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atoning blood of Christ。 Our precious Saviour invites us to join ourselves
to Him； to unite our weakness to His strength； our ignorance to His wisdom；
our unworthiness to His merits。 God's providence is the school in which we
are to learn the meekness and lowliness of Jesus。 The Lord is ever setting
before us； not the way we would choose； which seems easier and pleasanter to
us； but the true aims of life。 It rests with us to co…operate with the
agencies which Heaven employs in the work of conforming our characters to
the divine model。 None can neglect or defer this work but at the most
fearful peril to their souls。
The apostle John in vision heard a loud voice in heaven exclaiming： 〃Woe to
the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea！ for the devil is come down unto
you； having great wrath； because he knoweth that he hath but a short time。〃
Revelation 12：12。 Fearful are the scenes which call forth this exclamation
from the heavenly voice。 The wrath of Satan increases as his time grows
short； and his work of deceit and destruction will reach its culmination in
the time of trouble。
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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
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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 knownwitnessed 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？ Satan will； if possible； prevent them from obtaining a
preparation to stand in that day。 He will so arrange affairs as to hedge up
their way； entangle them with earthly treasures； cause them to carry a
heavy； wearisome burden； that
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their hearts may be overcharged with the cares of this life and the day of
trial may come upon them as a thief。
As the decree issued by the various rulers of Christendom against
commandment keepers shall withdraw the protection of government and abandon
them to those who desire their destruction； the people of God will flee from
the cities and villages and associate together in companies； dwelling in the
most desolate and solitary places。 Many will find refuge in the strongholds
of the mountains。 Like the Christians of the Piedmont valleys； they will
make the high places of the earth their sanctuaries and will thank God for
〃the munitions of rocks。〃 Isaiah 33：16。 But many of all nations and of all
classes； high and low； rich and poor； black and white； will be cast into the
most unjust and cruel bondage。 The beloved of God pass weary days； bound in
chains； shut in by prison bars； sentenced to be slain； some apparently left
to die of starvation in dark and loathsome dungeons。 No human ear is open to
hear their moans； no human hand is ready to lend them help。
Will the Lord forget His people in this trying hour？ Did He forget faithful
Noah when judgments were visited upon the antediluvian world？ Did He forget
Lot when the fire came down from heaven to consume the cities of the plain？
Did He forget Joseph surrounded by idolaters in Egypt？ Did He forget Elijah
when the oath of Jezebel threatened him with the fate of the prophets of
Baal？ Did He forget Jeremiah in the dark and dismal pit of his prison house？
Did He forget the three worthies in the fiery furnace？ or Daniel in the den
of lions？
〃Zion said； The Lord hath forsaken me； and my Lord hath forgotten me。 Can a
woman forget her sucking child； that she should not have compassion on the
son of her womb？ yea； they may forget； yet will I not forget thee。 Behold； I
have graven thee upon the palms of My hands。〃 Isaiah 49：14…16。 The Lord
hosts has said： 〃He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye。〃
Zechariah 2：8。
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Though enemies may thrust them into prison； yet dungeon walls cannot cut off
the communication between their souls and Christ。 One who sees their every
weakness； who is acquainted with every trial； is above all earthly powers；
and angels will come to them in lonely cells； bringing light and peace from
heaven。 The prison will be as a palace； for the rich in faith dwell there；
and the gloomy walls will be lighted up with heavenly light as when Paul and
Silas prayed and sang praises at midnight in the Philippian dungeon。
God's judgments will be visited upon those who are seeking to oppress and
destroy His people。 His long forbearance with the wicked emboldens men in
transgression； but their punishment is nonetheless certain and terrible
because it is long delayed。 〃The Lord shall rise up as in Mount Perazim； He
shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon； that He may do His work； His
strange work； and bring to pass His act； His strange act。〃 Isaiah 28：21。 To
our merciful God the act of punishment is a strange act。 〃As I live； saith
the Lord God； I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked。〃 Ezekiel 33：11。
The Lord is 〃merciful and gracious； long…suffering； and abundant in goodness
and truth； 。 。 。 forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin。〃 Yet He will
〃by no means clear the guilty。〃 The Lord is slow to anger； and great in
power； and will not at all acquit the wicked。〃 Exodus 34：6； 7； Nahum 1：3。 By
terrible things in righteousness He will vindicate the authority of His
downtrodden law。 The severity of the retribution awaiting the transgressor
may be judged by the Lord's reluctance to execute justice。 The nation with
which He bears long； and which He will not smite until it has filled up the
measure of its iniquity in God's account； will