2:102 Thessalonians 2:10

Those who perish are caught by deceitful unrighteousness because they did not receive the love of the truth that would have saved them.8T 226.3–227.1+2 Truth received in love saves because it sanctifies the soul, transforms the life, and decides between salvation and perishing.GC 520.2+2 The deception is Satan's work with all power and signs and lying wonders, working with growing intensity immediately before Christ's second coming.ST Apr 12, 1883+2 Because they deliberately refuse truth from love of sin and pleasure in unrighteousness, God withdraws His Spirit and leaves them to strong delusion to believe the lie they have chosen.ST May 28, 1894+4 Safety is found only in loving, studying, and obeying Scripture with prayerful faith in Christ's righteousness, which shields from delusion and exposes the false.1MR 150.1–3+2

Those who perish are caught by unrighteous deception because they did not receive the love of the truth that would have saved them.8T 226.3–227.1+4 Satan's coming works with all power and signs and lying wonders, and this deceivableness of unrighteousness is directed toward them that perish precisely through their failure to love and receive saving truth.8T 226.3–227.1+3 Their rejection leaves them unsaved, uncherished in truth, vulnerable to deception and to the delusion described in the surrounding verses, preparing them to believe a lie and to take pleasure in unrighteousness.2RED 91.2–3+3

The love of the truth saves because truth received in love sanctifies the soul of the receiver, and what is believed decides between salvation and perishing.GC 520.2+3 To treat belief as of no consequence is one of Satan's most successful deceptions, for he constantly seeks to substitute false theories, fables, and another gospel to turn people from the word of God.GC 520.2+1 False teaching so introduced is fatal to the soul and must be firmly and fearlessly opposed, as Elijah, Jeremiah, and Paul opposed those who turned men from God, giving no favor to liberality that regards correct faith as unimportant.GC 520.2+1 Received with intelligent love, God's truth becomes an active power that sanctifies the whole person, quickens the soul, enlarges heart and mind, and keeps from deceptive snares.ST Mar 6, 1884+1 That truth is to be believed and loved for Christ's sake, with growing purity and knowledge and witness to Christ following from the commitment.Lt 119, 1899, par. 10–11

Mere hearing, profession, partial reform, or outward religion does not save without loving the truth in the heart and doing it.Lt 303, 1903, par. 25–26+4 Truth brought nigh and even received in full flood does not sanctify without love of the truth in the heart, and those who do not see the necessity of carrying it out in duty remain unsanctified.Ms 2, 1875, par. 31–32 Partial changes do not protect while truth is still rejected, and continued rebellion with pleasure in unrighteousness leaves people open to strong delusion and believing a lie.Lt 303, 1903, par. 25–26 Merely formal religion has no saving or reforming power; resisting deception requires a changed life that presses against worldliness and ambition, with reformation in life, since trusting a minister to secure salvation cannot save from the consequences of transgression.5T 339.2+1 Indifference to truths of eternal interest paralyzes the mind to what is of highest importance, while the saving love of truth values the awful realities of sacred truth for these last days above every earthly consideration, feels the truth and acts the truth.Ms 2, 1875, par. 31–32 Wilfulness to gratify caprice, follow one's own will, persevere for selfish interest, love the world, and remain indifferent to holy principles shows its absence.Ms 2, 1875, par. 31–32 Mere profession that puts confidence in mind controlling mind is counterfeit faith that calls Satan's work sound faith while accepting his gigantic errors, and as his miracles deceive many and will deceive more and more, clear spiritual eyesight is needed to distinguish the science of Satan from the science of the Word of truth.Lt 130, 1901, par. 6–8 True love of the truth brings the mind into subjection to Christ under the Holy Spirit's guidance, giving health of soul revealed in sober, righteous words and works.Lt 130, 1901, par. 6–8 Ignoring the light and requirements God has given weakens the ability to distinguish truth from error, so that when tested such people may accept falsehood as God's truth and perish under all deceivableness of unrighteousness.Lt 303, 1903, par. 25–26+2

The working described is that of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, operating immediately before the second coming of Christ.ST Apr 12, 1883+4 Its manifestations are real supernatural works of Satan and his evil angels, not mere human imposture, fraud, sleight of hand, or pretend miracles by mediums.RH Sep 11, 1916+2 Modern spiritualism, introduced by the mysterious rapping, is its direct work and one of its most successful soul-destroying delusions.ST Apr 12, 1883+1 Many will be ensnared because they suppose spiritualism is only human trickery, and when brought face to face with manifestations they cannot deny as supernatural they will accept them as the great power of God.GC 553.1–2+1 Before Christ comes these unrighteous deceptions spread through the world and even the professed churches, bringing deep spiritual darkness and persecution for God's people and marking the darkest period of earth's history as errors, heresies, delusions, and the great apostasy deepen.ST Apr 12, 1883+2

