The dragon grew wrathful at the woman, and went off to wage war with the remaining ones of her seed.—Rev. 12:17.
One tactic of Satan is to appeal to sinful human inclinations, improper desires within our own ‘treacherous and desperate’ heart. (Jer. 17:9; Jas. 1:14, 15) Another is “the spirit of the world,” that is, its dominant inclination or motivation, which is in direct opposition to God’s holy spirit. (1 Cor. 2:12) The spirit of the world promotes greed and materialism—“the desire of the eyes.” (1 John 2:16; 1 Tim. 6:9, 10) Even though material things and money are not harmful in themselves, if our love for them supplants our love for God, then Satan has gained a victory. The power, or “authority,” of the world’s spirit lies in its appeal to the sinful flesh, its subtlety, its relentlessness and, like air, its pervasiveness. Do not let the spirit of the world infect your heart!—Eph. 2:2, 3; Prov. 4:23. w06 10/1 2:11, 12
