It is important for everyone to be ready for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. For there is no second chance after that. God will not import anything of sin into heaven. For we read, "affliction shall not rise up the second time." Nahum 1:9. The prophet Nahum also said, "The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked ..." Nahum 1:3.

We must leave that old man of sin behind before that great day of His Second Coming.

And so we read,

"And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Revelation 12:9.

Yes, can you see it in that verse in the Book of Revelation?

We read, Satan and his angels - Los Angeles, Hollywood, the seat of mass media which deceives the whole world. The place where `stars' make their debut and influence peoples behavior and hold their mind captive with their stardom - and all the earth gazes at these with envy, turning away from looking upon the Lamb which was slain to redeem us from the sins manufactured in the city of these unholy angels and their stars.

Gradually, Holly Wood, Los Angeles, followed the path of sin deeper and deeper into a morass of immorality and shameful behavior, violent evil and all descriptions of debasing living.[100] One Hollywood movie producer said once, `For a movie to be successful it has to at least trespass against three commandments.'

Pagan symbolism is influencing unsuspecting parents and their children all around us. One means is via the Harry Potter series of books. Harry uses a wand made of wood of the Holly Tree, a long known magical tree of pagan, i.e. Satanic, witchcraft. The closeness to the word `Hollywood' is easily seen. The question is, does Satan use something like a `wand' by which he can influence the whole world? Well, he does through the products of Hollywood which are spread around the whole world with their baleful, sly and direct, wicked messages.

Dear people, which star are you going to follow? The stars of Hollywood or the bright and morning star, Jesus, who comes to save us from this world of sin? We as a people have been deceived into training our dogs but let our children run wild. Parents, it is your responsibility to love your children and set boundaries for them. If you set only boundaries and do not show your love you reap rebellion. You must imitate the love that Jesus showed for the little ones in your home and restrain them from doing evil. You must turn off the modern tower of Babel in your living room and make your home a library of discovery. Purchase a telescope or microscope instead and teach each other the large or tiny wonders in nature. Why can't you do that to help rescue this generation in your home?

Arise, choose Jesus and His kingdom and be counted among God's people,

- for the devil is very mad. He is very angry because he knows that his life span is coming to a close very soon. He works with devilish skill through human agents to pollute and destroy this world - both, physically and spiritually. Desperation driven violence will be on the increase as never before in history. Demon possession is a serious affliction which is manifesting itself every day in all continents. Man and creatures alike are suffering with no end in sight. Unless we look to God by faith we shall find no solution. Where do we find God? We find God first of all in His letter to us, the Bible. Read, study His Letter and as you do, pray. Believe His Word and follow the path of His love and salvation revealed in there.

