Thursday: Satan’s End-Time Strategy
Revelation 12:17 marks a shift in Satan’s strategy as he tries to win the people of the world and even seeks to deceive Christ’s faithful followers. Throughout Christian history, Satan has opposed God’s work of salvation, primarily by means of subtle compromise within the church and through coercion and persecution from without.
Image © Steve Creitz from GoodSalt.com
History shows that, while successful for many centuries, this strategy was counteracted by the Reformation and the gradual rediscovery of Bible truth by God’s people. However, as Satan realizes that his time is running out, he intensifies his efforts and goes “to wage war” against God’s end-time remnant (Rev. 12:17, MEV). His attacks on the remnant will include a large element of deception. Demons working miracles and spiritualistic manifestations will be introduced (Rev. 16:14). This shift in Satan’s strategy corresponds to the transition from a historical to an end-time focus (Matt. 24:24).
It is significant that the word “deceive” is used regularly in Revelation 12-20 to describe Satan’s end-time activities. The word “deceive” begins (Rev. 12:9) and concludes (Rev. 20:7-10) the description of Satan’s end-time activities in Revelation.
Read 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 along with Revelation 13:13-14 and Revelation 19:20. What is the nature of Satan’s end-time deception?
Revelation 12-20 portrays Satan, endeavoring to deceive the world (see Rev. 12:9, Rev. 13:14, Rev. 18:23, Rev. 19:20, Rev. 20:8). He uses, in turn, political and religious powers to do his work: pagan Rome, symbolized by the dragon (Rev. 12:4-5); followed by a power symbolized by the sea beast (Rev. 12:6-15; Rev. 13:1-8); and finally, a power symbolized by the earth beast (Rev. 13:11). Throughout the rest of the book, the members of this satanic triad – paganism/spiritualism as symbolized by the dragon; Roman Catholicism, symbolized by the sea beast; and apostate Protestantism, symbolized by the lamblike, or earth beast – are inseparably united in opposing God’s activities in the world. They work together to deceive people, in order to turn them away from God and to get them to side with Satan in the “battle of that great day of God Almighty” (Rev. 16:13-14, NKJV). These false religious systems will be destroyed at the Second Coming (Rev. 19:20), while the dragon, symbolizing the devil, who worked through these earthly powers (Rev. 12:9), will be destroyed at the end of the thousand years (Rev. 20:10). Revelation shows that the end-time deception will be so great that most people will be led to choose the way of destruction (Matt. 7:13).
| Twice in Revelation a call is made for wisdom and spiritual discernment in order to perceive and withstand the deceptive nature of Satan’s end-time activities (Rev. 13:18, Rev. 17:9). What kind of wisdom is in view here? According to James 1:5, how can we obtain that wisdom? |
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My comment this morning is a little bit tangential to the lesson but I want to draw attention to an important issue that we sometimes forget when discussing persecution. Much of the persecution through the dark ages was perpetrated by the papacy. And our end-time view often portrays a rejuvenated Roman Catholic Church, together with apostate Protestantism continuing their medieval practices of the past against the Remnant Church.
I grew up in an era where Seventh-day Adventist young people were encouraged to read about the Waldensians of Italy and Heugenots of France and so on. In today's terms, these were horror stories and colored my thinking about Roman Catholics for much of my early life. I wanted nothing to do with them and avoided their company as much as possible. At that time the Roman Catholic seminaries were full and monasteries and convents fairly common.
Time has moved on and most of the seminaries in Australia have been closed. Convents and monasteries have closed, often converted into holiday accommodation. Churches, to a large extent, are empty or existing with a diminishing greying congregation. Further, the Roman Catholic Church has lost its credibility not only with the public but with its own church members. In the last decade, the public inquiries into sexual abuse in Catholic institutions have exposed serious systemic failure as well as personal sexual perversion that has shocked both the public and church congregations with the church"s duplicity and coverup. Were it not for the time prophecies that we have held, I would believe that the deadly wound that was inflicted on "the beast" is occurring right now. The recent Royal Commission in Australia went so far as to recommend that the Catholic Church seriously consider ending the celibate priesthood. Much of what has happened in Australia has also occurred in the USA and other parts of the world too.
