Satan’s Personations
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Satan's Personations "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."--TM 62. {TA
268.4} "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. Notwithstanding this, so well will he counterfeit
righteousness, that if it were possible, he would deceive the very elect. Crowned heads, presidents, rulers in high places,
will bow to his false theories."--RH Aug. 17, 1897. {TA 269.1} "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."--9T 16. {TA 269.2} 270. "Satan is
preparing his deceptions that in his last campaign against the people of God,
they may not understand that it is he. "And no
marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." . . .
Satan will go to the extent of his power to harass, tempt, and mislead God's
people."--RH May 13, 1862. {TA 270.1} "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."--RH Dec. 18, 1888. {TA 270.2} "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."--RH April 3, 1888. {TA
270.3} "In the last
days he [Satan] 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 . . . are seeking to resist the truth."--5T 698. {TA 270.4} Chap. 11. - Satan's Last Day Deceptions Under the Garb of Christianity We are approaching the end of this
earth's history, and Satan is working as never before. He is striving to act
as director of the Christian world. With an intensity that is marvelous he is working with his lying wonders. Satan is
represented as walking about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
He desires to embrace the whole world in his confederacy. Hiding his
deformity under the garb of Christianity, he assumes the attributes of a
Christian, and claims to be Christ Himself.--8MR 346 (1901). {LDE 155.1} The Word of God declares that when it
suits the enemy's purpose, he will through his agencies manifest so great a
power under a pretense of Christianity that,
"if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect" [Matt.
24:24].--Ms 125, 1901. {LDE 155.2} As the spirits will profess faith in the
Bible and manifest respect for the institutions of the church,
156 their work will be accepted as a manifestation of divine
power.--GC 588 (1911). {LDE 155.3} The strongest bulwark of vice in our
world is not the iniquitous life of the abandoned sinner or the degraded
outcast; it is that life which otherwise appears virtuous, honorable, and noble, but in which one sin is fostered,
one vice indulged. . . . Genius, talent, sympathy, even generous and kindly
deeds, may thus become decoys of Satan to entice souls over the precipice of
ruin.--Ed 150 (1903). {LDE 156.1}
Even in the Adventist Church We have far more to fear from within
than from without. The hindrances to strength and success are far greater
from the church itself than from the world. Unbelievers have a right to
expect that those who profess to be keeping the commandments of God and the
faith of Jesus, will do more than any other class to
promote and honor, by their consistent lives, by
their godly example and their active influence, the cause which they
represent. But how often have the professed advocates of the truth proved the
greatest obstacle to its advancement! The unbelief indulged, the doubts
expressed, the darkness cherished, encourage the presence of evil angels, and
open the way for the accomplishment of Satan's devices.--1SM 122 (1887). {LDE
156.2} Lying Spirits Contradict the
Scriptures The saints must get a thorough
understanding of present truth, which they will be obliged to maintain
157 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.--EW 87 (1854). {LDE 156.3} The apostles, as personated by these
lying spirits, are made to contradict what they wrote at the dictation of the
Holy Spirit when on earth. They deny the divine origin of the Bible.--GC 557
(1911). {LDE 157.1} Through the two great errors, the
immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people
under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of spiritualism,
the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome.--GC 588 (1911). {LDE 157.2} 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. . . . {LDE 157.3} But the people of God will not be
misled. The teachings of this false christ are not
in accordance with the Scriptures. His blessing is pronounced upon the
worshipers of the beast and his image, the very class upon whom the Bible
declares that God's unmingled wrath shall be poured out.--GC 624, 625 (1911).
{LDE 157.4} False Revivals I saw that God has honest children among
the nominal Adventists and the fallen churches, and before the plagues shall
be poured out, ministers and people will be called out from these churches
and will gladly receive the truth. Satan knows this; and before the loud cry
of the third angel is given, he raises an excitement in these religious
bodies, that those who have rejected the truth may think that God is with
them.--EW 261 (1858). {LDE 158.1} Before the final visitation of God's
judgments upon the earth there will be among the people of the Lord such a
revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic
times. . . . The enemy of souls desires to hinder this work, and before the
time for such a movement shall come, he will endeavor
to prevent it by introducing a counterfeit. In those churches which he can
bring under his deceptive power, he will make it appear that God's special
blessing is poured out; there will be manifest what is thought to be great
religious interest. . . . {LDE 158.2} There is an emotional excitement, a
mingling of the true with the false, that is well
adapted to mislead. Yet none need be deceived. In the light of God's Word it
is not difficult to determine the nature of these movements. Wherever men
neglect the testimony of the Bible, turning away from those plain,
soul-testing truths which require self-denial and renunciation of the world,
there we may be sure that God's blessing is not bestowed.--GC 464 (1911).
