Under God, Adam was to stand at the head of the earthly family, to maintain the principles of the heavenly family. This would have brought peace and happiness. But the law that none “liveth to himself” (Romans 14:7), Satan was determined to oppose. He desired to live for self. He sought to make himself a center of influence. It was this that had incited rebellion in heaven, and it was man’s acceptance of this principle that brought sin on earth. When Adam sinned, man broke away from the heaven-ordained center. A demon became the central power in the world. Where God’s throne should have been, Satan placed his throne. The world laid its homage, as a willing offering, at the feet of the enemy. {CT 33.1}

Under Gud skulle Adam stå ved den jordiske families hoved, og fastholde den himmelske families principper. Dette ville have bragt fred og lykke. Men loven at ingen »lever for sig selv« (Rom 14,7), var Satan opsat på at modsætte sig. Han ønskede at leve for sig selv. Han søgte at gøre sig selv til et center for indflydelse. Det var dette, som hade ansporet oprøret i himlen, og det var menneskets accept af denne princip der bragte synd på jorden. Da Adam syndede, og brød mennesket ud af det himmelsk -forordnede center. En dæmon blev til den centrale magt i verden. Hvor Guds trone skulle have været, satte Satan sin trone. Verden gav sin hyldest, som et villigt offer, for fjendens fødder.