deception

Faithful or Fooled

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In Matthew 25, Jesus  gives us a shocking illustration of the parallel between these ten bridesmaids and the people of God living before Jesus comes, but before we get to that, here is a story.

A hiker in the foothills of the mountains chanced one day upon a beautifully landscaped and meticulously groomed country estate. He stood before the polished wrought iron gate at the entrance to this estate and looked admiringly at all the beautiful flower beds. He saw how neatly every stone, that surrounded them, was kept in place. He noticed that the lawn had been cut just the right length. It was green, lush looking and well fertilized. He could not even find a stray weed growing anywhere.

Not far away the gardener was on a ladder pruning one of the cherry trees. When the gardener saw the visitor looking in at the grounds, he came to the gate to greet him. The visitor said to him, “This is a beautiful estate. It caught my attention. I have not seen anything so lovely anywhere.”

The caretaker said, “You see, sir, I am keeping it like this because I am expecting my Master to come and I want him to find everything just right.”

The hiker said, “Well, I am sure you will have no problem in doing that. How long have you worked here?”

“Oh, I have been here, sir, for thirty-four years.”

“I suppose you see your Master often?”

“Oh, no, sir, he has never been here.”

“He has never come? Not even once? Then, why do you go to all this bother if he does not come frequently?”

“You see, sir,” the caretaker said, “when he comes, I want him to find it perfect, and so I prepare it every day as though that were the day my Master would come back.”

There is a lesson in that little story for you and me.

In this week of prayer reading, we will study Matthew 24 and 25. We will begin with the story of the ten virgins which is a good introduction to Matthew 24.

Matthew 25 contains the exciting story of the wedding party. Jesus told this to His disciples as they were gathered on the Mount of Olives. The sun has set and the lights of the little village can be seen below. These bright lights announce that a wedding is going to take place.

The groom and his procession, as is typical in the Middle East, have gone to the bride’s home to fetch her and bring her back to the groom’s house. Jesus likens this to His kingdom.

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.” Matthew 25:1. In this experience the groom would take his entourage over to meet the bride. The bride would have her group of celebrants there ready to meet the groom when he came, and then with great festivity and celebration, they would march back to the groom’s new home.

These ten young ladies were waiting to join in the procession when the bridegroom would come. “Now five of them were wise and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.” Matthew 25:2–4.

The story says that five of them had oil in their vessels and five did not. This shows that they all had flagons to carry extra oil, but five of them came with extra oil and five left their vessels empty. “The bridegroom was delayed.” Matthew 25:5. That is typical of many parts of the world. In America if you arrive for an announced wedding at three o’clock and no one is there, you might wait ten or fifteen minutes. Then you would conclude that someone was confused about the time, and you would get in your car and go home. But not so in Asia and in many other parts of the world. And so the bridesmaids waited.

“When the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.” They did not expect him to be so late. They expected him perhaps to delay an hour or so, but now it was almost midnight and they were all sound asleep. They had left their lamps gently burning, because in those days, they did not have other lights to turn on. There they were sleeping soundly with their lamps burning beside them.

“And at midnight a cry was heard, ‘Behold the bridegroom is coming. Go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.” Matthew 25:6, 7.

When the cry was made they all woke up. They grabbed their lamps, and began to trim them. But the foolish realized that their oil was almost gone. They said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil. Share with us.” And the wise bridesmaids said, “No. We do not have any extra. You must go and buy your own oil.”

“The bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.” Matthew 25:10. It is a terrible thing to imagine the door being shut and some, perhaps us, being left outside. This is what Jesus said, “Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 25:11–13. Jesus here gives us a shocking illustration of the parallel between these ten bridesmaids and the people of God living before Jesus comes.

 

Some Are Not Prepared

 

These ten bridesmaids represent members of the church. They all believe in the Three Angels’ Messages. They all come to church on Sabbath. They warm the pew and they sing the hymns. But five are not prepared.

What do the lamps represent? They represent the Word of God. The Psalmist said, “Thy Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105.

The oil represents the Holy Spirit. There are many who claim the name of Adventism, who say they are part of God’s true church. They can show their diploma of baptism and are proud of theirmembership, but they are not prepared for the coming of Jesus.

This door that Jesus talks about is a door that you often find in Scripture. It represents the door of probation. How sad it will be if we found that we did not have the Holy Spirit’s power in our lives which would have prepared us to go through that door. What a tragedy it would be to be found outside.

Some of God’s people are shallow in the study of God’s Word. Consequently they are not filled with the Holy Spirit and are unprepared to meet Jesus! That is why Jesus said, “Watch, therefore.”

What does it mean to watch? Among the definitions of this word in Webster’s Dictionary is “to be awake, to be alert.” A reason why we should watch is also found there. This is “to ward off danger or to seize an opportunity.”

Today in the world around us there is danger. In the church there are dangers as well. It is extremely unfortunate when a historic Adventist who has espoused all the teachings of the pioneers of Adventism says, “I do not want to be a historic Seventh-day Adventist.” For one to say this, somehow the oil must have gone low. The tragedy is that there are hundreds of people who will believe whatever they hear from an appealing leader, and will become confused. They too, did not have enough oil in preparation. They had not immersed themselves in the study of God’s Word and the Spirit of Prophecy.

Some people are disillusioned. One individual gave over one hundred thousand dollars to a historic Adventist ministry, and later saw that ministry turn around and reject the foundation on which historic Adventism is built. This question was asked with tears: “What shall we do?” Jesus warned us that before He comes, apostasy in the church will become as dark as midnight. “Not only is Satan leading the world captive, but his deceptions are leavening the professed churches of our Lord Jesus Christ. The great apostasy will develop into darkness deep as midnight, impenetrable as sackcloth of hair.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 414. It requires a preparation to stand in these days.

Jesus said “Watch therefore, for you do not know the hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore, you also be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Matthew 24:42–44.

The ten bridesmaids all went to sleep because they did not know when the bridegroom was coming. Matthew 24 and 25 is a message from Jesus to His last church to be ready. It is a call for all to be faithful, to be watchful and not to fall asleep.

 

The Preparation

 

When I was a student in college, I had a classmate named Bill, who was in his last year of studying for the ministry. He was a good friend of mine. Our friendship was such that we discussed things together. On Friday nights different ministerial students would have the evening worship service.

He preached one Friday night and his message was terribly disconnected. He would go here and hit a point, and then over there and hit another point, but it was not together. It was clear that he did not even have an outline. I felt sorry for him because he was going out to preach the gospel. First he needed to learn to prepare for a sermon.

On Monday morning Bill and I were together in Bible doctrines class. I said to him, “Bill, I heard your sermon on Friday evening. I appreciate the message that you gave, but just a little word of advice from one of your friends. The next time you preach, let me suggest you make up an outline to guide you so you know where you are going.”

Bill was horrified!

He said, “Oh, I could not do that!”

“Why not?” I questioned.

He said, “I have to allow the Holy Spirit to move me.”

I exclaimed, “But, Bill, the Holy Spirit is not going to move you someplace that you have not already studied out.”

That is a mistake we sometimes make. We believe that because we are Christians, that the Holy Spirit is going to move us. He will give us thoughts to remember and to speak, without us having to make the preparation. Yes, the Holy Spirit will guide us, but we have to prepare ourselves through a full commitment and daily study of God’s Word.

 

Signs of His Coming

 

The disciples came to Jesus and said, “Tell us, Jesus, when are You going to come back? Could you give us some signs that we can have to guide us so we will know when Your coming is near?” Jesus, evidently, agreed to do that because He said, “Take heed that no one deceives you.” Matthew 24:4.

Where it says, “Do not let anyone deceive you,” I am going to use the words, “Do not let anyone fool you.” “For many will come in My name, saying, I am Christ, and will deceive (fool) many.” Matthew 24:5.

Jesus says, “And many false prophets will rise up and deceive (fool) many. Matthew 24:11. All through this chapter Jesus warns us about being fooled, until finally He says, “If anyone says to you, Look here is Christ! or There! do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders so as to deceive (fool), if possible, even the very elect.” Matthew 24:23, 24.

How can that be? Adventism is a simple message. The problem that people have, is committing themselves to abiding in the message. Some people think that you have to be able to quote the Spirit of Prophecy by heart before you can become a Seventh-day Adventist. It is much simpler than that. We all can be historic Seventh-day Adventists. We believe that old message that can be completely proven from God’s Word and is testified to in the Spirit of Prophecy.

Adventists are deceived because the deception comes right from within the walls of the church. How else would it be possible to deceive the elect? If someone tells you that Jesus is coming and He is over here in a city park, we all know that is not true. But when mixed messages come into the flock of God today, it could, if it were possible, deceive the very elect. I know of some people who at one time cherished the message of Adventism, who now have given up belief in the significance of 1844. They no longer believe in the sanctuary in heaven, or that you can overcome—and their names are still on church books.

There is a wonderful book entitled, Receiving the Word, by Samuel Koranteng Pipim. It explains that the problem today in so much of Adventism is that scholars, teachers, preachers, and church members no longer want to take the Bible literally. They begin tearing pages out of it and throwing them away.

Is it possible that we could be fooled? The message of the second angel was that Babylon is fallen? Babylon means confusion and there is quite a debate going on today whether we can call the church Babylon.

Is there confusion in God’s church today? Let us make sure it does not come into our lives. Let us make sure that we have the preparation to stand firmly on solid ground with our lamps trimmed and burning. There are those today who have let the oil of God’s Spirit run low and their spiritual life becomes very shallow.

The servant of the Lord said that in the last days many would be led from the truth. Have you read that statement? “Every man and woman should be on guard when there are deceptions abroad calculated to lead away from the truth.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 73.

Some will say, “Oh, but we have to keep our minds open to differing views.” Actually, we need to close our ears to some of the messages that are being given to us out there! Referring to Jesus’ statement, that if it were possible the very elect would be fooled, Mrs. White says: “It is because of the many and varied dangers that would arise, that this warning is given.” Selected Messages, vol. 2, 16.

Those dangers are not only outside the church, they are inside the church. Today we find some rather strange worship styles in Adventism. It is shocking to realize that today there is a creeping trend toward Babylon.

“The end is near . . . New and strange things will continually arise to lead God’s people into false excitement, religious revivals, and curious developments.” Ibid. 17. This was written one hundred years ago. How did she know this? She continues. “With much that is truth there is mingled error that is accepted in its extreme meaning, and acted upon by persons of excitable temperaments.” Ibid.

Some Adventists go to worship service on Sabbath morning and dance around waving their arms. Why do they do it? They say, “We are free to let the spirit move us.” The Bible says to test the spirits. There are other spirits in the world besides the Holy Spirit.

 

Follow Only Jesus

 

“Not only is Satan leading the world captive, but his deceptions are leavening the professed churches of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 414. We must be careful that we do not get involved in following a person. We must be what we are because of Jesus Christ and His message and the power of His Holy Spirit.

The reason for much of the grievous disappointment in historic Adventism is because people have been following a person. People have been giving tens of thousands of dollars to support a person. This is God’s church. This is God’s message. It does not come because of the building or the cathedral, or the institution or the person preaching. It comes because we are a people who believe in keeping God’s commandments and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

There is a trend today to measure success in numbers. How many did you baptize? Unfortunately, that is too often the message we hear. They say there is joy in heaven over one sinner. It must be that there is twice as much joy over two. But we cannot be consumed with numbers. We cannot be concerned because the church may seem small. God is calling out a remnant. I want to be part of God’s remnant experience. I want my lamp to have plenty of oil and to be trimmed and burning.

The story is told of a coal miner who became a Christian. He worked in the mines where they used foul language. They ate and drank things that the Christian should not eat or drink. Whenthis coal miner became a Christian, his former friends began to make fun of him. They did everything they could to discourage him and make him feel bad. Finally, one day they devised a rather diabolical plan. Of course, they kept it all a secret. The miners worked down in the caverns of the earth all day, filling their train car with coal. At the end of the day they rolled the little car up the tracks, filled with coal that they had hacked away at, picked out and shoveled into their trolley. They were paid by the amount of coal they had dug out of the mine.

What these evil men did was to destroy the track in such a way that when the Christian miner’s trolley came up, his entire load for the day would fall over and be spilt. When he got to the top, his coal car rolled over and all of the coal spilled out—his entire day’s labor. The men who had done this were all hiding around, waiting to hear what he would say, expecting some cursing to come from his lips. Then they could jump out laughing and show him that his Christianity was only skin deep.

They listened. They watched. He stood there. Tears began to flow down his cheeks. He looked at his day’s work all gone, completely wasted. Knowing he could even be in trouble with the management. There he stood amidst his tears, and he sang, “I Need Thee Every Hour.” What a sermon those hardened miners saw that day. When times get hard, when the storms of life break and batter us, we too may sing hymns to Jesus.

In these closing hours of earth’s history, may God help us to have our lamps filled with the oil of the power of His Holy Spirit. May He help us to be watchful, to be ready. We do not know the day nor the hour when He will come back, but He said He is coming soon and that is good enough. That is the message we must give to the world. That is what we believe. Do not let anybody fool you.

Do not let these strange things that are happening, these strange winds that are blowing influence you so that the door will shut without you being inside. May God help us to be faithful.

 

A Bear Is Better

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Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly.” Proverbs 17:12.