Christianity and the Work of Christ

(1) A specific generation of Christians rejected the Spirit endorsed angels messages of 1844 and many Millerites rejected the third angel's message. Today the overwhelming majority of Christians and their ministers understand nothing of this.
(2) God is eminently fair. He cannot hold these modern descendants of the rejecters of 1844 generation guilty if they have not comprehended the message sufficiently. There is no reason to suppose that many of these people are not sincerely living up the light they have and thus are individually accepted by the Lord.
(3) However, the real issue is not mere personal salvation in preparation for death. Since Bible prophecy indicates that the coming of the Lord is near, the true issue is preparation for His coming and the attendant final trials. And we must not forget the transcendent motivation of concern for the honor and vindication of the Saviour so that the great controversy can be ended in victory for Him. - For this to take place in any community of human hearts and lives, the full truth of `righteousness by faith' must be clearly understood. The popular churches cannot understand this truth, however sincere they may be, for they have no knowledge of the way into the most holy place, and they can not be benefited by the intercession of Jesus there. Genuine `righteousness by faith' is not only a truth but an experience that accompanies it which the heavenly High Priest ministers in His closing work of atonement. Continued ignorance of this truth cannot resolve the problem. The third angel's message is vitally needed. In the absence of that truth, no body of people anywhere can be prepared for the second coming of Christ, regardless of their religious affiliation.
(4) Satan slyly succeeded to flourish the idea which perpetuates the same ministry of Christ in the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary from the time of His ascension. He tries to eclipse the knowledge in a change of that ministry. The High Priest's (Christ) ministry must change, because He cannot forever minister His blood in substitution to cover perpetual sinning of His people. He must accomplish something on the Day of Atonement that was never accomplished previously. He must have a people who overcome "even as" He overcame, a people who "condemn sin in the flesh" through His faith. Satan must zero in on this truth to eclipse it if possible. Thus the counterfeiter leads minds "to himself" by deflecting their interest from the unique work the true High Priest must accomplish. His highly successful imitation of Christ and the true gospel includes "light and much power, but no sweet [agape] love, joy and peace." He has diligently studied the work of the true Holy Spirit and has invented a superb imitation that will deceive, if possible, the very elect. He has his counterfeit `righteousness by faith' nearly perfected for deception. Of course, it lacks an understanding of Christ's work in the Most Holy Apartment, that vital ingredient of agape that alone can cleanse human hearts of all fear and self-centered motivation which perpetuates sin.
(5) If this is true, multitudes will succumb to terrific pressure to restore the religious intolerance of the Dark Ages and will enforce the mark of the beast. A false christ will spread "his influence over the land by means of false reformations, ... the work of another spirit."
(6) Wheat and tares will grow up together in "Babylon" as there are in the church those that profess to bear the 3rd angel's message. But the stalemate must be resolved. The human race is in the process of disintegrating morally and spiritually. We face problems of potential global suicide through all the many abuses in the world today. Human resolve and ingenuity is incapable to solve the situation. The great controversy between Christ and Satan will likely appear to resolve itself into a contest to see which can preserve life on this planet! "The beast" will make it appear that he is the world's savior. Thus his mark will at last be urged as the only way to prevent the destruction of the human race.
(7) Thus there are truths inherent in the true gospel message of Christ's righteousness that are not comprehended by any segment of Christians who do not understand the two apartment ministry of the heavenly High Priest. The "gospel" proclaimed by the "little horn" power virtually justifies sin and therefore logically upholds Satan's rebellion. This is the secret of the lawlessness that pervades the modern world on all levels. All churches everywhere desperately need to have the gospel of the three angel's messages effectively communicated to them.

How to protect yourself from Satan's spiritualistic delusions

The following is very important for all of us to know.

"Little by little he [Satan] has prepared the way for his masterpiece of deception in the development of spiritualism. He has not yet reached the full accomplishment of his designs; but it will be reached in the last remnant of time." {GC, 561}

The Bible says this,

"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed (Greek: disguised as) into an angel of light." 2.Cor. 11:13,14.

"Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. 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. 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." Matth. 24:24-27.

Applying this saying of Jesus into our time we may say, If people tell you, `Oh, come, see this man here on TV, he is really healing people, and look all the things he can do and hear what he says ...' If, hear what he says includes such a person claiming to be Jesus Christ, you can be certain he is not but he is rather deceiving people to think that. Why? The Bible teaches that Christ will not set foot on the soil or ground of this earth again, 1.Thessalonians 4:16-17.

"the Lord shall descend ... there is no indication He touches the earth "... the Lord in the air ..." Verse 16 & 17

"As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ." {GC, 624}

"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. ..."

"Apostasy, wrong principles, brilliant sparkling ideas, theories and sophistries that undermine the foundation principles of the faith, perversion of truth, fanciful and spiritualistic interpretations of the Scriptures, deceivableness of unrighteousness, seeds of discord, of unbelief, of infidelity . . . sown broadcast, insidious fallacies, sentiments of the enemy, falsehood and pleasing fables, infidelity and skepticism, a multitude of deceptions, a yoke of human manufacture, cunningly devised fables, a lie." [Expressions all verbatim in Series B, No. 2 and 7, concerning the alpha.]

We must always look upon Jesus, the Bible, His ministry in the Most Holy, and any doctrines which hide these are not of God.

Revelation 1:13-15, "And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters."

The quote continues ...

"... 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. He declares 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. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion. Like the Samaritans who were deceived by Simon Magus, the multitudes, from the least to the greatest, give heed to these sorceries, saying, This is "the great power of God." [Acts 8:10.] {GC88 624.1}

