The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 532

Chap. 33 - The First Great Deception
With the earliest history of man, Satan began his efforts to deceive
our race. He who had incited rebellion in heaven desired to bring
the inhabitants of the earth to unite with him in his warfare against
the government of God. Adam and Eve had been perfectly happy in
obedience to the law of God, and this fact was a constant testimony
against the claim which Satan had urged in heaven, that God’s law was
oppressive and opposed to the good of His creatures. And furthermore,
Satan’s envy was excited as he looked upon the beautiful home prepared
for the sinless pair. He determined to cause their fall, that, having
separated them from God and brought them under his own power, he
might gain possession of the earth and here establish his kingdom in
opposition to the Most High.
Had Satan revealed himself in his real character, he would have
been repulsed at once, for Adam and Eve had been warned against this
dangerous foe; but he worked in the dark, concealing his purpose, that he
might more effectually accomplish his object. Employing as his medium
the serpent, then a creature of fascinating appearance, he addressed
himself to Eve: “Hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the
garden?” Genesis 3:1. Had Eve refrained from entering into argument
with the tempter, she would have been safe; but she ventured to parley
with him and fell a victim to his

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