A few years ago we were visiting the home of a friend and noticed a most interesting poster on the wall depicting the truth that is expressed in this verse. As you can imagine, it caught the attention of our young children, and they stood for some time studying it. We discussed it at the time. As time passed, however, I did not think much more about it.

In our family worship we often read the chapter from Proverbs that corresponds to the day of the month. Some time later, when in our worship we again read Proverbs 17:12, events that we had recently experienced had so shaped our thinking that the verse took on new meaning for us; and we were reminded of the poster that we had seen some time before. As we reflected on the significance of the wise man’s words, we began to realize that they have a depth of meaning beyond what words can adequately express. This text of Scripture has caused me to ask the Lord to deliver me from the folly of the fool! To be delivered from the folly of fools, we must have first had folly taken out of our own hearts.

The events that prepared us to better appreciate the meaning of this warning began during a visit to Yellowstone Park. While looking for a book to buy the children, I became interested in one about bears. We bought the book and began reading it during our evening worships. We prefaced our reading with Proverbs 17:12. The children, of course, wanted to know what a “fool in his folly” was.

Before they could fully understand the danger involved in the situation, they needed to more fully understand the significance of the term, a bear robbed of her cubs. One story entitled “A Mother’s Revenge”* particularly caught my attention. Although this was not necessarily the most thrilling of the bear stories, it did make the point; and I would like to briefly share it with you.

In 1907, in the virgin forest of northwest Montana, a mother bear and her cub were preparing for winter. Unbeknownst to them, a small government survey team, accompanied by some adventurous tourists, was packing into this uninhabited region. The area was a section of high and rugged mountain peaks, snowfields, and living glaciers—wholly uninhabited except by the wild animals and well-nigh-inaccessible save in the dead of winter. Soon after the party arrived, bad weather set in, making survey work impossible. The inactivity soon prompted the suggestion of a hunt, but only two hardy souls were interested. These two men, both experienced hunters, set out from camp with their horses and guns, little dreaming of the adventure that awaited them.

The men traveled some distance by horseback to a glacier, where they left their horses at the head of the basin. At this point they separated; Mr. Stiles going one direction and Dr. Penrose another. Mr. Stiles soon spotted a buck deer and began stalking it when he heard three shots in rapid succession. Paying no special attention to the reports which came from the other side of the ridge, he was about to shoot the deer when he heard two more shots, rapidly followed by a third. Immediately becoming alarmed, he ran back in the direction of the shots. Within a few minutes he came around a mass of broken boulders and saw Dr. Penrose wandering aimlessly around in the canyon bed without his gun. His hat was gone, his coat torn off, and his trousers rent. Blood poured from his head and neck, and he gripped his left arm with his crimson right hand, presenting a horrible sight. As Mr. Stiles approached him, he murmured piteously, “Water, water.” As he tried to drink the water, part of it ran out through a gash in his cheek. He then said: “Stiles, I am all in; I have had a fight with a bear.”

As the story unfolded, it revealed that Dr. Penrose had come upon a young grizzly cub. Being late in the year, the cub was large enough that it appeared fullgrown, to all but the careful observer. Dr. Penrose’s first three shots had killed the cub; and in his excitement, he failed to note that it was a cub that he had killed. Having laid his gun aside, he was bending over the young bear that he had so recently killed when suddenly, not more than sixty feet behind him, the doctor heard a cry of anger as the grief stricken and enraged mother bear rushed forward to avenge the death of her offspring.

Turning, with almost superhuman presence of mind, Dr. Penrose caught up his rifle again and fired two shots into the enraged beast. Rapidly removing his cartridge from his pocket, he worked it into the rifle and sent a third steel-jacketed bullet into the on-rushing bear. Swift and sure as were the little bullets, the bear continued her charge, her fury unchecked. With one stroke of her paw she sent him into the gulch, eight feet below. Springing down after him, she caught him in her mouth and shook him as a cat might shake a mouse, before dropping him. Again she caught him up, this time by his face, narrowly missing his eyes but tearing his cheek and throat wide open. There were five gaping wounds in his chest. His thigh was torn, the flesh hanging in ragged pieces, and his left wrist was twisted and broken. Before she could again shake her half-dead victim, the mother bear staggered, falling dead at his feet. In spite of the terrible beating that he had taken, Dr. Penrose did survive, though he spent several months recuperating from the attack.

The purpose of recounting this event is to bring home the point that, as terrible as is the wrath of a mother bear who has been robbed of her cubs, it is not so much to be feared as is a fool in his folly.

Solomon tells us what the folly of fools is. “The folly of fools is deceit.” Proverbs 14:8. As severely as Dr. Penrose was mauled by the enraged mother bear, he did live; but those who are taken with a fool in his folly, do not fare so well. The Lord has warned us, “A companion of fools shall be destroyed.” Proverbs 13:20. As you are confidently passing along the road of life, you need to be aware that lurking not far from you, possibly just around the next corner, is a secret and hidden enemy, far more dangerous than an angered mother bear—and that enemy is deceit.

 

False Friends To Be More Feared Than Open Enemies

 

In all of the stories of angry bears, we found them to be an aggressive and open enemy. Far less to be feared is an enemy who openly seeks to destroy you, than one who professes friendship, flattering with his lips, but in whose heart is hatred. The Bible describes what this secret enemy is like: “He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.” Proverbs 20:19. “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; when he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shown before the whole congregation. Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.” Proverbs 26:22–28.

Friend, a direct command from God cannot be disobeyed without terrible results, and the command is “meddle not with him.” “It is not the open and avowed enemies of the cause of God that are most to be feared. Those who . . . come with smooth words and fair speeches, apparently seeking for a friendly alliance with God’s children, have greater power to deceive. Against such every soul should be on the alert, lest some carefully concealed and masterly snare take him unaware.” Prophets and Kings, 570, 571.

“Go from the presence of the foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.””Speak not in the ears of a fool.” Proverbs 14:7; 23:9.

In our family worship, we made a list of the texts that were descriptive of a fool in his folly, describing his deceit. It would be well for all of us to keep these words of wisdom in mind. Here is a partial list from the book of Proverbs.

  • Fools despise wisdom and instruction. 1:7
  • Fools hate knowledge. 1:22
  • He that hides hatred with lying lips, and who utters slander is a fool. 10:23
  • It is a sport of a fool to do mischief. 10:23
  • The way of a fool is right in his own eyes. 12:15
  • A fool’s wrath is presently known. 12:16
  • A fool lays open, or reveals his folly. 13:16
  • A foolish woman plucketh down her house with her hands. 14:1
  • In the mouth of the fool is a rod of pride. 14:3
  • The folly of fools is deceit. 14:8
  • Fools make a mock of sin. 14:9
  • The fool rageth and is confident. 14:16
  • A fool despiseth his father’s instruction. 15:5
  • A foolish man despiseth his mother. 15:20
  • A reproof entereth more into a wise man than a hundred stripes into a fool. 17:10
  • The eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. 17:24
  • A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. 18:6
  • A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. 18:7
  • He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is a folly and shame unto him. 18:13
  • Every fool will be starting a quarrel. 20:3
  • A foolish man spends up the treasure. 21:20
  • A fool returns to his folly as a dog returns to his vomit. 26:11
  • A fool uttereth all his mind, but a wise man keepeth it till afterward. 29:11

After you have thoughtfully considered the traits of a fool, as the Lord has identified them for us, remember the seriousness of the matter. The wise man was not making an exaggerated statement when he warned us that a furious mother bear was less to be feared than the deceit of a fool. It is well summed up in this verse. “The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.” Proverbs 14:15.

We need to keep ever before our minds that the One who counseled us to be harmless as doves also admonished us to be as wise as serpents. (See Matthew 10:16.) We would do well to remember that “those in the synagogue of Satan will profess to be converted, and unless God’s servants have keen eyesight, they will not discern the working of the power of darkness.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, 281. How sad it is that so often “the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” Luke 16:8.

Friends, if we are simple minded, we are liable to be destroyed because someone will come to us with fair words, concealing the hatred that is hidden in the heart. That, friends, is deceit and more dangerous than an open enemy. That which appears to be a comparatively small snake, might be worse than a dragon.

“Infidelity in many specious forms will have to be met. Satan works under disguise, and it will require a well-trained mind, sharpened by divine enlightenment, to meet his wily devices.” Signs of the Times, October 24, 1900.

We can be so thankful that the Lord has not left us to our own demise. He has promised to help the simple minded. Proverbs 1:4 tells us that if we listen to His words, they will “give subtlety to the simple.” What a fabulous promise. Even fools can become wise. “O ye simple, understand wisdom, and ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.” Proverbs 8:5.

The terrible truth of the power of deceitful subtlety is found in the history of Adam and Eve. “If he [Satan] should come boldly upon Adam and Eve and make complaints of God’s own Son, they would not listen to him for a moment but would be prepared for such an attack. Should he seek to intimidate them because of his power, so recently an angel in high authority, he could accomplish nothing. He decided that cunning and deceit would do what might, or force, could not.” The Story of Redemption, 20.

In the passage of time, Satan has lost none of his cunning and deceitfulness. Those of God’s people whom he can not destroy through an open, frontal attack he is often successful in overthrowing by deceitfulness. As you study the book of Proverbs, you can readily see that there are several tell-tale signs that deceit may be being used.

 

Twelve Ways To Know A Fool

 

I would like to summarize twelve character traits that quickly reveal to us, regardless of profession, that a person is a fool.

  1. He indulges in flattery.
  2. He finds pleasure in evil conduct.
  3. He has a quick, or uncontrolled temper.
  4. He mocks at making amends for sin.
  5. He refuses to listen to his parents.
  6. He is talkative, speaking all of his mind.
  7. He does not listen to reproof.
  8. He is contentious and quarrelsome.
  9. He is arrogant.
  10. He spends all that he has, often living beyond his means.
  11. He is quick to answer, without pausing to give a thought-out reply.
  12. He is a talebearer, or gossiper.

 

Trials Alone Will Not Save Us

 

We face many trials; but trials, in and of themselves, will not save us, or otherwise, the whole world would be saved. “Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his foolishness will not depart from him.” Proverbs 27:22 NKJV. Though we may lack wisdom, our condition does not have to remain such, for we have been promised, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5. We must, however, submit our wills to God’s will in every matter of life; for “all who do not earnestly search the Scriptures and submit every desire and purpose of life to that unerring test, all who do not seek God in prayer for knowledge of His will, will surely wander from the right path and fall under the deception of Satan.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 192.

If we do this, determining to do nothing that will dishonor our Lord, He will gently reprove our wrongs and change us into His image. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

The time in which we are living is a momentous one, weighted with eternal consequences. The rapidly unfolding events in the world speak eloquently to the shortness of time. Now is the time that we must remedy the defects of our character, becoming wise in the wisdom of the Lord, lest we stumble and fall amidst the trials and temptations of the last days. “At the time of the loud cry of the third angel, those who have been in any measure blinded by the enemy, who have not fully recovered themselves from the snare of Satan, will be in peril, because it will be difficult for them to discern the light from heaven, and they will be inclined to accept falsehood. Their erroneous experience will color their thoughts, their decisions, their propositions, their counsels. The evidences that God has given will be no evidence to those who have blinded their eyes by choosing darkness. After rejecting light, they will originate theories which they call light, but which the Lord calls, ‘sparks of their own kindling,’ by which they will direct their steps.” Review and Herald, December 13, 1892.

* This story was taken from the book The Only Good Bear is a Dead Bear, by Jeanette Prodgers, and was quoted from an article that appeared in the National Geographic Magazine, February, 1908.

 

Bible Study Guides – Signs and Lying Wonders

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January 2, 2011 – January 8, 2011

Key Text

“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.” II Thessalonians 2:9.

Study Help: The Great Controversy, 461–478; Prophets and Kings, 210–212.

Introduction

“Satan also works with lying wonders, even bringing down fire from heaven in the sight of men. Revelation 13:13.” The Great Controversy, 612.

1 How is ecumenism described in prophecy? Revelation 16:13, 14. What will be the consequences of this threefold union?

Note: “Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome. The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.” The Great Controversy, 588.

2 How has God warned of this confederacy? Revelation 18:4. What prophetic description of the 144,000 demands complete separation from the fallen denominations? Revelation 14:4, first part.

Note: “We are not to confederate with worldlings, lest we become imbued with their spirit, lest our spiritual discernment become confused and we view those who have the truth and bear the message of the Lord from the standpoint of the professed Christian churches.” Last Day Events, 84, 85.

3 What warning should we heed when we see that those who profess the truth are uniting with the world and getting involved in the ecumenical movement? Isaiah 8:12, 13; Nehemiah 6:1–4, 10, 11.

Note: “Let the watchmen on the walls of Zion not join with those who are making of none effect the truth as it is in Christ. Let them not join the confederacy of infidelity, popery, and Protestantism in exalting tradition above Scripture, reason above revelation, and human talent above the divine influence and the vital power of godliness.” The Review and Herald, March 24, 1896.

“When those who are uniting with the world, yet claiming great purity, plead for union with those who have ever been the opposers of the cause of truth, we should fear and shun them as decidedly as did Nehemiah.” Prophets and Kings, 660.

4 How will spiritualism affect the world? Isaiah 8:19; 28:15.

Note: “As spiritualism more closely imitates the nominal Christianity of the day, it has greater power to deceive and ensnare. Satan himself is converted, after the modern order of things. He will appear in the character of an angel of light. Through the agency of spiritualism, miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and many undeniable wonders will be performed. And as the spirits will profess faith in the Bible, and manifest respect for the institutions of the church, their work will be accepted as a manifestation of divine power.” The Great Controversy, 588.

