THERE is no one thing that stands out more prominently in the New Testament than the warnings against deceptions. “Take heed that no man deceive you” (Matt. 24:4), says the Master. And again He says: “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.” Verses 23, 24. And in the vision given to John on Patmos, he saw a power arising, of which he wrote, “And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast.” Rev. 13: 13, 14. A great many people seem to have the idea that if a marvelous or truly miraculous thing is done, it must come from the hand of God; but if such were the case, the Lord would not have sent these warnings through His word. When Christ says, “Take heed that no man deceive you,” it is evident that He has a plan by which we may avoid deceptions. That plan is based upon a knowledge of His word. We must know His word for ourselves, and not through the mere hearsay of some one else, if we are to avoid the deceptions that are prepared for these last days.