My Vision on Satan's Counterfeit of the Loud
Cry
"Notwithstanding the widespread declension of faith and
piety, there are true followers of Christ in
these churches. 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 Spirit
and power of God will be
poured out upon His children.
At that time many will separate themselves from those churches
in which the love of this
world has supplanted love for God and His word. Many, both of ministers
and people, will gladly accept
those great truths which God has caused to be
proclaimed at this time to prepare a people for the Lord’s second
coming. 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. Multitudes will exult that
God is working marvelously for them, when the work is that
of another spirit. Under a religious
guise, Satan will seek to extend his influence over the Christian world."
{GC 464.1}
27th
September, 2019
28th
September, 2019 – Added on 15th November, 2019
Satan's Counterfeit of
Righteousness by Faith
Satan's
Counterfeit of the Law of God
Satan's
Counterfeit of Faith – Presumption
What Happens
After Sunday Law Legislation?
Satan's
Counterfeit of the Second Coming [Last Update, 22th November, 2019]
On 27th
September, 2019, God gave me a vision on Satan's counterfeit of the loud cry of
the third angel. As I was watching video below, the word of the Lord come to me
explaining what my eyes beheld. It was shown to me that people of God did not
notice, they did not recognize, what is happening right in front of our eyes –
a counterfeit being introduced. This should show us how utterly and completely
we are dependent upon God's Holy Spirit and His guidance.
I was
told this should motivate and arouse us to pray more fervently and search our
Bibles as never before. We are to make full surrender at the feet of Jesus, and
ask our Lord and Saviour to anoint us with eyesalve
so we may have true spiritual discernment.
"No
man is safe for a day or an hour without prayer. Especially should we entreat
the Lord for wisdom to understand His word. Here
are revealed the wiles of the tempter and the means by which he may be
successfully resisted. Satan is an expert in quoting Scripture,
placing his own interpretation upon passages, by which he hopes to cause us to
stumble. We should study
the Bible with humility of heart, never losing sight of our dependence upon God.
While we must constantly guard against the devices of Satan, we should pray in
faith continually: 'Lead us not into temptation.'" {GC 530.2}
Satan
has his reasons why he is trying to remain unnoticed and hidden:
"While
men are ignorant of his devices, this vigilant foe is upon their track every
moment. He is intruding his presence in every department of the
household, in every street of our cities, in the churches, in the national
councils, in the courts of justice, perplexing, deceiving, seducing, everywhere
ruining the souls and bodies of men, women, and children, breaking up families,
sowing hatred, emulation, strife, sedition, murder. And the Christian world
seem to regard these things as though God had appointed them and they must
exist. {GC 508.1}
"None
are in greater danger from the influence of evil spirits than those who,
notwithstanding the direct and ample testimony of the Scriptures, deny the
existence and agency of the devil and his angels. So long as we are
ignorant of their wiles, they have almost inconceivable advantage; many
give heed to their suggestions while they suppose themselves to be following
the dictates of their own wisdom. This is why, as we approach the close of time,
when Satan is to work with greatest power to deceive and destroy, he spreads
everywhere the belief that he does not exist. It is his policy to conceal
himself and his manner of working." {GC 516.2}
"Satan
is well aware that the
weakest soul who abides in Christ is more than a match for the hosts of
darkness, and that,
should he reveal himself openly, he would be met and resisted.
Therefore he seeks to draw away the soldiers of the
cross from their strong fortification, while he lies in ambush with his forces,
ready to destroy all who venture upon his ground. Only in humble reliance
upon God, and obedience to all His commandments, can we be secure. {GC
530.1}
"The
followers of Christ know little of the plots which Satan and his hosts are
forming against them. But He who sitteth in the heavens will overrule
all these devices for the accomplishment of His deep designs. The Lord permits
His people to be subjected to the fiery ordeal of temptation, not because He
takes pleasure in their distress and affliction, but because this process is
essential to their final victory. He could not, consistently with His own
glory, shield them from temptation; for the very object of the trial is to
prepare them to resist all the allurements of evil. {GC 528.3}
"There is nothing that the great
deceiver fears so much as that we shall become acquainted with his devices.
The better to disguise his real character and purposes, he has caused himself
to be so represented as to excite no stronger emotion than ridicule or
contempt. He is well pleased to be painted as a ludicrous or loathsome object,
misshapen, half animal and half human. He is pleased to hear his name used in
sport and mockery by those who think themselves intelligent and well
informed." {GC 516.3}
The
words of Jesus were stressed to me again and again: "FOR WITHOUT ME YE CAN DO NOTHING,"
John 15:5.
We may
not know much of Satan's plots, but we have a mighty deliverer. Nothing escapes
His gaze. Thank you, thank you, thank you Lord Jesus for this important
revelation. His divine grace is poured on us here to allow us to see things
hidden from our sight. All praise and glory be to God for He exposed Satan's
devices so we may resist the evil. I was shown this verse is precise
description of God's people:
[Isa 1:9
KJV] Except the LORD of hosts had
left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, [and] we
should have been like unto Gomorrah.
The Lord
our righteousness!
This
counterpart and counterfeit is garbed in this cry of
climate change movement, for Sunday sacredness is hidden deep beneath the
surface of this, so called, movement for better future, when in actuality it is
a form of fanaticism as was never before seen. This cry is going to increase
more and more as we are coming closer and closer to the second coming of Jesus
Christ on the clouds of heaven.
If a man
knows of the requirements of God's holy law and is familiar with the blessing
and sanctity placed by God upon the seventh day, Saturday, and still decides to
keep Sunday holy, he will place himself under Satan's dominion. He then
receives the Mark of the Beast upon his forehead or his hand. This, my friend,
means eternal separation from life – eternal death. Importance of this
subject must be stressed; people of God must inform others to the seriousness
of this decision.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vAdYJnnktU
Laudato
si, encyclical of Pope Francis, is proposing a Green
New Deal (day of rest) as a solution to every problem. Encyclical is proposing
implementation of Sunday observance, Green Sabbath, to all leaders and nations
of the world. This proposed Sunday sacredness will be legislated and enforced,
first in U.S.A. and then by other countries.
This
vision was given to inform us of the deceptions that will soon spread like fire
among the people. It was given also to give understanding to God's people
showing us the signs of the times; where we are in the prophetic chain of
truth. Since Satan is introducing his counterfeit of the loud cry of the third
angel, we must know that the true loud cry of the third angel is not far
behind.
Satan's
counterfeit of the loud cry will have it's climax at
the legislation of the National Sunday Law. Until it reaches that point, it
will be louder and louder, completely mimicking the loud cry of the third angel
soon to follow after. We were warned by Holy Spirit gift to the church:
"Notwithstanding
the widespread declension of faith and piety, there are true followers of
Christ in these churches. 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 Spirit
and power of God will be poured out upon His children. At that time
many will separate themselves from those churches in which the love of this
world has supplanted love for God and His word. Many, both of ministers and
people, will gladly accept those great truths which God has caused to be
proclaimed at this time to prepare a people for the Lord’s second coming. 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. Multitudes will exult that God is
working marvelously for them, when the work is that
of another spirit. Under a religious guise, Satan will seek to extend his
influence over the Christian world." {GC 464.1}
"In
many of the revivals which have occurred during the last half century, the same
influences have been at work, to a greater or less degree, that will be
manifest in the more extensive movements of the future. 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. And by the rule
which Christ Himself has given, “Ye shall know them by their fruits” (Matthew
7:16), it is evident that these
movements are not the work of the Spirit of God." {GC
464.2}
"In
the truths of His word,
God has given to men a revelation of Himself; and to all who accept them they are a shield against the deceptions
of Satan. It is a neglect of these truths that has opened the
door to the evils which are now becoming so widespread in the religious world. The
nature and the importance of the law of God have been, to a great extent, lost
sight of. A wrong conception of the character, the perpetuity, and the
obligation of the divine law has led to errors in relation to conversion and
sanctification, and has resulted in lowering the standard of piety in the
church. Here is to be found the secret of the lack of the Spirit and power of
God in the revivals of our time." {GC 465.1}
Through
this counterfeit Evil One will create excitement in ALL APOSTATE CHRISTIAN
CHURCHES, INCLUDING NOMINAL SDA CHURCHES. It will appear God's special blessing
is poured out, which will lead nominal Christians to believe they are partaking
in the anointing of the Holy Ghost. By their neglect of Bible truths, reliance
on sentiments and feelings, and mingling truth with error, it will be evident
that they are not under the power of God, but under the power of Evil One.
Ellen White warned us that this is exactly how fanaticism manifests. Because
people reject Word of God, they will give themselves up to the control of their
own feelings, impressions, and imaginations.
Fanaticism
– what is it and how does it manifest?
Since this
counterfeit Loud Cry movement is a form of fanaticism, I asked the Lord what
this fanaticism is and how will we be able to detect it. This is what I was
shown:
"But Satan was not
idle. He now
attempted what he has attempted in
every other reformatory movement—to deceive and destroy
the people by palming off
upon them a counterfeit in place of the
true work. As there were false
Christs in the first century
of the Christian church, so there
arose false prophets in the
sixteenth century."
{GC 186.1}
"A few men, deeply affected by the excitement
in the religious
world, imagined themselves to have received special revelations from Heaven, and claimed
to have been divinely commissioned to carry forward to its completion the Reformation which, they declared,
had been but feebly begun by Luther. In truth, they were
undoing the very work which
he had accomplished. They rejected
the great principle which was the very foundation
of the Reformation—that the word of
God is the all-sufficient rule of faith and
practice; and
for that unerring guide they substituted
the changeable, uncertain standard of their own feelings
and impressions. By this
act of setting
aside the great detector of error and
falsehood the way was opened
for Satan to control minds
as best pleased himself." {GC 186.2}
"One of these prophets claimed to have been instructed
by the angel
Gabriel. A student who united
with him forsook his studies,
declaring that he had been endowed by
God Himself with wisdom to expound His word. Others who were naturally
inclined to fanaticism united
with them. The proceedings of these enthusiasts
created no little excitement. The preaching of Luther had aroused the people
everywhere to feel the necessity of
reform, and now some really honest persons were misled by
the pretensions of the new
prophets." {GC 186.3}
"The fruit of the
new teaching soon became apparent. The people were led to neglect the Bible
or to cast it wholly aside. The schools were thrown
into confusion. Students, spurning all restraint, abandoned their studies and withdrew
from the university. The men who thought
themselves competent to revive and control
the work of the Reformation
succeeded only in bringing it
to the verge of ruin. The
Romanists now regained their confidence and exclaimed exultingly: 'One last struggle, and all will
be ours.'"—Ibid., b.
9, ch. 7. {GC 187.3}
"The fanaticism was checked for a time; but several years later it
broke out with greater violence
and more terrible results. Said Luther, concerning
the leaders in this movement:
'To them the Holy Scriptures
were but a dead letter, and they
all began to cry, ‘The Spirit!
the Spirit!’' But most assuredly I will not follow where
their spirit leads them..."—Ibid., b. 10,
ch. 10. {GC 190.4}
"The fanatical teachers gave themselves up to be governed
by impressions, regarding every
thought and impulse as the voice of
God; consequently they went to great extremes.
Some even burned their
Bibles, exclaiming: “The letter killeth,
but the Spirit giveth life.” Munzer’s
teaching appealed to men’s desire for the marvelous, while it gratified
their pride by virtually placing human ideas and opinions
above the word of God. His doctrines were received by
thousands. He soon denounced all order
in public worship, and declared
that to obey princes was to attempt to serve both God and Belial."