5 What lamentable example of spiritualism is given in the Bible? I Samuel 28:11–14; I Chronicles 10:13, 14. How does this same danger exist today?

Note: “Many will be confronted by the spirits of devils personating beloved relatives or friends and declaring the most dangerous heresies. These visitants will appeal to our tenderest sympathies and will work miracles to sustain their pretensions. We must be prepared to withstand them with the Bible truth that the dead know not anything and that they who thus appear are the spirits of devils.” The Great Controversy, 560.

6 What history is being repeated today? II Kings 1:2.

7 How do many fall prey to more pleasing forms of spiritualism?

Note: “There are many who shrink with horror from the thought of consulting spirit mediums, but who are attracted by more pleasing forms of spiritism. … Still others are led astray by the teachings of Christian Science, and by the mysticism of theosophy and other Oriental religions.

“The apostles of nearly all forms of spiritism claim to have the power to cure the diseased. They attribute their power to electricity, magnetism, the so-called ‘sympathetic remedies,’ or to latent forces within the mind of man. And there are not a few, even in this Christian age, who go to these healers, instead of trusting in the power of the living God and the skill of well-qualified Christian physicians.” Evangelism, 606.

8 Why is it so dangerous to consult “faith healers”? II Corinthians 11:13–15. What tragic scenario often occurs?

Note: “Angels of God will preserve His people while they walk in the path of duty; but there is no assurance of such protection for those who deliberately venture upon Satan’s ground. An agent of the great deceiver will say and do anything to gain his object. It matters little whether he calls himself a spiritualist, an ‘electric physician,’ or a ‘magnetic healer.’ By specious pretenses he wins the confidence of the unwary. He pretends to read the life-history and to understand all the difficulties and afflictions of those who resort to him. Disguising himself as an angel of light, while the blackness of the pit is in his heart, he manifests great interest in women who seek his counsel. He tells them that all their troubles are due to an unhappy marriage. This may be too true, but such a counselor does not better their condition. He tells them that they need love and sympathy. Pretending great interest in their welfare, he casts a spell over his unsuspecting victims, charming them as the serpent charms the trembling bird. Soon they are completely in his power, and sin, disgrace, and ruin are the terrible sequel.” Evangelism, 607, 608.

9 How will Satan show his power through modern religionists? Matthew 24:24; II Thessalonians 2:9. How are we to build up immunity against this deception?

Note: “Miracles will be performed in our sight. Are we prepared for the trial when the lying wonders of Satan shall be more fully exhibited? Will not many souls be ensnared and taken? Forms of error, and departure from the plain precepts and commandments of God and giving heed to fables are fitting minds for these lying wonders of Satan.” Messages to Young People, 61.

“Let not the days pass by and precious opportunities be lost of seeking the Lord with all the heart and mind and soul. If we accept not the truth in the love of it, we may be among the number who will see the miracles wrought by Satan in these last days, and believe them. Many strange things will appear as wonderful miracles, which should be regarded as deceptions manufactured by the father of lies.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 53.

“So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures.” The Great Controversy, 593.

10 For what purpose did Satan work miracles in the days of Moses and Aaron? Exodus 7:10–13. In what danger are those whose faith is based on the working of miracles?

Note: “The man who makes the working of miracles the test of his faith will find that Satan can, through a species of deceptions, perform wonders that will appear to be genuine miracles. It was this he hoped to make a test question with the Israelites at the time of their deliverance from Egypt.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 52.

11 What will be the great climax in the drama of deception? Matthew 24:23. How can we be on the safe side?

Note: “Satan will not only appear as a human being, but he will personate Jesus Christ; and the world that has rejected the truth will receive him as the Lord of lords and King of kings.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 1106.

12 Before the latter rain is poured out, how will Satan introduce a counterfeit? Matthew 7:22.

Note: “God has honest children among the nominal Adventists and the fallen churches, and before the plagues shall be poured out, ministers and people will be called out from these churches and will gladly receive the truth. Satan knows this; and before the loud cry of the third angel is given, he raises an excitement in these religious bodies, that those who have rejected the truth may think that God is with them. He hopes to deceive the honest and lead them to think that God is still working for the churches.” Early Writings, 261.

“In those churches which he can bring under his deceptive power he [Satan] will make it appear that God’s special blessing is poured out; there will be manifest what is thought to be great religious interest. Multitudes will exult that God is working marvelously for them, when the work is that of another spirit.” The Great Controversy, 464.

13 How can we distinguish the work of God from the work of Satan? Matthew 7:20, 21.

Note: “If those through whom cures are performed are disposed, on account of these manifestations, to excuse their neglect of the law of God, and continue in disobedience, though they have power to any and every extent, it does not follow that they have the great power of God. On the contrary, it is the miracle-working power of the great deceiver.” The Review and Herald, November 17, 1885.

14 What test will soon come upon the world? Revelation 13:13, 14.

Note: “Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven. By thousands of voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers. Satan also works, with lying wonders, even bringing down fire from heaven in the sight of men. Revelation 13:13. Thus the inhabitants of the earth will be brought to take their stand.” The Great Controversy, 612.

Review and Thought Questions

1 What is the basis of the threefold union now underway?

2 Why is spiritualism gaining in power to deceive?

3 Name some of the modern forms of spiritualism.

4 How are minds being fitted for Satan’s lying wonders?

5 What is Satan’s goal in the charismatic movement?

Additional Reading

“The time is coming when Satan will work miracles right in your sight, claiming that he is Christ; and if your feet are not firmly established upon the truth of God, then you will be led away from your foundation. The only safety for you is to search for the truth as for hid treasures. Dig for the truth as you would for treasures in the earth, and present the Word of God, the Bible, before your heavenly Father, and say, ‘Enlighten me; teach me what is truth.’

“And when His Holy Spirit shall come into your hearts, to impress the truth into your souls, you will not let it go easily. You have gained such an experience in searching the Scriptures that every point is established. And it is important that you continually search the Scriptures.” Faith and Works, 56.

“Do not allow yourself to be led to think that you will live in heaven while in this fallen world. Those who think this keep their minds on the strain for some wonderful experience that will waft their souls into a refined, spiritual atmosphere. But this is not the true science of Christian experience. When they suppose they have reached spiritual heights of refinement, Satan, in the garb of an angel of light, presents to them indulgences in which he makes it appear there is no sin.

“I would warn you against these apparently refined doctrines, which say that sin is not sin, and teach the possibility of living a spiritualistic life above the grossness of sin. I write this because there are minds entering into temptation in regard to this refined science of spiritualistic attainments. You will meet this science, and you will hardly know how to handle it.

“We have reached the perils of the last days, when some, yes, many, shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Be cautious in regard to what you read and how you hear. Take not a particle of interest in spiritualistic theories. Satan is waiting to steal a march upon everyone who allows himself to be deceived by his hypnotism. He begins to exert his power over them just as soon as they begin to investigate his theories.” Medical Ministry, 101, 102.

©2005 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

The Exception Deception

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It is difficult for us to understand ourselves, to have a correct knowledge of our own characters. The word of God is plain, but often there is an error in applying it to one’s self. There is liability to self-deception and to think its warnings and reproofs do not mean me. ‘The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?’ [Jeremiah 17:9.] Self-flattery may be construed into Christian emotion and zeal. Self-love and confidence may give us assurance that we are right when we are far from meeting the requirements of God’s word.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 332.

“Some have a heart of unbelief, and in their self-confidence and self-deception they cannot see their errors. They are blind to their defects and their dangers. Did they see their sins and errors, and still continue in them, the Lord would give them up to blindness of mind and hardness of heart, to follow their own ways, and be ensnared and ruined. Anciently when any neglected or refused to heed the words of reproof and warning sent them of God, His protection was removed from them, and they were left to be deceived and deluded to their own ruin. Only those who, with tears of contrition, listened to the voice of God and gave heed to the warning, escaped the tempter’s snare.” The Review and Herald, January 8, 1884.

There is a topic that many people have pondered for some time and found to be quite fascinating. It is addressed very clearly in Scripture and something of which we all need to be mindful and of which we should be more than a little fearful. It is a phenomenon that could be referred to as the exception deception. In fact, most professed Christians fall victim to this snare of the enemy of souls. They somehow read the plainest word of God and feel that they are an exception to the rule laid out so clearly in Scripture.

The primary example of the exception deception is the belief that God’s law is no longer binding. This is especially true of the fourth commandment. There is no ambivalence in that commandment. Not only is the commandment itself stated so plainly that it takes the highest degree of self-deception to misunderstand, but the significance of keeping the Sabbath is presented over and over throughout both the Old and the New Testaments.

Sunday keepers have become so entangled in this snare that it is almost impossible to convince them that they are violating God’s law by failing to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. They have been led to believe by the enemy of souls that they are somehow exempted from obeying God’s plainest statements of conduct. And they carry that deception beyond the fourth commandment to all of God’s law, asserting that it was nailed to the cross. Since Christ fulfilled it, they reason, it is no longer binding. However, if you try to explain to them that, by their reasoning, they are in effect saying that it is okay to lie, steal or kill, they will quickly become double-minded. James addressed that very issue in James 1:5–8: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

This is an interesting text—one in which we are given instruction first—“ask of God”—and then told the consequences of failing to ask in faith—becoming double-minded and unstable.

This expectation that one is an exception to the rules goes all the way back to Adam and Eve. Although Eve knew that God had prohibited partaking of the forbidden fruit, she chose to believe Satan rather than the plainest word of God. She thought that she was an exception to God’s rule. Each one of us now bears the consequences of her exception deception.

Another individual who bought into the exception deception was Abraham. Although Abraham is called the father of the faithful, and rightfully so, it took him a few decades to earn that title. Although the ninth commandment clearly forbids bearing false witness, Abraham—actually he was still Abram at this point—chose to be less than fully truthful on occasion. That story is told in Genesis 12:10–13, NKJV.

“Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land. And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, ‘Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance. Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, “This is his wife”; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you.’ ”

It might be argued that at this point in time the Ten Commandments had not been explicitly given to man. However, we can see from the consequences that Abram’s action was clearly a violation of the law. First, we see that he failed to trust in the Lord. We need to remember always that if we are following God’s clear instructions, He will provide divine protection.

That is confirmed in Psalm 18:30, NKJV: “As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” Psalm 91 also provides irrefutable confirmation of God’s loving care for His people. Proverbs 30:5 repeats the promise of Psalm 18:30: “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.”

It seems that the exception deception prevails not only in the requirement to keep the commandments, but also with respect to the promises of God. Scripture clearly tells us that if we trust in Him, He will shield us from the assaults of the enemy of souls. Yet clearly, Abram did not have unfailing trust in God. He was deceived into believing that he was an exception to God’s promises. And the result? We are told that in Genesis 12:17, NKJV: “But the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.”

It is interesting that in this situation the vengeance of God fell upon the victim of the transgression rather than on the transgressor. Were it not for the detailed explanation given in the Spirit of Prophecy, it would be difficult to understand why this was so.

“Through Abraham’s lack of faith, Sarah was placed in great peril. The king of Egypt, being informed of her beauty, caused her to be taken to his palace, intending to make her his wife. But the Lord, in His great mercy, protected Sarah by sending judgments upon the royal household. By this means the monarch learned the truth in the matter, and, indignant at the deception practiced upon him, he reproved Abraham and restored to him his wife, saying, ‘What is this that thou hast done unto me? … Why saidst thou, She is my sister? So I might have taken her to me to wife. Now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.’ [Genesis 12:18, 19.]

“Abraham had been greatly favored by the king; even now Pharaoh would permit no harm to be done him or his company, but ordered a guard to conduct them in safety out of his dominions. At this time laws were made prohibiting the Egyptians from intercourse with foreign shepherds in any such familiarity as eating or drinking with them. Pharaoh’s dismissal of Abraham was kind and generous; but he bade him leave Egypt, for he dared not permit him to remain. He had ignorantly been about to do him a serious injury, but God had interposed, and saved the monarch from committing so great a sin. Pharaoh saw in this stranger a man whom the God of heaven honored, and he feared to have in his kingdom one who was so evidently under divine favor. Should Abraham remain in Egypt, his increasing wealth and honor would be likely to excite the envy or covetousness of the Egyptians, and some injury might be done him, for which the monarch would be held responsible, and which might again bring judgments upon the royal house.

“The warning that had been given to Pharaoh proved a protection to Abraham in his after-intercourse with heathen peoples; for the matter could not be kept secret, and it was seen that the God whom Abraham worshiped would protect His servant, and that any injury done him would be avenged.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 130, 131.

Surprisingly, this incident didn’t fully teach Abraham the lesson of complete obedience that he needed to learn, for later in his life, he once again broke the royal law. Although the seventh commandment clearly forbids infidelity, Abraham somehow felt that he was an exception to that rule and took for himself multiple wives—the consequences of which are still being seen in the Middle East today.

Another character in Scripture that thought himself an exception to the rules time after time was Samson. His story is told in Judges 14 through 16 and shows how the Lord can use anyone—even someone who fails to obey the clearest instructions in God’s word by choosing to be unequally yoked—to fulfill His divine will. Despite Samson’s repeated transgressions, his repentance must have been thorough and sincere, for Paul includes him among the faithful in Hebrews 11:32–34, referring to him as one who “out of weakness” was “made strong.”

