Satan Personates Christ
The enemy is preparing to deceive the whole world by his miracle-working power. He willassume to personate the angels of light, to personate Jesus Christ.--2SM 96 (1894).
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 beChrist when it is only Satan assuming the person of Christ, and apparently working theworks of Christ?--2SM 394 (1897).
Satan will take the field and personate Christ. He will misrepresent, misapply, andpervert everything he possibly can.--TM 411 (1898).
A power from beneath is working to bring about the last great scenes in thedrama--Satan coming as Christ, and working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness inthose who are binding themselves together in secret societies.--8T 28 (1904).
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Satan Resembles Christ in Every Particular
There is a limit beyond which Satan cannot go, and here he calls deception to his aidand counterfeits the work which he has not power actually to perform. In the last days hewill appear in such a manner as to make men believe him to be Christ come the second timeinto the world. He will indeed transform himself into an angel of light. But while he willbear the appearance of Christ in every particular, so far as mere appearance goes, it willdeceive none but those who, like Pharaoh, are seeking to resist the truth.--5T 698 (1889).
As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personateChrist. The church has long professed to look to the Saviour's advent as the consummationof her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. Indifferent parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being ofdazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in theRevelation. (Rev. 1:13-15). The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything thatmortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air: "Christ hascome! Christ has come!"
The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his handsand pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His disciples when He was upon theearth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle, compassionate toneshe presents some of the same gracious, heavenly
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truths which the Saviour uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in hisassumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commandsall to hallow the day which he has blessed.--GC 624 (1911).
Satan Pretends to Answer the Saints' Prayers
Satan sees that he is about to lose his case. He cannot sweep in the whole world. Hemakes one last desperate effort to overcome the faithful by deception. He does this inpersonating Christ. He clothes himself with the garments of royalty which have beenaccurately described in the vision of John. He has power to do this. He will appear to hisdeluded followers, the Christian world who received not the love of the truth but hadpleasure 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, majesticbeing clothed with majesty and, with soft voice and pleasant words, with glory unsurpassedby anything their mortal eyes had yet beheld. Then his deceived, deluded followers set upa shout of victory, "Christ has come the second time! Christ has come! He has liftedup 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 theirsouls. This object
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was before them constantly--that immortal life was promised to those who endure untothe end. Oh, how earnest and fervent had been their desires. The judgement and eternitywere in view. Their eyes by faith were fixed on the blazing throne, before which thewhite-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 cryfor Christ to come, for Christ to deliver them. This last strategy is to personate Christ,and make them think their prayers are answered.--Ms 16, 1884.
How the Counterfeit Differs From the Genuine
Satan is not permitted to counterfeit the manner of Christ's advent.--GC 625 (1911).
Satan . . . will come personating Jesus Christ, working mighty miracles; and men willfall 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 warnedus against just such a foe, who is man's worst enemy, yet who claims to be God, and thatwhen Christ shall make His appearance it will be with power and great glory, accompaniedby ten thousand times ten thousand angels and thousands of thousands, and that when Heshall come we shall know His voice.--6BC 1106 (1888).
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Satan is striving to gain every advantage. . . .Disguised as an angel of light, he willwalk 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. Buton one point there will be a marked distinction--Satan will turn the people from the lawof God. Notwithstanding this, so well will he counterfeit righteousness that, if it werepossible, he would deceive the very elect. Crowned heads, presidents, rulers in highplaces, will bow to his false theories.--FE 471, 472 (1897).
Miracles Will Be Performed
The sick will be healed before us. Miracles will be performed in our sight. Are weprepared for the trial which awaits us when the lying wonders of Satan shall be more fullyexhibited?--1T 302 (1862).
Men under the influence of evil spirits will work miracles. They will make people sickby casting their spell upon them, and will then remove the spell, leading others to saythat those who were sick have been miraculously healed. This Satan has done again andagain.--2SM 53 (1903).
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 willsuddenly remove from them his satanic power. They will then be regarded as healed.
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These works of apparent healing will bring Seventh-day Adventists to the test.--2SM 53(1904).
Satan can, through a species of deceptions, perform wonders that will appear to begenuine miracles. It was this he hoped to make a test question with the Israelites at thetime of their deliverance from Egypt.--2SM 52 (1907).
Fire From Heaven
We must not trust the claims of men. They may, as Christ represents, profess to workmiracles in healing the sick. Is this marvellous, when just behind them stands the greatdeceiver, the miracle worker who will yet bring down fire from heaven in the sight ofmen?--2SM 49 (1887).
