He remembered the persistence and malice of Satan, who had boldly contended with the angels in Heaven that his sentence was unjust, maintaining that there was no self-denial with God, and that Satan, in struggling to carry out his purposes and have his own way, was only imitating the example of God. If God followed his own will perfectly and continually, why should not the first sons created in his image do so? By this argument Satan deceived many of the holy angels. He complained continually of God’s severity, just as children sometimes complain of their parents’ severity in restraining them from carrying out plans destructive to the family government. Rather than submit to the will of God he turned from the light of reason, and set himself in opposition to the divine plans. {3SP 77.1}

Han huskede Satans ondskab og hårdnakkethed. Denne havde med frækhed stridt mod himlens engle og påstået, at han blev uretfærdig dømt, og der ikke var nogen selvfornægtelse hos Gud, og at Satan, idet han bestræbte sig for at udføre sine hensigter og gennemføre sine egne beslutninger, blot efterlignede Guds eksempel. Dersom Gud altid alene fulgte sin egen vilje, hvorfor skulle så ikke de første sønner, som blev skabte i hans billede, gøre det samme? Med denne påstand bedragede Satan mange af de hellige engle. Han klagede hele tiden over Guds strenghed, ligesom børn undertiden klager over sin forældres strenghed, når de holder dem tilbage fra at udføre planer, som er skadelige for opdragelse og tugt i familien. Hellere end at underkaste sig Guds vilje vendte han sig bort fra forstandens lys og stred mod de guddommelige planer.