L a s t d e c e p t i o n o f s a t a n |
Letters and Manuscripts, Volume 4: Manuscript 16 - - 1884 |
Related pages: LDE Chapter 11
Satan sees that he is about to lose his case. He cannot sweep in the whole world. He makes one more, 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. {4LtMs, Ms 16, 1884, par. 1} also LDE 164.1 |
| He proclaims himself Christ, and he is believed to be Christ, a beautiful, majestic being clothed with majesty and, with soft voice with pleasant words, with glory unsurpassed by anything their mortal eyes had yet beheld. These, 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.” {4LtMs, Ms 16, 1884, par. 2} |
| Here it was [that] the masterly effort of Satan would have deceived the very elect. But who were the ones blessed by him? Whom did he make glad? Whom did he honor? The combined powers of earth, the churches fallen by rejecting light and the messages of mercy Heaven had sent to heal Babylon but she refused. (Christ had declared the friendship of the world was enmity with God. Whosoever would be a friend of the world was the enemy of God.) The papal power, the man of sin which thought to change times and laws, that had presented a rival sabbath to the world to be worshiped, the apostate power who sits in the temple of God showing himself that he is God, the power that drank the blood of the saints is united with the Protestant churches, having two horns like a lamb but speaks as a dragon; the deceptions of spiritualism which have perpetuated Satan’s lie uttered in Eden, “Thou shalt not surely die” [Genesis 3:4]—all these are bound up in bundles, a corrupt harmony under a corrupt leader. The blessing is pronounced by this false christ upon the worshipers of the beast and his image, [the people] who have received the mark of the beast and the mark of the image of the beast. {4LtMs, Ms 16, 1884, par. 3} |
Here is the only hope of God’s people—the unerring word of Jehovah that there would be a remnant only in this trying time who would keep the word of Christ’s patience, who would not worship the beast, papal Rome, or his image (Protestants who are represented by the image beast with lamb-like pretensions but speaks as a dragon). “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” Revelation 14:9-11. {4LtMs, Ms 16, 1884, par. 4} |
| Appearances will deceive. The masterly miracle-working power of Satan has carried the whole world with them and the fallen churches, and those only who have [made] the Bible their study, who have the law of God engraven in their hearts, will stand the test of this time of satanic delusion and peril. If it were possible, Jesus tells us, they would deceive the very elect. Satan in personating Jesus Christ is worshiped as God. Shout upon shout of victory is heard in adoration and in praise. {4LtMs, Ms 16, 1884, par. 5} |
Angels of God are waiting the mandate from the divine Advocate which shall place man above the wrath of Satan. The Lord of heaven and of earth sorrows and rejoices over His repenting, believing children. Their steadfast [adherence to] principle was attended by loss, sacrifice, and peril. Their adherence to the commandments of God provoked calumny and [the] hatred of the disloyal and apostate churches. Whatsoever is not sustained by the Bible standard must not be entertained. Those who are the agents of Satan are vindictive, cruel, and like their master. Those who make the Bible their standard must expect abuse, outrage. In the cause of truth there can be no compromise. {4LtMs, Ms 16, 1884, par. 6} |
| Jesus is looking from His throne upon His people. His interest is identified with His suffering brethren. With joy the angel hears the word from Jesus, “Take away the filthy garments from him and clothe him with change of raiment.” And He said, “Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.” [Zechariah 3:4.] Satan sees that he is about to lose his last chance of subverting these souls and he brings all the powers of his satanic generalship into intense activity. This last great act in the drama is in personating Jesus Christ. His disguise is discerned by none but those who are established in the Scriptures and acquainted [with] the word of God. [possible page missing here] {4LtMs, Ms 16, 1884, par. 7} |
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 them 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. They were ripening for heaven. They had been cultivating spiritual mindedness, and striving soul, might, mind, and strength with persevering energy to copy the Pattern, that they might be without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, and meet their Lord in peace. Their souls went out in all the intense longing for to see Jesus, and by beholding by faith the character and purity of Jesus they were being transformed into His image. They were being brought into close harmony with Jesus Christ, and they had indomitable purpose. They would not dishonor God; they would not receive the mark of the beast or of his image; they would overcome as servants and sons of God, that they might inherit all things. {4LtMs, Ms 16, 1884, par. 8} also LDE 164.3 |
| As a child lost weeps and longs for home, so did the remnant long to see Him whom their souls loveth, their Deliverer, Him in whom their hope of eternal life was centered. Pilgrims and strangers amidst labors, sorrows and conflicts, they turn the eye of faith heavenward, exclaiming, “Come, Lord Jesus, and come quickly.” Home—the mansions Christ has gone to prepare for them; how they long for their home in glory, how they long to enter within the gates of the city and dwell in the presence of Jesus forever. Their desires have been cherished long, and as Satan and his angels inspired the world, the church, and state against them, their souls with intense longings have cherished the soul-inspiring hope of overcoming and wearing the crown of life. Their character had obtained the heavenly mold that gave them discernment to see the disguises of Satan. Their understanding of Scriptures had given them a fixedness of purpose, an indomitable energy, which rendered them impossible to be molded or subdued by earth or hell. If they would be discouraged, Satan would have overwhelmed them. {4LtMs, Ms 16, 1884, par. 9} |
They count all things loss for the excellency of Christ. They could not be bribed or seduced or terrified. They were deaf to the siren song of pleasure, blind to the dazzling splendors presented before them to confuse, to allure, their senses. Worldly distractions, ambitions, honors were presented before them but only to be rejected. Indifferent to the threats and unmoved by terrors of the infernal powers, they could not be overthrown by Satan’s devices. {4LtMs, Ms 16, 1884, par. 10} |
| 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. But this answers to the last closing work, the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place. [Text ends here.] {4LtMs, Ms 16, 1884, par. 11} |
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