Matthew 24:24 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. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
This passage of scripture warns earth's inhabitants of the literal appearance of satan as the anti-Christ, who is scheduled to present some of the same lofty truths which Christ spoke of whilst living on this earth. The popular themes of love, mercy, and forgiveness, coupled with tolerance for sins of the darkest hue, with a callous disregard for the laws and commandments of God, are what will characterize his speeches, first to the kings and secular leaders of the world, and then to the sin loving multitudes, who will then be enlisted in high-handed rebellion against God and heaven.
Already we are seeing the way being prepared by the words being spoken by false prophets, who have made themselves rich with the delicacies of Rome. And pope Francis has added fuel to the fire by his cryptic statement of "Who am I to judge", when responding to a questioner on the topic of gay marriage. Indeed, it was soon after those words were uttered that the supreme court of the united states repealed the defense of marriage act, and a few months later, the same court overturned traditional marriage as being defined as a lifelong union between one man and his "Female" wife.
Thus the stage has already been set, and all of the players are on the stage, only awaiting the permission of God, to legalize error in the form of a counterfeit day of worship, which will then be obviously passed by the supreme court, since the majority of sitting judges are already Sunday worshipers. This is the reason why the book of Revelation, focuses so heavily on the issue of worship, and speaks less of love and mercy, because the issue in our day, which will be signed, sealed, and delivered by anti-Christ, has to do with worship. Let's read:
Revelation 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Thus we have the clearest evidence that the issue of worship is to be the focus of the last great final conflict, to be waged between truth and error, light and darkness, sin and righteousness. It will be the leaders of the world who will first be approached by satan in the form of an angel of light, with heresies bundled together in loving words and lofty speeches, so as to sweep the unwary off their feet. The sternest warnings ever issued to mortals have been given in the scriptures, so that no one needs to be deceived with the sights and sounds which will be incident to his appearances. Let's read:
Revelation 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
(The Great Controversy pp. 188) As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Saviour’s advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. [Revelation 1:13-15.] The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air., “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, as Christ blessed his disciples when he was upon the earth. 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, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed.
It thus behooves us to choose to live by a "Thus saith The Lord", and not be swayed by the popular majority opinion on morality and religious issues. Furthermore, the only One who can save us from these deceptions is Jesus Christ Himself, hence the reason why it is so important for us to be found in Him, living by His laws and statutes each and every day. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to so live and do, as those who are preparing to meet the real Jesus when He comes, for the time is at hand. Let's read:
Revelation 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan".... "to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what The Spirit saith to the churches. "Good night" and God bless!