Why do we need to be so careful not to delude ourselves? Because it is such a common practice today that, just as Abraham fell victim to the common practices of society in his day, we too are continually exposed to behavior that is contrary to the law of liberty, so much so that it becomes the new normal and fully accepted as completely acceptable.

Recently there was a report in the news concerning Pope Benedict’s visit to Germany in September 2011. In the report, a portion of the speech was repeated that he gave there. In the speech, he expressed the desire that the people would learn to look for salvation to … the church. NPR (National Public Radio) News, September 2011.

In Acts 4:11 and 12, we read: “This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

We are told in verse 8 that Peter is talking, being filled with the Holy Spirit. And to whom is Peter talking? The Church! Peter tells the church that salvation is through Jesus Christ alone. Surely the Pope has read this text. Surely the Pope knows that his assertion that salvation comes through the church is ill-founded. Or is he perhaps a victim of self-deception? Another victim of the exception deception? To those who accept the Scriptures as their safeguard, the man of sin is clearly being revealed.

Let’s look at another Biblical example of someone who clearly thought he was an exception to the rules. This is a character whose life story reveals just how easily one can be led astray—even someone chosen by God to lead His people—if he fails to remain faithful to God’s word.

In I Samuel 10:1, NKJV we read the story of Saul’s anointing: “Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his [Saul’s] head, and kissed him and said: ‘Is it not because the Lord has anointed you commander over His inheritance?’ ”

Then Saul went on about his normal activities, as Samuel commanded him, detailed in verses 2 through 5. Then, in verses 6–9, NKJV we read, “ ‘Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the occasion demands; for God is with you. You shall go down before me to Gilgal; and surely I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and make sacrifices of peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, till I come to you and show you what you should do.’ So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day.”

“Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. So Saul said, ‘Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.’ And he offered the burnt offering. Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him. …

“And Samuel said to Saul, ‘You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.’ ” I Samuel 13:8–10, 13, 14, NKJV.

Saul had had a good start. God gave him another heart. But he was deceived into believing that he was an exception to the plainest instructions given him through God’s spokesman. His disobedience began early in his tenure and continued after Samuel died. We are told near the end of the long and pitiful story of Saul’s life that he saw the Philistines gathered together and was afraid. In I Samuel 28:5 we read that “his heart trembled greatly.”

If the Israelites under Saul’s direction had originally done what God had told them to do, the Philistines would not have been a problem for Saul. Indeed, the Philistines would have been completely destroyed and would not have become “old enemies” of Israel for centuries.

Let’s look at more of Saul’s deception that he was an exception to the rule.

“Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented for him and buried him in Ramah, in his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the spiritists out of the land. Then the Philistines gathered together, and came and encamped at Shunem. So Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped at Gilboa. When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets. [Why would the Lord not answer Saul? Perhaps it was because he regarded iniquity in his heart.] Then Saul said to his servants, ‘Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.’ [Here he adds sin to sin.] And his servants said to him, ‘In fact, there is a woman who is a medium at En Dor.’ So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and he went, and two men with him; and they came to the woman by night. And he said, ‘Please conduct a séance for me, and bring up for me the one I shall name to you.’ ” I Samuel 28:3–8.

Well, we know the rest of the story of Saul’s life. It is summed up in the Spirit of Prophecy this way: “The first king of Israel perished, with the guilt of self-murder upon his soul. His life had been a failure, and he went down in dishonor and despair, because he had set up his own perverse will against the will of God.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 682.

In other words, he succumbed to the exception deception. Saul thought he was an exception to the basic principles of God’s law and to the clearest instructions given him by Samuel, the prophet of God.

Let’s ponder for a moment this hard question. Do we sometimes think that we are exceptions to the clearest instructions given to us by Ellen G. White, the prophet of God, just as Saul thought that he was an exception to the instructions given him by the prophet of God?

Here are a few statements from God’s prophet to the remnant that many of the remnant often ignore.

“Cheese should never be introduced into the stomach.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 68.

“Again and again I have been shown that God is trying to lead us back, step by step, to His original design––that man should subsist upon the natural products of the earth. Among those who are waiting for the coming of the Lord, meat-eating will eventually be done away; flesh will cease to form a part of their diet. We should ever keep this end in view, and endeavor to work steadily toward it.” Maranatha, 62.

“Many who are now only half converted on the question of meat-eating will go from God’s people, to walk no more with them.” Ibid.

“The many books which education is thought to embrace, are misleading, a deception and a delusion. ‘What is the chaff to the wheat?’ Satan is now stirring up the minds of men to furnish to the world literature which is of a cheap, superficial order, but which fascinates the mind, and fastens it in a network of Satan’s contrivance. [Consider how the Harry Potter series fulfills this statement.] After reading these books, the mind lives in an unreal world, and the life, so far as usefulness is concerned, is as barren as a fruitless tree. [Emphasis supplied.] The brain is intoxicated, making it impossible for the eternal realities, which are essential for the present and the future to be pressed home. A mind educated to feed upon trash is unable to see in the word of God the beauty that is there. Love for Jesus and inclination to righteousness are lost; for the mind is built up from that upon which it feeds. By feeding the mind upon exciting stories of fiction, man is bringing to the foundation ‘wood, hay, stubble.’ He loses all taste for the divine Guidebook, and cares not to study the character he must form in order to dwell with the redeemed host, and inhabit the mansions which Christ has gone to prepare.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 451, 452.

“Those who love God will not choose the enemies of God to be their friends. The question was asked, ‘Shouldst thou help the ungodly, and love them which hate the Lord?’ Will you prefer the association of the irreligious and disloyal, to that of those who are obeying the commandments of God? Will you choose to separate yourself from those who love God, and place yourself as far as possible from the channel of light? You want to keep in an atmosphere of purity and faith, and bring into your characters, principles that will be as solid timbers. Christians will not choose and cultivate the society of non-Christians.” The Review and Herald, January 16, 1894. [Emphasis supplied.]

Turning to the book of James, we find further discussion of the exception deception.

“My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.” James 2:1–9.

The need to regard others with impartiality is not a concept that appeared for the first time in the apostolic era. In Deuteronomy 1:16, 17, we read, “And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.” Deuteronomy 1:16, 17.

Moses understood—and so instructed the chosen judges—that to show favoritism in judgment was contrary to the principles of heaven. Man is not to manifest partiality in judgment or make exceptions to the rules for others.

He repeated his admonition to rule without partiality in Deuteronomy 16:19, NKJV: “You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.”

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus also stressed God’s impartiality. He said that God “makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:45, NKJV.

Paul makes it clear in more than one of his epistles to be aware of the exception deception.

“But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.” Romans 2:5–11.

God is going to render “to every man according to his deeds” without “respect of persons.” In other words, He will not make an exception for anyone who is contentious or guilty of unrighteousness. He is not a party to the exception deception.

In the sixth chapter of Ephesians, verse 9, after providing inspired instruction for several different classes of people, Paul concludes by remarking, “… knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.” Read Ephesians 6:1–9.

Paul also makes the point in his letter to the Colossians. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” Colossians 3:23–25.

In other words, there are no exceptions to the rules. If you obey, you will inherit eternal life. If you disobey, you will suffer eternal destruction.

This concept of impartiality is so critical to salvation that the Holy Spirit impressed it upon Bible writers over and over again. In I Peter 1:17, we read, “And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.”

Why is it that we need to “pass the time of our sojourning here in fear”? Is it not because Satan, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour? [See I Peter 5:8.]

“The accession of the Roman Church to power marked the beginning of the Dark Ages. As her power increased, the darkness deepened. Faith was transferred from Christ, the true foundation, to the pope of Rome. Instead of trusting in the Son of God for forgiveness of sins and for eternal salvation, the people looked to the pope, and to the priests and prelates to whom he delegated authority. They were taught that the pope was their mediator, and that none could approach God except through him, and, further, that he stood in the place of God to them, and was therefore to be implicitly obeyed. A deviation from his requirements was sufficient cause for the severest punishment to be visited upon the bodies and souls of the offenders. Thus the minds of the people were turned away from God to fallible, erring, and cruel men, nay more, to the prince of darkness himself, who exercised his power through them. Sin was disguised in a garb of sanctity.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4, 58.

In Acts 10:34, 35, Peter speaks a truth that it is critical for us to remember as the meeting of time and eternity draws nigh: “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, ‘Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him.’ ”

Let us ever be mindful of Peter’s admonition and not be deceived by the enemy of souls into thinking that we are exceptions to God’s expressed commands, whether provided in Holy Scripture or in the Spirit of Prophecy.

John Pearson is currently the office manager and a board member of Steps to Life. After retiring as chief financial officer for the Grand Canyon Association, he moved to Wichita to join the Steps team and may be contacted by email at: johnpearson@stepstolife.org.

What Inspiration Says About – Being Deceived

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Be not deceived; many will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. We have now before us the alpha of this danger. The omega will be of a most startling nature.” Selected Messages, vol. 1, 197.

“Christ sees the wickedness on the earth today. He sees that the sins of Noah’s and Lot’s time are being repeated. What terrible revelations of crime are being made. Everything seems to be stirred with an intense activity from beneath. Excitement is continually kept up. Feasting, buying, and selling, are brought into the churches. The watchman cries, ‘The morning cometh, and also the night.’ The night symbolizes prevalence of error, misinterpretation and misapplication of Scripture. Every species of delusion is now being brought in. The plainest truths of God’s word are covered with a mass of man-made theories. Deadly errors are presented as the truth to which all must bow. The simplicity of true godliness is buried beneath tradition.” Bible Echo and Signs of the Times, February 1, 1897.

“Those temptations are most dangerous which come from the professed servants of God, and from our friends. When persons who are uniting with the world, yet claiming great piety and love, counsel the faithful workers for God to be less zealous and more conservative, our answer must be an appeal to the Word of God. When they plead for union with those who have been our determined opposers, we should fear and shun them as decidedly as did Nehemiah.” The Signs of the Times, January 3, 1884.

“Christ had foretold that deceivers would arise, through whose influence ‘iniquity’ should ‘abound,’ and ‘the love of many’ should ‘wax cold’ (Matt. 24:12). He had warned the disciples that the church would be in more danger from this evil than from the persecution of her enemies. Again and again Paul warned the believers against these false teachers. This peril, above all others, they must guard against; for by receiving false teachers, they would open the door to errors by which the enemy would dim the spiritual perceptions and shake the confidence of those newly come to the faith of the gospel.” Reflecting Christ, 344.

The Sure Consequence of Imbibing Error

“We are living in the perils of the last days. It is not safe to be careless and indifferent now. With humble hearts and perfect submission to the will of God, we should pray earnestly to be kept from error and that we may be guided into all truth. Truth sanctifies. Error corrupts. The soul can be kept pure and strengthened only by walking in the light as Christ is in the light.” Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, December 2, 1875.

“Error is falsehood and deception. Those who partake of it must suffer in consequence, as did Adam and Eve in Eden. It is the privilege of all to search with prayerful, eager interest for the truth. Truth is the tree of life, the leaves of which the human family are to eat and live.” The Upward Look, 125.

“It is a fact widely ignored, though never without danger, that error rarely appears for what it really is. It is by mingling with or attaching itself to truth that it gains acceptance. The eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil caused the ruin of our first parents, and the acceptance of a mingling of good and evil is the ruin of men and women today.” Education, 230, 231.

“Error is never harmless. It never sanctifies, but always brings confusion and dissension. It is always dangerous. The enemy has great power over minds that are not thoroughly fortified by prayer and established in Bible truth.” Counsels to Writers and Editors, 47.

Danger of Not Going to a Church of True Believers

“I then saw the third angel. Said my accompanying angel, ‘Fearful is his word, awful is his mission. He is the angel that is to select the wheat from the tares, and seal or bind the wheat for the heavenly garner.’ These things should engage the whole mind, the whole attention. Again I was shown the necessity of those who believe we are having the last message of mercy, being separate from those who are daily receiving or imbibing new error. I saw that neither young nor old should attend the assemblies of those who are in error and darkness. Said the angel, ‘Let the mind cease to dwell on things of no profit.’ ” Manuscript Releases, vol. 5, 425.

“In order to live in the light, we must come where the light shines. It is not well for the people of God to lose the privilege of associating with those of like faith with themselves; for the truth loses its importance in their minds, their hearts cease to be enlightened and vivified by its sanctifying influence, and they lose spirituality. They are not strengthened by the words of the living preacher.” Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, November 14, 1882.

“I was shown the necessity of those who believe that we are having the last message of mercy, being separate from those who are daily imbibing new errors. I saw that neither young nor old should attend their meetings; for it is wrong to thus encourage them while they teach error that is a deadly poison to the soul and teach for doctrines the commandments of men. The influence of such gatherings is not good. If God has delivered us from such darkness and error, we should stand fast in the liberty wherewith He has set us free and rejoice in the truth. God is displeased with us when we go to listen to error, without being obliged to go; for unless He sends us to those meetings where error is forced home to the people by the power of the will, He will not keep us. The angels cease their watchful care over us, and we are left to the buffetings of the enemy, to be darkened and weakened by him and the power of his evil angels; and the light around us becomes contaminated with the darkness. Early Writings, 124, 125.

