SATAN'S POWER by Joseph Clarke

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 6, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 18.

SATAN'S POWER.

By Joseph Clarke

BY JOSEPH CLARKE.

By reference to Luke 4:5-7, it seems that the arch deceiver and tempter took Christ upon some very elevated place and brought before him a complete exhibition of the world in all its beauty and glory, and immediately offered it all to our Saviour on condition that he would, by one act of homage, recognize him (Satan) as his peer. Our Lord does not deny the statement made by the enemy as to his claim to this world.

That Adam and Eve did by one act of disobedience recognize Satan as a superior, and a leader, no one can deny (see Gen. 3:1-7), and that designing, crafty apostate has not been slow to demand all that was forfeited through his deceptive influence (see Eph. 2:2). He is called by the apostle Paul "prince of the power of the air," hence we infer that Satan has power to cause disease by poisoning the atmosphere; he is the cause of accidents; and calamities, by sea and land, hurricanes, tornadoes, cyclones, hailstorms, and all the rage of the elements, are caused by him. See "Great Controversy," Vol. 4, pages 407, 408. But it is a pleasant thought that he cannot destroy except by permission. See Job 1:12; 2:6. We see by this the necessity for prayer for protection.