{GC 191.2}
"The minds of the people,
already beginning to throw off the
yoke of the
papacy, were also becoming impatient
under the restraints of civil authority. Munzer’s revolutionary teachings, claiming divine sanction, led them to break away from
all control and give the
rein to their prejudices and passions. The most terrible scenes of sedition
and strife followed, and the
fields of Germany were drenched
with blood." {GC
191.3}
"Counterfeit
holiness, spurious sanctification, is still doing its work
of deception. Under various forms
it exhibits the same spirit as in the days
of Luther, diverting minds from the
Scriptures and leading men to follow their own
feelings and impressions rather than to yield obedience
to the law of God. This is one of Satan’s most successful devices to cast reproach upon
purity and truth." {GC 193.1}
"Each of these opposing elements was in
its own way
setting aside the Holy Scriptures and exalting human wisdom as the source
of religious truth and knowledge. Rationalism
idolizes reason and makes this
the criterion for religion. Romanism, claiming for her sovereign pontiff an inspiration descended in unbroken
line from the apostles, and unchangeable
through all time, gives ample opportunity
for every species of extravagance and corruption to be concealed under
the sanctity of the apostolic
commission. The inspiration claimed by Munzer and
his associates proceeded from no higher source than
the vagaries of the imagination,
and its influence was subversive of all authority,
human or divine. True Christianity receives the word of God as the great treasure
house of inspired truth and the test of
all inspiration." {GC 193.3}
"About this
time, fanaticism began to appear.
Some who had professed to be zealous believers
in the message
rejected the word of God as the one infallible guide and, claiming to be led by the
Spirit, gave themselves up to the control of
their own feelings, impressions, and imaginations. There
were some who manifested a blind and bigoted zeal,
denouncing all who would not
sanction their course. Their fanatical
ideas and exercises met with
no sympathy from the great body
of Adventists; yet they served
to bring reproach upon the cause
of truth." {GC 395.1}
"Satan was seeking by
this means to oppose and destroy
the work of God. The people had been greatly stirred
by the advent movement, thousands of sinners had been converted, and faithful men
were giving themselves to the work of proclaiming
the truth, even in the
tarrying time. The prince of evil
was losing his subjects; and
in order to bring reproach upon the cause
of God, he sought to deceive some who professed the faith
and to drive them to extremes. Then his agents
stood ready to seize upon every
error, every failure, every unbecoming act, and hold it
up before the people in
the most exaggerated light, to render Adventists and their faith odious.
Thus the greater the number
whom he could crowd in to make a profession of faith
in the second
advent while his power controlled their hearts, the
greater advantage would he gain by
calling attention to them as representatives of the whole
body of believers."
{GC 395.2}
"Satan is “the accuser of the
brethren,” and it is his
spirit that inspires men to watch for the errors
and defects of the Lord’s
people, and to hold them up
to notice, while their good deeds
are passed by without a mention. He is always active
when God is at work for the salvation
of souls. When the sons
of God come to present themselves before the Lord, Satan comes also among
them. In every revival he is ready
to bring in those who are unsanctified
in heart and unbalanced in mind. When
these have accepted some points of truth, and
gained a place with believers, he works through them to introduce theories that will deceive
the unwary. No man is proved
to be a true Christian because he is found
in company with the children
of God, even in the house
of worship and around the
table of the Lord. Satan is frequently there
upon the most solemn occasions in the form
of those whom he can use as his agents." {GC 395.3}
"The prince of evil contests
every inch of ground over
which God’s people advance in their journey
toward the heavenly city. In all the history
of the church
no reformation has been carried forward
without encountering serious obstacles. Thus it was
in Paul’s day. Wherever the
apostle raised up a church, there
were some who professed to receive the faith, but who brought in
heresies, that, if received, would
eventually crowd out the love of
the truth. Luther also suffered great
perplexity and distress from the
course of fanatical persons who claimed
that God had spoken directly through them, and who
therefore set their own ideas and
opinions above the testimony of
the Scriptures. Many
who were lacking in faith
and experience, but who had considerable self-sufficiency, and who loved to hear
and tell some new thing, were
beguiled by the pretensions of the new
teachers, and they joined the
agents of Satan in their work
of tearing down what God had moved Luther to build up. And the
Wesleys, and others who blessed
the world by their influence and their faith,
encountered at every step the wiles
of Satan in pushing overzealous, unbalanced, and unsanctified ones into fanaticism of every grade." {GC 396.1}
"William Miller had no sympathy with those influences
that led to fanaticism. He declared, with Luther, that every spirit should be
tested by the word of God. “The
devil,” said Miller, “has great power
over the minds of some at the present day.
And how
shall we know what manner
of spirit they are of? The Bible answers:
‘By their fruits ye
shall know them.’... There are many spirits gone out into the
world; and we are commanded to try the spirits.
The spirit that does not
cause us to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in
this present world, is not
the Spirit of Christ. I am more and more convinced that Satan has much to do in these
wild movements.... Many among us
who pretend to be wholly sanctified,
are following the traditions of men,
and apparently are as
ignorant of truth as others who make no such pretensions.”—Bliss, pages 236, 237. “The spirit of
error will lead us from
the truth; and the Spirit
of God will lead us into
truth. But, say you, a man may
be in an
error, and think he has the
truth. What then? We answer,
The Spirit and word agree. If a man judges
himself by the word of God, and finds a perfect
harmony through the whole word, then he must believe he has the truth;
but if he finds the spirit by
which he is led does not harmonize
with the whole tenor of God’s law or
Book, then let him walk carefully,
lest he be caught in the
snare of the devil.”—The Advent Herald and Signs of
the Times Reporter,January
15, 1845. “I have often obtained more evidence of inward piety
from a kindling eye, a wet cheek,
and a choked utterance, than from all the
noise of Christendom.”—Bliss, page 282." {GC 396.2}
"In the days
of the Reformation
its enemies charged all the evils of fanaticism upon
the very ones who were
laboring most earnestly against it. A similar course was pursued by
the opposers of the advent movement.
And not content
with misrepresenting and exaggerating the errors of
extremists and fanatics, they circulated unfavorable reports that had not the slightest
semblance of truth. These persons
were actuated by prejudice and
hatred. Their peace was disturbed
by the proclamation
of Christ at the door. They
feared it might be true,
yet hoped it was not,
and this was the secret
of their warfare against Adventists and their faith." {GC 397.1}
"The fact that a few fanatics
worked their way into the
ranks of Adventists is no more reason to decide that the movement
was not of
God than was the presence of
fanatics and deceivers in the
church in Paul’s or Luther’s
day a sufficient excuse for condemning their work. Let the
people of God arouse out of
sleep and begin in earnest
the work of repentance and
reformation; let them search the Scriptures
to learn the truth as it is
in Jesus; let them make an entire consecration
to God, and evidence will not be
wanting that Satan is still active
and vigilant. With all possible deception
he will manifest his power, calling to his aid all
the fallen angels of his
realm." {GC 398.1}
"It was not
the proclamation of the second
advent that caused fanaticism and division. These appeared in the summer
of 1844, when Adventists were in a state of
doubt and perplexity concerning their real position.
The preaching of the first
angel’s message and of the
“midnight cry” tended directly to repress fanaticism and dissension. Those
who participated in these solemn
movements were in harmony; their
hearts were filled with love for one another and for Jesus, whom they expected
soon to see. The one faith, the one blessed hope, lifted them
above the control of any
human influence, and proved
a shield against the assaults of
Satan." {GC 398.2}
"Now as in former ages, the
presentation of a truth that reproves
the sins and errors of
the times will excite opposition. “Everyone
that doeth evil hateth the
light, neither cometh to the light,
lest his deeds should be
reproved.” John 3:20. As men
see that they cannot maintain their position by the
Scriptures, many determine to maintain it at all hazards,
and with a malicious spirit they assail the
character and motives of those
who stand in defense of
unpopular truth. It is the
same policy which has been pursued
in all ages.
Elijah was declared to be a troubler in Israel,
Jeremiah a traitor, Paul a polluter of the
temple. From that day to this,
those who would be loyal
to truth have been denounced as seditious, heretical, or schismatic. Multitudes who are too unbelieving to accept the sure word of prophecy will receive with unquestioning
credulity an accusation against those who dare to reprove fashionable sins. This spirit will increase more and more. And the Bible plainly teaches that a time is approaching when the laws
of the state
will so conflict
with the law of God that
whosoever would obey all the
divine precepts must brave reproach
and punishment as an evildoer." {GC 459.2}
Summary:
§ Fanaticism
is a counterfeit movement of satanic origin that neglects Bible testimony or
completely discards whole Bible. It "rejects the great principle which was
the very foundation of the Reformation—that the word of God is the
all-sufficient rule of faith and practice; and for that unerring guide they
substituted the changeable, uncertain standard of their own feelings and
impressions."
§ It
will break out in great violence and terrible results. We know it will end with
persecution, enslavement, imprisonment, torture and world wide, death decree,
mass murder of all who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of
Jesus. Only 144,000 will survive, by God's grace, to be translated without
seeing death.
§ To
fanatics, the word of God is a dead letter, but their cry is: 'the Spirit'.
This, of course, would mean that the Spirit and the Holy Scriptures are not in
harmony. They will claim they have the spirit showing them what is the truth
while contradicting or twisting the Word of God because the Spirit giveth life.
§ The
fanatical teachers gave themselves up to be governed by impressions, regarding
every thought and impulse as the voice of God. They place human ideas and
opinions above the Word of God.
§ They
break away from all control and give the rein to their prejudices and passions.
§ Such
movement will produce counterfeit holiness, spurious sanctification. This will
divert minds from the Scriptures and lead men to follow their own feelings and
impressions rather than to yield obedience to the law of God.
§ Human
wisdom will be exalted as the source of religious truth and knowledge.
§ By
this means Satan is seeking to oppose and destroy the work of God.
§ We
are to know that True Christianity receives the word of God as the great
treasure house of inspired truth and the test of all inspiration.
§ Every
spirit should be tested by the word; the Word and the Spirit agree.
§ In
the days of Reformation their enemies charged all the evils of fanaticism upon
the very ones who were laboring most earnestly against it. Since God's people
are the only True Reformers they must know that this
charges will be repeated and are impossible to avoid.
§ This
spirit will increase more and more. And the Bible plainly teaches that whosoever would obey all the divine
precepts must brave reproach and punishment as an evildoer.
§ We
are to understand that the preaching of the first angel’s message and of
the “midnight cry” tended directly to repress fanaticism and
dissension.
"In
view of this,
what is the
duty of the
messenger of truth? Shall he conclude that the truth
ought not to be presented, since
often its only effect is
to arouse men to evade or resist
its claims? No; he has no more reason for withholding the testimony of God’s
word, because it excites opposition, than had earlier Reformers. The confession of faith
made by saints
and martyrs was recorded for the benefit of succeeding generations. Those living examples
of holiness and steadfast integrity
have come down to inspire courage in those
who are now called to stand as witnesses for God. They
received grace and
truth, not
for themselves alone,
but that, through them, the knowledge
of God might enlighten the earth.
Has God given light to His servants
in this generation?
Then they should let it shine
forth to the world." {GC 459.1}
"Anciently the Lord declared to one who spoke in His
name: “The house of Israel
will not hearken unto thee;
for they will not hearken unto
Me.” Nevertheless He said:
“Thou shalt speak My words unto them, whether
they will hear, or whether
they will forbear.” Ezekiel 3:7; 2:7. To the servant of
God at this time is the command addressed:
“Lift up thy voice like a trumpet,
and show My people their transgression, and the house
of Jacob their sins.” {GC 459.2}
"So far as his opportunities extend, everyone who has received the
light of truth is under
the same solemn and fearful responsibility
as was the prophet of Israel,
to whom the word of the Lord came,
saying: “Son of man,
I have set thee a watchman unto the
house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at My mouth, and warn them
from Me. When I say unto the
wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt
surely die; if thou dost
not speak to warn the wicked
from his way, that wicked
man shall die in his
iniquity; but his blood will I require
at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the
wicked of his way to turn
from it; if he do not turn
from his way, he shall die
in his iniquity;
but thou hast delivered thy soul.” Ezekiel
33:7-9." {GC 459.3}
"The great obstacle
both to the acceptance and to the promulgation of truth is
the fact that it involves
inconvenience and reproach. This is the only
argument against the truth which its
advocates have never been able
to refute. But this does not deter
the true followers of Christ.
