Chapter 66—The Power of Satan
Fallen man is Satan’s lawful captive. The mission of Christ was
to rescue him from the power of his great adversary. Man is naturally
inclined to follow Satan’s suggestions, and he cannot successfully
resist so terrible a foe unless Christ, the mighty Conqueror, dwells
in him, guiding his desires, and giving him strength. God alone can
limit the power of Satan. He is going to and fro in the earth, and
walking up and down in it. He is not off his watch for a single moment,
through fear of losing an opportunity to destroy souls. It is important
that God’s people understand this, that they may escape his snares.
Satan is preparing his deceptions, that in his last campaign against the
people of God they may not understand that it is he.
2 Corinthians
11:14
: “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel
of light.” While some deceived souls are advocating that he does not
exist, he is taking them captive, and is working through them to a
great extent. Satan knows better than God’s people the power that
they can have over him when their strength is in Christ. When they
humbly entreat the mighty Conqueror for help, the weakest believer in
the truth, relying firmly upon Christ, can successfully repulse Satan
and all his host. He is too cunning to come openly, boldly, with
his temptations; for then the drowsy energies of the Christian would
arouse, and he would rely upon the strong and mighty Deliverer. But
he comes in unperceived, and works in disguise through the children
of disobedience who profess godliness.
Satan will go to the extent of his power to harass, tempt, and
mislead God’s people. He who dared to face, and tempt, and taunt our
Lord, and who had power to take Him in his arms and carry Him to a
pinnacle of the temple, and up into an exceedingly high mountain, will
exercise his power to a wonderful degree upon the present generation,
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who are far inferior in wisdom to their Lord, and who are almost
wholly ignorant of Satan’s subtlety and strength. In a marvelous
manner will he affect the bodies of those who are naturally inclined to
do his bidding. Satan exults that he is regarded as a fiction. When he
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