Many of Satan’s sympathizers were inclined to heed the counsel of the loyal angels, and repent of their dissatisfaction, and be again received to the confidence of the Father and his dear Son. The mighty revolter then declared that he was acquainted with God’s law, and if he should submit to servile obedience, his honor would be taken from him. No more would he be intrusted with his exalted mission. He told them that himself and they also had now gone too far to go back, and he would brave the consequences; for to bow in servile worship to the Son of God he never would; that God would not forgive, and now they must assert their liberty and gain by force the position and authority which was not willingly accorded to them. {1SP 20.2}

Mange af djævelens deltagere var tilbøjelige til at følge de gode engles råd, angre (21) deres misfornøjelse, og atter få Faderens og hans kære Søns tiltro. Da erklærede den mægtige oprør at han var bekendt med Guds lov, og om han end underkastede sig slavisk lydighed, så ville hans ære blive taget fra ham. Han ville aldrig mere blive betroet sin ophøjede tjeneste. Han fortalte dem at både han selv og de havde allerede gået for langt til at vende tilbage, og han ville trodse følgerne; thi han ville aldrig bøje sig for Guds Søn i slavisk tilbedelse; at Gud ville ikke tilgive dem, og nu må de kræve deres frihed og tilegne sig den stilling og autoritet med magt, som ikke godvilligt blev overdraget.