- To the Reader
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- Daniel and His Three Companions
- Nebuchadnezzar's Fiery Furnace
- Belshazzar's Feast
- Daniel in the Lions’ Den
- Gabriel Sent to Explain the Vision of Daniel 8
- The Struggle for Influence Over the Kings of Persia
- The Second Temple
- Ezra
- Nehemiah
- The Visions of Zechariah
- The Vision of Joshua and the Angel
- The Vision of the Seven Lamps and the Two Olive Trees
- Angels in the Time of Esther
- The Father of John the Baptist
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- Devil Possession in Jesus’ Day
- Rejection at Nazareth
- The Demoniac in the Synagogue at Capernaum
- The Healing of the Centurion's Servant
- The Demoniacs of Gadara
- The Healing of the Demoniac Son
- Jesus Is Accused of Being Demon Possessed
- Evil Angels in Human Form Were Among Christ's Hearers
- The Resurrection of Lazarus
- Jesus Hunted From City to City During His Ministry
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- Angels Protect Vital Truths
- Peter and John Delivered From Prison
- Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
- Paul's Conversion
- Paul Leaves Damascus
- Cornelius and Peter
- Peter Delivered From Prison
- The Stoning of Stephen
- Angels During Paul's Ministry
- The Siege of Jerusalem
- John the Revelator
- Angels in the Middle Ages
- The Protestant Reformation
- Luther
- Melancthon
- The Pilgrim Fathers
- The Three Angels of Revelation 14
- William Miller
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- Good and Evil Angels Will Appear
- The Work of Evil Angels Through Spiritualism
- Miracles in the End Time
- Evil Spirits Active Among the Remnant
- Angels Will Do the Work Men Neglected
- Angels Will Supply the Needs of God's People
- Satan's Personations
- Evil Angels Incite Persecution
- Satan's Personation After the Close of Probation
- Angels and the Universal Death Decree
- God Interposes as the Wicked Try to Kill God's People
- The Second Coming of Christ
- Satan and His Evil Angels Confined to This Earth
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- Epilogue
Satan's Personation After the Close of Probation
The wrath of Satan increases as his time grows short, and his work of deceit and destruction reaches its culmination in the time of trouble. God's long-suffering has ended. The world has rejected His mercy, despised His love, and trampled upon His law. The wicked have passed the boundary of their probation, and the Lord withdraws His protection, and leaves them to the mercy of the leader they have chosen....TA 273.1
As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will attempt to 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. 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!”TA 273.2
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 personally 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.—The Spirit of Prophecy 4:441, 442.TA 273.3
Satan sees that he is about to lose his case. He cannot sweep in the whole world. He makes one last desperate effort to overcome the faithful by deception. He does this in personating Christ. He clothes himself with the garments of royalty which have been accurately described in the vision of John. He has power to do this. He will appear to his deluded followers, the Christian world who received not the love of the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness ... as Christ coming the second time.TA 274.1
He proclaims himself Christ, and he is believed to be Christ, a beautiful, majestic being clothed with majesty and, with soft voice and pleasant words, with glory unsurpassed by anything their mortal eyes had yet beheld. Then his deceived, deluded followers set up a shout of victory, “Christ has come the second time! Christ has come! He has lifted up His hands just as He did when He was upon the earth, and blessed us.” ...TA 274.2
The saints look on with amazement. Will they also be deceived? Will they worship Satan? Angels of God are about them. A clear, firm, musical voice is heard, “Look up.”TA 274.3
There is one object before the praying ones—the final and eternal salvation of their souls. This object was before them constantly—that immortal life was promised to those who endure unto the end. Oh, how earnest and fervent had been their desires. The judgment and eternity were in view. Their eyes by faith were fixed on the blazing throne, before which the white-robed ones were to stand. This restrained them from the indulgence of sin....TA 275.1
One effort more, and then Satan's last device is employed. He hears the unceasing cry for Christ to come, for Christ to deliver them. This last strategy is to personate Christ, and make them think their prayers are answered.—Last Day Events, 164, 165.TA 275.2