Satanic Miracles

The enemy is preparing to deceive the whole world by his miracle-working power. He will assume to personate the angels of light, to personate Jesus Christ.

So far as his power extends, he will perform actual miracles. Says the Scripture: “He … deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do,” not merely those which he pretends to do. Something more than mere impostures is brought to view in this scripture. But there is a limit beyond which Satan cannot go, and here he calls deception to his aid and counterfeits the work which he has not power actually to perform. In the last days he will appear in such a manner as to make men believe him to be Christ come the second time into the world. He will indeed transform himself into an angel of light.

He will come personating Jesus Christ, working mighty miracles; and men will fall down and worship him as Jesus Christ. We shall be commanded to worship this being, whom the world will glorify as Christ.

Just before us is “the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” Revelation 3:10. All whose faith is not firmly established upon the word of God will be deceived and overcome. Satan works “with all deceivableness of unrighteousness” to gain control of the children of men, and his deceptions will continually increase. But he can gain his object only as men voluntarily yield to his temptations. Those who are earnestly seeking a knowledge of the truth and are striving to purify their souls through obedience, thus doing what they can to prepare for the conflict, will find, in the God of truth, a sure defense. “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee” (verse 10), is the Saviour’s promise. He would sooner send every angel out of heaven to protect His people than leave one soul that trusts in Him to be overcome by Satan.

Maranatha p. 207
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Prayer Requests

—–Please pray for my niece’s best friend whose father died over the weekend. Rose

—–Pray that D gets a good job soon. L

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Dear Friends,

When I was a little girl, my grandfather, Edwin Harmon, was the most important person in my life. From the moment he came home from work, until I went to bed, I followed him everywhere. No matter where my Grandfather was, you would find me. He did not mind having me around even though he was very tired from working as a bookbinder all day. When he was not there, I was very lonely as we lived in a neighborhood where there were very few children.

As I would watch his every move, he would explain to me what he was doing. When I watched him make change purses from pungent Moroccan leather, he would let me smell the rich leather he used and explained the difference between the smells of quality and cheap leathers. He would explain the origin of the sponge he used to wet the leather and the whalebone he used to crease it. As he cleaned fish, he showed me the still-beating heart and various other parts and without realizing it, I got a lesson in anatomy. As he ate his bedtime snack of aged cheese he loved, he would explain how it was made. No matter what he did, he would teach me. I listened intently to his every word.

This is the kind of relationship our Heavenly Father longs to have with us. Our Great Creator greatly desires for us to keep our focus on Him, to love to spend time with Him as much as He loves to spend time with us. He longs for us to listen to His voice, to hear our response, to interact with us throughout the day. He promises, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Ps 32:8 He desires to have us ask Him anything, to talk with Him about our perplexities, to bring our joys or our sorrows to Him, “casting all [our] care upon him; for he careth for [us].” 1 Peter 5:7

Jesus bids us, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” John 15:4-11 “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” 14:23 Just before His final moments, Jesus prayed, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” 17:24

May that close walk begin now. May our whole focus be upon our Great Creator and Redeemer. May we have that close and loving relationship with Him, that He so greatly desires for us to have. May we please Him by daily studying His Holy Word, diligently keeping what is written therein, and sincerely praying as did David, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” Psalm 119:18