The hope of salvation through Christ led fallen man to be exceedingly faithful in the matter of sacrifices. Satan watched with intense interest every circumstance connected with these sacrificial ceremonies, and soon learned that they typified a future atonement for the human race. This caused him great uneasiness, as it threatened to frustrate his cherished plan of gaining dominion over the whole world and its inhabitants. But, instead of desponding under his discouragements, he redoubled his efforts to accomplish his purpose, and the ages were marked with his hellish triumphs. Indulgence of appetite and passion, war, intoxication, and crime spread over the earth as its inhabitants increased. God destroyed the people with the waters of a great flood, and rained fire and death upon the wicked cities; but the great adversary was still free to pursue his scheme of demoralization. {2SP 86.1}

Håbet om frelse gennem Kristus ledte det faldne menneske til at vise stor omhu og nøjagtighed i alt, som angik ofringerne. Satan iagttog med dyb interesse alt, som stod i forbindelse med disse ofringer, og forstod snart, at de afbildede en tilkommende forløsning for menneskeslægten. Dette voldte ham stor uro, eftersom det truede med at omstyrte hans yndlingsplan, at herske over verden og dens beboere. Men i stedet for at blive tvivlrådig og modløs, fordoblede han sine anstrengelser for at udføre sin hensigt, og helvede triumferede gennem tiderne. Eftersom menneskene formerede sig, (87) tiltog overdådighed, umoral, drukkenskab, krig og forbrydelser på jorden. Gud ødelagde menneskene ved syndfloden og lod regne ild og svovl over de ugudelige stæder, så at de omkom; men den store modstander vedblev alligevel at fordærve menneskene.