The Crowning Act of Deception

[devotional at egwlists.whiteestate.org]

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Ellen G. White Estate, Devotional for September 25
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The Crowning Act of Deception

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee
from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try
them that dwell upon the earth. Rev. 3:10. 


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 who has
rejected the truth will receive him as the Lord of lords and King of
kings. 

The wrath of Satan increases as his time grows short, and his work of
deceit and destruction will reach its culmination in the time of
trouble. . . . 

As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will
personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Savior's
advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will
make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth,
Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling
brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John
in the Revelation. Revelation 1:13-15. The glory that surrounds him is
unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of
triumph rings out upon the air: "Christ has come! Christ has come!" 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 Savior 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.

>From Maranatha - Page 276