In my own personal journey, I have overcome my childhood fear of Roman Catholics and have some very good friends among them. I have learned that there are many wonderful Christian Catholics, perplexed and frustrated as the exposure of institutional abuse and subsequent coverup. Many have given up on Christianity altogether, seeing the church as a self-interested organization totally out of touch with reality, and diametrically opposed to the Gospel.
I sometimes get folk telling us that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is not preaching the full Gospel and that we should be preaching that Babylon is fallen. They want us to use strong language describing their harlotry. The simple fact is that we don't need to. Open any newspaper or listen to the news and you will hear the message being shouted (somewhat eagerly I might add) by secular journalists and current-affairs commentators every day. Roman Catholic Christians need no reminders that they are wrong but they do need to know that they are still loved by God. They need friends - Christians who will share with them the love of Jesus.
In our discussion of religious persecution this week, we need to remember that these passages are not there to help us condemn others, but rather to remind us of our responsibility to share the Gospel. Catholic Christians need friends who are living the Gospel. Are we up to that?
very true indeed..I never thought of that..A very good perspective..I guess we just have to pray for the catholic christian friends if we have one.. and not judge them.
Let us not get it twisted that because we proclaim that message to those that are in this institution that we are judging then it is in its self a message of love and warning...
Thanks Maurice. And a fact is a fact. Really we cannot hide this knowledge exposed on the Bible and interpreted by people who were clearly open and seeking God's message in the mid 1800's. It is agreed that this type of message has only survived the Middle Age because of its codes. Thus, a fact is a fact. But it does not mean that this knowledge give us the right to be prejudiced or any license to feel better than anyone! Everyone is called to get closer to God and refine "gold on fire". As a matter of fact, which Bible Church can we now be compared too?
Let's hear what God says, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me". Rev 3:20
So true bro Mourice! Am always motivated by the your insightful thoughts.
May God bless you as you bless others💪💪
Very good and true. When I was in Nigeria 1971 we had been a friend and ate meals together at our place with a lonely Catholic priest. Later he came to me (a 7th Day Adventist physician) asking for me to pray for him as he was returning to Ireland for a special medical procedure. I never found out the results.
In revelation 12 the lesson talks about the vision that John saw that took place in heaven. The symbols and illustrations that are mentioned via a war in heaven may cause a number of questions. From our finite perspective, where is heaven? It is a place where God created the earth and the other stars and planets. There is a text about the seventh heaven. Jesus looked to His heavenly father. We associate everything from where we live. We say we want to go to heaven to live for ever. Many questions, not so many answers.
Do you believe the Word of the LORD? Watch out - do not be deceived. If you don't receive the love of the truth God will send a strong delusion to test if you will believe a lie and then you will be condemned. You will be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.
This shows how serious it is that we know the truth about the character of God and His Principles of Life & Love.
2Th 2:1-4 Now we beseech you, my brothers, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you should not be soon shaken in mind or troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word or letter, as through us, as if the Day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let not anyone deceive you by any means. For that Day shall not come unless there first comes a falling away, and the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who 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, setting himself forth, that he is God.
2Th 2:8-12 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the breath of His mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming, 9 whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, so that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, 12 so that all those who do not believe the truth, but delight in unrighteousness, might be condemned.
2Th 1:5-9 For this is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God for which you also suffer, 6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay tribulation to those who trouble you, 7 and to give rest with us to you who are troubled, at the revealing of the Lord Jesus from Heaven with the angels of His power, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, 9 who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
I disagree with the idea that 'God will send a strong delusion to test if you will believe a lie'. This perpetuates a wrong picture of God that the Pharisees was preaching which Jesus opposes in his ministry. Did God send a strong delusion to the prodigal son while he purposely walked away from his Father who was a picture of God the Father? Was the Father was praying for his son to come to his senses?