These do not
wait for truth to become popular. Being convinced of their duty,
they deliberately accept the cross,
with the apostle Paul counting that “our light
affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight
of glory;” with one of old,
“esteeming the reproach of Christ
greater riches than the treasures
in Egypt.” 2 Corinthians 4:17; Hebrews
11:26." {GC 460.1}
"Whatever may be
their profession, it is only
those who are world servers at heart that act
from policy rather than principle
in religious things. We should
choose the right because it
is right, and leave consequences with God. To men of principle, faith,
and daring, the world is
indebted for its great reforms. By such men
the work of reform for this
time must be carried forward." {GC 460.2}
"Thus saith the
Lord: “Hearken unto Me, ye that know
righteousness, the people in whose
heart is My law; fear ye
not the reproach
of men, neither
be ye afraid
of their revilings. For the moth shall eat
them up like
a garment, and the worm shall
eat them like wool: but My righteousness shall be forever, and
My salvation from generation to generation.” Isaiah 51:7, 8." {GC 460.3}
Vision
was given me explaining Isaiah 58 and the Three Angel Messages. More on the
message we are to give will soon follow.
It is
interesting to notice the song
that people in the video are singing. This song is symbolical of the experience
they will have, much like the 144,000 will have the song of their experience. I
will update this document for explanation of this experience later:
"'In
His temple doth everyone speak of His glory' (Psalm 29:9), and the song
which the ransomed ones will sing—the song of their experience—will
declare the glory of God: “Great and marvelous are Thy works, O Lord God, the
Almighty; righteous and true are Thy ways, Thou King of the ages. Who shall not
fear, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? for Thou only art holy.” Revelation 15:3,
4, R.V." {Ed 308.5}
"Upon
the crystal sea before the throne, that sea of glass as it were mingled with
fire,—so resplendent is it with the glory of God,—are gathered the company that
have “gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark,
and over the number of his name.” With the Lamb upon Mount Zion, “having the
harps of God,” they stand, the hundred and forty and four thousand that were
redeemed from among men; and there is heard, as the sound of many waters, and as
the sound of a great thunder, “the voice of harpers harping with their harps.”
And they sing “a new song” before the throne, a song which no man can
learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand. It is the song of
Moses and the Lamb—a song of deliverance. None but the hundred and forty-four
thousand can learn that song; for it is the song of their experience—an
experience such as no other company have ever had. “These are they
which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.” These,
having been translated from the earth, from among the living, are counted as
“the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.” Revelation 15:2, 3; 14:1-5. “These
are they which came out of great tribulation;” they have passed through the
time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation; they have endured
the anguish of the time of Jacob’s trouble; they have stood without an
intercessor through the final outpouring of God’s judgments. But they have been
delivered, for they have “washed their robes, and made them white in the blood
of the Lamb.” “In their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault”
before God. “Therefore are they before the throne of
God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth
on the throne shall dwell among them.” They have seen the earth wasted with
famine and pestilence, the sun having power to scorch men with great heat, and
they themselves have endured suffering, hunger, and thirst. But “they shall
hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them,
nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them,
and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away
all tears from their eyes.” Revelation 7:14-17." {GC 648.3}
God did
show me more on the Satan's counterfeit of the Loud Cry, and by God's will, I
will present it in the future documents and updates.
On the
very next day, 28th September, 2019, God gave me another vision on
Satan's Counterfeit of the Loud Cry. My angel explained and presented to me
major points of the Loud Cry that Satan will be counterfeiting. I was told to
share this knowledge with those striving to be the bride of Christ, for it is
written: [Hos 4:6 KJV] "My
people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected
knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing
thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."
Let us not get destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Satan's
Counterfeit of Righteousness by Faith
We are told
that the loud cry of the third angel has already begun with the message of
righteousness by faith.
"Let
every one who claims to believe that the Lord is soon coming, search the
Scriptures as never before; for Satan is determined to try every device possible
to keep souls in darkness, and blind the mind to the perils of the times in
which we are living. Let every believer take up his Bible with earnest
prayer, that he may be enlightened by the Holy Spirit as to what is truth, that
he may know more of God and of Jesus Christ whom He has sent. Search for the
truth as for hidden treasures, and disappoint the enemy. The time of test is just upon
us, for the loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the revelation of
the righteousness of Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer. This is the beginning
of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth.
For it is the work of every one to whom the message of warning has come, to
lift up Jesus, to present Him to the world as revealed in types, as shadowed in
symbols, as manifested in the revelations of the prophets, as unveiled in the
lessons given to His disciples and in the wonderful miracles wrought for the
sons of men. Search the Scriptures; for they are they that testify of
Him." {1SM 362.4}
This
means that the counterfeit loud cry started a bit earlier, before the message
of Christ our righteousness was given in 1888, because Satan introduces his
counterfeit before the true loud cry begins (We can even say that it started
before 1830's and 1840's, for this is when the three angel's messages begun to
be preached). Bear in mind, this was only the beginning of the loud cry and we
are fast approaching the time of complete fulfillment. Drops of the latter rain
already begun to fall, therefore, the same applies to the counterfeit latter
rain.
My angel
showed me that counterfeit loud cry, much like the true loud cry of the third
angel, is progressive. Both cries have already begun; both cries are getting
louder every day; and both cries will soon reach the time of complete
fulfillment. The pen of inspiration gave us clues to understand when did those
two movements begin:
"Satan
has long been preparing for his final effort to deceive the world. The
foundation of his work was laid by the assurance given to Eve in Eden: “Ye
shall not surely die.” “In the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be
opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4, 5. Little
by little he has prepared the way for his masterpiece of deception in the development
of spiritualism. He has not yet reached the full accomplishment of his designs; but it will be reached in the last
remnant of time. Says the prophet: “I saw three unclean spirits like
frogs; ... they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth
unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the
battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Revelation 16:13, 14. Except
those who are kept by the power of God, through faith in His word, the whole world will be swept into
the ranks of this delusion. The people are fast being
lulled to a fatal security, to be awakened only by the outpouring of
the wrath of God." {GC 561.2}
(I was
shown more on the seven last plagues, especially plagues number 6 and 7. More
on this in the future.)
"Since
the middle of the nineteenth century, students of prophecy in the United States
have presented this testimony to the world. In the events now taking place is
seen a rapid advance toward the fulfillment of the prediction. With Protestant
teachers there is the same claim of divine authority for Sundaykeeping,
and the same lack of Scriptural evidence, as with the papal leaders who
fabricated miracles to supply the place of a command from God. The assertion
that God’s judgments are visited upon men for their violation of
the Sunday-sabbath, will be repeated; already it is beginning to be urged. And
a movement to enforce
Sunday observance is fast gaining ground." {GC 579.1}
"As
the Protestant churches reject the clear, Scriptural arguments in defense of
God’s law, they will long to silence those whose faith they cannot overthrow by
the Bible. Though they blind their own eyes to the fact, they are now
adopting a course which will lead to the persecution of those who
conscientiously refuse to do what the rest of the Christian world are doing,
and acknowledge the claims of the papal sabbath." {GC 592.2}
My angel
showed me that Satan's counterfeit actually produces Laodicean state of the
people. They are the ones who are being lulled, put to sleep, to a fatal
security. The cry of Laodicea is: "I am rich, and increased with goods,
and have need of nothing." This claim is the echo of Satan's claims made
in heaven. He put forth claim that, since angels are holy, they have the
capacity in and of themselves to discern between the right and wrong. He said
they do not need the law to tell them what is good and what is evil. He claimed
they do not need to keep God's law for it is impossible for them to err. Ellen
White wrote:
"Leaving
his place in the immediate presence of the Father, Lucifer went forth to
diffuse the spirit of discontent among the angels. He worked with mysterious
secrecy, and for a time concealed his real purpose under an appearance of
reverence for God. He began to insinuate doubts concerning the laws that
governed heavenly beings, intimating that though laws might be necessary for
the inhabitants of the worlds, angels, being more exalted, needed no such
restraint, for their own wisdom was a sufficient guide. They were not beings
that could bring dishonor to God; all their thoughts were holy; it was no more
possible for them than for God Himself to err. The exaltation of the
Son of God as equal with the Father was represented as an injustice to Lucifer,
who, it was claimed, was also entitled to reverence and honor. If this prince
of angels could but attain to his true, exalted position, great good would
accrue to the entire host of heaven; for it was his object to secure freedom
for all. But now even the liberty which they had hitherto enjoyed was at an
end; for an absolute Ruler had been appointed them, and to His authority all
must pay homage. Such were the subtle deceptions that through the wiles of
Lucifer were fast obtaining in the heavenly courts." {PP 37.1}
"Taking
advantage of the loving, loyal trust reposed in him by the holy beings under
his command, he had so artfully instilled into their minds his own
distrust and discontent that his agency was not discerned. Lucifer had
presented the purposes of God in a false light—misconstruing and distorting
them to excite dissent and dissatisfaction. He cunningly drew his hearers
on to give utterance to their feelings; then these expressions were repeated by
him when it would serve his purpose, as evidence that the angels were
not fully in harmony with the government of God. While claiming for himself
perfect loyalty to God, he urged that changes in the order and laws of heaven
were necessary for the stability of the divine government. Thus
while working to excite opposition to the law of God and to instill his
own discontent into the minds of the angels under him, he was
ostensibly seeking to remove dissatisfaction and to reconcile disaffected
angels to the order of heaven. While secretly fomenting discord and rebellion, he
with consummate craft caused it to appear as his sole purpose to promote
loyalty and to preserve harmony and peace." {PP 38.2}
"God
could employ only such means as were consistent with truth and righteousness.
Satan could use what God could not—flattery and deceit. He had sought to
falsify the word of God and had misrepresented His plan of government, claiming
that God was not just in imposing laws upon the angels; that in
requiring submission and obedience from His creatures, He was seeking merely
the exaltation of Himself. It was therefore necessary to demonstrate before the
inhabitants of heaven, and of all the worlds, that God’s government is just,
His law 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}
Satan
and his angels already proved that without Christ they are incapable of doing
any good. Humanity will soon experience the very same thing. God will
demonstrate to all that, no matter the gifts bestowed, created beings without
Christ are completely incapable of doing any good. Indwelling of Christ enables
overcoming of all known sin and constant progress in the process of
sanctification, for without him we can do nothing.
Thus, in
doing this, in rejecting Christ, people will reject the righteousness of God.
God showed me this is the reason why the 7th church is called
Laodicea. Greek word Laodicea is composed of two Greek words, laos, and dike. We will first look at the
Greek word laos:
Strong's
Number 2992
The
Linked Word Project
Transliteration:
laos
{lah-os'}
Word
Origin:
apparently
a primary word
TDNT:
4:29,499
Part of
Speech:
noun
masculine
Usage in
the KJV:
people
143
Total:
143
Definition:
a people,
people group, tribe, nation, all those who are of the same stock and language
of a
great part of the population gathered together anywhere For Synonyms see entry
5832
Now the
second word, dike:
Strong's
Number 1349
The
Linked Word Project
Transliteration:
dike
{dee'-kay}
Word
Origin:
probably
from 1166
TDNT:
2:178,168
Part of
Speech:
noun
feminine
Usage in
the KJV:
vengeance
2, judgment 1, punish 5099 1
Total: 4
Definition:
custom,
usage
right,
just
a suit
at law
a
judicial hearing, judicial decision, esp. sentence of condemnation
execution
of a sentence, punishment
to
suffer punishment
the
goddess Justice, avenging justice
TDNT -
Theological Dictionary of the New Testament
TWOT -
Theological Word Book of the Old Testament
Therefore,
one of the definitions of Laodicea is "justice of the people",
or righteousness of the people. This is in total opposition to the
righteousness by faith; a total opposition to Christ our righteousness; this is
the self righteousness produced by the counterfeit loud cry.
For this
very reason, Laodiceans will be spewed out of Christ (heaven), just like Satan
and his angels were cast out of heaven.