"Satan sees that he is about to lose his case. He cannot sweep in the whole world. He makes one last desperate effort to overcome the faithful by deception. He does this in personating Christ. He clothes himself with the garments of royalty which have been accurately described in the vision of John. He has power to do this. He will appear to his deluded followers, the Christian world who received not the love of the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness . . . as Christ coming the second time.
He proclaims himself Christ, and he is believed to be Christ, a beautiful, majestic being clothed with majesty and, with soft voice and pleasant words, with glory unsurpassed by anything their mortal eyes had yet beheld. Then his deceived, deluded followers set up a shout of victory, `Christ has come the second time! Christ has come! He has lifted up His hands just as He did when He was upon the earth, and blessed us.' . . .
The saints look on with amazement. Will they also be deceived? Will they worship Satan? Angels of God are about them. A clear, firm, musical voice is heard, `Look up.'
There is one object before the praying ones—the final and eternal salvation of their souls. This object was before them constantly—that immortal life was promised to those who endure unto the end. Oh, how earnest and fervent had been their desires. The judgment and eternity were in view. Their eyes by faith were fixed on the blazing throne, before which the white-robed ones were to stand. This restrained them from the indulgence of sin. . . .
One effort more, and then Satan's last device is employed. He hears the unceasing cry for Christ to come, for Christ to deliver them. This last strategy is to personate Christ, and make them think their prayers are answered." {LDE 164, 165.; TA 275.2}

"The miracle-working power manifested through spiritualism will exert its influence against those who choose to obey God rather than men. Communications from the spirits will declare that God has sent them to convince the rejecters of Sunday of their error, affirming that the laws of the land should be obeyed as the law of God. They will lament the great wickedness in the world and second the testimony of religious teachers that the degraded state of morals is caused by the desecration of Sunday. Great will be the indignation excited against all who refuse to accept their testimony." {GC 590.2}

Idols in the drive way

Speaking out against Hollywood may be one thing but what about the idols we have in our drive way?

Cars have really become a pernicious idol and God's people ought to be ashamed if we handle them as here described. Well, so I go out and buy a new, glittery car. It used to be a horse for most of history. But today its not anymore enough to just purchase a car, along I decide I need a burglar alarm and perhaps even one of those high powered sound systems (neither options I have on my cars). So I used to live in this apartment complex and the neighbors would come home any time, day or night, and stop the engine, step out of the car, slam the door shut and press that button on their key and the car alarm announces with an ear piercing series of tones it is ready to cry when someone comes by to shake it up. Why, brothers and sisters, do we make that alarm go off just because we got home and wake up or annoy all those within ear shot with useless noises? Not only that, just yesterday, at the church, a young man arrives and leaves his car while it produces a particularly obnoxious arming call right there in the church parking lot. Well, depending on the sound handling quality of walls and windows, people inside may hear it or not, but something is not right. How in the world can we stop this cacophony of noise pollution all around us? Is that something we want, to contribute to such bedlam everywhere we stop and park that idol, to shriek like the worst on the block? Brother and sisters, your cars will be taken from you soon enough, just learn how to close the door without that arming sound to go off - please? - - You know what? Our pioneers would deprive themselves of so many things so they could put funds in the offering plate. We do not need all these gadgets and stuff we buy, we are a peculiar people called to present a message to the world that Jesus is coming soon. We cannot afford to starve that ministry to feed our idol wishes. We must repent of all of these things yesterday. Our sensibilities have become really, really confused dear brothers and sisters. It must not continue this way.

1. Recognize deception.

"None are in greater danger from the influence of evil spirits than those who, notwithstanding the direct and ample testimony of the Scriptures, deny the existence and agency of the devil and his angels. So long as we are ignorant of their wiles, they have almost inconceivable advantage; many give heed to their suggestions while they suppose themselves to be following the dictates of their own wisdom. This is why, as we approach the close of time, when Satan is to work with greatest power to deceive and destroy, he spreads everywhere the belief that he does not exist. It is his policy to conceal himself and his manner of working. -There is nothing that the great deceiver fears so much as that we shall become acquainted with his devices." {GC 516.2}

a) How can we keep from being deceived?

By studying, not merely reading, His Word faithfully every day.
That can mean topical studies.

By knowing the doctrines that the dead are really dead, that God requires us to walk in all His ways - that is keep His commandments - which includes keeping the seventh day Sabbath holy. A new example of a study is here.