“Those who do not feel the necessity of seeking the assembly of the saints, with the precious assurance that the Lord will meet with them, show how lightly they value the help that God has provided for them. Satan is constantly at work to wound and poison the soul; in order to withstand his efforts we must breathe the atmosphere of heaven. We must individually get hold and keep hold of Christ.” SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 934.

“No longer should our people go to Battle Creek as they have been doing. Infidelity has been sown there in words in false statements, in unsanctified influence of mind over mind. God is dishonored, we are to prepare to accept the situations God may prepare for us. Never before did the matter appear as the Lord presents it today. False theories, repeated again and again, appear as falsely inviting today as did the fruit of the forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden. The fruit was very beautiful, and apparently desirable for food. Through false doctrines many souls have already been destroyed. Some will never see the light and come to their senses. The Lord God of Israel now declares, ‘If the Lord be God, serve Him; and if Baal, serve him. Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.’” Loma Linda Messages, 165.

“We shall be called to meet those who, notwithstanding definite reproof and warning through the Testimonies have gone on in an evil course. We are bidden of God to hold ourselves separate and distinct from these men who have not given heed to His warnings. Some of them will seek to enter our churches, but we are to give no place to them. If they are converted, they will bear a different testimony. But I have a positive warning in reference to men who have departed from the faith. Let not our churches be opened for them; for they will deceive, if possible, the very elect.” (To S. N. Haskell, November 11, 1908.) Manuscript Releases, vol. 7, 196.

“Every truly honest soul will come to the light of truth. ‘Light is sown for the righteous.’ (Psalm 97:11) And no church can advance in holiness unless its members are earnestly seeking for truth as for hid treasure.” The Great Controversy, 522.

“There are men whose character and life testify to the fact that they are false prophets and deceivers. These we are not to hear or tolerate.” Testimonies to Ministers, 294.

“Satan will bring his temptations, and if he is to be resisted we must pray to God for deliverance. If there ever was a time that we needed to pray, it is in these last days. The Word is no more bound than it was when Christ was upon the earth. We shall have Satan and evil men to combat, but we also shall have messengers of light to help us. It is for us to gather upon our pathway all the rays of light, and not listen to error, for if we do we shall be turned away from truth. We have no time to listen to fables. Christ’s prayer was, ‘Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth’ (John 17:17). We want the truth and we want to give Him all our powers, that when He comes His benediction will rest upon every one of us and we shall receive the reward.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 3, 98.

Necessity of Opposing False Teachers

“False teachers may appear to be very zealous for the work of God, and may expend means to bring their theories before the world and the church; but as they mingle error with truth, their message is one of deception, and will lead souls into false paths. They are to be met, and opposed, not because they are bad men, but because they are teachers of falsehood, and are endeavoring to put upon falsehood the stamp of truth.” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, September 12, 1893.

“The Word of God contains the truth, but when this Word is misapplied and made to strengthen error, we must meet this danger without hesitation. We must call upon our people to turn from such theories, to receive them not, to remember how they have received, and heard, and hold fast, and repent. We call upon them to keep their spiritual eyesight clear and to receive not the elaborate, uncalled-for explanations of the Scriptures offered by some, because these explanations would undermine the pillars of our faith. Reverence the Word, but not its misapplication to substantiate error.” Manuscript Release, vol. 760, 16.

Fatal Consequence of Improper Education

“The education that consists in the training of the memory, tending to discourage independent thought, has a moral bearing which is too little appreciated. As the student sacrifices the power to reason and judge for himself, he becomes incapable of discriminating between truth and error, and falls an easy prey to deception. He is easily led to follow tradition and custom.” Education, 230.

“Physicians, have you been doing the Master’s business in listening to fanciful and spiritualistic interpretations of the Scriptures, interpretations which undermine the foundations of our faith, and holding your peace? God says, ‘Neither will I be with you any more, unless you awake, and vindicate your Redeemer.’” Selected Messages, vol. 1, 196.

Whose Authority Will You Obey?

“The word of God is to be our counselor. It is only those who render perfect and thorough obedience to God that he will choose. Those who follow the Lord are to be firm and straightforward in obeying his directions. Any deviation to follow human devising or planning disqualifies them for being trustworthy. Even if they have to walk as did Enoch,—with God alone,—his children must separate from those who do not obey him, who show that they are not in vital connection with him. The Lord God is a host; and all who are in his service will realize the meaning of his words to Zerubbabel, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.’ ” The Youth’s Instructor, April 28, 1898.

“But ‘every plant, which My heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.’ In place of the authority of the so-called fathers of the church, God bids us accept the word of the eternal Father, the Lord of heaven and earth. Here alone is truth unmixed with error. David said, ‘I have more understanding than all my teachers: for Thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Thy precepts.’ (Ps. 119:99, 100) Let all who accept human authority, the customs of the church, or the traditions of the fathers, take heed to the warning conveyed in the words of Christ, ‘In vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” The Desire of Ages, 398.

“But God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all reforms. The opinions of learned men, the deductions of science, the creeds or decisions of ecclesiastical councils, as numerous and discordant as are the churches which they represent, the voice of the majority—not one nor all of these should be regarded as evidence for or against any point of religious faith. Before accepting any doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain ‘Thus saith the Lord’ in its support.

“Satan is constantly endeavoring to attract attention to man in the place of God. He leads the people to look to bishops, to pastors, to professors of theology, as their guides, instead of searching the Scriptures to learn their duty for themselves. Then, by controlling the minds of these leaders, he can influence the multitudes according to his will.” The Great Controversy, 595.

Error’s Bewitching Power

“There is in error and unbelief that which bewilders and bewitches the mind. To question and doubt and cherish unbelief in order to excuse ourselves in stepping aside from the straight path is a far easier matter than to purify the soul through a belief of the truth, and obedience thereto. But when better influences lead one to desire to return, he finds himself entangled in such a network of Satan, like a fly in a spider’s web, that it seems a hopeless task to him, and he seldom recovers himself from the snare laid for him by the wily foe.” Selected Messages, vol. 1, 46.
“My mind is sad beyond expression because the enemy has obtained victories over the minds and hearts and wills of those whom the Lord has been admonishing, saying, ‘This is the way, walk ye in it.’ God has been warning them for years, but they would not receive His words and take heed to them; they would not make their works perfect before Him. Some of those who claim to have been teaching the truth present before God a very ragged practice, which He does not accept. They determined to follow their own will and way, and they have been led by the enemy of all righteousness. Satan has been playing the game of life for their souls, and has been stealing away from them the Lord’s entrusted gifts, putting in their place his evil sentiments, to be worked out in scientific problems. He has blinded the spiritual eyesight, and deceptive, delusive imaginings are taking the place of the word of life and truth. Some in exalted positions of responsibility are sustaining error in the place of truth. Satan makes his delusions most attractive, clothing error in the garments of truth, so that it seems the most desirable thing to possess. The minds of many whom we would naturally suppose would see things clearly, are blinded as with a bewitching sophistry of error. If the terribly bewitching, fascinating story is not interrupted, those who are listening to it will become infidels in their belief. There is no safety in their present experience. They need to be convicted and converted by eating the word of God, believing it just as it reads, interpreting it correctly, not weaving the messages sent by God to save His people, into their own sophistries, making them speak in favor of fables that undermine the foundation established by the Lord for His commandment-keeping people.” Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7.

“Everywhere error will be presented for truth; and unless we have a living connection with God, and are diligent in searching the Scriptures, there is danger of being misled. Voices will be heard on every side, saying, ‘Come with us; we have the truth.’ Jesus is the true Shepherd. His sheep hear His voice, and follow Him; but a ‘stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.’ But unless we are ever on our guard, there is constant danger of listening to strange voices.” The Signs of the Times, October 29, 1885.

“There is no nook or corner of the world, however secluded, where error and sin have not found their way. Error is often presented in a specious garb, so that it requires more than human wisdom to detect the falsehood under the pretension of truth. If error was never mingled with truth, it would not be so subtle in its influence upon the mind. If error stood forth alone in its true, hideous form, souls would not be deceived. But there are many who see attractions in error, and will eagerly feast upon it, although it poisons the mind. Error always injures the soul and deforms the character. Error may, at first sight, appear plausible, but its tendency is to corrupt the heart, and to ensnare its victims. We often hear it stated that it matters not what one believes if his life is only right. But the life is molded by the faith. If light and truth, are within our reach, and we neglect to improve the privilege of hearing and seeing the truth, we virtually reject it, and choose darkness rather than light. Said Christ to the Jews, Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, December 2, 1875.

Occupy the Mind With Truth, Contend for Truth

“And now opposition has to be encountered. In the world they were gliding along peaceably, but now they have to stem the current of popular opinion. As they turn from the maxims and customs of popular professors of religion, the conflict begins in earnest. They must contend for the faith once delivered to the saints, or be carried away from light, away from truth, into error and darkness, to final ruin.” General Conference Daily Bulletin, January 28, 1893.

“None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict. To every soul will come the searching test: Shall I obey God rather than men? The decisive hour is even now at hand. Are our feet planted on the rock of God’s immutable word? Are we prepared to stand firm in defense of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus?” The Great Controversy, 593, 594.

Unity

“We have a testing message to give, and I am instructed to say to our people, ‘Unify, unify.’ But we are not to unify with those who are departing from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. With our hearts sweet and kind and true, we are to go forth to proclaim the message, giving no heed to those who lead away from the truth.” Manuscript 31, 1906; Selected Messages, book 3, 412.

“Our church members see that there are differences of opinion among the leading men, and they themselves enter into controversy regarding the subjects under dispute. Christ calls for unity. But He does not call for us to unify on wrong practices. The God of heaven draws a sharp contrast between pure, elevating, ennobling truth and false, misleading doctrines. He calls sin and impenitence by the right name. He does not gloss over wrongdoing with a coat of untempered mortar. I urge our brethren to unify upon a true, scriptural basis.” Manuscript 10, 1905; Selected Messages, vol. 1, 175.

Satan’s Objective

“Satan is now using every device in this sealing time to keep the minds of God’s people from the present truth, and to cause them to waver. I saw a covering that God was drawing over His people to protect them in the time of trouble; and every soul that was decided on the truth, and was pure in heart, was to be covered with the covering of the Almighty. Satan knew this, and he was at work in mighty power to keep the minds of as many people as he possibly could wavering and unsettled on the truth . . . I saw that Satan was at work . . . to distract, deceive, and draw away God’s people, just now in this sealing time. I saw some who were not standing stiffly for present truth. Their knees were trembling, and their feet sliding because they were not firmly planted on the truth . . .

“Satan was trying his every art to hold them where they were, until the sealing was past, until the covering was drawn over God’s people, and they left without a shelter from the burning wrath of God, in the seven last plagues.” Sons and Daughters of God, 342.

The End

Lost in Eden, part 2

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And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13. Adam and Eve were lost in Eden but, horrifying thought, could it be possible that while we are within God’s true church, surrounded with the loving care of God and His marvelous doctrines of truth and His precious standards, that we might personally become separated, disconnected from God and totally lost? Well, let me awaken you to reality; this is what will happen to millions within the Adventist church. We have been warned of this by God’s servant. The majority within our church will think they are connected with God but will believe the lies that are now being preached from some of our pulpits, and they will find out too late that, while they thought they were connected to God, they have become separated from Deity and are under a power and a control of another spirit.

Ellen White wrote of this because she saw in vision that it would happen in the end time. “I saw that Satan was working through agents in a number of ways. He was at work through ministers who have rejected the truth and are given over to strong delusions to believe a lie that they might be damned. While they were preaching or praying, some would fall prostrate and helpless, not by the power of the Holy Ghost, but by the power of Satan breathed upon these agents, and through them to the people. While preaching, praying, or conversing, some professed Adventists who had rejected present truth used mesmerism to gain adherents, and the people would rejoice in this influence, for they thought it was the Holy Ghost. Some even that used it were so far in the darkness and deception of the devil that they thought it was the power of God, given them to exercise. They had made God altogether such a one as themselves and had valued His power as a thing of nought.” Early Writings, 43, 44.

Just a few days ago I had one of our good, faithful Seventh-day Adventist ministers phone me from the East. He said, “You don’t know me. We have never met, but I have listened to some of your tapes.” He said, “Let me tell you what is happening in the area where I live. In one of our large churches they have brought in a minister who has so many degrees back of his name that whenever he speaks they think that he talks as God. They believe everything that he tells them.

“On Sabbath afternoon he is now having healing services. He strikes these people who come forward to be healed, on the head, and they fall backward. Somebody has to grab them, and they lay on the floor sometimes for 30 minutes. I just couldn’t believe that this would ever happen in my church. If you don’t have any idea what I’m talking about,” he said, “just turn on the television and look at some of these Pentecostal healing programs, and this is exactly what this man is doing in the Seventh-day Adventist church today.” I said, “Elder, I believe we are beginning to come into a great false revival within this church. Not only will there be healing such as you have seen, but you will see these men speaking in tongues and preaching doctrines of devils in these last days.”

“I saw that Satan was at work in these ways to distract, deceive, and draw away God’s people, just now in this sealing time. I saw some who were not standing stiffly for present truth. Their knees were trembling, and their feet sliding, because they were not firmly planted on the truth, and the covering of Almighty God could not be drawn over them while they were thus trembling. Satan was trying his every art to hold them where they were, until the sealing was past, until the covering was drawn over God’s people, and they left without a shelter from the burning wrath of God, in the seven last plagues.” Ibid., 44.