It is the lying wonders of the devil that will take the world captive, and he willcause fire to come down from heaven in the sight of men. He is to work miracles, and thiswonderful, miracle-working power is to sweep in the whole world.--2SM 51 (1890).
Satan will come in to deceive if possible the very elect. He claims to be Christ, andhe is coming in, pretending to be the great medical missionary. He will cause fire to comedown from heaven in the sight of men to prove that he is God.--MM 87, 88 (1903).
It is stated in the Word that the enemy will work through his agents who have departedfrom the faith,
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and they will seemingly work miracles, even to the bringing down of fire out of heavenin the sight of men.--2SM 54 (1907).
"He doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earthin the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of thosemiracles which he had power to do" (Rev. 13:13, 14). No mere impostures are hereforetold. Men are deceived by the miracles which Satan's agents have power to do, notwhich they pretend to do.--GC 553 (1911).
Satan Will Be Deified
In this age antichrist will appear as the true Christ, and then the law of God will befully made void in the nations of our world. Rebellion against God's holy law will befully ripe. But the true leader of all this rebellion is Satan clothed as an angel oflight. Men will be deceived and will exalt him to the place of God, and deify him. ButOmnipotence will interpose, and to the apostate churches that unite in the exaltation ofSatan, 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: forstrong is the Lord God who judgeth her" [Rev. 18:8].--TM 62 (1893).
As the second appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ draws near, satanic agencies are movedfrom beneath. Satan will not only appear as a human being, but he will personate JesusChrist, and the world that
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has rejected the truth will receive him as the Lord of lords and King of kings.--5BC1105, 1106 (1900).
Miracles Prove Nothing
Go to God for yourselves, pray for divine enlightenment, that you may know that you doknow what is truth, that when the wonderful miracle-working power shall be displayed, andthe enemy shall come as an angel of light, you may distinguish between the genuine work ofGod and the imitative work of the powers of darkness.--3SM 389 (1888).
The way in which Christ worked was to preach the Word, and to relieve suffering bymiraculous works of healing. But I am instructed that we cannot now work in this way,[2.MIRACLES WILL ACCOMPANY THE MINISTRY OF GOD'S PEOPLE UNDER THE LOUD CRY (SEE CHAPTER 14),BUT THEY WILL NOT HAVE THE SIGNIFICANCE THEY DID IN CHRIST'S DAY. THE PERFORMING OFMIRACLES WILL NO LONGER BE A PROOF OF DIVINE ENDORSEMENT.] for Satan will exercise hispower by working miracles. God's servants today could not work by means of miracles,because spurious works of healing, claiming to be divine, will be wrought.--2SM 54 (1904).
God's people will not find their safety in working miracles, for Satan will counterfeitthe miracles that will be wrought.--9T 16 (1909).
Miracles Cannot Supersede the Bible
If those through whom cures are performed are disposed, on account of thesemanifestations, to excuse
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their neglect of the law of God and continue in disobedience, though they have power toany and every extent, it does not follow that they have the great power of God. On thecontrary, it is the miracle-working power of the great deceiver.--2SM 50, 51 (1885).
The Bible will never be superseded by miraculous manifestations. The truth must bestudied, it must be searched for as hidden treasure. Wonderful illuminations will not begiven aside from the Word or to take the place of it. Cling to the Word, receive theengrafted Word which will make men wise unto salvation.--2SM 48 (1894).
The last great delusion is soon to open before us. Antichrist is to perform hismarvellous works in our sight. So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that itwill be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures. By theirtestimony every statement and every miracle must be tested.--GC 593 (1911).
The Deception Is Almost Universal
There is now need of earnest, working men and women who will seek for the salvation ofsouls, for Satan as a powerful general has taken the field, and in this last remnant oftime he is working through all conceivable methods to close the door against light thatGod would have come to His people. He is sweeping the whole world into his ranks, and thefew who are faithful to God's requirements are the only ones
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who can ever withstand him, and even these he is trying to overcome.--3SM 389 (1889).
The forms of the dead will appear, through the cunning device of Satan, and many willlink up with the one who loveth and maketh a lie. I warn our people that right among ussome will turn away from the faith and give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines ofdevils, and by them the truth will be evil spoken of.
A marvellous work shall take place. Ministers, lawyers, doctors, who have permittedthese falsehoods to overmaster their spirit of discernment, will be themselves deceivers,united with the deceived. A spiritual drunkenness will take possession of them.--UL 317(1905).