That work grows stronger, more numerous, more intense, and more determined as the end of earth's history approaches, because Satan knows his time is short and has come down with great power.Lt 162, 1903, par. 8+4 His temptations and every device aim to hinder preparation for coming events and for what is coming upon the earth.Lt 162, 1903, par. 8+2 Amusements that absorb minds and distract them from eternal concerns are among the snares through which it works.Ms 72, 1896, par. 3–4 The conflict is warfare between two great armies, Satan with his great army against Christ and God and the heavenly host, and because that deceptive work is already active in the present, those who believe present truth have a work to be done in the world.RCOC 122.1+1

The deception is so powerful that it endangers even God's professed people and would deceive the very elect if possible.ST Apr 12, 1883+4 It makes one last mighty effort to deceive and destroy not merely the unbelieving world but the great mass of professed Christians who have not received the love of the truth.ST Jun 21, 1883+2 Evil spirits visibly representing dead saints and sinners, appearing as the dead, with more frequent and startling manifestations, allure the unwary.LC1 195.2–4+1 Its present aim is at God's people now, to draw them away from the important definite truths for this time and to cause many appointed to preach the truth to depart from the faith, misrepresenting God's character and seeking to turn even the elect from the truth.YGBCOEP 56.3+2 Those deceived may appear sincere and seek to deceive even the elect, but their belief in strong delusions does not make God's truth false.DTCP 3.5–4.1+1 The godly therefore need not prove spiritualists by listening to their reasonings, attending their circles, or engaging in controversy, and advocates of truth should expect not greater favor than the early Reformers but greater difficulties and more determined opposition.ST Apr 12, 1883+1

Those who perish are caught by unrighteous deception because they deliberately refuse to love and receive the truth that would save them.4SP 376.1+4 Their refusal is a choice to hold cherished sins rather than yield to light, closing the eyes until they become prey to delusion.4SP 376.1+2 They turn to pleasing religious teachings that suit convenience, desire, worldly policy, and avoidance of personal cost and the cross, and by that turning they open themselves to false doctrine and strong delusion.4SP 346.1+3 This belongs to the religious apostasy and ungodliness before the Lord's coming, when deceptive power with signs and lying wonders works as in the decline of the early church.GC88 443.4+2

They depart from plain Scripture and its plain precepts and commandments to give heed to fables, false theories, and another pleasing gospel, and that departure fits the mind to be ensnared and taken to perish.ST Nov 13, 1884+4 When tested upon truth two influences bear upon the mind, and those who through policy will not obey are given up to deception, while those who flee for refuge, pray, and search the Bible ascertain the truth as it is in Jesus.Ms 22, 1885, par. 15–16+2 Satan contests inch by inch everyone advancing to light and truth in order to hold them, in a warfare against those who keep the commandments of God that will not cease until probation closes.Ms 22, 1885, par. 15–16+1 Like the chief priests and rulers, those who will not obey go to any lengths in deception, loving lies until they believe them to be truth, so that the light in them becomes darkness, and great is that darkness.Ms 22, 1885, par. 15–16+2

The prince of the powers of darkness plays the game of life for the soul and works with every device to separate man from God, closing the heart against truth by lumbering it with the cares and burdens of this world.ST Aug 6, 1885+2 He gives the heart a worldly mold and takes possession of the soul-temple with the lust of the flesh, the pride of life, and the vanities of the world until no room is left for Jesus, leaving it desecrated and closed like temple courts filled with buyers and sellers.ST Aug 6, 1885+2 Worldly business and pursuit of gain, worldly ambition, appetite, pleasure, indolence, slothfulness, presumption, self-confidence, and neglect of prayer crowd out pure, life-changing truth, exploit human weakness, blind the understanding, and lead into self-deception in which people think themselves spiritually well while being overcome.CEv 101.3+4 Mere formal religion has no saving or reforming power to resist this, and those who have not cultivated love for what is pure and elevating degrade their God-given powers and are in danger of perdition, whereas the heart brought under the power of truth and opened to Christ knocking at the door feels a renewing and transforming influence even in its secret recesses.ST Aug 6, 1885+3