"Spiritualism is about to take the world captive. There are many who think that Spiritualism is upheld through trickery and imposture, but this is far from the truth. Superhuman power is working in a variety of ways, and few have any idea as to what will be the manifestations of Spiritualism in the future. The foundation for the success of Spiritualism has been laid in the assertions that have been made from the pulpits of our land. The ministers have proclaimed as Bible doctrines falsehoods that have originated with the arch deceiver.
The doctrine of consciousness after death, of the spirits of the dead being in communion with the living, has no foundation in the Scriptures, and yet these theories are affirmed as truth. Through this false doctrine the way has been opened for the spirits of devils to deceive the people in representing themselves as the dead. Satanic agencies personate the dead and thus bring souls into captivity. Satan has a religion, he has a synagogue and devout worshipers. To swell the ranks of his devotees, he uses all manner of deception." {Ev 602,4 - 603.1}

"Spiritualists are increasing in numbers. They will come to men who have the truth as Satan came to Christ, tempting them to manifest their power and work miracles, and give evidence of their being favored of God, and of their being the people who have the truth. . . . The only safety for the people of God is to be thoroughly conversant with their Bibles, and be intelligent upon the reasons of our faith in regard to the sleep of the dead.
Satan is a cunning foe. And it is not difficult for the evil angels to represent both saints and sinners who have died, and make these representations visible to human eyes. These manifestations will be more frequent, and developments of a more startling character will appear as we near the close of time." {Review and Herald, April 1, 1875. Ev 604}

"We are not to attend their circles, neither are our ministers to engage in controversy with them. They are of that class specified whom we should not invite into our houses, or bid them God speed. We have to compare their teachings with the revealed will of God. We are not to engage in an investigation of spiritualism. God has investigated this for us, and told us definitely that a class would arise in the last days who would deny Christ who has purchased them with his own blood. The character of spiritualists is so plainly described that we need not be deceived by them. If we obey the divine injunction, we shall have no sympathy with spiritualists, however smooth and fair may be their words." {RH, April 15, 1875 par. 7}

The following statement is very important but needs to be read carefully since there are some qualifiers in it [in italics] which could be misconstrued.

"God will not entrust the care of His precious flock to men whose mind and judgment have been weakened by former errors that they have cherished, such as so-called perfectionism [i.e. like charismatic, Pentecostal type things] and Spiritualism, and who, by their course while in these errors, have disgraced themselves and brought reproach upon the cause of truth. Although they may now feel free from error and competent to go forth and to teach this last message, God will not accept them. He will not entrust precious souls to their care; for their judgment was perverted while in error, and is now weakened. The great and holy One is a jealous God, and He will have holy men to carry His truth. The holy law spoken by God from Sinai is a part of Himself, and holy men who are its strict observers will alone honor Him by teaching it to others." {EW 101.2}

"I have often seen that the spiritual view took away all the glory of heaven, and that in many minds the throne of David and the lovely person of Jesus have been burned up in the fire of Spiritualism. I have seen that some who have been deceived and led into this error will be brought out into the light of truth, but it will be almost impossible for them to get entirely rid of the deceptive power of Spiritualism. Such should make thorough work in confessing their errors and leaving them forever." {EW 77.2}

"When poor souls have been fascinated with the eloquent words of the teachers of Spiritualism, and they have yielded to its influence, and afterward found out its deadly character, and would renounce and flee from it, some cannot. Satan holds them by his power, and he is not willing to let them go free. He knows that they are surely his while he has them under his special control. But if they once free themselves from his power, he can never bring them again to believe in Spiritualism, and so directly under his control. The only way for such poor souls to overcome Satan, is to discern between pure Bible truth and fables. As they acknowledge the claims of truth, they place themselves where they can be helped. They should entreat those who are experienced, and have faith, to plead with the mighty Deliverer in their behalf. It will be a close conflict. Satan will reinforce his evil angels who have controlled the individuals; but if the saints of God with deep humility fast and pray, their prayers will prevail. Jesus will commission holy angels to resist Satan, and he will be driven back, and his power broken from off the afflicted ones. Mark 9:29. "And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting."
The popular ministry cannot successfully resist Spiritualism. They have nothing to shield their flocks from its baleful influence. Much of the sad result of Spiritualism will rest upon ministers of this age; for they have trampled under their feet the truth, and in its stead have preferred fables." {4bSG 103}

"There are few who have any just conception of the deceptive power of spiritualism and the danger of coming under its influence. Many tamper with it merely to gratify their curiosity. They have no real faith in it and would be filled with horror at the thought of yielding themselves to the spirits' control. But they venture upon the forbidden ground, and the mighty destroyer exercises his power upon them against their will. Let them once be induced to submit their minds to his direction, and he holds them captive. It is impossible, in their own strength, to break away from the bewitching, alluring spell. Nothing but the power of God, granted in answer to the earnest prayer of faith, can deliver these ensnared souls.
All who indulge sinful traits of character, or willfully cherish a known sin, are inviting the temptations of Satan. They separate themselves from God and from the watchcare of His angels; as the evil one presents his deceptions, they are without defense and fall an easy prey. Those who thus place themselves in his power little realize where their course will end. Having achieved their overthrow, the tempter will employ them as his agents to lure others to ruin." {GC 558.3}

