FIRST QUARTER 2023
SABBATH SCHOOL INSIGHT #10
JUNE 3, 2023
“SATAN’S FINAL DECEPTIONS”

 

When I saw this week’s lesson title, I was immediately drawn to it. Satan’s final deceptions — that’s got to be important, if not life-altering, crucial. But that’s nothing new, you might say. Yes, Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44) and has been working in the business of deception since before the birth of our planet (Revelation 12:9). But his final tactics will be more cunning and more difficult to discern as his time nears an end.

 

“The great controversy between Christ and Satan, that has been carried forward for nearly six thousand years, is soon to close; and the wicked one redoubles his efforts to defeat the work of Christ in man's behalf and to fasten souls in his snares. To hold the people in darkness and impenitence till the Saviour's mediation is ended, and there is no longer a sacrifice for sin, is the object which he seeks to accomplish.”—Ellen G. White, The Gr eat Controversy p. 518.

 

What are these falsehoods so we can recognize them and escape Satan’s snare? Look at how the Bible describes them. In the book of Matthew Jesus says, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:24, KJV). Mark adds another layer of intention saying all these things happen “to seduce…the elect” (Mark 13:22 KJV). Miracles, healings, signs, wonders and a plethora of amazing things to bedazzle the senses—all subtlety laced with half-truths that even the most astute devout follower of Christ might be led astray.

 

“The experience of the past will be repeated. In the future, Satan's superstitions will assume new forms. Errors will be presented in a pleasing and flattering manner. False theories, clothed with garments of light, will be presented to God's people. Thus, Satan will try to deceive, if possible, the very elect. Most seducing influences will be exerted; minds will be hypnotized. Corruptions of every type, similar to those existing among the antediluvians, will be brought in to take minds captive. The exaltation of nature as God, the unrestrained license of the human will, the counsel of the ungodly—these Satan uses as agencies to bring about certain ends. He will employ the power of mind over mind to carry out his designs. The most sorrowful thought of all is that under his deceptive influence men will have a form of godliness, without having a real connection with God. Like Adam and Eve, who ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, many are even now feeding upon the deceptive morsels of error. Satanic agencies are clothing false theories in an attractive garb, even as Satan in the Garden of Eden concealed his identity from our first parents by speaking through the serpent. These agencies are instilling into human minds that which in reality is deadly error. The hypnotic influence of Satan will rest upon those who turn from the plain word of God to pleasing fables.”— Ellen G. White, Counsels to the Church, pp. 323,324, emphasis supplied.

 

More on that later. This week’s lesson discussed two theological stances that we typically associate with the time just before Jesus returns:  immortality of the soul and the fourth or Sabbath commandment. Yes, these are one-hundred percent crucial Biblical truths to know and understand to avoid being deceived. I won’t discuss these topics, except to mention their importance, as you have already studied them in this week’s lesson and understand their role in the Great Controversy. In this week’s Insight, I’d like to touch on something else that struck a chord in my heart. I pray by God’s grace may be a blessing to you as well.

 

Circling back — did you catch what we read above? “The most sorrowful thought of all is that under his deceptive influence men will have a form of godliness, without having a real connection with God.” Those living deceived by Satan will live lives that appear righteous. I don’t know about you, but that is a scary thought. One might look, “live” and believe themselves to be righteous but not actually be righteous. They have a false righteousness and not aware of their condition. Does the Bible say anything about this sorrowful state?

 

Satan’s agents will appear righteous

 

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

 

There will be a form of godliness but no power

 

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:1-7).

 

Even the most learned are susceptible to deception

 

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity” (Matthew 23:25-28).

 

“Ah but I would never be deceived…I know false from true worship…I wouldn’t crucify Christ if I was alive then (because that is clearly wrong) so why would I deny Him now?” We say these things in vain comfort. For truly, if not for the grace of God in our lives and hearts we would have crucified Him then and we are in danger of doing the same again. Take a look at

this passage:

 

Unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.” In the words spoken to the Laodicean church we can see the sure result of half-hearted service. There are many who claim to believe the truth, who do not obey the truth in a way that the world can take knowledge of them that they have been with Jesus and learned of him. This condition of lukewarmness is a pitiable condition in which to be. “I would thou wert cold or hot,” the Lord declares; “so then, because thou are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” Let none think that their understanding of the Scriptures, their knowledge of the truth for this time, will suffice to save them. Let none take the position before God that was taken by the people spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, who offered to God only outward service. “Wherefore have we fasted,” they said to God, “and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge?” God showed this people that their worship was unacceptable to him because it lacked heart service. “Behold, in the day of your fast,” he said to them, “ye find pleasure, and exact all your labors. Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.” The Lord shows that there is something better for his people than mere outward worship. He demands of them a pure and undefiled religion. The gold he bids them buy of him is the gold of character. The eyesalve is obtained by earnest seeking of the Lord. We are to come to God confessing our sins and humbling our hearts before him. If ever there was a people who needed to pray most earnestly to God, if ever there was a people who needed to strip themselves of everything that is offensive to him, it is this people who profess to keep the commandments of God and to have the faith of Jesus. —Ellen G. White, General Conference Bulletin, June 6,  1909, par. 3–6, emphasis supplied.

 

What if the difference between those who are deceived and those who are not is more than just believing we sleep in the dust and worship on right day? Don’t get me wrong—God’s last day people will believe and keep these truths. What if truly following doctrine is a fruit? There is a deeper, underlying principle that results in a truly righteous life that includes treasuring these Biblical truths about death and the fourth commandment. Here it is: unbelief versus belief, doubt versus trust, self-reliance versus complete self-distrust, clinging to who we are versus hanging our every hope on who He is.

 

At the close of earth’s history, the principle behind the great deception are rooted in the age-old trial found in Genesis at the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Proverbs 14:12 says “there is a way which seemeth right unto a man [to you and me], but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Adam and Eve chose to eat the seemingly desirable fruit God asked them to refrain from eating because they deemed it best. It doesn’t matter who chose to eat it first or who gave it to whom—each chose to eat it even though God said the consequences would result in death. The Genesis account of the events leading up to the fall of man reveals a fundamental principle that lies at the heart of the great controversy. Do I believe God (His word, His character, His of love and heart towards me) or do I trust myself, my senses and experiences? We are all vulnerable to the snare of unbelief and to each will come this same test of faith. If Adam and Eve in a perfect sinless world chose the path of unbelief, how can we succeed? We may be more than conquerors as Jesus was—by and through His faith, the faith of Jesus.

 

I grew up in the church. I am familiar with the 1888 message and the concept of righteousness by faith. I still struggle. There was a point in my life where I was struggling to claim God’s promises for myself. The inconsistencies in my life and in the lives of other Adventists backed me into a corner where there was only one conclusion: the gospel must not be true because it just isn’t working for me and it certainly isn’t working for brother/sister so and so. I was plagued with doubt and unbelief to the point of thinking I should leave the church. My thoughts were negative and hopeless: I’m not good enough, I keep messing up, I’m too far gone, I’m a fake, there’s no hope for me, the gospel doesn’t work for me, I shouldn’t be here. I was helpless — believing the lies Satan was telling me about God and how He felt about me. I was paralyzed in a state of unbelief and was about to walk out of the church. But then a thought crossed my mind. Yes, I am all those things; yes, Christ is misrepresented by me and others in the church—but God is love. Righteousness by faith has nothing to do with me and everything to do with God and what He will do in and through me (and yes, I do have a choice in the matter). I realized I have nothing to plead except the goodness and mercy of who God says He is. The choice and the question is this—do I believe?

 

One night, in the quiet wrestling of my heart, I chose to believe. In spite of my thoughts and feelings I chose to believe that Christ and His word is enough for me. And because of Him all will be well. There was no visible light shining from heaven, no audible voice, no overwhelming feeling of joy—just a simple feeling of peace and relief. It felt like I was a soldier fighting in the trenches and I was just told that the war was over and I could return home.

 

“And in that day there are going to be two parties there. There are going to be some there when the door is shut, and they will want to go in, and they say, 'Lord, open to us. We want to come in.' And someone comes and asks, 'What have you done that you should come in? What right have you to enter the inheritance here? What claim have you upon that?' ‘Oh, we are acquainted with you. We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. Yes, besides that we have prophesied in thy name. In thy name we have cast out devils and in thy name we have done many wonderful works. Why, we have done many wonderful things. Lord, is not that evidence enough? Open the door.’

“What is the answer? 'Depart from me, ye that work iniquity.' What did they say? ‘We have done many wonderful works. We have done them. We are all right. We are righteous. We are just. Exactly right. Therefore we have a right to be there. Open the door.’ But ‘we’ does not count there, does it?

