy, and with fiendish power and cunning he works to wrest from Him the remnant of the children of men who have accepted His salvation. {5T 470.1}

Ligesom Satan anklagede Josua og hans folk, således anklager han i alle tidsaldre dem, der søger Guds nåde og velbehag. I Åbenbaringens bog siges han at være »brødrenes anklager«, som anklager dem »for vor Gud dag og nat«. Striden gentager sig for hver sjæl, som udfries fra det ondes magt og hvis navn indskrives i Lammets livsens bog. Aldrig går nogen over fra Satans familie til Guds familie, uden at det vækker afgjort modstand fra den onde. Satans anklager mod dem, der søger Herren, skyldes ikke mishag til deres synder. Han fryder sig over deres mangelfulde karakter. Alene ved deres overtrædelse af Guds lov kan han få magt over dem. Hans anklager skyldes udelukkende hans fjendskab mod Kristus. Ved frelsesplanen bryder Kristus Satans magt over menneskeslægten og befrier sjæle fra hans vold. Ærkeforførerens hele had og ondskab vækkes, når han ser det synlige bevis på Kristi overmagt og med djævelsk list og styrke arbejder han for at fravriste ham den levning blandt menneskenes børn, som har taget imod hans frelse.