“I saw that the mysterious signs and wonders and false reformations would increase and spread. The reformations that were shown me were not reformations from error to truth.” Ibid., 45. If ever we needed a Divine power, we need it today to discern error from truth in the coming crisis that is breaking upon this church. In last month’s article, “Lost in Eden” part one, we discovered that the human race, whether before or after the fall of Adam, must reach above the level of humanity by divine power in order to maintain a vital connection with God. This connection is absolutely necessary if we are to overcome Satan’s masterful temptations. Why did Adam fall? “Adam did not reach above his humanity for divine power.” Signs of the Times, December 3, 1902. You see, he believed Satan when he said, “Each of you are gods.”

Jesus left heaven, came down to earth, and took upon Himself fallen, human nature. Yet, because He maintained a daily connection with God His Father, He never once broke His Father’s law. He accomplished this wonder, which Satan said was impossible, because He daily partook of the Holy Spirit.

Earnest Prayer

“Christ during His life on earth sought His Father daily for fresh supplies of needed grace.” Acts of the Apostles, 56. This is why we read in the Scriptures that Christ often spent the entire night in communion with God. We read of Him getting up early before the sun came up, spending time with God.

Jesus did not come to earth to demonstrate that a man, separated from God, sold into sin, could live a sinless life. Jesus came to demonstrate just the opposite—that only humanity connected with divinity would find it possible to overcome as He overcame. “Christ left His heavenly home and came to this world to show that only by being connected with divinity can man keep the law of God. In itself humanity is tainted and corrupted, but Christ brought moral power to man and those who live in communion with Him overcome as He overcame.” Signs of the Times, December 3, 1896.

The following statement makes it very clear. “Christ came to this earth taking humanity and standing as man’s representative to show in the controversy with Satan that man, as God created him, connected with the Father and the Son, could obey every divine requirement.” SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 926. We can understand how Christ demonstrated by His connection with His Father that a man having a fallen, human nature is enabled to obey every divine requirement if he truly becomes a partaker of divine nature. “He [Christ] assumed the liabilities of human nature, to be proved and tried. In His humanity He was a partaker of the divine nature.” Selected Messages, vol. 1, 226. “In Christ were united the human and the divine.” Testimonies to the Church, vol. 2, 201.

Born of the Spirit

Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit, and as we compare inspired writings, we discover that “a connection with God” and the new birth are synonymous terms. “There must be a new birth, a new mind through the operation of the Spirit of God . . . This connection with God fits man for the glorious kingdom of heaven.” Signs of the Times, November 15, 1883.

Are you following me? When sinful man repents and chooses to connect with God, we refer to this experience as a new birth, having been born of the Spirit, which makes it possible to declare such a person as being “a new man in Christ Jesus.”

Jesus was born with a connection with God. Notice how clearly this is revealed as to the source of His power. “The Father gave the Spirit without measure to His Son.” Signs of the Times, February 24, 1888. That is tremendous. All heaven was given, but then notice these words, “And we also may partake of Its fullness.” Ibid. Marvelous, how God has made provision for us to be overcomers. “In Christ dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily. This is why although He was tempted in all points like as we are, He stood before the world from His entrance into it untainted by corruption, though surrounded by it.” SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 907. Then these words, “Are we not also to become partakers of that fullness and is it not thus, and thus only, that we can overcome as He overcame?” Ibid.

The divine secret of Christ’s victory over sin, from the moment of His entrance into this world as a human, was because He was filled with the Holy Spirit. “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of Me, I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart.” Psalm 40:7, 8. Jesus was connected with God, not sold unto sin, even though He voluntarily bore our sins. “Satan charmed the first Adam by his sophistry . . . He believed the words of Satan. But the second Adam was not to become the enemy’s bondslave.” Signs of the Times, December 3, 1902.

Fallen Man to Have Power Over Sin

Christ proved that man bearing a fallen, sinful nature may obey and live without sin. “The only begotten Son of God came to our world as a man, to reveal to the world that men could keep the law of God.” Selected Messages, vol. 3, 136. “Christ came to this world as a man to prove to the angels and to men that man may overcome; that in every emergency he may know that the powers of heaven are ready to help him.” Signs of the Times, December 3, 1902. What a promise! Oh, praise God!

All the fullness of the power of God is available to us. “The Lord Jesus declares, ‘I have kept My Father’s commandments.’ ” Selected Messages, vol. 3, 138. And then Mrs. White continues. “How? As a man.” Ibid. “He [God] sent His Son to this world to bear the penalty of sin. Why? To show men how to live a sinless life.” Signs of the Times, March 30, 1904. Why am I dwelling on the fact that we must have in our humanity the power of divinity connected with us? Because I believe that Jesus is coming soon and we must get ready. The sealing will soon be over, and only those who have taken of this divine power and learned to live as Jesus lived are going to make it. “His life declares that humanity, combined with divinity, does not commit sin.” Ministry of Healing, 180. “Christ came to reveal the Source of His power, that man might never rely on his unaided human capabilities.” Review and Herald, February 18, 1890.

Do not let anyone ever mislead you by reading the following passage which may at first appear to contradict what I have just said. “Let every human being be warned from the ground of making Christ altogether human such a one as ourselves for it cannot be. The exact time when humanity blended with divinity is not necessary for us to know.” SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 1129. We do not need to know the exact moment, but if this quotation perplexes you in any way, would you notice the clue: In Christ “humanity was blended with divinity. In His humanity He was a partaker of the divine nature.” Selected Messages, vol. 1, 226. “Christ did not possess the same sinful, corrupt, fallen disloyalty we possess, for then He could not be a perfect offering.” Selected Messages, vol. 3, 131.

Again and again this is so plainly revealed. “Laying aside His royal crown, He condescended to step down, step by step, to the level of fallen humanity.” Ibid., 128. “His human nature was created, it did not even possess angelic powers.” Ibid. He did not even have the power when He was here as a human that the angels have. “It was human, identical with our own.” Ibid. Never could it be written more plainly. In Romans 1:3 the Scripture says the same; “Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh.” And in Romans 8:3, “God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.”

Not a Lesser God

The obedience of Christ was not that of a god, but that of a man who was connected with divine power. “Christ’s overcoming and obedience is that of a true human being. In our conclusions we make many mistakes because of our erroneous views of the human nature of our Lord. When we give to Him, His human nature, a power that it is not possible for man to have in his conflicts with Satan, we destroy the completeness of His humanity. His imputed grace and power He gives to all who receive Him by faith. The obedience of Christ to His Father was the same obedience that is required of man. Man cannot overcome Satan’s temptations without Divine power to combine with his instrumentality. So with Jesus Christ, He could lay hold of divine power. He came not to the world to give the obedience of a lesser god to a greater, but as a man to obey God’s holy law and in this way He is our example. The Lord Jesus came to our world, not to reveal what a God could do, but what a man could do through faith in God’s power to help in every emergency.” Manuscript Releases, vol.1, 1892.

That is wonderful! We have an example Jesus has shown us. “Man is through faith to be a partaker in the divine nature, and to overcome every temptation wherewith he is beset. The Lord now demands that every son and daughter of Adam through faith in Jesus Christ, serve Him in human nature which we now have. The Lord Jesus has bridged a gulf that sin has made. He has connected earth with heaven and finite man with the infinite God. Jesus, the world’s Redeemer, could only keep the commandments of God in the same way that humanity can keep them.” Ibid. That gives me courage. And I trust it gives you courage. Wonderful! Oh, praise God! We are assured that every son and daughter of Adam when connected with the infinite God through faith may obey God in the human nature which we now have.

Forever let it be known that the Spirit of Prophecy clearly makes a distinction between sinful nature and sinfulness. “In Him was no guile or sinfulness; he was ever pure and undefiled, yet, He took upon Him our sinful nature.” Review and Herald, December 15, 1896. “He began life, passed through its experiences and ended its record with a sanctified, human will. He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet, because He kept His will surrendered and sanctified, He never bent in the slightest degree toward the doing of evil or toward manifesting rebellion against God.” Signs of the Times, October 29, 1894. Here then is the key that unlocks this mystery. Philippians 2:5, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”

Of every true Christian it must be said before He comes that “We have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16. Why? Because Christ came to this earth. “That He might restore to man the original mind which he lost in Eden through Satan’s alluring temptations.” SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 926.

I would like to recap for you what Christ did when He came to this earth to demonstrate victorious living. What did Christ come to earth to demonstrate? Christ came to this earth to show that man, as God created him, connected with the Father and the Son, could obey every divine requirement. His life declares that humanity, combined with divinity, does not commit sin.

And so my friends, this is no time to be lost in the church. We need a connection with Christ that the divinity of God can be combined with our humanity; for in such an experience we will not commit sin. How is it with you, brother? How is it with you, sister? Young man? Young woman? Are you reaching out for this divine power? The divinity of God is promised to us in its fullness that we might be ready to meet Jesus. I appeal to you now to make this most important decision. Give your heart fully to God; allow the Holy Spirit to write His law within you and fill you with the power of divinity.

The End

Self Deception

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Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.” 1 Corinthians 3:18. This is a curious concept. How can you be guilty of self deception ? Other people deceive us by withholding or giving wrong information to us. But how can you withhold information from yourself? I do not think that is possible. What about giving yourself wrong information? That is possible.

The will is stronger than both the imagination and memory. This may seem mysterious, but consider this situation. You have done something, about which you are not happy. As you remember the circumstances, you wish you had done differently. You think, “Well, this would have been a better way. If I had done this or if I had said this, it would have been much better.” Reconstructing the situation up to the point that you can be prepared for another situation of the same kind, and planning to handle it more skillfully the next time is okay. But do not go too far with this because if you keep remembering the better way, you may, after a while, persuade yourself that you actually have done it that way. That is extremely dangerous. James writes about that in James 1:26, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” You can deceive your own heart.

Examples of Self Deception

It is a curious thing to notice that the Jewish leaders who rejected Christ, and Korah, Dathan, and Abiram who led the revolt against the directorship of Moses, thought themselves doing right. You could say they were sincere if you were not too particular how you define the word sincerity.

Speaking of the priests and rulers of Christ’s time, Ellen White writes in Desire of Ages, 541, “Satan told them that in order to maintain their authority, they must put Jesus to death. Yet such was their deception that they were well pleased with themselves. They regarded themselves as patriots, who were seeking the nation’s salvation.” This is a fearful self-deception.

Ellen White, says of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram in Patriarchs and Prophets, 397, “They ventured still further, and at last they really believed themselves to be actuated by zeal for God.” They were planning revolt against Moses and developed a plan far enough that they were ready to kill Moses, yet thought they were led by the Lord.

How does self deception happen? Does sincerity not provide an excuse? Are people judged and held guilty if they are sincere?

The process of self deception is slow. It takes, sometimes, quite a little time. And it can happen to anybody. The Jews had the Scriptures and were looking right at the Messiah in person, watching His miracles, and hearing His marvelous teachings, but they were not immune from self deception. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram had been in the mountain with Moses when God spoke to Moses personally on the mountaintop. Surely they would be immune from making such a mistake and getting into self deception. But that is not the case.

It begins with something small. The devil does not come out at once and urge you to murder somebody. He did not come at once at the very beginning to urge the Jewish leaders to murder Christ; or Korah, Dathan, and Abiram to murder Moses. Probably all of them would have rejected such a thought. Satan has to start with something smaller.

The Process of Self Deception

With Korah, self deception started with self pity. Patriarchs and Prophets, 395, tells us that Korah was part of the family of Levi. He was in some sense related to the tribe of Levi, but he was not chosen to be among the priesthood, which he resented. Self-pity, we are told, is a very pernicious emotion in the human heart. What starts with self-pity eventually comes to murder. It was this way with the Jewish priests. They had been upset over the fact that shepherds had heard the angels singing. Why had not the angels sung to the rabbis? When the shepherds came, why did they not come to the rabbis? They felt slighted, passed by, and that is where it began with them.

“Often the process is gradual, and almost imperceptible. Light comes to the soul . . . by the direct agency of His Spirit; but when one ray of light is disregarded, there is a partial benumbing of the spiritual perceptions, and the second revealing of light is less clearly discerned. So the darkness increases, until it is night in the soul.” Desire of Ages, 322

“A temptation, slight at first, had been harbored, and had strengthened as it was encouraged, until their minds were controlled by Satan.”Patriarchs and Prophets, 396. The mind can go completely under the control of Satan. Starting with a small temptation, there is no telling where it will lead. From a small temptation comes a redefining of events in a person’s thinking, “that’s the way it actually happened. I wish it would have happened like this.” As it becomes reinforced repeatedly, a person actually begins to think it did happen like that. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram thought over the unhappy experiences of their deliverance from Egypt. Passing by the happy thoughts, they thought about going back to the wilderness by the command of God. They thought about the various hardships and trials the people had had and reconstructed it in their minds until they came to believe it was Moses’ fault. Moses had done his best and had offered to sacrifice his life. But when the mind starts reconstructing the past, it can come to believe what did not happen at all.

Starting with a small temptation, you reconstruct things in the mind, wishing that it had been like this instead of the way it actually was, until you actually begin to believe events were according to your reconstruction. Now you are believing your lies and are literally deceiving yourself. The will, which wants it to be that way, is stronger than the memory of how it actually was. When the will and memory come into conflict, the will is going to win if the conflict lasts very long. The memory cannot resist the power of the will. When a person believes his own lies, he is what they call a pathological liar. He is in desperate shape.