[Rev
3:16 KJV] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I
will spue thee out of my mouth.
[Rev
12:9 KJV] 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.
"To
the very close of the controversy in heaven the great usurper continued to
justify himself. When it was announced that with all his sympathizers he must
be expelled from the abodes of bliss, then the rebel leader boldly avowed his
contempt for the Creator’s law. He reiterated his claim that angels
needed no control, but should be left to follow their own will, which would
ever guide them right. He denounced the divine statutes as a
restriction of their liberty and declared that it was his purpose to secure the
abolition of law; that, freed from this restraint, the hosts of heaven might
enter upon a more exalted, more glorious state of existence." {GC 499.2}
"The same spirit that prompted
rebellion in heaven still inspires rebellion on earth. Satan has continued with
men the same policy which he pursued with the angels. His spirit now reigns in the
children of disobedience. Like him they seek to break down the restraints of
the law of God and promise men liberty through transgression of its precepts.
Reproof of sin still arouses the spirit of hatred and resistance. When God’s
messages of warning are brought home to the conscience, Satan leads men to
justify themselves and to seek the sympathy of others in their course of sin.
Instead of correcting their errors, they excite indignation against the
reprover, as if he were the sole cause of difficulty. From the days of
righteous Abel to our own time such is the spirit which has been displayed
toward those who dare to condemn sin." {GC 500.1}
"In
the banishment of Satan from heaven, God declared His justice and maintained the
honor of His throne. But when man had sinned through yielding to the deceptions
of this apostate spirit, God gave an evidence of His love by yielding up His
only-begotten Son to die for the fallen race. In the atonement the character of
God is revealed. The mighty argument of the cross demonstrates to the whole
universe that the course of sin which Lucifer had chosen was in no wise
chargeable upon the government of God." {GC 500.4}
"God
declares: “I will put enmity.” This enmity is not naturally entertained. When
man transgressed the divine law, his nature became evil, and he was in harmony,
and not at variance, with Satan. There exists naturally no enmity between
sinful man and the originator of sin. Both became evil through apostasy. The
apostate is never at rest, except as he obtains sympathy and support by
inducing others to follow his example. For this reason fallen angels
and wicked men unite in desperate companionship. Had not God
specially interposed, Satan and man would have entered into an alliance against
Heaven; and instead of cherishing enmity against Satan, the whole human family
would have been united in opposition to God." {GC 505.2}
"Satan
can present a counterfeit so closely resembling the truth that it
deceives those who are willing to be deceived, who desire to shun the
self-denial and sacrifice demanded by the truth; but it is impossible for
him to hold under his power one soul who honestly desires, at whatever cost, to know
the truth. Christ is the truth and the “Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” John 1:9.
The Spirit of truth has been sent to guide men into all truth. And upon the
authority of the Son of God it is declared: “Seek, and ye shall find.” “If any
man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine.” Matthew 7:7; John 7:17.
{GC 528.2}
Friends,
if we desire to know the truth, at whatever the cost, we have a promise that we
will not be deceived!
God gave
me more visions to further explain righteousness by faith. This I will present
in near future.
I was
shown that the loud cry of the third angel emphasizes the commandments of God,
the Sabbath commandment especially, and the faith of Jesus. Therefore, Satan's
agents will proclaim a counterfeit of the law of God, a counterfeit of the true
Sabbath, a spurious sabbath, and a counterfeit of faith.
Holy
Spirit gift to the church shared with us important revelation concerning the
beginning of the small time of trouble:
“I saw
that the holy Sabbath
is, and will be, the separating wall between the true Israel of God and
unbelievers; and that the Sabbath is the great question to unite
the hearts of God’s dear, waiting saints. I saw that God had children who do
not see and keep the Sabbath. They have not rejected the light upon it. And at the commencement of the time
of trouble, we were filled with the Holy Ghost as we went forth and proclaimed
the Sabbath more fully.” {EW 85.2}
The
commencement of the time of trouble here is not the close of probation.
Here is described the legislation of the National Sunday Law. We know this for
the time of the small trouble begins at the Sunday legislation. At this time
God will pour out His Spirit upon His bride, the 144,000. She continues:
"This
view was given in 1847 when there were but very few of the Advent brethren
observing the Sabbath, and of these but few supposed that its observance was of
sufficient importance to draw a line between the people of God and unbelievers.
Now the fulfillment of that view is beginning to be seen. “The commencement
of that time of trouble,” here mentioned does not refer to the time when the
plagues shall begin to be poured out, but to a short period just before they are poured out,
while Christ is in the sanctuary. At that time, while the
work of salvation is closing, trouble will be coming on the earth, and the
nations will be angry, yet held in check so as not to prevent the work of the
third angel. At that time the “latter rain,” or refreshing from the
presence of the Lord, will come, to give power to the loud voice of
the third angel, and prepare the saints to stand in the period when the seven
last plagues shall be poured out." {EW 85.3}
"None
are condemned until they have had the light and have seen the obligation of the
fourth commandment. But when the decree shall go forth enforcing the
counterfeit sabbath, and the loud cry of the third angel shall warn men against
the worship of the beast and his image, the line will be clearly drawn between
the false and the true. Then those who still continue in transgression
will receive the mark of the beast.—Evangelism, 234,
235 (1899)." {LDE 225.4}
Brother
Beaulieu had a vision of a deeper revelation of the Sabbath day connected with
Hebrews 4. Here is the link: https://omega77.tripod.com/sabbathgodhead.htm
The Lord
also gave me a vision on the Sabbath which I will share soon.
Satan's Counterfeit of the Law
of God
We must
understand that God's blessed Sabbath is a commandment from a holy and immutable
law – the Ten Commandments Law of Exodus 20. This is the true Sabbath law. The
law of God is brought to view in the third angel message. It is written:
[Rev
14:12 KJV] Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep
the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Therefore,
we can know that Satan's counterfeit loud cry will counterfeit God's 10
commandment law. He will not do this openly, but deceptively. He will inspire
people around the world to bow down to the law of the roman catholic church –
which is the counterfeit of the law of God. By doing this, he will instill in
people counterfeit righteousness. Just as God's holy Sabbath will exalt God's
law, exaltation of the Sunday sacredness, will exalt Sunday law – the roman
catholic counterfeit of the 10 commandments law.
"Yet
this very class put forth the claim that the fast-spreading corruption is
largely attributable to the desecration of the so-called “Christian sabbath,”
and that the enforcement of Sunday observance would greatly improve the
morals of society. This claim is especially urged in America, where the
doctrine of the true Sabbath has been most widely preached. Here the
temperance work, one of the most prominent and important of moral reforms, is
often combined with the Sunday movement, and the advocates of the latter
represent themselves as laboring to promote the highest interest of society;
and those who refuse to unite with them are denounced as the enemies of temperance
and reform. But the
fact that a movement to establish error is connected with a work which is in
itself good, is not an argument in favor of the error. We may disguise poison
by mingling it with wholesome food, but we do not change its nature. On the
contrary, it is rendered more dangerous, as it is more likely to be taken
unawares. It is one of Satan’s devices to combine with falsehood just enough
truth to give it plausibility. The
leaders of the Sunday movement may advocate reforms which the people need,
principles which are in harmony with the Bible; yet while there is with these a
requirement which is contrary to God’s law, His servants cannot unite with
them. Nothing can justify them in setting aside the commandments of God for the
precepts of men." {GC 587.1}
"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. The Protestants
of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf
to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp
hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union,
this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of
conscience." {GC 588.1}
"Satan’s
policy in this final conflict with God’s people is the same that he employed in
the opening of the great controversy in heaven. He professed to be
seeking to promote the stability of the divine government, while secretly
bending every effort to secure its overthrow. And the very work which he was
thus endeavoring to accomplish he charged upon the loyal angels. The same
policy of deception has marked the history of the Roman Church.
It has professed to act as the vicegerent of Heaven, while seeking to exalt
itself above God and to change His law. Under the rule of Rome, those
who suffered death for their fidelity to the gospel were denounced as
evildoers; they were declared to be in league with Satan; and every possible
means was employed to cover them with reproach, to cause them to appear in the
eyes of the people and even to themselves as the vilest of criminals. So it will be now. While Satan
seeks to destroy those who honor God’s law, he will cause them to be
accused as lawbreakers, as men who are dishonoring God and bringing
judgments upon the world." {GC 591.1}
However,
the people of God will not be deceived. They will know that to transgress one
commandment, is to transgress all, for it is written:
[Jas
2:10 KJV] For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one
[point], he is guilty of all.
I was
shown that this Sunday law is actually a form of lawlessness. While it is
presented as a law, it will eventually lead to violation of every
command and extermination of all life. One cannot break 1 of God's commandments
and still keep the rest of them. Sooner or later rebellion shows it's true face.
Satan's Counterfeit of
Faith – Presumption
We are
also to proclaim the faith of Jesus. Keeping the commandments of God and the
faith of Jesus is a direct consequence of obedience to the first angel's
message. It is written:
[Rev
14:12 KJV] Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the
commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
This
means Satan will have to make Laodiceans believe they have faith, while in
reality they do not. God has revealed to us what Satan's counterfeit of faith
is – it is presumption. What did Ellen White tell us about this counterfeit?
"The
testimony of the word of God is against this ensnaring doctrine of faith
without works. It is not faith that claims the favor of Heaven without
complying with the conditions upon which mercy is to be granted, it is
presumption; for genuine
faith has its foundation in the promises and provisions of the Scriptures.
{GC 472.2}
"But
faith is in no sense allied to presumption. Only he who has true faith is
secure against presumption. For presumption is Satan’s counterfeit of faith. Faith claims God’s promises, and
brings forth fruit in obedience. Presumption also claims the promises, but uses
them as Satan did, to excuse transgression. Faith would have
led our first parents to trust the love of God, and to obey His commands.
Presumption led them to transgress His law, believing that His great love would
save them from the consequence of their sin. It is not faith that claims
the favor of Heaven without complying with the conditions on which mercy is to
be granted. Genuine
faith has its foundation in the promises and provisions of the Scriptures." {DA 126.1}
What
Happens After Sunday Law Legislation?
After
that, when this counterfeit cry produces what it intended – the National Sunday
Law – the true loud cry of the third angel will begin and last for three and a
half years, and enlighten the whole world. Then Satan will ascend out of
the bottomless pit to impersonate Christ.
Rev 11:3
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a
thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Rev 11:7
And when they shall have finished their testimony, the
beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall
make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
The last
act of this counterfeit – Satan's impersonation of Christ – will be dealt with
detail for the next Sabbath.
Satan's Counterfeit of the Second
Coming of Christ – When Satan Personifies Christ
As I was
updating this document my angel led me to a website where Ellen G. White quotes
about Satan's personification of Christ are already sorted and grouped to
answer important questions concerning this act.
Author's
text will be colored black, while mine notes will be colored
blue. I have added a few explanations.
When
Satan Will Appear as Christ
When
it happens, it will make headlines in every newspaper throughout the world!
Interviews of him will appear on every television screen. Every newspaper and
news magazine will run feature stories on him. And this will not be a one-time
news release. It will continue on and on to the final close of probation, and
probably beyond. We are nearing the climactic end of the 6,000-year warfare
between God’s law and Satan’s deceptions.
OVERVIEW:
FROM COUNTERFEIT REVIVAL TO FULL-BLOWN FALSE LATTER RAIN
About
4,350 years ago, the wicked confederated together to build the tower of Babel
and impose their rule on the world. If permitted to carry out their purposes,
they would have blotted the people of God from the earth and Satan’s triumph
would have been complete.
But,
in the near future, a similar objective will be in mind. In the name of
Christianity, men will unify to require first a nation and then a world to
break the fourth of God’s ten moral laws.
Empowered
by a strange excitement, Protestants will unite with Catholics in
the attainment of their objective. As soon as they have coerced U.S.
