And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them. Luke 21:8.
Among the deceptions perpetrated by Satan, perhaps the worst of all will be impersonating Jesus. Many of us may say that we will not be deceived, but perhaps we are blind as to the extent of Satan’s power.
The prophets of old were given the power to do great miracles, including that of raising the dead. The disciples not only saw the power of Jesus, but when they receive the Holy Spirit they also resurrected the dead.
However, we currently live in a time of logic, of explanations, of "advanced knowledge". If we had seen the sea split in two, fire descend from heaven or heavenly hosts war against men, perhaps we would have a real knowledge as to the Divine power.
The time is coming when Satan will work miracles right in your sight, claiming that he is Christ; and if your feet are not firmly established upon the truth of God, then you will be led away from your foundation. *1
The last night of this world is coming to an end. Satan will take advantage of this fact and through great signs and wonders; he will make many believe that his power comes from God. His deception will be progressive and will culminate with the personification of Jesus.
Miracles And Healings
He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. Revelation 13:13.
The first phase, which we have seen for years but lately has greatly increased is that of healing.
Persons will arise pretending to be Christ Himself, and claiming the title and worship which belong to the world's Redeemer. They will perform wonderful miracles of healing, and will profess to have revelations from heaven contradicting the testimony of the Scriptures. *2
Impersonation Of Angels
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12.
It is chilling to think that satanic angels will appear in the form of men even in our churches. But so to will heavenly angels who are now all around us.
Evil angels in the form of men will talk with those who know the truth. They will misinterpret and misconstrue the statements of the messengers of God. . . . Have Seventh-day Adventists forgotten the warning given in the sixth chapter of Ephesians? We are engaged in a warfare against the hosts of darkness. Unless we follow our Leader closely, Satan will obtain the victory over us. *2
Evil angels in the form of believers will work in our ranks to bring in a strong spirit of unbelief. Let not even this discourage you, but bring a true heart to the help of the Lord against the powers of satanic agencies. These powers of evil will assemble in our meetings, not to receive a blessing, but to counterwork the influences of the Spirit of God. *2
Satan will use every opportunity to seduce men from their allegiance to God. He and the angels who fell with him will appear on the earth as men, seeking to deceive. God's angels also will appear as men, and will use every means in their power to defeat the purposes of the enemy. *2
Spiritualism
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. 1 Timothy 4:1.
I have written extensively on spiritualism. This is the basis for the last deception.
The saints must get a thorough understanding of present truth, which they will be obliged to maintain from the Scriptures. They must understand the state of the dead, for the spirits of devils will yet appear to them, professing to be beloved friends and relatives, who will declare to them that the Sabbath has been changed, also other unscriptural doctrines. *2He [Satan] has power to bring before men the appearance of their departed friends. The counterfeit is perfect; the familiar look, the words, the tone, are reproduced with marvelous distinctness. . . . Many will be confronted by the spirits of devils personating beloved relatives or friends and declaring the most dangerous heresies. These visitants will appeal to our tenderest sympathies and will work miracles to sustain their pretensions. *2
Can you imagine how terrible this will be?. When a loved one appears, claiming to have descended from heaven to reveal great truths.
But it will all culminate with the greatest deception of all. Jesus has come will be the cry of the world!
Satan An Angel Of Light
And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14.
The enemy is preparing to deceive the whole world by his miracle-working power. He will assume to personate the angels of light, to personate Jesus Christ. *2If men are so easily misled now, how will they stand when Satan shall personate Christ, and work miracles? Who will be unmoved by his misrepresentations then--professing to be Christ when it is only Satan assuming the person of Christ, and apparently working the works of Christ? *2
Satan will take the field and personate Christ. He will misrepresent, misapply, and pervert everything he possibly can. *2
How will his appearance be? With great power. Have we ever seen an angel of light? Have we ever heard a compassionate voice come from a man capable of doing great miracles?
