The people of God have been in many respects very faulty. Satan has an accurate knowledge of the sins which he has tempted them to commit, and he presents these in the most exaggerated light, declaring: “Will God banish me and my angels from His presence, and yet reward those who have been guilty of the same sins? Thou canst not do this, O Lord, in justice. Thy throne will not stand in righteousness and judgment. Justice demands that sentence be pronounced against them.” {5T 474.1}

Guds folk har i mange henseender været meget fejlende. Satan har nøje kendskab til de synder, han har fristet dem til at begå og disse fremstiller han i det mest overdrevne lys og siger: "Vil Gud bandlyse mig og mine engle fra sit åsyn og dog belønne dem, der har gjort sig skyldige i de samme synder? Dette kan du, oh Herre, ikke gøre med retvished. Din trone vil ikke stå i retfærdighed og dom. Retfærdigheden kræver, at der afsiges dom over dem."