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From Here to Forever
The Crowning Act
As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan
himself will personate Christ. The church has long looked to the
Saviour’s advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great
deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. Satan will mani-
fest himself as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling
[379]
the description of the Son of God 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, “Christ
has come!” The people prostrate themselves before him. He lifts up
his hands and blesses them. His voice is soft, yet full of melody. In
compassionate tones he presents some of the same heavenly truths
the Saviour uttered. He heals diseases, and then, in his assumed
character of Christ, claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday.
He declares that those who keep holy the seventh day are blasphem-
ing his name. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion.
Multitudes give heed to sorceries, saying, This is “the great power
of God.”
Acts 8:10
.
God’s People Not Misled
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 on whom the Bible declares that God’s unmingled wrath
shall be poured out.
Furthermore, Satan is not permitted to counterfeit the manner
of Christ’s advent. The Saviour has warned His people against
deception on this point. “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
lightning 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
. See
also
Matthew 25:31
;
Revelation 1:7
;
1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17
. This