January 30, 2025 | Silver Spring, Maryland, United States | Ted N.C. Wilson, President, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Hello, friends. As we draw closer to the end of time, strange, supernatural events will take place. We read in The Great Controversy that “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” (p. 624).
Jesus’ prophecy of false christs will be fulfilled in a remarkable way. He warned, “…if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matt. 24:23, 24, NKJV).
While these false christs will appear in various places, we are told “the crowning act in the great drama of deception,” will be Satan himself impersonating Jesus (The Great Controversy, p. 624).
In The Great Controversy, we are given a very clear description of what will happen:
“In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself . . . as a majestic being of dazzling brightness. . . . The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out…: ‘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…
“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” (The Great Controversy, p. 624).
Friends, if we rely on our senses, we will be deceived. But the Bible tells us: “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20, NKJV).
If what the person is saying contradicts the Bible, we can know for certain they cannot be trusted.
And this is how we will be able to distinguish the false christ from the true. Regarding His coming, Jesus said, “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matt. 24:27, NKJV). And in Revelation 1:7 we read, “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him” (NKJV). This is something that Satan will not be allowed to counterfeit.
Furthermore, Satan, in his assumed role as Christ, will speak directly against Scripture, claiming “to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed.” But he goes even further, declaring “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.” We are told, “this is the strong, almost overmastering delusion” (The Great Controversy, p. 624).
This, my friends, is why it is so important to prayerfully study God’s Word, asking for the Holy Spirit to guide us. We are told, “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” (The Great Controversy, p. 625).
Satan will try everything within his power to keep us from studying the Bible, but now, more than ever, is when we need to spend time in God’s Word, learning not only what He has revealed, but building a trust in Him that will never let go.
Let’s pray together just now.
Father in heaven, thank you for the Word of God. Thank you for the clear instruction as to the coming of Christ. We know that Satan will attempt to person aid Christ, but he will not be able to impersonate Christ in the aspects of the dazzling brightness of Jesus return. We understand that we must be aware of these false Christs, and if they say that Christ is here or there, we are not to believe it. For all will see the coming of Jesus in the clouds of heaven. All eyes will see this amazing event. Thank you now for the promise that you have given to us that Jesus will return and that we will know the signs of his coming. In Jesus name we ask it. Amen.