Governmental leaders to enact a National Sunday Law, the excitement
in the fallen churches will intensify into a false latter rain. Because
men have dared to defy God’s laws and mandate a counterfeit on the populace,
Satan will be permitted to work wonders. A counterfeit revival will precede the
genuine. That counterfeit revival, discussed in the first video in a companion
series to this book, brings on the National Sunday Law. But that counterfeit
revival will continue on afterward. For purposes of clarification, we will call
its extension, past the National Sunday Law, the “false latter rain.” (You will
find both names mentioned in the Spirit of Prophecy; she treats them as
synonyms, not making the time distinction that we here do.)
Do
not underrate this false latter rain. As soon as the Sunday law is enacted, the
power of demonic energy, display, and appearances swells into something quite
massive. It is this power which in great measure enables the law to be rather
quickly enacted by every other nation on the globe. The result is, what is
called, a universal Sunday law. It probably consists of hundreds of separate
national laws; all of which impose Sunday sacredness and demand worship of God
on Sunday.
After
the National Sunday Law is passed, the latter rain begins; and both the
true and false rain continue on concurrently together thereafter.
Satan
will work miracles through his agents; and he will personate (appear as) Christ
to the masses, work apparent miracles, endorse Sunday, and denounce Sabbathkeepers.
These
spiritual manifestations, by Satan and his agents, are extremely important in
the rapid working out of final events in the Sunday law crisis prior to the
general close of probation. Without them, the intense zeal for strictest
national and later universal Sunday law enforcement could never take place. Yet
it will be Sunday enactment in the United States which will have empowered
Satan to begin demonstrating such wonders. According to EW 261:1, Satan will
raise an excitement before the National Sunday Law. According to 5T 451:1, the
National Sunday Law will open the door for the marvelous workings by Satan.
Those
final events, once begun, will follow one another rapidly.
Below
we will list a suggested order of early events in the Sunday law enactment. You
will note that, along with hatred of Sabbathkeepers,
the religious excitement/false latter rain fervor is the engine driving forward
the fierce passions of the Sunday-law advocates, both before and after the
National Sunday Law is enacted. Let us briefly summarize again some of these
early events in the National Sunday Law crisis:
A
powerful religious excitement, or counterfeit revival, starts in the
churches. This energizes Protestants, Catholics, and spiritists
to work together, yet without disturbing any denominational leadership controls
which are already in place.
A
tentative threefold union of influential Protestants and Catholics,
empowered by spiritist forces, begins to take shape.
Hatred of Sabbathkeepers impels the churches to
search for ways by which to push the U.S. Government into enacting sweeping
Sunday enforcements. Please understand that, to all appearances, it is only a
twofold union. The churchmen do not realize they are working with demons.
Under
the empowered excitement, the threefold union forms rather quickly. Catholicism
brings to the union the doctrine of Sunday sacredness and provides the
political support of millions of Catholics. Protestantism brings to it a
driving leadership that coerces the U.S. Government to legislate and enforce it.
For its part, spiritism provides the hypnotic and miracleworking
power needed to carry the movement through to success.
The National
Sunday Law is enacted by the United States Government. Initial passage of
the law is done for political reasons, in order to win favor with the churches.
At this point, the full power and extent of the Sunday-law movement is yet
future.
The False
Latter Rain begins. By their heaven-daring willingness to try to enact laws
to overthrow those which God has given, Satan is permitted, by Heaven, to more
directly empower the efforts of the threefold union to win the favor of all
sides to the endeavor.
Spirits
of demons, working with men, bring massive conversions
to the movement and promote the bold, new solution to world problems. America,
first, and Europe, second, will take the lead; and the rest of the world will
follow. It is the amazing power underlying this movement that rivets the
attention of the other nations and finally converts them to the Sunday-law
bandwagon.
Enactment
of the National Sunday Law in America has opened the way for satanic
wonders, appearances, and miracles on a wonder-working scale never before
witnessed by human eyes. The power of the false latter rain swells immensely.
These
miracles change politicians, church men, and laymen into religious zealots,
determined to enforce Sundaykeeping by whatever
penalties are required, even if they include the imposition of imprisonment and
death. Nearly all are swept into the ranks; although, before the loud
cry begins, the great majority do not yet understand the issues involved.
Before
passage of the law, there was only a religious excitement in the churches
stirring them to a threefold union. At their behest, the law was enacted by
politicians merely as a political favor. But, after the law is enacted, the
marvelous working of Satan is unleashed to an astounding degree. Deceived minds
now see the nationwide law in a new light; it has become the basis of a great,
new world order, ushering in a millennium of peace and prosperity. Strictest
enforcement of Sunday sacredness surely must be all that is needed to bring
universal peace, prosperity, and the approval of God. That, apparently, is the
only real sacrifice He asks of them. The gluttony, worldliness, and selfishness
can continue as usual. The theologians declare that Heaven accepts the people
just as they are; and they need not put away their sins.
Enactment
of the law places the nation in the hands of Satan; and he is permitted to work
more openly. The wonders which follow galvanize, first, America and, then, the
entire world. The final crisis has come.
Let
us now view the effect this false latter rain will have on, first, America and,
then, on the rest of the world:
- 1 -
WHEN THE FALSE LATTER RAIN WILL OCCUR
1 -
Sequence: According to Patriarchs and Prophets, 686, this special working of
Satan will occur prior to the Second Advent.
“Paul,
in his second letter to the Thessalonians, points to the special working of
Satan in spiritualism as an event to take place immediately before the
Second Advent of Christ. Speaking of Christ’s Second Coming, he declares that
it is ‘after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.’
2 Thessalonians 2:9.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, 686:1.
2 -
Sequence: According to Early Writings, 261, Satan will begin by raising an
excitement in the fallen churches before the loud cry begins. (In a later
study, we will learn that the loud cry begins just after the law is enacted.
The plagues occur after probation ends.)
“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. He hopes to deceive the
honest and lead them to think that God is still working for the
churches.”—Early Writings, 261:1.
As we
learned earlier, this excitement, or counterfeit revival, will lead to the
enactment of the National Sunday Law. It will be this strange excitement which
will produce the threefold union and, through it, powerfully coerce Congress
into passing the National Sunday Law.
But
the excitement will not cease when the law is passed; it will intensify! Its
enactment will permit Satan to exhibit devilish wonders which are astounding.
So
Satan will be working both before and after the law, but especially so after it
is passed. We must give a name to this: First, his heightened activity, which
leads to the threefold union and the National Sunday Law, we will call the
“satanic excitement” or “counterfeit revival.” Second, after enactment of the
law, the continuation and mammoth deepening of that excitement into a
full-blown working of wonders we will call “satanic wonders,” “the false latter
rain,” or “the counterfeit latter rain.”
This
present study is about the post-enactment of the false latter rain and display
of satanic wonders.
3 -
Sequence: According to 5 Testimonies, 451, first will come the threefold union,
then the enactment of the National Sunday Law, then the marvelous working of
Satan.
“By
the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the
law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism
shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power,
when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism,
when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall
repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican
government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods
and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the
marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near.”—5 Testimonies, 451:1.
In
the above quotation, we are given a promised sign. The phrase, “the end is
near,” is a warning for those who have not yet done so, to begin moving to more
retired places; cf. GC 30:2-31:0.
4 -
Sequence: As we have earlier learned, according to Great Controversy, 464,
Satan’s counterfeit revival will precede the latter rain upon God’s people. The
faithful who understand the issues, who have not earlier done so, will separate
from the fallen churches when the true latter rain begins falling.
“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 Spirit and power of God will be
poured out upon His children. At that time many will separate themselves
from those churches in which the love of this world has supplanted love for
God and His Word. Many, both of ministers and people, will gladly accept those
great truths which God has caused to be proclaimed at this time, to prepare a
people for the Lord’s Second Coming. 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. Multitudes will exult that God is
working marvelously for them, when the work is that
of another spirit. Under a religious guise, Satan will seek to extend his
influence over the Christian world.”— Great Controversy, 464:1.
- 2 -
HOW SATAN AND HIS DEVILS WILL WORK TO CAPTURE AND DESTROY
SATAN
WANTS TO OVERCOME EVERYONE
1 -
Satan’s objective is to lead and control every Christian in the world.
“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 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.”—8 Manuscript
Releases, 346:1 (1901).
2 -
He wants to deceive and overpower all the faithful.
"As
the spirits will profess faith in the Bible and manifest respect for the
institutions of the church, their work will be accepted as a manifestation
of divine power.”—Great Controversy, 588:2.
Note Dejan: Notice that Satan and his angels, evil spirits,
will profess faith in the Bible and manifest respect for the institutions of
the church. But what does the Lord say?
[Rev
18:4 KJV] And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people,
that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
As the
Lord showed me in vision, whoever is preaching staying in the institutions
of the church MUST BE INSPIRED
BY SATAN HIMSELF. HE CANNOT BE A VOICE FROM GOD. God's command
is to LEAVE NOMINAL CHURCHES. The Holy Ghost does not err!
Also,
this must mean that those that profess the faith in the Bible, the Word of God,
and decide to stay in the church, actually prove that they do not have faith in
the Word. Endnote.
3 -
There will be an emotional excitement, a mingling of the true with the false,
which will captivate all but those grounded in Scripture.
“In
many of the revivals which have occurred during the last half century, the same
influences have been at work, to a greater or less degree, that will be
manifest in the more extensive movements of the future. 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. And by the rule which Christ Himself has given, ‘Ye shall know them
by their fruits,’ it is evident that these movements are not the work of the
Spirit of God.”—Great Controversy, 464:2-465:0.
4 -
Pray that you will be able to distinguish Satan’s miracle-working power from
divine power.
“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.”—3 Selected Messages, 389:4.
FALSE
TEACHINGS WILL BE TAUGHT
1 -
Spirits of devils will declare the Sabbath to have been changed.
“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.”—Early Writings, 87:2.
2 -
The lying spirits will contradict Scripture.
“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.”—Great Controversy, 557:1.
3 -
Satan will use two special doctrinal errors to capture the people.
“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.”—Great Controversy, 588:1.
THE
SPIRITS WILL DEMAND SUNDAYKEEPING
The
spirits will speak for Sunday sacredness, against the Sabbath and Sabbathkeepers, and declare that the laws of the land
should be obeyed.
“The miracle-working
power manifested through spiritualism will exert its influence against
those who choose to obey God rather than men. Communications from the spirits will
declare that God has sent them to convince the rejecters of Sunday of their
error, affirming that the laws of the land should be obeyed as the law of
God. They will lament the great wickedness in the world and second the
testimony of religious teachers that the degraded state of morals is caused by
the desecration of Sunday. Great will be the indignation excited against all
who refuse to accept their testimony.”—Great Controversy, 591:0.
GOD’S
PEOPLE WILL BE CALLED LAWBREAKERS
1 -
God’s people will be called lawbreakers.
“While
Satan seeks to destroy those who honor God’s law, he will cause them to be
accused as lawbreakers, as men who are dishonoring God and bringing
judgments upon the world.”—Great Controversy, 591:1.
2 -
They will be accused as anarchists (against government rule), traitors, and
opposed to law and morality.
“Those
who honor the Bible Sabbath will be denounced as enemies of law and order,
as breaking down the moral restraints of society, causing anarchy and
corruption, and calling down the judgments of God upon the earth. Their
conscientious scruples will be pronounced obstinacy, stubborness,
and contempt of authority. They will be accused of disaffection toward the
government. Ministers who deny the obligation of the divine law will
present from the pulpit the duty of yielding obedience to the civil authorities
as ordained of God. In legislative halls and courts of justice, commandment
keepers will be misrepresented and condemned. A false coloring will be given to
their words; the worst construction will be put upon their motives.”—Great
Controversy, 592:1.
FANATICISM
WILL OCCUR
1 -
There will be shouting, drums, music, and dancing.
“The
things you have described as taking place in Indiana, 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…
“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 [a synonym for celebration], 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.”—2 Selected Messages, 36:2-3, 38:1.
2 -
Men will engage in strange activities and call them the work of God.
“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.”—2
Selected Messages, 42:4.
