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
things their energizing power, the angel of light, is pleased to reveal
unto them. Their gospel is one of human reason, and appeals to human
resources. There can be no appreciation of Divine revelation in them,
for they have not come to really know God or His Son, Jesus Christ. As
all this is true, how perilous is the attitude of many who follow
attractive ministers and religious guides only because they claim to be
such, and are sincere, and who are not awake to the one final test of
doctrine by which alone the whole covered system of Satanic lies can be
distinguished from the truth of God. In this connection John writes the
following warning: "If there come any unto you, and bring not this
doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed"
(II Jno. 10).

There yet remains one mighty element in the program of Satan's
counterfeits in addition to his outward forms, deep doctrines, church
and ministers,--that is, the Man of Sin, the blasphemous counterfeit of
the blessed Christ; who is yet to appear; who will be the very
incarnation of Satan; and "whose coming is after the working of Satan
with all power and signs and lying wonders and all deceivableness of
unrighteousness in them that perish" (II Thes. 2:9, 10). As the whole
purpose of God in the ages has its consummation in the yet future coming
of Christ, so Satan, in imitation of the program of God, has appointed a
coming one (II Thes. 2:9), who will be his greatest manif