Despite what you think the human mind is affected and lured by signs and wonders ,it happen in the past and this will hold fast till the close of probation.
See the following..
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
A Statement : “With clearness and power Peter bore witness of the death and resurrection of Christ: "Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him . . . ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it."
{Acts of the Apostles 41.2}
Many were converted in these times not only by the presentation of Holy Spirit directed and convicting truth, but by the Holy Spirit empowered working of miracles.
Now this moving of the mind in one direction based on truth and the Holy Spirit is one thing. Sadly the Opposite is true.
We need not be deceived
"We need not be deceived. Wonderful scenes, with which Satan will be closely connected, will soon take place. God's Word declares that Satan will work miracles. He will make people sick, and then will suddenly remove from them his satanic power. They will then be regarded as healed. These works of apparent healing will bring Seventh-day Adventists to the test. Many who have had great light will fail to walk in the light, because they have not become one with Christ."
-2Selected Messages page53
Lying signs and miraculous wonders is also the tool utilized by Satan the Chief of all deceivers. Make no mistake Satan will utilize this very influence to lead many to destruction. Now remember Lucifer wants to be like Christ Isa 14:14
Marvelous Signs and Great wonders beyond the imagination is coming.
Matt 24:24 For 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.
2 Thess2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
Why Signs and Lying wonders even if we know they are coming will be so powerful an influence on even people of God?
Zephaniah 1:15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
The Scenario painted via Holy writ gives us a compelling picture that the end will no be regular days/weeks/months/years. The time here brought to view speaks of tumultuous times, apocalyptic in magnitude. These times if I can sum up in events we have already witness will be like the combination of 911 and The French revolution on steroids. We have not included all the natural disasters that we have seen put together just yet but to include these is evening frightening. Added to these things the scripture above talks of the unexplainable occurrences involving the celestial bodies (the sun moon and stars) ,these will be affected and manipulated in ways we have not yet witness.
Added to all this, let me summaries by saying we cannot imagine the state of affairs. The distress that will be experience at this time will be second to none, we have not seen anything yet. These things will be enough to give any healthy man a cardiac arrest and many loins will be loosen at the site of these things.
Under these foreboding circumstances will the satanic powers, Lucifer himself and all his demonic agents those of angels and those of the wicked human race will work great signs and lying wonders. It is under these conditions that miracles with the intent to deceive will have there detrimental effects. Spiritualism has already educated the mind to receive these errors unchecked.
It is only biblical truth known and engrained in the mind can provide a way of escape.
Who would be susceptible to these great miracles, who would be deceived?
1 Cor 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
Those who would be seduced by signs and lying wonders are:
- Those who follow after the wisdom of the world.
- Those who think the preaching of Christ is foolishness.
- They will even be among those residing within the precincts of bible truth “THE JEWS” Spiritual Israel even Seventh Day Adventist.
Note even among those who are spiritual JEWS, Those of Spiritual Israel will be deceive.
How would this be accomplished? Watch carefully!
One of the common things among the Jews and the Greeks is that of Unbelief.
Seventh Day Adventist NOT ALL, CERTAINLY NOT A FEW will be overcome by lying signs and wonders?
How can this happen?
Luke 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Who is Moses and who is the Prophets.
The books of Moses are known as law. What do the prophets represent?
These two classes of people are represented here.
1. One who disobey the law the Ten Commandments. The world.
2. One who listens not to the Prophets represented as a group of “Christians” They have obey or follow the rudiments of the law but this group refuses to receive counsels from the prophets. We can include Apostate protestants as this group and this will prove true but is there among us those who claim to believe the law but not the prophets .What about us who have bee severed from the quarry of the world by the great cleaver of truth?
I am convinced even among Adventist that these delusions will have a negative effect.
There are among us a large number who do not really believe the prophets.
Who or what is represented as the prophets
2 Tim 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Note the books of the prophets belong to category of Holy Scriptures, so we could deduced safely that the Books of the prophets are also designed
- By inspiration.
- Is profitable for doctrine.
- For reproof.
- For correction.
- For instruction in righteousness.
- So that we may be perfect.
- Thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Pay attention to and keep in mind the super 7s mentioned above as characteristics of The Books of the prophets.
What other Characteristics can we get from the Prophets?
Remember we want to confirm who are the people that will be deceived by lying wonders and signs that are even within the Spiritual Israel.
Other characteristics of the prophets
2 Peter1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
From the above we can glean the following.
- Prophecy testify of Jesus Christ (This is my beloved Son).
