Lesson 10 Review: Satan’s Final Deceptions

 

Introduction

Memory Text: “ ‘Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth’ ” (John 17:17, NKJV).

Revelation warns us that the “inhabitants of the earth” will drink a deadly potion called the “wine of Babylon.” Like the Tylenol capsules proved to be laced with potassium cyanide, a deadly poison that made the people tragically sick, this wine of Babylon can affect us, we only have to have the antidote, the protection against this spiritual poison: the three angels’ messages.

How widespread is Satan’s deception?

“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:9, NKJV).

Why is it dangerous to trust our conscience to make the right decision?

“There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12, NKJV). Jer. 17:9, Rom. 3:9-18 ‘says that we are all sinners, all corrupted and so to trust our sentiments is almost a guaranteed way to, sooner or later, get it wrong and even to do wrong.’

What is one of the two great deceptions in the last days?

Of the two great deceptions in the last days, one will be “the immortality of the soul” (Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 588).

What clear instructions did God give His people about life after death?

The Bible teaches about death as a sleep until the second coming of Jesus.

How do we know that Babylon was the center of Sun Worship?

In his book The Worship of Nature, James G. Frazer makes this observation, “In ancient Babylonia the sun was worshipped from immemorial antiquity.”¾(London: Macmillan and Co., 1926), vol. 1, p. 529. Sun worship was prominent in Egypt, Assyria, Persia, and certainly Babylon. Babylonian sun worship also influenced the worship of God’s people in the Old Testament (Ezekiel 8:16 and 2 Kings 23:5, 11).

How do we know that many people are involved in this sun worship?

John described in Revelation 17 a time when the principles of Babylon, including sun worship, would enter the Christian church during an age of compromise. Constantine was converted but had a strong affinity for sun worship. He passed the first “Sunday Law” in AD 321, which, though not a law enforcing Sunday observance strengthened the observance of Sunday in the minds of the Roman population. As succeeding decades passed, the ‘emperor and popes continued through state decrees and church councils to establish Sunday as the singular day of worship, which it remains today, as well, for the majority of the Christians.’ (Refer to Tuesday’s lesson for more details).

What are some of the events that take place in the final days?

‘Church and State unite. Falsehood prevails. Demons work their miracles to deceive. The world catapults into its final conflict.’ At the same time, the people of God are maligned, ridiculed, oppressed, and persecuted, but in Christ and through the power of His Holy Spirit, they are steadfast in their commitment.

What should be our guide in this critical hour of earth’s history?

‘The truth of God’s word, not human opinion or tradition, is the North Star to guide us in this critical hour of earth’s history.’

How does Ezekiel 20:1-20 align with the three angels’ messages?

‘Ezekiel 20 is an earnest appeal for Israel to forsake pagan practices and to worship the Creator instead of false gods, in this case, the “idols of Egypt.” In the message of the three angels, God is making a similar appeal for us to “worship the Creator,” for “Babylon is fallen.”’

How does the Sabbath fit into this call to faithfulness?

The Sabbath and faithfulness to it will play a big role in final events, when we have to worship the Creator.

What is God’s appeal to multitudes still in the fallen religious organizations?

“ ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues’ ” (Rev. 18:4, NKJV).

How does the Bible define sin?

Sin is the transgression or the breaking of God’s law.

In what way does the Bible teach us to obey God’s law?

‘The only way anybody can obey God’s law is through faith in the power of the living Christ.’ For those in churches that do not obey God’s law, Heaven’s appeal is to step out by faith, God’s appeal to Adventists in Sabbath-keeping congregations is to forsake all self-centered, human-attempts at obedience and live godly lives by faith in the grace of Christ, which delivers us from sin’s condemnation and its domination.

What benefit can faithfulness to the law bring?

‘And just as Israel’s faithfulness to the law (Deut. 4:6) would have been a powerful witness to the world, our faithfulness, too, can be a powerful witness and help guide people out of Babylon.’

In Conclusion,

The only safeguard against Satan’s final deceptions is the truth of the Word of God. I pray that God strengthens our faith to hold on to Him for grace to overcome the final deceptions of Satan in Jesus’ name.