A most forcible and impressive illustration of the work of Satan and the work of Christ, and the power of our Mediator to vanquish the accuser of His people, is given in the prophecy of Zechariah. In holy vision the prophet beholds Joshua the high priest, “clothed with filthy garments,” standing before the Angel of the Lord, entreating the mercy of God in behalf of his people who are in deep affliction. Satan stands at his right hand to resist him. Because Israel had been chosen to preserve the knowledge of God in the earth, they had been, from their first existence as a nation, the special objects of Satan’s enmity, and he had determined to cause their destruction. He could do them no harm while they were obedient to God; therefore he had bent all his power and cunning to enticing them into sin. Ensnared by his temptations they had transgressed the law of God and thus separated from the Source of their strength, and had been left to become the prey of their heathen enemies. They were carried into captivity to Babylon, and there remained for many years. Yet they were not forsaken of the Lord. His prophets were sent to them with reproofs and warnings. The people were awakened to see their guilt, they humbled themselves before God, and returned to Him with true repentance. Then the Lord sent them messages of encouragement, declaring that He would deliver them from their captivity and restore them to His favor. It was this that Satan was determined to prevent. A remnant of Israel had already returned to their own land, and Satan was seeking to move upon the heathen nations, who were his agents, to utterly destroy them. {5T 467.3}

En i højeste grad gribende og indtryksfuld fremstilling af Satans gerning og Kristi gerning og af vor guddommelige Midlers magt (468) til at overvinde sit folks anklager findes i Zakarias's profeti. I et helligt syn ser profeten ypperstepræsten Josua, iført »snavsede klæder«, stående foran Herrens engel i bøn om Guds barmhjertighed mod hans folk, som er i stor nød. Satan er ved hans højre side for at stå ham imod. Fordi Israel var blevet udvalgt til at bevare kundskaben om Gud på jorden, havde de lige siden deres første begyndelse som en nation i særlig grad været genstand for Satans fjendskab og han havde besluttet at afstedkomme deres ødelæggelse. Så længe de var lydige mod Gud, kunne han ikke gøre dem nogen skade; derfor havde han brugt al sin magt og list for at forlede dem til synd. Besnærede af hans fristelser havde de overtrådt Guds lov og således skilt sig fra kilden til deres styrke og var blevet overladt som et bytte for deres hedenske fjender. De blev ført til Babylon i fangenskab og opholdt sig der i mange år. Dog forlod Herren dem ikke. Hans profetier blev sendt til dem med irettesættelser og advarsler. Folket vågnede op og indså deres syndeskyld, ydmygede sig for Gud og vendte sig til ham i bodfærdighed. Da sendte Herren dem budskaber med opmuntring og erklærede, at han ville udfri dem af fangenskabet og tage dem til nåde igen. Det var dette, Satan var bestemt på at forhindre. En levning af Israel var allerede vendt tilbage til deres eget land og Satan søgte at bevæge hedenske nationer, som var hans redskaber, til at ødelægge dem fuldstændigt.