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. *2
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. (Rev. 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!" *2
He proclaims himself Christ, and he is believed to be Christ, a beautiful, majestic being clothed with majesty and, with soft voice and pleasant words, with glory unsurpassed by anything their mortal eyes had yet beheld. Then his deceived, deluded followers set up a shout of victory, "Christ has come the second time! Christ has come! He has lifted up His hands just as He did when He was upon the earth, and blessed us." *2
When will this happen? The servant of the Lord tells us that it will precede the close of probation. Such an event will lead to the invalidation of God’s law God and the fall of Babylon. In other words it can happen at any time!
In this age antichrist will appear as the true Christ, and then the law of God will be fully made void in the nations of our world. Rebellion against God's holy law will be fully ripe. But the true leader of all this rebellion is Satan clothed as an angel of light. Men will be deceived and will exalt him to the place of God, and deify him. But Omnipotence will interpose, and to the apostate churches that unite in the exaltation of Satan, the sentence will go forth, "Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her" [Rev. 18:8]. *2
As convincing as his miracles may seem we should not be deceived. We will have God and his angels surrounding us and His Word in our hearts.
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 24:24.
The saints look on with amazement. Will they also be deceived? Will they worship Satan? Angels of God are about them. A clear, firm, musical voice is heard, "Look up." *2
It is impossible to give any idea of the experience of the people of God who shall be alive upon the earth when celestial glory and a repetition of the persecutions of the past are blended. They will walk in the light proceeding from the throne of God. By means of the angels there will be constant communication between heaven and earth. And Satan, surrounded by evil angels, and claiming to be God, will work miracles of all kinds, to deceive, if possible, the very elect. God's people will not find their safety in working miracles, for Satan will counterfeit the miracles that will be wrought. God's tried and tested people will find their power in the sign spoken of in Exodus 31:12-18. They are to take their stand on the living word: "It is written." This is the only foundation upon which they can stand securely. *3
How to know when such miracles and wonders have a satanic source?
To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20.
Disguised as an angel of light, he [Satan] will walk the earth as a wonder-worker. In beautiful language he will present lofty sentiments. Good words will be spoken by him, and good deeds performed. Christ will be personified, but on one point there will be a marked distinction. Satan will turn the people from the law of God. *3
But even with the power Satan has, he is a created being and will never have the same power as God. The four angels holding the winds are a restraint that God places on the forces of evil. They are never allowed to go beyond what God permits.
There is a limit beyond which Satan cannot go, and here he calls deception to his aid and counterfeits the work which he has not power actually to perform. In the last days he will appear in such a manner as to make men believe him to be Christ come the second time into the world. He will indeed transform himself into an angel of light. But while he will bear the appearance of Christ in every particular, so far as mere appearance goes, it will deceive none but those who, like Pharaoh, are seeking to resist the truth. *2
Satan is determined to keep up the warfare to the end. Coming as an angel of light, claiming to be the Christ, he will deceive the world. But his triumph will be short. No storm or tempest can move those whose feet are planted on the principles of eternal truth. They will be able to stand in this time of almost universal apostasy. *1
Above all, there will be something which Satan can never do!
“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” Luke 21:25-28.
Satan . . . will come personating Jesus Christ, working mighty miracles; and men will fall down and worship him as Jesus Christ. We shall be commanded to worship this being, whom the world will glorify as Christ. What shall we do? Tell them that Christ has warned us against just such a foe, who is man's worst enemy, yet who claims to be God, and that when Christ shall make His appearance it will be with power and great glory, accompanied by ten thousand times ten thousand angels and thousands of thousands, and that when He shall come we shall know His voice. *2
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him... Revelation 1:7.
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17.
The Lord will come in clouds with great power and glory. An indescribable glory, which every eye will see. We will know his voice, a commanding voice, a voice of the archangel and trumpet. Furthermore, His powerful voice will pierce Hades and death. The dead in Christ shall rise. How extraordinary, the last night of this world will end, and the glorious, eternal morning will come!
JESUS IS COMING, SOON, AMEN, YES, COME LORD JESUS!
1 * Maranatha, "198. Satan Personates Christ II", Ellen g. White
2 * Last Day Events, 11. Satan’s Last Day Deceptions”, Elena. G. White
3 * Maranatha, "197. Satan Personates Christ I", Ellen g. White
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