{LDE 158.3} Music Is Made a Snare The things you have described as taking
place in Indiana, [THESE COMMENTS WERE MADE IN CONNECTION WITH THE "HOLY
FLESH" MOVEMENT AT THE INDIANA CAMP MEETING OF 1890. FOR FURTHER
DETAILS, SEE SELECTED MESSAGES, BOOK 2, PP. 31-39.] the Lord has shown me would take place just before the
close of probation. Every uncouth thing will be demonstrated. There will be
shouting, with drums, music, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will
become so confused that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. . . .
{LDE 159.1} A bedlam of noise shocks the senses and
perverts that which if conducted aright might be a blessing. The powers of
satanic agencies blend with the din and noise to have a carnival,
and this is termed the Holy Spirit's working. . . . Those things which have
been in the past will be in the future. Satan will make music a snare by the
way in which it is conducted.--2SM 36, 38 (1900). {LDE 159.2} Let us give no place to strange exercisings, which really take the mind away from the
deep movings of the Holy Spirit. God's work is ever
characterized by calmness and dignity.--2SM 42 (1908). {LDE 159.3}
False Speaking in Tongues Fanaticism, false
excitement, false talking in tongues, and noisy exercises have been
considered gifts which God has placed in the church. Some have been deceived
here. The fruits of all this have not been good. "Ye shall know them by
their fruits." Fanaticism
160 and noise have been considered special evidences of faith.
Some are not satisfied with a meeting unless they have a powerful and happy
time. They work for this and get up an excitement of feeling. But the
influence of such meetings is not beneficial. When the happy flight of
feeling is gone they sink lower than before the meeting because their
happiness did not come from the right source. {LDE 159.4} The most profitable meetings for
spiritual advancement are those which are characterized with solemnity and
deep searching of heart, each seeking to know himself and, earnestly and in
deep humility, seeking to learn of Christ.--1T 412 (1864). {LDE 160.1} Evil Angels Appear as Human Beings 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.--8MR 399 (1903). {LDE 160.2} 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.--3SM 411 (1903).
{LDE 160.3} 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.--2MCP 504, 505 (1909). {LDE 161.1} Personation of the Dead It is not difficult for the evil angels
to represent both saints and sinners who have died, and make these
representations visible to human eyes. These manifestations will be more
frequent, and developments of a more startling character will appear as we
near the close of time.--Ev 604 (1875). {LDE 161.2} It is Satan's most successful and fascinating
delusion--one calculated to take hold of the sympathies of those who have
laid their loved ones in the grave. Evil angels come in the form of those
loved ones and relate incidents connected with their lives, and perform acts
which they performed while living. In this way they lead persons to believe
that their dead friends are angels, hovering over them and communicating with
them. These evil angels, who assume to be the deceased friends, are regarded
with a certain idolatry, and with many their word
has greater weight than the Word of God.--ST Aug. 26, 1889. {LDE 161.3} He [Satan] has power to bring before men
the appearance of their departed friends. The counterfeit
162 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.--GC 552, 560 (1911). {LDE 161.4}
Satan Personates Christ 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.--2SM 96 (1894). {LDE 162.1} If 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?--2SM 394 (1897). {LDE 162.2} Satan will take the field and personate
Christ. He will misrepresent, misapply, and pervert everything he possibly
can.--TM 411 (1898). {LDE 162.3} A power from beneath is working to bring
about the last great scenes in the drama--Satan coming as Christ, and working
with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in those who are binding
themselves together in secret societies.--8T 28 (1904). {LDE 162.4} Satan Resembles Christ in Every Particular 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.--5T 698 (1889). {LDE 163.1} 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!" {LDE 163.2} 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 164 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.--GC 624 (1911). {LDE 163.3} Satan Pretends to Answer the Saints' Prayers Satan sees that he is about to lose his
case. He cannot sweep in the whole world. He makes one last desperate effort
to overcome the faithful by deception. He does this in personating Christ. He
clothes himself with the garments of royalty which have been accurately
described in the vision of John. He has power to do this. He will appear to
his deluded followers, the Christian world who received not the love of the
truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness (transgression of the law), as
Christ coming the second time. {LDE 164.1} 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.". . . {LDE 164.2} 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." {LDE 164.3} There was one object before the praying
ones--the final and eternal salvation of their souls. This object
165 was before them constantly--that immortal life was
promised to those who endure unto the end. Oh, how earnest and fervent had
been their desires. The judgment and eternity were in view. Their eyes by
faith were fixed on the blazing throne, before which the white-robed ones
were to stand. This restrained them from the indulgence of sin. . . . {LDE
164.4} One effort more, and then Satan's last
device is employed. He hears the unceasing cry for Christ to come, for Christ
to deliver them. This last strategy is to personate Christ, and make them
think their prayers are answered.--Ms 16, 1884. {LDE 165.1} How the Counterfeit
Differs From the Genuine Satan is not
permitted to counterfeit the manner of Christ's advent.--GC 625 (1911). {LDE 165.2} 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.--6BC 1106
(1888). {LDE 165.3} Satan is striving to gain every
advantage. . . . Disguised as an angel of light, he 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. Notwithstanding this, so well will he counterfeit righteousness
that, if it were possible, he would deceive the very elect.