Luke recorded in chapter 15 of 3 stories of the truth about the Father's love for the sinners and the publicans ridiculed by the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law in verse 2 'This man welcomes sinners and eats with them'. In response, Jesus shared 3 stories about the truth of God doing everything to restore all who are lost back to Him rather than sending them strong delusion. Did the Good Sherperd send strong delusion to the lost sheep who lost his/her way from the flock of sheep? Did the Good Woman (Apple of God's eye) give up for the lost coin in the house since he/she was lost in their delusion? Did the Father agree with the older son's accusations and hatred against the loss and the prodigal son? No,
Jesus knew the Pharisees thinking of the day about God the Father and for the sake of Disciples, he turned the Pharisee's false picture of His Father upside down. Spirit of Prophecy informed that the Pharisees preach that the Father only pardons sinners only 3 times and after that the Father will go out his way to punish sinners. Peter thought by extending forgiveness to 7 times is better than the Pharisees belief, however, Jesus said 70 x 7. There is joy in heaven for one sinner over 99 who needs no repentance.
James 1:13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
We allowed ourselves to believe strong delusion when we no longer want and pray for God's protection over our minds. Paul warns in Romans 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
Who suppresses the truth in their hearts? It is those who chose not to accept evidence of God the creator. God provided sufficient evidence to all about His creative power as the Rightful Creator.
19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Why are their thinking became futile and foolish? This is inevitable what will happen to those who worship whatever they worship. We become change based on who we behold. These pagans thinking is a result of worshipping anything. It is not because of God sending delusion thoughts to them, they are deluded of their own desires and lusts of their hearts as mentioned by James.
Romans 1:22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
We become who we worship. They worship birds, animals and reptiles which deluded their minds.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.
Did Paul said, God send them strong delusion or God gave them up to their own devices and sinful desires to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.
Paul and James thinking under the Guardianship of the Holy Spirit is consistent here that it is that gave in to strong delusion. In Revelation, God is still commanding His Angles to hold on to the strong winds that is about to be released. Once this is release, SOP warns that human passion will be left to their own destruction. Thus, God is protecting humans from self destruct and Jesus is coming back to save those who believe in Him and He will protect them from humans without any compassion.
Is Jesus is coming to punish the wicked? Yes but He is coming back to put their misery to rest which is love in action. I got 3 children I dearly love. Even if one of them become a devil, my love for him/her will not change. Jesus will always have a lost space in his heart for those who opposses and hated him regardless.
This is the Jesus that I learned to love in my journey today.
Ula,
Are you saying that what Paul said is wrong?
2Th 2:10-12 and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, so that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, 12 so that all those who do not believe the truth, but delight in unrighteousness, might be condemned.
God does not always work in the same way, you have clearly pointed out God's normal methods.
I believe that just before the end there will be a crisis as we will see in Rev 13 & 14 and that everyone will have to make a choice - this could be what Paul is referring to in this text.
The Bible does not contradict itself but our approach and understanding may confuse ourselves. A prudent Bible Student need to understand Paul's thinking while stating 'And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie'. If we interpret this literally, without letting other part of the Bible explain Paul's train of thought, it will mean Paul is saying God is responsible sending strong delusion so many people will believe a lie or being deceived. Is this what Paul means about God's character?
Jesus warns in Matthew 24:4 Beware no man deceives you. How can a God of Love warns his followers to be on the watch of how thick deceptions will be and at the same time we interpret that Paul is saying that God is responsible sending delusion so people will believe a lie (deception).
Some say God created evil because of Isaiah 45:7
I form the light, and create the darkness. I make peace and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. Isaiah 45:7
In the Strong’s Concordance, the Hebrew word for create, under #1254 is bara. It is the same word used when God created. But the second meaning for the Hebrew word create is “to break down, tear down, cut down like wood."
Now let’s read the Scripture again with the Strong’s definition in it.
I form the light, and I tear down and destroy darkness. I make peace and tear down and cut down like wood everything that is evil. I am the author of the destruction of evil” - A More Excellent Way To Be in Health by Henry W. Wright, p. 130.
Ula, I hear what you are saying, please then explain what you understand Paul to be saying in 2Thess 2:11-12
Ula, look over 5T, 707.
Shirley, do you think that if we see our friends under strong delusion that we can intercede for them through prayer?
Absolutely Melissa, we definitely can pray for them to receive the love of the truth, God is not willing that any should perish 2Peter 3:9. I believe 2Thess 2:9-12 is the final call from God to those who are perishing to confirm are they really going to believe this lie and choose the Pretender over the Creator.