“It is by sinful indulgence that men give Satan access to their minds, and they go from one stage of wickedness to another. The rejection of light darkens the mind and hardens the heart, so that it is easier for them to take the next step in sin and to reject still clearer light, until at last their habits of wrongdoing become fixed. Sin ceases to appear sinful to them.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 404

We are not excusable, if we walk in darkness when the light is available to us. We are responsible for everything we know of the will of God and for everything that He gives us opportunity to know. The Jews who rejected Jesus and the people who rebelled against Moses had ample opportunity to have things straight. They had enough experience to know. Jesus has given us all the information that we need about our situation. It is very dangerous to indulge in self-pity or an apparently tiny sin. It is very dangerous to indulge in self-justification, to disregard a small ray of light, or to utter doubts.

Zedekiah’s Mistake

Another outstanding Bible example of self deception is Zedekiah, the last king of Judah.

Zedekiah could not bring himself to stand for truth. Three Hebrews—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—refused to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar’s image on the Plain of Dura. You know that famous story by heart, but did you know that those three Israelites were not the only Israelites who were there that day? Zedekiah also went to Babylon. Why?

“Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together [notice] the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.” Daniel 3:1-3. The Babylonians considered Israel a province and they called it the Province Beyond the River with Zedekiah as the governor of the province. In Israel, of course, he was called king; but he knew he was no king. What was he doing in Babylon? He was there to stand on the Plain of Dura, and, if he obeyed the king’s command, he was to bow before that golden image.

Imagine Zedekiah anxiously looking around. He was aware there were other Israelites there. He probably saw the other three standing tall and wondered for a moment if he should stand tall too, but then his courage failed. He had had a lot of time to think about this.

It is a long, long journey from Babylon back to Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar, while prince of Babylon, had made a very fast journey across that Arabian desert. He had taken an army and had gone up the Euphrates River in the slow and normal manner and down the sea coast, planning to invade Egypt way down south. But when he was nearing Egypt a messenger came to him with the news that his father, the king of Babylon, had died. Nebuchadnezzar was prince of Babylon at this time. Because he naturally feared that somebody else might try to take the kingdom before he got back to assert his right to the throne, he left most of his army to fend for themselves, and took a few specially chosen men, and went straight across the desert toward Babylon. It took him three weeks even at that.

Zedekiah had three weeks of going that way to think about what he had done and to persuade himself that he had done the right thing. You know, he was reconstructing his memory, putting all of it together, convincing himself, persuading himself that he had done the right thing in bowing before that image on the Plain of Dura despite the fact he saw the deliverance that came.

He elected to follow the princes of the church instead of the prophet of the church. So then Jerusalem was besieged, burned, and the temple was destroyed. Thousands were slain. Zedekiah and some of his family tried to escape , but they were caught, and taken to Ribla, where Zedekiah was forced to watch while his sons were slaughtered. Then his eyes were put out and he himself was taken to Babylon to die. He died miserably. Can you imagine another six weeks going again to Babylon, his sightless eyes staring forever at the last thing they had seen, the slaughter of his sons?

Process Decisions

How do these things come to us? I call them process decisions. Very few people decide they are going to be lost. But people make process decisions. By a little rejection of light here, a little embracing of sin there, little by little people finally come to a place where they cannot turn back.

If we are to examine ourselves in the light of this biblical material, we ought to recognize the danger of the process decisions that are about us. We can make process decisions by deciding that it is perfectly all right for us to associate with sinners. Proverbs 1:10 says, “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” We have the experiences of Samson and Solomon. We have the experience of all Israel, and we have the experience of modern Israel seeking the embrace of the daughters of Babylon. A decision to fellowship and build a relationship with sinners, other than a saving relationship, can be a process decision. The one who decides to marry one who does not follow God needs to remember this counsel. If you would not have a home where the shadows are never lifted, do not unite your life with one who is an enemy of God.

A decision to seek the pleasures of the world can be a process decision—”it will not mean anything to go to the theater a few times. It will not hurt to just watch some fictional programs on television. It will not hurt to go to a few dances.” This can end with the destruction of your own life.

A decision to seek wealth instead of service, to serve yourself in this world instead of serving the Lord can be a process decision that is extremely dangerous. The Scriptures warn us in Ecclesiastes 5:10, “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase; this is also vanity.” A decision to ignore missionary responsibilities, a decision to procrastinate, a decision to just wait a little longer may end in destruction. “God’s people cannot with safety enter into intimate associations with those who know the truth, but do not practice it.” Messages to Young People, 390. Inasmuch as there are ever more persons among us now who know the truth, but are not practicing it, we need to think about this as well.

The Effect of Our Words

The words are an indication of what is in the heart. “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.” But the words are more than an indication of character, they have power to react upon the character. Did you follow that? The words are more than an indication of character. Words tell what kind of person you are. But also, they react on the character. You can talk yourself into things. You can say things that are not true until you believe them. “Men are influenced by their own words. Often under a momentary impulse, prompted by Satan, they give utterance to jealousy or evil surmising, expressing that which they do not really believe; but the expression reacts upon the thoughts. They are deceived by their words, and come to believe that true which was spoken at Satan’s instigation. Having once expressed an opinion or decision, they are often too proud to retract it and try to prove themselves in the right, until they come to believe that they are.” Desire of Ages, 323. This is how a person can become a pathological liar and become so self deceived that he loses contact with reality and believes his own imaginations to be true.

We are in a period of time in which we need to watch very, very carefully that we do not practice self deception upon ourselves. A time that we need to take very great care that we do not let anybody else practice deception on us. May the Lord bless us and help us to carry these words from His sacred word and from His inspired counsels into all of our thoughts and life practices.

The End

Choices

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When the Jews chose to release Barabbas instead of Jesus, it was actually a more deceptive situation than most people know. There are a number of Greek manuscripts that record that Barabbas’ first name was Jesus. His name was Jesus Barabbas. In Aramaic the word bar means son and abba means father. So Barabbas means the son of the father. In the judgment hall when Pilate asked the people which prisoner to release—Jesus the son of the father, or Jesus the Nazarene, the Christ, they chose Barabbas, Jesus Barabbas, to be released to them and that Jesus be crucified.

Paul, writing to the Corinthian church, was concerned that they would easily be deceived. He said, “I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” II Corinthians 11:3.

He then explained how that would happen. “For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached [one], or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received [two], or a different gospel which you have not accepted [three]—you may well put up with it.” Verse 4. If you receive another Jesus, a different spirit or a different gospel you will be corrupted.

This is not only history but this is going to happen again and this time it will not only affect the Jews; the whole world will be deceived.

Many people do not understand the primitive meaning of the word anti-christ. Anti-christ comes from two Greek words, anti and christos. The common thought is that the anti-christ is somebody who is against Christ. The average Christian thinks the anti-christ will be some communist dictator or atheist that will arise in Jerusalem and lead some apostate Jews against the Christian religion.

It is true that the Greek word anti did develop into the meaning of something that was against, but the primitive or original meaning of the Greek word anti is someone who stands in the place of somebody else. So an anti-christ is somebody that stands in the place of Christ and not an atheist. He not only stands in the place of Christ, but people will believe he is the real Christ. However, this imposter is another Jesus.

Recorded in II Thessalonians 2, Paul warned the church about the anti-christ that was to come in the latter days. He told them about the great falling away, the great apostasy that is going to come in the future. He told them about the man of sin that, “… opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” Verse 4. The anti-christ sits as God, as a divine personage in the temple of God.

The New Testament talks about the fact that God has a temple in heaven. But the word temple, when talking about the anti-christ sitting in the temple of God, does not refer to God’s temple in heaven. Heaven is not the only place where God has a temple. In I Corinthians 3:16, 17, Paul says, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”

A temple is a dwelling place for a deity. God’s temple is the house where God dwells. Paul said to the Gentiles who had become part of the Christian church, “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a habitation [dwelling place] of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19–22.

Paul told the Ephesian Christians that they also were becoming part of this temple, a dwelling place or habitation for God, in the Spirit. In verse 21 he called it “growing into a holy temple in the Lord.” The Christian church is a temple for God in this world. In II Thessalonians 2:4 it says that the man of sin “opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” This is an anti-christ. It is not really God.

What does it mean to sit as God, in the temple of God? Since the 4th century, John Chrisoster, one of the church fathers, taught, “We don’t know who the anti-christ is or exactly when the anti-christ is going to arise, but,” he says, “we know one thing. We know that the anti-christ is going to arise in the church.” How did he know that? Because the Bible says that “he would sit as God in the temple of God.” If the anti-christ sits as God in the temple of God, he must sit as God in the church.

God Alone Receives Worship

In Revelation 22:8, 9, it says, “Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then he said to me, ‘See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.’ ”

Notice, an angel from heaven would not allow John to worship him. He stated that you worship God, not an angel. God alone has the right to be worshiped. Angels do not have that right, but the anti-christ is described as sitting as God in the temple of God and he receives worship.

God Alone Forgives Sins

Another thing that God has a right to do that we do not is to forgive sin. When a paralytic lying on a bed was brought to Jesus, He said, “ ‘Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.’ And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, ‘This man blasphemes!’ But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, ‘Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven to you” or to say, “Arise and walk”? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins’—then He said to the paralytic, ‘Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.’ ” Matthew 9:2–6.

When Jesus forgave sins He was accused of blasphemy. Luke 5:21 states: “Who has power to forgive sins, except God alone?” literal translation. But the anti-christ claims power to forgive sins. None of the apostles ever claimed the power to forgive sins. Instead, they taught people to look to God for forgiveness. The anti-christ, being a man, claims to be God.

In John 10:31–33, it says, “Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, ‘Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of these works do you stone Me?’ The Jews answered Him, saying, ‘For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make yourself God.’ ”

For a man to make himself God is blasphemy. For a man to claim to forgive sins is blasphemy, and for a man to receive worship is blasphemy. The anti-christ does all three of those things and the people who will worship him and bow down to him at the end of the world believing that this is the Christ. It will appear that the whole world is converted, but they will be worshiping another Jesus. They will be deceived just as were the Jews. They accepted a different Jesus. Soon we are going to face a situation where millions of Christians are going to believe that they have had a revival and reformation and that they have received the Holy Spirit. However, it will be a different gospel and a different spirit—another Jesus.

A Different Gospel

Referring to the anti-christ, Paul says, “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie.” II Thessalonians 2:9–11. The definite article, “the” is in the original text. It is not any lie, it is the lie.

The lie is the same lie that the devil told Eve in the Garden of Eden. He offered another gospel, the lie that you can be saved in your sins. You do not have to overcome your sins to be saved. You just need to keep them confessed. Many Adventists believe the lie and there are people in other churches that believe the teaching that you can be saved in your sins if you just keep them confessed. For this reason Roman Catholics are scared to not go to confession. They believe they must not die with unconfessed sins. Many Adventists have been taught the very same thing and have the same fear.

To confess sins is the first step but it is not enough; overcoming faults must follow the confession. To confess sins without turning away from them is to believe in a different gospel. The Jews were able to choose Barabbas because they had believed a different gospel and received a different spirit, which caused them to accept another Jesus. They were looking for a Messiah who would give them victory over the Romans. When Jesus made it plain that He had come to give them victory over their sins and not the Romans, they rejected Him. If the Lord does not give you victory over your sins, He cannot give you eternal life.

Ellen White goes into some detail about why the Jews rejected Jesus: “But when Jesus announced, ‘This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears’ (Luke 4:21), they were suddenly recalled to think of themselves, and of the claims of Him Who had been addressing them. They, Israelites, children of Abraham, had been represented as in bondage. They had been addressed as prisoners to be delivered from the power of evil; as in darkness, and needing the light of truth. Their pride was offended, and their fears were roused. The words of Jesus indicated that His work for them was to be altogether different from what they desired. …

“Who is this Jesus? they questioned. He who had claimed for Himself the glory of the Messiah was the son of a carpenter, and had worked at His trade with His father Joseph. …

“What a contrast between His teaching in regard to the new kingdom and that which they had heard from their elder! Jesus had said nothing of delivering them from the Romans. …

“As they opened the door to doubt, their hearts became so much the harder for having been momentarily softened. Satan was determined that blind eyes should not that day be opened, nor souls bound in slavery be set at liberty. With intense energy he worked to fasten them in unbelief. They made no account of the sign already given, when they had been stirred by the conviction that it was their Redeemer who addressed them. …

“But Jesus now gave them an evidence of His divinity by revealing their secret thoughts. ‘He said unto them, Doubtless ye will say unto Me this parable, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in Thine own country. And He said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is acceptable in his own country. But of a truth I say unto you, There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there came a great famine over all the land; and unto none of them was Elijah sent, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman, the Syrian’ (Luke 4:23–27 RV).” The Desire of Ages, 237, 238.

Think through the meaning of what Jesus said to them. The widow in Zarephath, a heathen, was more worthy to entertain the prophet in her home than any of the widows in Israel. There was a similar occurrence in Elisha’s time. Naaman, the Syrian, was the only leper healed by Elisha. That meant that the heathen were on a higher level in God’s eyes than were the Jews, although they were God’s chosen people.