Remember Lot's Wife

The family of Lot decided to live in the fertile region of Sodom and Gomorrah. Even though these cities had a reputation of being wicked and anti-God, they desired to live there because of the conveniences available to them. These were the metropolitan towns of their time. The population had a reputation of being unique. Their standards were so unlike what God's people had been following. They were seen as being able to indulge in any form of wicked desire with impunity. Someone in Lot's family was attrated to that life style. It was to the liking of Lot's wife. Why Lot lived there, where the filthiness of the wicked inhabitants "shocked" him (2.Peter 2:7), cannot be explained easily.

The circumstances surrounding his family life may have ensnared him so much that he could not extricate himself, or so he thought. But Lot's wife apparently loved life in these cities.

With her selfish desires centered on self-gratification, his wife regarded the divine warning of a soon coming destruction lightly. Threats of impending doom hardly registered in a mind given over to the pursuit of pleasure.

While she left the city - but not because she wanted to - but propelled by the hands of the angel, her unwilling feet sort of trudged along finally staying behind further and further from her husband. Like Eve she was now alone. Her body had walked out of the city onto the plain, her yearning heart stayed behind, clinging to the treasures left in Sodom. She was psychologically childish. Unable to attach correct values to abstract ideas, she had allowed her mind to become preoccupied with the immediate gratification of impulsive desires. She was able to grasp only temporal concepts of the here and now to the exclusion of spiritual certainties.

As a logical result of the mind-set she had developed, she resented God's intereference in her life. Because the divine judgment brought ruin upon her possessions and upon two of her children, she rebelled against God. So rebellion causes people to reject God's offers of mercy and then curse Him for the results of their own misdeeds.

Lot's wife displayed the irrational behavior of a person whose affections are centered on the accumulation of wealth. When he sees his horde threatened, he cannot reason logically. He feels that Fate has dealt him a foul blow. Instead of thanking God for deliverance, Lot's wife looked back. It was no casual glance, no curious gaze. That backward look revealed the yearning of her soul. She would rather be back in the city with the people who had rejected the divine warning than out on the plain headed for an uncertain future - but under God's care. She liked what she was leaving. She preferred it.

Here we see the ultimate of human perversity. The deluded mind leads beyond rebellion and recrimination to presumptuous desire for self-gratification. Lot's wife found herself physically on the plain; but her heart's desire placed her back among the hardened sinners who had laughed in scorn at Lot's warning of impending disaster.

Many may feel that God dealt too severely with a distraught woman for committing a very simple act. All she did was to look back toward the city, they say. Who would not do the same - especially when leaving all those earthly possessions?

But much more than a mere physical act condemned Lot's wife. The woman's whole heart and soul surged into that yearning backward look. She was turning her back against the loving appeal of a merciful heavenly Father. This, for her, amounted to the unpardonable sin - the spurning of the Holy Spirit's last call to repentance.

That is why Jesus said, "Remember Lot's wife." (Luke 17:32).

Notes & References

[070] "Satan has great advantages. He possessed the wonderful intellectual power of an angel, of which few form any just idea. Satan was conscious of his power, or he would not have engaged in a conflict with the mighty God, the everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. Satan closely watches events, and when he finds one who has a specially strong spirit of opposition to the truth of God he will even reveal to him unfulfilled events, that he may more firmly secure himself a seat in his heart. He who did not hesitate to brave a conflict with Him who holds creation as in His hand, has malignity to persecute and deceive. He holds mortals in his snare at the present time. During his experience of nearly six thousand years he has lost none of his skill and shrewdness. All this time he has been a close observer of all that concerns our race." {2T 171.2}

[100] When God cast Satan out of heaven; Satan pretends to be our ally but in reality took upon himself the task of deceiving the whole world, Revelation 12:9. Sexual attraction between people of the same sex is fairly wide spread all over the world and fanned by the movie industry. Some attitudes are not an identity but a behavior problem, Leviticus 20:13. Jesus Christ condemned such behavior. Jesus emphatically upholds the Ten Commandment Law as well as social laws which dealt with sinful behavior addressed in Leviticus 20. When Jesus said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." Matthew 5:17-18, he included the problems resulting from behavior exposed in Leviticus 20. We read: "Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out. And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them. ... And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine." Lev. 20:22,26.