The Devil’s Great Miracles
The devil will be able to deceive the whole world through his miracles and supernatural powers. Jesus warned His church about “false Christ, and false prophets” who would appear and “shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:24). And Paul declared that the Antichrist would work in the last days “with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10).
From the beginning the devil has been continually disguising himself as a godly character to lead people away from Christ. “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). in reality, he is a wolf in a sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15). He is the father of lies (John 8:44).
John the Revelator warned the end time church saying, “He (the devil) 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 …” (Revelation 13:13,14). And he added that in preparation for the final battle of Armageddon “spirits of devils, working miracles” will “go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world” (Revelation 16:14). People, unable to explain Satan’s miracles, will accredit them to the power of God.
Test the Spirits by God’s Word
Thus, the entire world will be deceived except for God’s children that are guided by His Word and have learned to test the spirits by law and the Word: “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). Whatever people or evil angels (demons) may say that is not according to God’s Word proves that they have “no light” in them (Isaiah 50:10, 11).
The Scriptures teach that the performance of miracles is not a definite evidence that divine power is at work. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness’” (Matthew 7:21-23).
The greatest miracle of all times is a life transformed after the image of God. Therefore, those who claim to be prophets are to be tested also by the fruits of their lives and not merely by their professed words and miracles. Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:16-20).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