We can also share the truth of Jesus and His love for them with those friends.
Through Christ all things are possible. Possible is the key. We pray, the Holy Spirit works on their heart, they either reject or surrender. They have the choice. Intercessory and unceasing prayer has power to influence lives. I do believe when we hit people with 2 Thessalonians 2:11 We should strongly emphasize 2Thesalonians 2:10. That if they receive the love of the truth, they will be saved. Some who are caught up in the delusions of Satan, may still have hope. We need to do all we can with the help of the Holy Spirit to give hope and faith in God to our friends and family. Some will be in heaven only because of our personal intervention(gracefully,gentle, longsuffering kindly) coupled with the goading of the Holy Spirit per our request by intercessory prayer.
You are right John, and sometimes people need a challenge to examine their understanding of the true character of the LORD revealed in the Bible. He is multidimensional and we either believe what He has revealed about himself or we make up a character. We are learning this is what the cosmic conflict is about - Satan tried to tell the LORD how He should rule the Universe and the LORD through out the Bible has been revealing His multidimensional character, our finite minds might not understand completely so we have to accept by faith what He reveals.
What shift in Satan's strategy? He has not changed and neither has his manner of working. It is now focused on the faithful remnant because he is now cast down to this earth, having lost the war in heaven. Only HERE on this world does he find willing subjects who are eager to defy the God of Heaven, their Creator, by trampling on His holy Law with boldness. In this world, this is a most natural tendency as we are born “at enmity with God”(Rom 8:7). Many, while claiming to be God's people, are still overcome by sin while knowing not their true condition. Friendship with the world blinds any not looking unto Jesus constantly.
Satan has often used the power of demons to deceive and will continue where it will gain his purpose. The only difference is that with the advance in knowledge and understanding of God's word, he will be permitted to increase his deceptions, since we are never tempted above what we are able to overcome by faith.
As we are taking care to not be deceived, we have more than the Catholic church or Catholics to be worried about. In some ways today, apostate Protestantism might be for us, our greater worry. Catholicism has always been portrayed as problematic by SDAs but we grew out of Protestantism and have more in common with this way of thinking. As we watch what is happening during the end times, we might need to be even more vigilant about taking care that we are not deceived by folks coming from Evangelical perspectives, we will need to be willing to call these perspectives out for their contradictions-- the ways they have turned their back on God's call for us to love our neighbor and have compassion for the stranger. These problematic evangelical perspectives are all too visible in the United States today.
The setting of heaven for the characters in chapter 12 (woman, man child, and dragon) is denoting the cosmic nature of the conflict. Everything in heaven and earth are affected by this controversy. In today's lesson our attention is fully drawn to the last moments of earth's history when Satan does an all-out assault on God's last day people here on earth. He will do it by deception as the author has pointed out. Counterfeit miracles to appear that God is at work.
Whereas Christ was accused of doing powerful miracles through Satan's authority, here we have Satan making it looks as if the power and authority of God is being manifest. He does this for two reasons: 1. To rally the earth dwellers (those without Christ) to become his agents in purposed destruction of God's people, and 2. Make it look like the saints prayers are being answered that they may join in with the gathering of the earth dwellers.
These deceptions will be done through false prophets and christs, as Jesus warned about, and the text that comes to mind which will be most pertinent to this day is Deut. 13:1-5. Finally, if we apply the six last day parables found in Matthew 24 and 25 we will be assured ability not to be swept up in the deceptions of the last times.
The question about Heaven has changed to several other issues. Ula, covered a number of issues, and the other contributors quoted many texts to support their opinions. The main reason for understanding the question was because it was part of the SS lesson" Satan a Defeated Enemy". Johns, vision says a great sign appeared in heaven, Rev.12:1 This was my reason for the question about where heaven is. Johns other references were communicated to Jesus audibly. A bit of curiosity I guess; when we pray we are assured that our prayers reach Heaven due to our finite understanding.
Paul we are not told anything about the physical placement of heaven. I am sure that God is listening to our prayers where ever we are. It is a heart issue, not a location issue. (However, I can tell some funny stories about praying from the tops of trees when I was a kid, just to be closer to God. I was a very good tree-climber in my childhood.)