“Our standing before God depends, not upon the amount of light we have received, but upon the use we make of what we have. Thus even the heathen who choose the right as far as they can distinguish it are in a more favorable condition than are those who have had great light, and profess to serve God, but who disregard the light, and by their daily life contradict their profession.” Ibid., 238.

This was too much for the Jews to bear. When Jesus had said these things the Jews got so angry that they took him out of town and were going to throw Him headlong over a cliff. If the angel had not intervened, He would have been killed right there.

Toward the end of Jesus’ ministry He again visited Nazareth. “Unbelief, having once been cherished, continued to control the men of Nazareth. So it controlled the Sanhedrin and the nation. With priests and people, the first rejection of the demonstration of the Holy Spirit’s power was the beginning of the end.” Ibid., 241.

That is a very scary statement. Human beings are creatures of habit. To reject an impression of the Holy Spirit once makes it easier to reject it the second time. After rejecting it a second time, it will be even easier a third time.

“Their rejection of the Spirit culminated in the cross of Calvary, in the destruction of their city, in the scattering of the nation to the winds of heaven. …

“The lessons of Christ revealed their deficiencies of character, and demanded repentance. If they accepted His teachings, their practices must be changed, and their cherished hopes relinquished.” Ibid.

Are you willing to change, to leave something behind that is highly cherished, in order to have eternal life?

“In order to be honored by Heaven, they must sacrifice the honor of men. If they obeyed the words of this new rabbi, they must go contrary to the opinions of the great thinkers and teachers of the time.

“Truth was unpopular in Christ’s day. It is unpopular in our day. …

“The Jewish leaders were filled with spiritual pride. Their desire for the glorification of self manifested itself even in the service of the sanctuary. They loved the highest seats in the synagogue. They loved greetings in the market places, and were gratified with the sound of their titles on the lips of men. As real piety declined, they became more jealous for their traditions and ceremonies. …

“They did not appreciate the fact that real greatness can dispense with outward show.” Ibid., 242.

In summary: “It was not simply the absence of outward glory in His life that led the Jews to reject Jesus. He was the embodiment of purity, and they were impure. He dwelt among men an example of spotless integrity. His blameless life flashed light upon their hearts. His sincerity revealed their insincerity. It made manifest the hollowness of their pretentious piety, and discovered iniquity to them in its odious character. Such a light was unwelcome.” Ibid., 243.

“If Christ had called attention to the Pharisees, and had extolled their learning and piety, they would have hailed Him with joy. But when He spoke of the kingdom of heaven as a dispensation of mercy for all mankind, He was presenting a phase of religion they would not tolerate.” Ibid.

The number of parallels between the first and second advents of Christ discerned through a study of the Scriptures and the Spirit of Prophecy is astounding. Ellen White said that the Lord told her many times that the experience of the Jews before the first coming of Christ would be the experience of God’s people before His second coming. The Desire of Ages is not just a book about something that happened 2,000 years ago. In every chapter you can see similarities between the events of Christ’s day and events of today. Many do not realize what is going on right in front of their eyes.

The chapter “The Crisis in Galilee” describes the rejection of Christ by the people in Galilee. “All who received Him would partake of His nature, and be conformed to His character. This involved the relinquishment of their cherished ambitions. It required the complete surrender of themselves to Jesus. They were called to become self-sacrificing, meek and lowly in heart. They must walk in the narrow path traveled by the Man of Calvary, if they would share in the gift of life and the glory of heaven.

“The test was too great. …

“Jesus told them plainly, ‘There are some of you that believe not;’ adding, ‘Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me, except it were given unto him of My Father’ (John 6:65). He wished them to understand that if they were not drawn to Him it was because their hearts were not open to the Holy Spirit. …

“As those disaffected disciples turned away from Christ, a different spirit took control of them.” Ibid., 391, 392.

I Never Knew You

In the last days when this different spirit takes control of the churches, they will believe that they have received the Holy Spirit. They will think that they are all following the Lord, but they will have a different spirit and be following anti-christ. When the real Jesus comes, they will argue with Him. Jesus predicted that “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. These people are not the atheists. They claim to be Christians and they call Jesus Lord. “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ” Verse 22. They know they are saved; they had the Spirit; they prophesied and even worked miracles in His name, but they had a different spirit. “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ ” Verse 23.

The majority of Christians will receive a different Jesus and think they are having a great revival. They will think they have received the Holy Spirit because they will have the power to prophesy and work miracles. The Bible says that the devil can work miracles, that he is going to work many of them in the last days, and that it is by means of these miracles that he will gather the whole world together. Atheists and infidels alike who have evidence of one or more of these miracles will accept whatever they are told without Biblical evidence.

I was sent an account concerning a physician who evidently was an agnostic. After a supposed near-death experience, he now believes everything that he has been taught, whereas before he had no belief in God or in His word. Now he thinks he believes the Bible, but has been taught through a different person’s vision rather than from God’s word. Consequently, he has become totally mixed up. That is just a foretaste of what is coming in the future for millions of people all over the world if they do not study God’s word and know truth for themselves. People without any previous belief at all will appear to have the greatest revival and many will be deceived into accepting another Jesus.

Ellen White wrote: “I saw our people in great distress, weeping, and praying, pleading the sure promises of God, while the wicked were all around us, mocking us, and threatening to destroy us. They ridiculed our feebleness, they mocked at the smallness of our numbers, and taunted us with words calculated to cut deep. They charged us with taking an independent position from all the rest of the world. They had cut off our resources so that we could not buy nor sell, and referred to our abject poverty and stricken condition. They could not see how we could live without the world; we were dependent upon the world, and we must concede to the customs, practices, and laws of the world, or go out of it. If we were the only people in the world whom the Lord favored the appearances were awfully against us. They declared that they had the truth, that miracles were among them, that angels from heaven talked with them, and walked with them, that great power, and signs and wonders were performed among them, and this was the Temporal Millennium, which they had been expecting so long. The whole world was converted and in harmony with the Sunday law, and this little feeble people stood out in defiance of the laws of the land, and the laws of God, and claimed to be the only ones right on the earth.” Maranatha, 209.

Catholics, Protestants and most professed Seventh-day Adventists are all going to have the same experience and think it is a marvelous revival and reformation under a spurious spirit that results in spiritualism.

Jesus said, “If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine [the teaching], whether it is from God or whether I speak on my own authority.” John 7:17. This is a marvelous promise for those living in such deceptive times that will only get worse.

People are deceived when they do not receive the love of the truth. In accepting a different gospel and being unwilling to give up their sins, they accept a different Jesus. The false spirit allows you to hold on to sin and promotes a false gospel. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin. He is the agent ordained to purify the soul and clean up the life and prepare the body temple for the indwelling of Christ.

We must know God’s will and recognize His voice. Any voice that speaks contrary to God’s word is a deceiver. Know the truth, and the truth will set you free from sin and ultimately from this world, to be able to spend eternity with the One Who loves us and died to deliver us and redeem us for Himself.

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church of Free Seventh-day Adventists in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Is the Virgin Mary Dead or Alive? Chapter 19

by Danny Vierra

Is the Virgin Mary Dead or Alive booklChapter 19 – The Crowning Act in the Drama of Deception– Satan’s Personation of Christ

Friends, I believe the demon-originated, counterfeit Virgin Mary will soon make her bodily appearance to the world, and by this masterpiece of Satan’s, thousands, yea, millions of innocent people will be deceived! And perhaps, the Virgin herself, a very familiar spirit, will present her son, the counterfeit Jesus, to the world, who, in reality, is Satan himself . If so, this will be the crowning act of Satan’s deceptions! But even before this, we may see demons in the form of the apostles, such as Peter and Paul, contradict what they wrote at the dictation of the Holy Spirit when on earth. Here is one such prediction: “After three days of darkness, Saint Peter and Saint Paul, having come down from Heaven, shall preach in the whole world and designate a new Pope. A great light will flash from their bodies and will settle upon the cardinal who is to become Pope. Christianity, then, will spread throughout the world. He is the Holy Pontiff, chosen by God to withstand the storm. At the end, he will have the gift of miracles, and his name shall be praised over the whole earth. Whole nations will come back to the Church and the face of the earth will be renewed.” (The Thunder of Justice, p. 353). It is perilous to conclude that “seeing is believing.” Satan is counting on this human fallacy in order to delude earth’s inhabitants.

Dear friends, I can not say that Satan, through his hellish arts, will, or will not, enact the above scene in exactly the way it has been described, but this I do know— that the Scriptures warn us that “such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ . And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light . Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (II Cor. 11: 13- 15)

“Fearful sights of a supernatural character will soon be revealed in the heavens, in token of the power of miracle- working demons. The spirits of devils will go forth to the kings of the earth and to the whole world, to fasten them in deception, and urge them on to unite with Satan in his last struggle against the government of heaven. By these agencies, rulers and subjects will be alike deceived. Persons will arise pretending to be Christ Himself, and claiming the title and worship which belong to the world’s Redeemer. They will perform wonderful miracles of healing and will profess to have revelations from heaven contradicting the testimony of the Scriptures.

“As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Saviour’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 Saviour 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. His blessing is pronounced upon the worshipers of the beast and his image, the very class upon whom the Bible declares that God’s unmingled wrath shall be poured out.

“And, furthermore, Satan is not permitted to counterfeit the manner of Christ’s advent. The Saviour has warned His people against deception upon this point, and has clearly foretold the manner of His second coming. ‘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, 31; 25: 31; Revelation 1: 7; 1 Thessalonians 4: 16, 17. This coming there is no possibility of counterfeiting. It will be universally known— witnessed by the whole world.

“Only those who have been diligent students of the Scriptures and who have received the love of the truth will be shielded from the powerful delusion that takes the world captive . By the Bible testimony these will detect the deceiver in his disguise. To all the testing time will come. By the sifting of temptation the genuine Christian will be revealed. Are the people of God now so firmly established upon His word that they would not yield to the evidence of their senses? Would they, in such a crisis, cling to the Bible and the Bible only?” (The Great Controversy, pp. 624, 625).

Oh, friends, I know that it is not a question of whether these supernatural deceptions will happen or not, but of when they will happen! By their own admission, the authors of The Thunder of Justice believe that since Mary, in giving birth to Jesus, brought Him into the world for His first coming, she will be the one who will usher in His second coming to the world . After all, the book continues: “As John the Baptist prepared the way for the first coming of Jesus, Mary prepares the way for His Second Coming. Mary proclaims that a new world and era is upon us, and the triumph of Her Immaculate Heart and the Second Pentecost (the outpouring of the Holy Spirit) will usher in the Reign of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Blessed Mother spoke through Father Gobbi on October 13, 1990, about the glorious reign of Jesus and His Second Coming: ‘The glorious reign of Christ, which will be established in your midst with the Second Coming of Jesus in the world is close at hand… This is His glorious return, to establish His reign in your midst and to bring all humanity, redeemed by His most precious blood, back to the state of His new terrestrial paradise. That which is being prepared is so great that its equal has never existed since the creation of the world .” (The Thunder of Justice, p. 12).

The authors conclude, according to their expectations and predictions, that Mary will not only make more grand appearances very soon (perhaps in full bodily form this time for millions to see), but many supernatural things will also take place in the near future— like a permanent pagan red cross for all the world to see in the sky (with its “T” for Tammuz). Also, “she has promised to leave a visible sign for all humanity at the site of the apparitions of Medjugorje [‘ the new Fatima ’ (Newsweek, August 25, 1997, p. 52)].” (The Thunder of Justice, p. 207). Others say that Mary will leave a prominent sign for the world to see by the year 2000. I guess we will just have to wait and see. And will the counterfeit “Mother of God,” together with the ecumenical efforts of the pope, be the one to tip the scales of public opinion in favor of uniting the churches of the world and of bringing the harlot “daughters” back to their mother? Not only is this possible, friends, but Mary, since she “never saw corruption, but was assumed into heaven” according to the Catholic belief, or, as most Christians and non-Christians believe, is a “living spirit” after death, could be the one who will unite the churches of the land in a common goal under spiritualism in its modern form— the New Age movement! A three- fold union consisting of Catholicism, apostate Protestantism, and spiritualism will thus be formed by the beliefs they hold in common— Sunday sacredness [or the worship of the Babylonian sun- god, which New Agers call their “father”] and the doctrine of the immortality of the soul [which the New Agers simply call “reincarnation”]. God has prophesied that this three- fold union will be formed, and He revealed it to John in the following symbolic language: “And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon [pagan spiritualism], and out of the mouth of the beast [Roman Catholicism], and out of the mouth of the false prophet [apostate Protestantism]. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles , which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” (Rev. 16: 13- 15). The doctrine of the immortality of the soul, which is the basic reason behind image worship and the adoration of the Virgin Mary, in whatever form one accepts it, sets the stage for the worship of demons! If you believe that a spirit from the dead can communicate with the living, you are a sitting- duck, just waiting for the over- powering delusion of the New (Age) Eve— the Queen of the Coming (New) Age .

And could the Virgin Mary be the one to sway the Moslems to join with the other religions on common points of faith? Interestingly enough, Fatima, the famed city in Portugal where the Virgin Mary has appeared many times, was named after Muhammad’s daughter, Fatimah. Furthermore, one of the books of the Koran is entitled Maryam or Marium (the Virgin Mary). She is respected by Moslems all over the world as the ”the pious woman of the Word,” who, some Moslems have told me, is already in Heaven!

Go to Chapter 20 ⇒

All emphases in this article are mine.
Published by Modern Manna Ministries