Crowned heads, presidents, rulers in high places, will bow to his false
theories.--FE 471, 472 (1897). {LDE 166.1}
Miracles Will Be Performed The sick will be healed before us.
Miracles will be performed in our sight. Are
we prepared for the trial which awaits us when the lying wonders of Satan
shall be more fully exhibited?--1T 302
(1862). {LDE 166.2} Men under the influence of evil spirits
will work miracles. They will make people sick by casting their spell upon
them, and will then remove the spell, leading others to say that those who
were sick have been miraculously healed. This Satan has done again and
again.--2SM 53 (1903). {LDE 166.3} Wonderful scenes, with which Satan will
be closely connected, will soon take place. God's Word declares that Satan
will work miracles. He will make people sick, and then will suddenly remove
from them his satanic power. They will then be regarded as healed.
167 These works of apparent
healing will bring Seventh-day Adventists to the test.--2SM 53 (1904). {LDE
166.4} Satan can, through a species of
deceptions, perform wonders that will appear to be genuine miracles. It was
this he hoped to make a test question with the Israelites at the time of
their deliverance from Egypt.--2SM 52 (1907). {LDE 167.1} Fire From Heaven We must not trust the claims of men.
They may, as Christ represents, profess to work miracles in healing the sick.
Is this marvelous, when just behind them stands the
great deceiver, the miracle worker who will yet bring down fire from heaven
in the sight of men?--2SM 49 (1887). {LDE 167.2} It is the lying wonders of the devil
that will take the world captive, and
he will cause fire to come down from heaven in the sight of men. He is to
work miracles, and this wonderful, miracle-working power is to sweep in the
whole world.--2SM 51 (1890). {LDE 167.3} Satan will come in to deceive if
possible the very elect. He claims to be Christ, and he is coming in,
pretending to be the great medical missionary. He will cause fire to come down from heaven in the sight of men to
prove that he is God.--MM 87, 88 (1903).
{LDE 167.4} It is stated in the Word that the enemy
will work through his agents who have departed from the faith,
168 and they will seemingly work miracles, even to the
bringing down of fire out of heaven in the sight of men.--2SM 54 (1907). {LDE
167.5} "He doeth great wonders, so that he
maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in
the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on
the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do" (Rev.
13:13, 14). No mere impostures are here foretold. Men are deceived by the
miracles which Satan's agents have power to do, not which they pretend to
do.--GC 553 (1911). {LDE 168.1} Satan Will Be
Deified 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].--TM 62 (1893). {LDE 168.2} As the second appearing of our Lord
Jesus Christ draws near, satanic agencies are moved from beneath. Satan will
not only appear as a human being, but
he will personate Jesus Christ, and the world that
169 has rejected the truth will receive him as
the Lord of lords and King of kings.--5BC
1105, 1106 (1900). {LDE 168.3} Miracles Prove Nothing Go to God for yourselves, pray for
divine enlightenment, that you may know that you do know what is truth, that
when the wonderful miracle-working power shall be displayed, and the enemy
shall come as an angel of light, you may distinguish between the genuine work
of God and the imitative work of the powers of darkness.--3SM 389 (1888).