3 -
Fanaticism, tongues, and noise will be termed special gifts of God.
“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 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.”—1 Testimonies, 412:1.
MIRACLES
WILL BE SEEN
1 -
Through deception, Satan will produce apparent miracles. They are appearances
which have no reality in fact.
“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.”—2 Selected Messages,
52:4.
2 -
Satan will use miracles to demonstrate his power.
“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, 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.”—2 Selected Messages, 54:2.
3 -
Satan will be able to counterfeit those miracles done by God’s people. A
counterfeit is not the reality, but it appears so.
“God’s
people will not find their safety in working miracles, for Satan will counterfeit
the miracles that will be wrought.”—9 Testimonies, 16:1.
4 -
Miracle-working power by the disobedient only proves their connection to Satan.
We can know this, because God’s true followers are obedient to His laws.
“If
those through whom cures are performed are disposed, on account of these
manifestations, to excuse 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.”—2 Selected Messages,
50:4-51:0
5 -
The truths of the Bible are of greater importance than miracles performed in
your sight. Never forget that.
“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.”—2 Selected Messages, 48:2.
6 -
Only by Scripture will we be able to correctly identify the counterfeit when it
appears.
“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.”—Great Controversy, 593:1.
7 -
The people of God will not be misled when the time comes for the wondrous
delusions of Satan to be manifest.
“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…
“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.”—Great Controversy, 624:1, 625:1.
DEMONS
WILL APPEAR AS MEN
1 - Miracles
and healings will occur and Satan will appear as an angel. The spirits will
respect the institutions of the churches.
Because
the devils are not concerned about corruption in organizational leaders,
structures, committees, and their activities, they will be welcomed for the
power they bring. Otherwise they might have been feared and shunned by church,
business, and political leaders.
“As
spiritualism more closely imitates the nominal Christianity of the day, it has
greater power to deceive and ensnare. Satan himself is converted, after
the modern order of things. He will appear in the character of an angel of
light. Through the agency of spiritualism, miracles will be wrought, the
sick will be healed, and many undeniable wonders will be performed. And as
the spirits will profess faith in the Bible, and manifest respect for the
institutions of the church, their work will be accepted as a manifestation
of divine power.”—Great Controversy, 588:2.
2 -
Healings and miracles will be performed in the presence of God’s people in order
to counteract their message before others and, hopefully, to overcome them.
“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?”—1 Testimonies, 302:2.
3 -
Agents of Satan will, “by casting a spell,” bring sickness upon people and then
work an apparent miracle by removing it.
“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.”—2 Selected Messages, 53:2.
“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. These works of apparent healing will bring
Seventh-day Adventists to the test.”—2 Selected Messages, 53:3.
4 -
Both Satan and his devils will appear in human form as living people.
“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.”—8 Manuscript Releases, 399
(1903).
5 -
These demons will converse with God’s people, and will try to convince others
that God’s people have a wrong message, a wrong faith.
“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.”—3
Selected Messages, 411:1-2.
6 -
Devils in human form will even become workers in our denomination, and will
speak in our meetings. We will be able to identify those who might be such
spirits, because they will urge our people to disbelieve our historic message.
(The following statement indicates it is discussing a present, as well as a
future, event!)
“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 Mind, Character, and
Personality, 504:3-505:0.
7 -
Satan will use all conceivable methods to ruin God’s people; for he already
controls so many others in the world.
“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 who can ever withstand him, and even these he is
trying to overcome.”—3 Selected Messages, 389:3.
8 -
Spirits of devils, and their human agents, will work to convert leaders and people
throughout the world to the grand new movement. They will perform healing
miracles and say they have divine revelations.
“Fearful
sights of a supernatural character will soon be revealed in the heavens, in
token of the power of miracle-working demons. The spirits of devils will go
forth to the kings of the earth and to the whole world, to fasten them in
deception, and urge them on to unite with Satan in his last struggle
against the government of heaven. By these agencies, rulers and subjects will
be alike deceived. 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.”—Great
Controversy, 624:1.
9 -
Spirits of devils will teach heresies and work miracles.
“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. We must be prepared to withstand them with the Bible truth
that the dead know not anything, and that they who thus appear are the spirits
of devils.”—Great Controversy, 560:1.
10 -
The world is already teetering on the brink of wholesale perversion and
apostasy. By accepting spiritism and spiritist
teachings, the world will have its morality destroyed.
“As
the teachings of spiritualism are accepted by the churches, the
restraint imposed upon the carnal heart is removed, and the profession of religion
will become a cloak to conceal the basest iniquity. A belief in spiritual
manifestations opens the door to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and
thus the influence of evil angels will be felt in the churches.”—Great
Controversy, 603:2-604:0.
11 -
The churches will not be able to withstand the inroads of spiritism. (This
would be because of their acceptance of the belief of innate, unconditional
immortality.)
“The
popular ministry cannot successfully resist spiritualism. They have
nothing wherewith to shield their flocks from its baleful influence. Much of
the sad result of spiritualism will rest upon ministers of this age; for they
have trampled the truth under their feet, and in its stead have preferred
fables.”—1 Testimonies, 344:1.
THE
DEAD WILL APPARENTLY APPEAR
1 -
Devils will personate departed saints and sinners, so that they will appear to
have returned from 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.”—Evangelism,
604:3.
“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.”—Last Day
Events, 161:3.
2 -
Devils will come in the form of departed loved ones in order to deceive people.
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.”—Story of Redemption, 398:1.
3 -
Through these appearances, Satan will captivate and paralyze the thinking of
many religious, professional, and political leaders. He will then use them to
deceive still others.
“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…
“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.”—Upward Look, 317:6.
HEATHEN
DEITIES WILL APPEAR AS INCARNATE
Well-known
heathen deities (Buddha, Mohammed, Tao, Confucius, local devil gods, etc.) will
appear to have returned to our world. They will exhibit great power. (We can be
sure that such appearances will be used to advocate Sundaykeeping
and will powerfully open the non-Christian nations to the counterfeit latter
rain that is spreading across the world.)
“As
we near the close of time, there will be greater and still greater external
parade of heathen power; heathen deities will manifest their signal power, and
will exhibit themselves before the cities of the world; and this
delineation has already begun to be fulfilled.”—Testimonies to Ministers,
117:5-118:0.
SATAN
PROMISES A MILLENNIUM OF HAPPINESS
As
the excitement heightens to fever pitch, it will be declared that the entire
world is about to be converted and the long-promised millennium of happiness is
about to begin.
“Papists,
Protestants, and worldlings will alike accept the
form of godliness without the power, and they will see in this union a grand
movement for the conversion of the world and the ushering in of the
long-expected millennium.”—Great Controversy 588:3-589:0.
SATAN
WILL BRING TERRIBLE DISASTERS
1 -
Through spiritism, Satan will appear as a healer with a better system of
religion while, at the same time, he is destroying lives through intemperance
and warfare, as well as through natural disasters which he has power to cause.
“Through
spiritualism Satan appears as a benefactor of the race, healing the diseases
of the people and professing to present a new and more exalted system of
religious faith; but at the same time he
works as a destroyer. His temptations are leading multitudes to ruin.
Intemperance dethrones reason; sensual indulgence, strife, and bloodshed
follow. Satan delights in war; for it excites the worst passions of the
soul, and then sweeps into eternity its victims, steeped in vice and blood. It
is his object to incite the nations to war against one another; for he can thus
divert the minds of the people from the work of preparation to stand in the day
of God.
2 -
At the same time that Satan is appearing among men as a great healer, he is
bringing terrible disasters so serious that large cities are being destroyed.
“While
appearing to the children of men as a great physician who can heal all
their maladies, he will bring disease and disaster, until populous cities
are reduced to ruin and desolation.”—Great Controversy, 589:3.
3 -
In all of this, Satan’s objective is to blame the commandment-keeping people of
God as the cause of
the disasters.
“And
then the great deceiver will persuade men that those who serve God are causing
these evils. The class that have provoked the displeasure of Heaven will charge
all their troubles upon those whose obedience to God’s commandments is a
perpetual reproof to trangressors. It will be
declared that men are offending God by the violation of the Sunday-sabbath;
that this sin has brought calamities which will not cease until Sunday
observance shall be strictly enforced; and that those who present the claims of
the fourth commandment, thus destroying reverence for Sunday, are troublers of
the people, preventing their restoration to divine favor and temporal
prosperity.”—Great Controversy, 590:1.
- 8 -
SATAN PERSONATES CHRIST
In
the book, Great Controversy, there are two mentions of Satan’s personation of
Christ. The first is found on pages 588-589, and refers to a time before the
close of probation. The second is found in chapter 39 (pages 624-625)—but it
occurs within a flashback section. That flashback occurs from page 620:2
through page 626:0.
Before
and after that flashback, we are told about Jacob’s trouble and the agonizing
experience of God’s people just before their deliverance by the Voice of God.
Thus
it would appear that the second mention of Satan’s personation of Christ, in
Great Controversy, actually refers to his appearance prior to the close of
probation. Of course, Satan may also appear after the close of probation. The
crucial point here is that Satan definitely will appear before the close of
probation while the faithful are giving the loud cry—and that is when it
clearly begins.
Note Dejan: Truly, Satan will appear before probation closes. The
Bible tells us he will personify Christ when the two witnesses finish their
testimony which last for 1260 days, or 3 and a half years AFTER Sunday law is
legislated.
[Rev
11:3 KJV] And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall
prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in
sackcloth.
[Rev
11:7 KJV] And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against
them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
Endnote.
In
order to understand this for yourself, carefully read GC 621:2-625:1. Here is
the arrangement of this flashback:
Jacob’s
trouble (GC 615:2-620:1).
—Flashback
begins—
The
preparation we should now be making (GC 620:2-623:3). Satan will soon begin
presenting fearful sights of a supernatural nature to us, and will work
miracles (GC 624:1). Satan will personate Christ (GC 624:2-625:2). We must now
prepare for what is soon to come when Satan will appear as Christ and tell the
people they should keep Sunday instead of the Sabbath (GC 625:3-626:0).
—Flashback
ends—
More
on the Jacob’s trouble crisis, brought on by the death decree (GC 626:1-627:1).
The plagues are poured out (GC 627:2, etc.).
1 -
Satan will personate Christ.
“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 has rejected the truth will
receive him as the Lord of lords and King of kings.”—5 Bible Commentary,
1105/2:4- 1106/1:0.
2 -
This dazzling being will appear in different parts of the world.
“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 Revelation.
Revelation 1:13-15.”—Great Controversy, 624:2.
“The
glory that surrounds him [Satan] 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. Like the Samaritans who were deceived by
Simon Magus, the multitudes, from the least to the greatest, give heed to these
sorceries, saying: This is ‘the great power of God.’ Acts 8:10.
“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.”—Great Controversy, 624:2- 625:1.
3 -
He is not permitted to counterfeit Christ’s coming in the skies with glory and
thousands of angels.
“And,
furthermore, Satan is not permitted to counterfeit the manner of Christ’s
advent. The Saviour has warned His people against deception upon this
point, and has clearly foretold the manner of His second coming. ‘There shall
arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall
show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall
deceive the very elect… Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in
the desert; go not forth: behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
For as the lightening cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.’ Matthew
24:24-27, 31; 25:31; Revelation 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. This coming
there is no possibility of counterfeiting. It will be universally known—witnessed
by the whole world.
Note Dejan: Satan will try his best to deceive the very elect.
We MUST believe and know that Christ WILL NOT TOUCH THE GROUND at the second
coming because we will be caught up to meet him in the air:
[1Th
4:17 KJV] Then we
which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:
and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Endnote.
“Only
those who have been diligent students of the Scriptures and who have received
the love of the truth will be shielded from the powerful delusion that takes
the world captive. By the Bible testimony these will detect the deceiver in his
disguise. To all the testing time will come. By the sifting of temptation the genuine Christian will
be revealed. Are the people of God so firmly established upon His Word that
they would not yield to the evidence of their senses? Would they, in such a
crisis, cling to the Bible and the Bible only? Satan will, if possible, prevent
them from obtaining a preparation to stand in that day. He will so arrange
affairs as to hedge up their way, entangle them with earthly treasures, cause
them to carry a heavy, wearisome burden, that their hearts may be overcharged
with the cares of this life and the day of trial may come upon them as a
thief.”—Great Controversy, 625:2- 626:0.