“There is going to be another company there that day—a great multitude that no man can number—all nations and kindreds and tongues and people, and they will come up to enter in. And if anyone should ask them that question, ‘What have you done that you should enter here? What claim have you here?' The answer would be:

“'Oh, I have not done anything at all to deserve it. I am a sinner, dependent only on the grace of the Lord. Oh I was so wretched, so completely a captive and in such a bondage that nobody could deliver me but the Lord Himself; so miserable that all I could ever do was to have the Lord constantly to comfort me, so poor that I had constantly to beg from the Lord; so blind that no one but the Lord could cause me to see; so naked that no one could clothe me but the Lord Himself. All the claim that I have is what Jesus has done for me. But the Lord has loved me. When in my wretchedness I cried, He delivered me. When in my misery I wanted comfort, He comforted me all the way. When in my poverty I begged, He gave me riches. When in my blindness I asked Him to show me the way, that I might know the way, He led me all the way and made me to see. When I was so naked that no one could clothe me, why, He gave me this garment that I have on, and so all I can present, all that I have to present as that upon which I can enter, any claim that would cause me to enter, is just what He has done for me. If that will not pass me, then I am left out, and that will be just too. If I am left out, I have no complaint to make. But, oh, will not this entitle me to enter and possess the inheritance?'

“But he says, 'Well, there are some very particular persons here. They want to be fully satisfied with everybody that goes by here. We have ten examiners here. When they look into a man’s case and say that he is all right, why then he can pass. Are you willing that these shall be called to examine into your case?' And we shall answer, ‘Yes, yes, because I want to enter in, and I am willing to submit to any examination, because even if I am left out I have no complaint to make. I am lost anyway when I am left to myself.’

“‘Well,' says he, ‘we will call them then.' And so those ten are brought up and they say, ‘Why, yes, we are perfectly satisfied with him. Why, yes, the deliverance that he obtained from his wretchedness is that which our Lord wrought; the comfort that he had all the way and that he needed so much is that which our Lord gave. The wealth that he has, whatever he has, poor as he was, the Lord gave it, and blind, whatever he sees, it is the Lord that gave it to him. And he sees only what is the Lord’s. And naked as he was, that garment that he has on, the Lord gave it to him. The Lord wove it, and it is all divine. It is only Christ. Why, yes, he can come in.'

“And then, brethren, there will come over the gates a voice of sweetest music, full of the gentleness and compassion of my Saviour—the voice will come from within, 'Come in, thou blessed of the Lord.' [Congregation: ‘Amen.’] 'Why standest thou without?’ And the gate will be swung wide open, and we shall have ‘an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.'

“Oh, He is a complete Saviour. He is my Saviour. My soul doth magnify the Lord. My soul shall rejoice in the Lord, brethren, tonight. Oh, I say with David, come and magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together. He has made complete satisfaction. There is not anything against us, brethren. The way is clear. The road is open. The righteousness of Christ satisfies. That is light and love and joy and eternal excellence.”—A.T. Jones,  General Conference Daily Bulletin, 1893, pp.416,417.

“We are now preparing for eternity. Time will not last much longer; for we are living in the closing days of this world’s history. Satan knows that his time is short, and he is now at work with all his masterly power. We need to be instant in prayer; for in communion with God we shall find strength to resist the enemy. If we are not watchful, we may be ensnared, and yet not realize our condition.”—Ellen G. White, Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 23 (1908), Ms 43, 1908, par. 13.

 

 

Satan’s final deception will be fierce and magnificently subtle. There will be a marked contrast between the lives of believers and unbelievers in the final generation. The gospel will be preached and will make a tangible difference in the lives of His people. But it will not be in our own strength. While re-reading Revelation 18:1-5 in this week’s lesson, I heard a call. A personal call to me to come out of my unbelief, to be separate and to walk in a different path than before. A path made plain, as seen in the life and in the faith of Jesus. May we stand free and fully dependent on Jesus, just as a coat rests its full weight on the hook from which it hangs. May our lives rest fully and securely on the nail, which is Christ, claiming and believing in the love and power of God to save us to the uttermost. May we not stand in indifferent self-sufficiency but rather let our lives be cradled in the loving hands of our Savior. May we ever learn and realize that the Lord is ever on our side and boldly claim the words in Jude 1:24, 25: "Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Do you believe?

 

~Anya Kinsley