- It’s a sure word meaning it is solid as the ROCK Christ Jesus. This suggests that what is illustrated in the prophets as future events will come to past.
- The prophets bring Light on issues or events obscure or unknown to us.
- The moral purpose of prophecy is to bring the Day Star (Christ the SUN of Righteousness Malachi 4:2) in our hearts. This is sanctification in verity.
- The prophet’s information came not by man’s wisdom but by the Holy Spirit speaking to them.
As Adventist we know that the Spirit of Prophecy is the gift that has always been with God’s people . The above scripture along with Rev 12:17 Rev 19:10 tells us plainly that the testimony of Jesus Christ is the Spirit of prophecy.
- Those who would be deceived by Signs and Lying wonders are the same ones who did not and will not listen to the prophets.
- These are the same who not want admonitions and fearful warnings of the SPIRIT OF PRPOPHECY.
- They do not recognize or are indifferent to Inspiration (Ellen G white), the do not believe that her writings or that of any prophets are profitable for Instruction; they have turn a blind eye to reproofs, correction, instruction in righteousness. They say perfection in Christ is unattainable; they do not believe they can be thoroughly furnished unto all good works. In other words 2 Tim 3:15-21 is of none effect.
- They choose which truths they want to believe as if they were at a buffet lunch.
- Those who are seduced by signs lying wonders may reside in the church but are overtaken by unbelief the same as the Jews and the Greeks.
- They rather listen to mans wisdom instead of Gods counsel.
- Those who would be moved my miracles are those who have not set their feet on the firm platform of the sure word of prophecy. They would rather listen to all the Conspiracy theories and mysteries.
- These are those who have neglected or even shun the invitation of the feast (feasting of the word). They are the very ones who was invited to the wedding feast but did not come..they are even among those who came with their own garments ( righteousness)but have not on the garments of Christ . Isaiah 4:1 describes such a class.
- Those seduced by signs and lying wonders would as 2Thesalonians 2 says: “love not the truth” they would have been “step by step yielding to worldly demands and conforming to worldly customs”. Prophets and Kings 148.
- The selfsame individuals would say of our faith “We have believed cunningly devised fables.” They would believe that they were hoodwinked into a delusion call Adventism.
Those seduce would have had a history of worshiping as they want and not as God requires.
Isaiah 66:3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.
4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spoke, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.
Brethren and friends many will stand in this time and testify that “we would not take the mark of the beast”. But its not that easy. Just like the process of sanctification takes time and effort and the working of Christ in the Life, similarly the process that will lead you and I into believing and being convince by these amazing miracles signs and lying wonders before us would have been working in us long in advance. We would have been building characters ready to receive error with gladness.
If we have not let go the things of the world and the worldly custom, If we are not living up to the light given us, darkness proportion to the light will overtake us.
We will be deceived if we have not shunned the world and love truth.
May God help us to put away many things?
There are many things to learn and many, many things to unlearn.
May God help us as we grow closer to Christ.
May we overcome by the indwelling daily feeding on Christ and Christ alone not a mixture of Christ and the world.
Final statement :
“The enemy is preparing to deceive the whole world by his miracle-working power. He will assume to personate the angels of light, to personate Jesus Christ So far as his power extends, he will perform actual miracles. Says the Scripture: "He . . . deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do," not merely those which he pretends to do. Something more than mere impostures is brought to view in this scripture. But there is a limit beyond which Satan cannot go, and here he calls deception to his aid and counterfeits the work which he has not power actually to perform. In the last days he will appear in such a manner as to make men believe him to be Christ come the second time into the world. He will indeed transform himself into an angel of light. He will come personating Jesus Christ, working mighty miracles; and men will fall down and worship him as Jesus Christ. We shall be commanded to worship this being, whom the world will glorify as Christ. Just before us is "the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." Revelation 3:10. All whose faith is not firmly established upon the word of God will be deceived and overcome. Satan works "with all deceivableness of unrighteousness" to gain control of the children of men, and his deceptions will continually increase. But he can gain his object only as men voluntarily yield to his temptations. Those who are earnestly seeking a knowledge of the truth and are striving to purify their souls through obedience, thus doing what they can to prepare for the conflict, will find, in the God of truth, a sure defense. "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee" (verse 10), is the Saviour's promise. He would sooner send every angel out of heaven to protect His people than leave one soul that trusts in Him to be overcome by Satan.
{Maranatha 207.5}
Perfect peas and at such a time.
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