-
3 - SATAN WILL PERSONATE CHRIST
There
are two mentions, in Great Controversy, of Satan’s appearance as a counterfeit
Christ. It is significant that each mention of these appearances speaks of
Satan’s appeals to the people to hallow Sunday. Such appeals would more
fittingly be given before probation closes, while men and women are still
making their decision. However, in Great Controversy, it would appear that his
personations are mentioned both before and after the general close of probation
(GC 561- 562 and 624-625). Thus it seems certain that
some of these almost overmastering appearances will occur BEFORE probation
ends, during the time of the marking, sealing, and loud cry. (Later in this
study, we will analyze the second passage [GC 624-625] in greater detail.)
The
quotations indicate that the appearance of Satan occurs after the U.S. National
Sunday Law and before all the rest of the world has enacted it. It appears that
Satan’s personal appearances will help convince the non-Christian nations to
unite in the fevered Sunday-law excitement that first grips America and, then,
Europe. The sequence would be as follows: (1) The threefold union begins
forming; (2) the National Sunday Law is enacted; (3) the marvelous working of
Satan begins, culminating in the appearance of Satan as an angel of light who
claims to be Christ. (4) Astonished at these occurrences (including the
appearance of pagan non-Christian deities), other nations pass National Sunday
Laws.
Satan’s
personation as Christ, along with satanic miracle working by his agents, will
raise the enthusiasm about the Sunday law to a frenzy and carry that emotional
high pitch into all other nations of earth, leading them to enact their own
National Sunday Laws.
The
following quotations, in addition, reveal that, when Satan personates, he will
appear as a glorious angel claiming to be Christ Himself, not a mere man
claiming to be a last-day “Christ.”
1
- Sequence: According to 5 Testimonies, 451, first will come the threefold
union, then the National Sunday Law, and then the marvelous working of Satan.
“By
the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of
God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism
shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power,
when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism,
when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall
repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican
government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal
falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the
marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near.”—5 Testimonies, 451:1.
2
- Sequence: According to Testimonies to Ministers, 62, first is the appearance
of Satan and, then, the law of God will be made void throughout all nations.
“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].”—Testimonies to Ministers, 62:1.
3
- Satan will appear to the Christian world and to those who have not yet
decided for Sundaykeeping as the returned Christ. He
will also appear to Sabbathkeepers and pretend to be
the returned Christ.
The
next quotation indicates that Satan will appear to be Christ near the latter
part of the loud cry period as “one last desperate effort” to deceive the
entire world.
In
this crisis, the only safety for Sabbathkeepers will
be in obedience to the Word of God; for Satan’s message will always be one of
disobedience to that Word.
“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.
“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.’
“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.’
“There
was one object before the praying ones—the final and eternal salvation of their
souls. This object 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…
“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.”—Last Day Events, 164:1- 165:1.
SATAN
WANTS TO DECEIVE AND CONTROL THE WORLD
1
- One of Satan’s objectives in his appearance is to deceive the Christian
world.
“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.”—8 Manuscript Releases, 346:1 (1901).
2
- Men will be astounded by Satan’s appearance as Christ. They will deify him.
That culminating act of apostasy will be the last step in fully eliminating
obedience to God’s law by all but the faithful. Not long after this, the
general close of probation will occur and the plagues will begin falling.
“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.’
”—Testimonies to Ministers, 62:1.
BOTH
SATAN AND HIS ANGELS WILL APPEAR
1
- Both Satan and His angels will appear on earth as men, seeking to deceive the
world. In that hour of crisis, holy angels will also appear in human form.
“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.”—8 Manuscript Releases, 399:1
(1903).
2
- Satan will appear, surrounded by his angels. He will work miracles of all
kinds in the hope of deceiving God’s people, not only the people of the world.
“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.”—9 Testimonies,
16:1.
3
- This special masterpiece of deception will be taken to the entire world, and
will captivate most men.
“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.”—2 Selected Messages, 96:1.
“Satan
has long been preparing for his final effort to deceive the world. The
foundation of his work was laid by the assurance given to Eve in Eden: ‘Ye
shall not surely die.’ ‘In the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be
opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.’ Little by little he
has prepared the way for his masterpiece of deception in the development of
spiritualism. He has not yet reached the full accomplishment of his designs;
but it will be reached in the last remnant of time. Says the prophet: ‘I
saw three unclean spirits like frogs… they are the spirits of devils, working
miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world,
to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.’ Except those
who are kept by the power of God, through faith in His Word, the whole world
will be swept into the ranks of this delusion. The people are fast being
lulled to a fatal security, to be awakened only by the outpouring of the wrath
of God.”—Great Controversy, 561:2-562:0.
4
- The world that has rejected the truth will receive him.
“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 has rejected the truth will receive
him as the Lord of lords and King of kings.”—5 Bible Commentary, 1105/2:4-
1106/1:0.
SATAN
WILL BE AGAINST GOD’S LAW
1
- Disguised as Christ, Satan will speak and do good, but will reveal his true
character by turning the people against obedience to God’s law.
“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.”—Fundamentals of Christian Education, 471:3-472:0.
2 -
He will declare to men that the Sabbath has been changed to Sunday.
“He
will declare that the Sabbath has been changed from the seventh to the first
day of the week; and as lord of the first day of the week he will present this
spurious sabbath as a test of loyalty to him.”— Maranatha, 205:4.
Note:
Three facts will identify him as the antichrist: (1) his hatred of God’s law,
which is shown by his urging of the people to keep Sunday holy; (2) his hatred
of those who obey God’s law, which is shown by his accusations against them and
his call for the world to persecute them; and (3) his inability to come in the
manner in which Christ will return the second time.
HE
CANNOT IMITATE THE SECOND ADVENT
Satan
will not be permitted to imitate the manner of Christ’s return in great power
and with large numbers of angels. (Instead, all he can do is to appear suddenly
on the earth, walk around, disappear, and then reappear elsewhere on the earth
as he gives his teachings and works miracles.)
“Satan
is not permitted to counterfeit the manner of Christ’s advent.”—Great
Controversy, 625:2.
“He
[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.”—6 Bible Commentary, 1105/ 2:5-1106/1:0.
HE
WILL PERSONALLY WORK MIRACLES
1 -
To the degree to which he is permitted, he will perform both counterfeit and
actual miracles to convince men that he is the Christ.
“So
far as his power extends, he will perform actual miracles. Says the
Scripture: ‘He… deceiveth them that dwell on the
earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do,’ not merely
those which he pretends to do. Something more than mere impostures is brought
to view in this scripture. But 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.”—5 Testimonies, 698:1.
2 -
Personating Christ, he will work miracles and be worshiped. But the faithful
will declare him to be Satan.
“He
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.”—Maranatha,
206:6.
“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?”—2 Selected
Messages, 394:4.
3 -
Claiming to be Christ, he will work miracles in the sight of the faithful. Only
those clinging to Scripture will not be deluded.
“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.”—7 Bible
Commentary, 911/1:3.
SATAN
WILL BRING DOWN FIRE
1 -
Claiming to be Christ, Satan will heal and bring down fire.
“You
know that 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. We must stand
barricaded by the truths of the Bible. The canopy of truth is the only canopy
under which we can stand safely.”—Medical Ministry, 87:5-88:0.
2 -
Satan will bring fire down from the sky.
“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?”—2 Selected Messages, 49:3.
“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.”—2 Selected Messages, 51:2.
“It
is stated in the Word that the enemy will work through his agents who have
departed from the faith, and they will seemingly work miracles, even to the bringing
down of fire out of heaven in the sight of men.”—2 Selected Messages, 54:0.
“‘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.”—Great Controversy, 553:2.
Note:
Elsewhere we are told that Satan’s healing miracles are illusions, caused by
casting spells and then removing them, and that his other miracles are also
delusional, and not genuine. In 2 Selected Messages, 54, quoted above, he will
“seemingly” work miracles, such as bringing down fire. So
it is not real fire. In view of such consistent witness, perhaps the Great
Controversy, 553, paragraph (quoted immediately above) means this: Satan and
his agents will have almost overmastering power to actually deceive by what
actually appears to the eye to be actual wonders (rather than by obvious
sleight-of-hand or mere trickeries).
5
Testimonies 698:1 explains the above statement in Great Controversy, 553:2:
“Something
more than mere impostures is brought to view in this scripture. But 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.”—5
Testimonies, 698:1.
And
here is another statement:
“Those
who look for miracles as a sign of divine guidance are
in danger of deception. It is stated in the Word that the enemy will work
through his agents who have departed from the faith, and they will seemingly
work miracles, even to the bringing down of fire out of heaven in the sight
of men. By means of ‘lying wonders’ Satan would deceive, if possible, the
very elect.”— 3 Selected Messages, 408:4-409:0.
HE
WILL DECEIVE ALL EXCEPT THE FAITHFUL
1 -
He will misrepresent, pervert, and misapply.
“Satan
will take the field and personate Christ. He will misrepresent, misapply,
and pervert everything he possibly can.”—Testimonies to Ministers, 411:2.
2 -
This false Christ will deceive all except those solidly founded in Scripture.
“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.”—8
Testimonies, 28:0.
“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.”—6 Bible Commentary, 1106/2:1.
3 -
Satan’s healings, miracles, and lying wonders will deceive all but those
obedient to God’s Word.
“Some
will be tempted to receive these wonders as from God. 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? Will not many souls be ensnared and taken? By
departing from the plain precepts and commandments of God, and giving heed to
fables, the minds of many are preparing to receive these lying wonders. We must
all now seek to arm ourselves for the contest in which we must soon engage. Faith
in God’s Word, prayerfully studied and practically applied, will be our
shield from Satan’s power and will bring us off conquerors through the blood of
Christ.”—Maranatha, 208:6.
4 - His
lying wonders, fire from the sky, and miracles will captivate nearly the whole
world.
“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.”—2 Selected Messages, 51:2.
Will
you be prepared to stand up and declare that this beautiful being with the
pleasing voice and angelic brilliance is none other than Satan?
SPIRITUALISM
Few
Have Any Idea of the Superhuman Power that Will Work through Spiritualism to
Capture the World.—“Spiritualism
is about to take the world captive. There are many who think that spiritualism
is upheld through trickery and imposture, but this is far from the truth.
Superhuman power is working in a variety of ways, and few have any idea as to
what will be the manifestations of spiritualism in the future.
The
Falsehood of Natural Immortality Has Laid the Foundation for Spiritualism’s Success.—“The
foundations for the success of spiritualism has been laid in the assertions
that have been made from the pulpits of our land. The ministers have proclaimed
as Bible doctrines falsehoods that have originated with the archdeceiver. The
doctrine of consciousness after death, of the spirits of the dead being in
communion with the living, has no foundation in the Scriptures, and yet these
theories are affirmed as truth. Through this false doctrine, the way is opened
for the spirits of devils to deceive the people in representing themselves as
the dead. Satanic agencies personate the dead and thus bring souls into
captivity. Satan has a religion. He has a synagogue of devoted worshipers. To
swell the ranks of his devotees, he uses all manner of deception.
As
Men Reject the Truth and God’s Spirit Is Withdrawn, Satan Will Work More Openly.—“The
signs and wonders of spiritualism will become more and more pronounced as the
professed Christian world reject the plainly revealed truth of the Word of God
and refuse to be guided by a plain, ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ accepting instead
the doctrines and the commandments of men. Through rejecting light and truth,
many are deciding their destiny for eternal death, and as men reject truth, the
Spirit of God will gradually withdraw itself from the earth, and the prince of
this world will have more and more control over his subjects. He will show
great signs and wonders as credentials of his divine claims, and through
spiritualism will work against Christ and His agencies.”—Undated Manuscript,
66, 1-6 (“Signs and Wonders of Spiritualism. See also Ev
602-603).
