The greatest deception
Christ did predict that Satan would impersonate Him at the end of time, “false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it” (Matthew 24:24-26).
Satan would impersonate Christ as the crowning act in the great drama of deception. The church has long professed to look to the Savior’s advent as climax of her hopes. At that future time, the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will appear among people as a glorious being of stunning brightness. He will resemble the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation 1:13-15.
Mighty miracles
Satan will perform great miracles. John wrote, “He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived” (Revelation 13:13, 14 also 16:13, 14).
As a result of these delusions, almost all people will be swept into the ranks of the enemy. “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). And the world will unite with Satan in his battle against God.
God’s remnant
But a small remnant will remain true to God. Here is how the Bible describes them, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12). “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 12:17)
Satan will announce the coming of a new age of enlightenment. He will declare that those who persist in keeping the Ten Commandments (including the 7th day Sabbath) are blaspheming his voice by refusing his new light. This will be the ultimate delusion (2 Thessalonians 2:11). The world will accept him and be like the Samaritans who were deceived by Simon Magus. And they will proclaim, this is “the great power of God.”
The deliverance of the faithful
Consequently, God will pour out His last final judgements (Plagues) upon the world who are disobeying His law and oppressing His people (Isaiah 28:21). These plagues are not universal, or the inhabitants of the earth would be wholly cut off. But God’s people will be saved from these plagues (Luke 18:7,8). They will be saved just as the ancient Israelites were saved from the plagues that fell upon the Egyptians.
And the world will see that he whom they had looked upon as God is powerless to stop the hand of God. Then, the wicked will realize that they have been deceived. And they will turn with great anger upon the counterfeit organization that Satan’s delusions created. And they will completely destroy it (Revelation 17:16, 17). At that time, Christ will come in the clouds of heaven to end the dominion of the earthly kingdoms and take His faithful children home (Mark 13:26).
Be warned: If someone appears in a way the world has never seen before performing miracles and claiming to be Christ – beware, and don’t be deceived.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
