What was Satan's original quest in heaven? Ezek. 28:11-17; Isa. 14:12-14.
"Little by little Lucifer came to indulge the desire for self-exaltation. . . . Not content with his position, though honored above the heavenly host, he ventured to covet homage due alone to the Creator. . . . And coveting the glory with which the infinite Father had invested His Son, this prince of angels aspired to power that was the prerogative of Christ alone."-Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 35.
Who are the central figures in the great controversy? Rev. 12:7-11. What will Satan dare to do in the end time? 2 Cor. 11:14.
Michael is the name given to Christ. (Compare Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9.) Revelation 12 gives a brief overview of the great controversy in four different battles, in which Christ and Satan are the principal contestants.
"As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Saviour's advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. Revelation 1:13-15. The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air: 'Christ has come! Christ has come!' The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His disciples when He was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Saviour uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion."-The Great Controversy, p. 624.