{LDE 169.1} The way in which Christ worked was to
preach the Word, and to relieve suffering by miraculous works of healing. But
I am instructed that we cannot now work in this way, [MIRACLES WILL ACCOMPANY
THE MINISTRY OF GOD'S PEOPLE UNDER THE LOUD CRY (SEE CHAPTER 14), BUT THEY
WILL NOT HAVE THE SIGNIFICANCE THEY DID IN CHRIST'S DAY. THE PERFORMING OF
MIRACLES WILL NO LONGER BE A PROOF OF DIVINE ENDORSEMENT.] for Satan will exercise his power by working miracles. God's servants
today could not work by means of miracles, because spurious works of healing,
claiming to be divine, will be wrought.--2SM
54 (1904). {LDE 169.2} God's
people will not find their safety in working miracles, for Satan will
counterfeit the miracles that will be wrought.--9T
16 (1909). {LDE 169.3}
Miracles Cannot Supersede the Bible If those through whom cures are
performed are disposed, on account of these manifestations, to excuse
170 their neglect of the law of God and continue in
disobedience, though they have power to any and every extent, it does not
follow that they have the great power of God. On the contrary, it is the
miracle-working power of the great deceiver.--2SM 50, 51 (1885). {LDE 169.4} The Bible will never be superseded by
miraculous manifestations. The truth must be studied, it
must be searched for as hidden treasure.
Wonderful illuminations will not be given aside from the Word or to take the
place of it. Cling to the Word, receive the engrafted Word which will make
men wise unto salvation.--2SM 48 (1894). {LDE 170.1} The last great delusion is soon to open
before us. Antichrist is to perform his marvelous
works in our sight. So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it
will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures. By their testimony every statement and every
miracle must be tested.--GC 593 (1911). {LDE 170.2}
The Deception Is Almost Universal There is now need of earnest, working
men and women who will seek for the salvation of souls, for Satan as a
powerful general has taken the field, and in this last remnant of time he is
working through all conceivable methods to close the door against light that
God would have come to His people. He is
sweeping the whole world into his ranks, and
the few who are faithful to God's requirements are the only ones
171 who can ever withstand him, and even
these he is trying to overcome.--3SM 389 (1889). {LDE 170.3} The forms of the dead will appear,
through the cunning device of Satan, and many will link up with the one who loveth and maketh a lie. I warn our people that right among us some will turn
away from the faith and give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of
devils, and by them the truth will be evil spoken of. {LDE 171.1} A marvelous
work shall take place. Ministers, lawyers, doctors, who have permitted these
falsehoods to overmaster their spirit of discernment, will be themselves
deceivers, united with the deceived. A spiritual drunkenness will take
possession of them.--UL 317 (1905). {LDE 171.2} Chap. 281 - Power to Overcome But sanctify the Lord God in
your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with
meekness and fear. 1 Peter 3:15. The times in which we now live call for
whole-souled helpers. The practical character of
the doctrines which we profess will make an impression upon hearts, for
heavenly messengers cooperate with the worker whose faith and works are
combined. He who has a vital connection with Jesus
Christ, will have a testimony to bear as a witness for the Master. "Ye
are my friends," said Christ, "if ye do whatsoever I command
you" (John 15:14). {TDG 289.1} All who in truth are friends of Christ
will do the works of Christ. We are so inclined to bring unsanctified,
unconverted traits of character into our family government and into the
church, and these make our words, our manner, and our spirit, not only an offense
in the home, but also to the church and to the whole heavenly universe. God
calls it a perverse spirit. {TDG 289.2} If all could see how God regards the
selfish, pettish disposition, they would thoroughly despise themselves, and
would make decided efforts to cut away from them every disagreeable action.
The idea that men can unite with the family of God with all their
disagreeable traits of character unchanged in this life is the greatest
deception and delusion. {TDG 289.3} The power to overcome depends, not on
circumstances, not on any man living, however learned he may be, but on the
ever present help which God supplies. The truth is not something to be kept
bottled up for private occasions. If the truth is in the heart the receiver
will reveal that faith that works by love, and purifies the soul. Its abiding
principles in the heart will be manifested at all times and on all occasions.
. . . {TDG 289.4} All our success, all our efficiency, is
in Christ. We must continually look above earthly help, higher than the
greatest human power, higher than the apostles. We must fasten our faith
directly upon Christ Himself. He has declared, "Without me ye can do
nothing" (verse 5). "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch
cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye,
except ye abide in me" (verse 4).--Manuscript 114, Oct. 7, 1897,
"To the Faithful in Christ Jesus." {TDG 289.5} |