Devil -- Christianity; Spiritual life -- Christianity
The doctrine of devils is again referred to in Rev. 2:24 as "the deep
things of Satan" and this is Satan's counterfeit of "the deep things of
God" which the Spirit reveals to them that love Him (I Cor. 2:10).
Thus there is predicted for the last days of this age, both a form of
godliness which denies the power of salvation that is in Christ; and a
system known as "the deep things of Satan" or "doctrines of devils,"
which calls some adherents from the true faith and speaks lies in
hypocrisy. Can there be any doubt that these two Scriptures describe the
same thing, since they also refer to the same time? The lies of one can
be but the covered denial of salvation in the other.
Again, Satan has his assembly or congregational meeting which is his
counterfeit of the visible Church. This assembly is referred to, both
in Rev. 2:9 and 3:9, as the "synagogue of Satan;" an organized assembly
being as important for the testimony in the deep things of Satan as it
has been in the things of God.
In Matt. 13 the tares appear _among_ the wheat and their appearance is
said to be after the sowing of the wheat. So, also, the "children of the
Wicked one" appear and are often included and even organized within the
forms of the visible Church.
The assembly of Satan, calling itself a part of the visible Church, is
to have its ministers and teachers. This is stated in II Cor. II:13-15:
"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." Here is a remarkable
revelation of the possible extent of the Satanic counterfeit: "False
apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of
Christ" and "ministers of righteousness;" yet these are shown to be only
agents of the great deceiver, Satan, who is himself transformed into an
angel of light. It is evident that the method of this deception is to
imitate the real ministers of Christ. Certainly these false apostles
cannot so appear unless they gather into their message every available
"form of godliness" and cover their lies with the most subtle hypocrisy.
Evil will not appear on the outside of these systems; but they will be
announced as "another gospel" or as a larger understanding of the
previously accepted truth, and will be all the more attractive and
delusive since they are heralded by those who claim to be ministers of
Christ, who reflect the beauty of an "angel of light," and whose lives
are undoubtedly free from great temptation. It should be noted, however,
that these false ministers do not necessarily know the mission they
have. Being unregenerate persons of the Satanic system, and, so, blinded
to the real Gospel, they are sincere; preaching and teaching the best
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