"perfect. Satan had made it appear that he himself was seeking to promote the good of the universe. The true character of the usurper and his real object must be understood by all. He must have time to manifest himself by his wicked works. PP 42.1"
"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."
Both passages address Satan's deceptive nature and his attempts to appear benevolent. The EGW passage expands on the idea of Satan's false pretense, which is thematically linked to the concept of Satan transforming into an angel of light.
"The discord which his own course had caused in heaven, Satan charged upon the government of God. All evil he declared to be the result of the divine administration. He claimed that it was his own object to improve upon the statutes of Jehovah. Therefore God permitted him to demonstrate the nature of his claims, to show the working out of his proposed changes in the divine law. His own work must condemn him. Satan had claimed from the first that he was not in rebellion. The whole universe must see the deceiver unmasked. PP 42.2"
"For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
The EGW passage elaborates on Satan's accusation that God's government is flawed and his claim to improve upon it. This aligns with the serpent's temptation in Genesis 3:5, where he suggests that eating the fruit will make humans like God, implying a deficiency in God's current plan.
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
The EGW passage describes Satan's deception and accusations against God, which aligns with Revelation 12:9's description of Satan as the deceiver of the whole world. The passage amplifies the theme of Satan's deceptive nature and his role in opposing God's government.
"Even when he was cast out of heaven, Infinite Wisdom did not destroy Satan. Since only the service of love can be acceptable to God, the allegiance of His creatures must rest upon a conviction of His justice and benevolence. The inhabitants of heaven and of the worlds, being unprepared to comprehend the nature or consequences of sin, could not then have seen the justice of God in the destruction of Satan. Had he been immediately blotted out of existence, some would have served God from fear rather than from love. The influence of the deceiver would not have been fully destroyed, nor would the spirit of rebellion have been utterly eradicated. For the good of the entire universe through ceaseless ages, he must more fully develop his principles, that his charges against the divine government might be seen in their true light by all created beings, and that the justice and mercy of God and the immutability of His law might be forever placed beyond all question. PP 42.3"
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."
The EGW passage discusses God's allowing Satan to continue to exist so that the universe can understand the consequences of sin and serve God out of love, not fear. This aligns with the principle in 1 John 4:18 that perfect love casts out fear. The EGW passage expands on the idea that true allegiance to God must be based on love and understanding, not coercion.
"Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"
The EGW passage speaks of God's forbearance in not destroying Satan immediately, allowing his principles to be fully developed. This echoes the theme of God's goodness and longsuffering leading to repentance, as described in Romans 2:4. Both passages highlight God's patience and the purpose behind it.