LYING
WONDERS AND MIRACLES
Satan’s
Lying Wonders and Corrupt Harmony among His Followers.—“We
must be waiting and watching and working diligently that Satan may not
preoccupy the field and bring the issue upon us before our work is done. Satan
has his work all prepared that through his lying wonders he may deceive the
world. He will bind men in bundles and claim that [the] world is on his side. A
corrupt union will exist among the wicked of the earth, and men will be banded
together to trample down the standard of righteousness—to please Satan and his
evil angels, and to gratify a world at enmity with God and His law.”—Letter 1,
1875 (to “Dear Brother,” October 12, 1875).
Satan
Deceives by Apparently Healing Those Whom He Has Tormented.—“The
Word of God declares that when it suits the enemy’s purpose, he will through
his agencies manifest so great power under a pretense of Christianity that, ‘if
it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect’ (Matt. 24:24). The enemy
is revealed in persons whom he has given power to work miracles. He creates
sorrow and suffering and disease. Seeming to change his attributes, he
apparently heals those whom he himself has tormented.”— Manuscript 125, 1901,
6-9, 12-14, 21 (“The Unchangeable Law of God,” December 9, 1901).
Wonderful
Scenes with which Satan Will Be Closely Connected Will Soon Take Place.—“The
time will come, Christ tells us, when many deceivers will go forth declaring
themselves to be Christ. The Saviour says, ‘Go ye not .
. after them’ (Luke 21:8). We need not be deceived. 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.”—Letter 57, 1904 (“To Our Leading
Medical Workers,” November 12, 1903).
How
Men Under the Influence of Evil Spirits Will Work Miracles.—“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.”—Letter 259, 1903 (to “Dear Sister Hall,” November
23, 1903. See also 2 SM 350-353).
If We
Watch and Obey.—“Temptations
will come, but if we watch against the enemy, and maintain the balance of
self-control and purity, the seducing spirits will not be able to obtain one
jot of influence over us. In the future you will see good reasons for the
warnings given in regard to seducing spirits.”—Letter 211, 1905 (to J.E. White,
July 22, 1905).
Apostates
Will Go to Great Lengths in Departing from God.—“The
Lord is in earnest with us. In His Word He has declared that many shall depart
from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. They
will go to great lengths in departing from God… Satan is wide awake, and he
will lose no opportunity to bind men and women to his plans, and to fasten them
in such a way that before they are aware of it, they will find a yoke of
bondage upon them.”—Manuscript 122, 1905, 2-3, 5-6 (“A Solemn Appeal,” August
1905. See also PM 174-175).
Satan’s
Throne Is in this World.—“The
seat or throne of Satan is in this world, and students of prophecy are to be
fully awake regarding the powers they are to meet…
Satan’s
Power Will Be Manifested as a Wonderful Blessing to the Race.—“There
are those who greatly desire power, and who will use inventions that Satan
places in their hands to gain power. The evil [one] has acquired wonderful
power, and this power will be manifested as apparently a most wonderful
blessing to the race.”—Manuscript 78, 1905, 6 (“A Message to Believers,” n.d.
1905).
By
Exercising Faith and Prayer, We May Call Heavenly Angels to Our Side.—“We
are warned that in these last days satanic influences will work with such power
that, if it were possible, they would deceive even the very elect. But living
amid these opposing forces, we may, through the exercise of faith and prayer,
call to our side a retinue of heavenly angels, who will guard us from every
corrupting influence. The workers who make the Word of God their guide, will walk
in the light of the Lord, and be safe.”—Letter 248, 1907 (to J.E. White and
wife, August 16, 1907).
God
Will Distinguish with the Marks of His Favor Those Who Submit to be Molded by
His Spirit.—
“In this age, a time of satanic wonders, everything conceivable will be said
and done to deceive, if possible, the very elect. Let believers say nothing to
extol Satan’s power. The Lord will distinguish His commandmentkeeping
people with signal marks of His favor, if they will be molded and fashioned by
His Spirit, and built up in the most holy faith, hearkening strictly to the
Voice of His Word.”—Letter 195, 1903 (to W.C. White, September 6, 1903).
God
Promises Deliverance from the Hour of Temptation.—“There
are severe trials before every one of us, yet we need not fail. In the hour of
temptation Christ will not leave His children, but will send His angels to
minister unto them. He will answer their prayers for deliverance…
If We
Will Grasp the Power that Christ Offers.—
“Satan knows that his time is short, and he will put forth every effort in his
power to destroy our faith in God and in His Word . . But if we will grasp the
power that Christ offers, seeking the Lord diligently, and watching unto
prayer, we shall have all power and wisdom to meet the attacks of the enemy.
The
Time Has Come to Take Our Stand Positively on Christ’s Side.—“Many
of our people do not seem to realize that the time has come for everyone to
take his stand positively on the side of Jesus Christ and the heavenly angels.
By their indifference, by carelessness in word and act, they leave themselves
open to the molding influence of the enemy. They seem asleep as regards to the
issues that are now before the world.”—Manuscript 35, 1908, 2, 3, 6-8, 11-12
(“Conflict and Victory,” a sermon preached in Oakland, California, March 7,
1908).
Satan,
Posing as an Intellectual, Insinuates Himself into Circles of the
Intelligentsia through Spiritualism.—“Satan personated the serpent
in Eden, regarding this creature as the best adapted for his line of temptations.
Satan has been increasing in skillful methods by constantly practicing upon the
human mind. It is his one purpose to complete the work that he began in Eden,
and work the ruin of mankind. Through his mysterious workings he can insinuate
himself into the circles of the most educated and refined, for he was once an
exalted being, in a high position of responsibility among the heavenly hosts.
It is a mistake to represent him as a being with hoofs and horns, for he is
still a fallen angel. He is capable of mingling the highest intellectual
greatness with basest cruelty and most debasing corruption. If he had not this
power, many who are charmed with his attractive representations and taken
captive by his delusions would escape his snares.
Why
It Is Not Surprising to Find a Species of Refinement in Those Inspired by
Fallen Angels.—
“In his synagogue Satan brings under his scepter and into his councils those
agents whom he can use to promote his worship. It is not a strange matter to
find a species of refinement, and a manifestation of intellectual greatness in
the lives and characters of those who are inspired by fallen angels. Satan can
impart scientific knowledge and give men chapters upon philosophy. He is
conversant with history and versed in worldly wisdom.
Worldly
Men Claim to Possess Higher, Grander Intellects than Christ Had.—“Almost
every phase of talent is now being brought into captivity to the prince of the
power of darkness. Worldly minded men, because they wish to exalt themselves,
have separated from God, do not love to retain God in their knowledge, for they
claim to possess a higher, grander intellect than that of Jesus Christ. Satan
envies Christ, and makes the claim that he is entitled to a higher position
than the Commander of heaven. His self-exaltation led him to despise the law of
God, and resulted in his expulsion from heaven.
Satan
Has Manifested His Character through the Papacy.—“Through
the papacy he has manifested his character and wrought out the principles of
his government.
“Satan
will use his agencies to carry out diabolical devices, to overpower the saints
of God as in time past he used the Roman power to stay the course of Protestantism.
Yet the people of God can look calmly at the whole array of evil and come to
the triumphant conclusion that, because Christ lives, we shall live also. The
people of God are to advance in the same spirit in which Jesus met the assaults
of the prince of darkness in the past. The evil confederacy can advance only in
the course that Jesus Christ has marked out before them. Every step of their
advance brings the saints of God nearer the great white throne, nearer the
successful termination of their warfare.”—Undated Manuscript 66, 1-6 (“Signs
and Wonders of Spiritualism.” See also Ev 602- 603).
SATANIC
APPEARANCES
He
Comes as a Beautiful Angel.—“Satan
comes down as a beautiful angel, and presents lovely pictures before the eyes
of those who have so perverted their ways before God that they do not see what
they are or know what they need. The enemy has come down with great power, to
work with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish.”—Letter
259, 1903 (to “Dear Sister Hall,” November 23, 1903. See also 7 BC 35, 383; 2
SM 350-351).
In
the Final Conflict Satan Comes, Not Only as a Roaring Lion, but Also as a Seducer.—“We
need to understand what we are to meet and how we are to meet it. We must know
what efforts we are to make, so that in this perilous time we shall not be
taken by the enemy’s devices. We know that the last great conflict will be
Satan’s most determined effort to accomplish his purpose. He will come, not
only as a roaring lion, but as a seducer, clothing sin with beautiful garments
of light, that he may take human beings in his snare.”— Manuscript 46, 1904,
1-3, 6-8 (“The Foundation of Our Faith,” a talk given at Berrien Springs,
Michigan, May 18, 1904).
Evil
Angels in Human Form Will Present Glowing Representations.—“Satan
has his allies in men, and evil angels in human form will appear to men, and
present before them such glowing representations of what they will be able to
do, if they will only heed their suggestions, [so] that often they [ex] change
their penitence for defiance.”—Manuscript 122, 1905, 2-3, 5-6 (“A Solemn
Appeal,” August 1905).
SATANIC
INFLUENCE
Angels
Preserve the World from Destruction because Some Have Never Yet Heard the Message.—
“God’s angels are preserving the world from destruction, because there are some
who have never yet heard the message of truth…
Those
Who act a Part in Spiritualistic Deceptions Will Become as Mad Men When Their
Deceptions Are Exposed.—“The
development of these last days will soon become decided. When these
spiritualistic deceptions are revealed to be what they really are, the secret
workings of evil spirits, those who have acted a part in them will become as
men who have lost their minds.
“The
world is to be flooded with specious fallacies. One human mind, accepting these
fallacies, will work upon other human minds who have been turning the precious
evidence of God’s truth into a lie. These men will be deceived by fallen
angels, when they should have stood as faithful guardians, watching for souls
as they that must give an account. They have laid down the weapons of their
warfare, and have given heed to seducing spirits. They make of no effect the
counsel of God, and set aside His warnings and reproofs, and are positively on
Satan’s side, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils…
Through
Satan’s Cunning Device the Forms of the Dead Will Appear.—“History
is to be repeated . . 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… Right among us some men 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.
Some
Who Have Been Deceived Will Repent and Be Converted.—“Some
who have been deceived by men in responsible places will repent and be
converted. And in all our dealings with them, we must remember that none of
those who are in the depth of Satan’s snare know that they are there.”—Letter
311, 1905 (to A.G. Daniells, W.W. Prescott, and their
associates, October 30, 1905. See also Ev 122, 180;
UL 317).
Satan’s
Angels Are Mingling with Men.—“Satan
is using his science in playing the game of life for human souls. His angels
are mingling with men, and instructing them in the mysteries of evil. These
fallen angels will draw away disciples after them, will talk with men, and will
set forth principles that are as false as can be, leading souls into paths of
deception. These angels are to be found all over the world, presenting the
wonderful things that will soon appear in a more decided light.”—Manuscript
145, 1905, 4 (“Diary,” October 31, 1905).
We
are rapidly nearing the end of time. Evidences are all about us. Prepare for
what is coming! Warn others. Tell them the only shelter will be found in Christ
and, through His enabling grace, in obedience to His holy Ten Commandment Law.
Link of
the original: http://www.sdadefend.com/Spiritualism-invasion/SatanPersonation.pdf
Important
conclusions:
§ Revival
of primitive godliness is caused by the Latter Rain. 'This refreshing from the
presence of the Lord' will start the Loud Cry.
§ Before
that occurs, Satan introduces a counterfeit.
§ The
counterfeit is a fanatical movement that will mix
error with truth to mislead people. It will neglect plain Bible truths and lose
sight of God's holy law.
§ Our
duty is to enlighten others and warn them of all that is to come. If
we do not lift up our voices to sigh and cry for these abominations
done in the church, we will not receive the seal of the living God.
In the
name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
Dejan
Meznarić