SDA Sabbath School Lessons
Wednesday September 4, 1996


The Counterfeit Precedes the Genuine
(Rev. 13:11-15)

How will Satan's counterfeit religion even duplicate biblical events in order to claim authenticity? Rev. 13:13; compare 1 Kings 18:24.

The Mount Caramel test will be counterfeited. Satan will make it appear that a biblical test establishes his deity.

"Satan will come in to deceive if possible the very elect. He claims to be Christ, and he is coming in, pretending to be the great medical missionary. He will cause fire to come down from heaven in the sight of men to prove that he is God."-Medical Ministry, pp. 87, 88.

"It is impossible to give any idea of the experience of the people of God who will be alive on the earth when past woes and celestial glory will be blended. They will walk in the light proceeding from the throne of God. By the means of the angels there will be constant communication between heaven and earth. And Satan, surrounded by evil angels, and claiming to be God, will work miracles of all kinds to deceive, if possible, the very elect. God's people will not find their safety in working miracles, for Satan would counterfeit any miracle that might be worked." Selected Messages, bk. 2, pp. 54, 55.

What will precede the loud cry of Revelation 18:1-4? Matt. 24:11-14.

"I saw that 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." Early Writings, p. 261.
"Before the final visitation of God's judgments upon the earth there will be among the people of the Lord such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times. . . . The enemy of souls desires to hinder this work; and before the time for such a movement shall come, he will endeavor to prevent it by introducing a counterfeit. In those churches which he can bring under his deceptive power he will make it appear that God's special blessing is poured out; there will be manifest what is thought to be great religious interest."-The Great Controversy, p. 464.