Because they refuse to love the truth that would save them, God withdraws His Spirit and leaves them to the deceptions they love, sending strong delusion so that they believe the lie they have chosen.ST May 28, 1894+4 The deception that then works upon them is unrighteous deception, exposing them to Satan's working with all power and signs and lying wonders.ST May 28, 1894+2 That working is manifested through the Papacy as the man of sin, the son of perdition, and the mystery of iniquity, which opposes and exalts itself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, sitting as God in the temple of God.ST May 28, 1894 When revealed, that wicked power will be consumed with the spirit of the Lord's mouth and destroyed with the brightness of His coming.ST May 28, 1894

This condition is reached as apostasy progresses, when rejection of God's warnings, teachings, and Word brings the withdrawal of His Spirit.4SP 270.2+3 When the union of the church with the world is fully accomplished throughout Christendom, the fall of Babylon will be complete.GC 389.2–3 When as the result of rejecting the threefold warning the church has fully reached the condition foretold by the second angel, those who receive not the love of the truth are left to receive strong delusion and believe a lie.GC88 390.2 At that time the last message ever given to the world accomplishes its work, with the light of truth shining upon all whose hearts are open to receive it, while all the children of the Lord still in Babylon heed the call to separate from her communion.GC88 390.2

Those who believe not the truth but have pleasure in unrighteousness are condemned and damned for not believing the truth but taking pleasure in unrighteousness.ST May 28, 1894+2 This condemnation falls upon a pretended reformer who covers a sinful life with garments of righteousness, and upon those deceived by him who love not the truth and have pleasure in unrighteousness, who are given up by God to strong delusion to believe a lie that they might be damned.Ms 9, 1880, par. 37–42 The strong delusion in that case is belief that there is nothing displeasing to God in licentiousness and adultery.Ms 9, 1880, par. 37–42 As with Eve, belief in Satan's lie does not save from sin's penalty, for she fell because she disbelieved God, and at judgment people are condemned not merely for sincerely believing a lie but for neglecting the opportunity to learn the truth, since God's recorded lessons warn and instruct so they can be saved from deception and whatever contradicts God's word comes from Satan.PP 55.2

Continued refusal can pass the time when salvation was possible, so that afterward there is no travail of soul for them.EW 2.2+2 Those who have heard the light of the advent doctrine and rejected it are given over to strong delusions of Satan, and their time for salvation is past, which does not apply to those who have not heard and rejected the doctrine of the second advent.EW 2.2 After the great Advent movement of 1844 the false shepherds carry on false revivals whose reformations are not from error to truth but are marked by increasing mysterious signs and wonders and false reformations, with no real travail of soul for sinners, because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved and are given over to strong delusion to believe a lie and be lost.EW 2.2+2 In the closing days of earth's history this seductive working brings apostasy among men and women who have had great light and abundance of evidence of the truth for this time, a falling away foretold in Scripture that cannot be changed by human power, where some deceived ones will have their eyes opened but for many it will be too late to correct the errors they have made.Lt 266, 1906, par. 2–3

The working described belongs to the man of sin, the son of perdition, and the mystery of iniquity, manifested through the Papacy manifesting the character and principles of Satan's government.ST May 28, 1894+1 That power opposes and exalts itself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, sitting as God in the temple of God, and its coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.ST May 28, 1894+1 Through men claiming to be Christ's vicegerents on earth it teaches for doctrine the commandments of men instead of Thus saith the Lord, claiming for pope and prelate the worship that belongs to God alone and teaching prayer to dead apostles, saints, and Mary for favors.Ms 163, 1897, par. 21–23 Those dead are not in heaven but lie in their graves until the coming of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven and the sound of the trump of God calling them forth, so that all prayers offered to Mary fall to the ground.Ms 163, 1897, par. 21–23 Its deception works with all deceivableness of unrighteousness upon them that perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved, and for this cause God sends strong delusion that they should believe a lie, that they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.ST May 28, 1894+2 When that wicked is revealed he will be consumed with the spirit of the Lord's mouth and destroyed with the brightness of His coming, and these scenes are among the last features plainly revealed in earth's history, a figurative outline of events in Daniel and John fulfilled in order down to the close of earth's history, when God's people have the third angel's message to give and those grounded in the first, second, and third angels' messages are not so liable to be led into false paths.ST May 28, 1894+2

It belongs to the fall of Babylon when the churches depart farther from the truth and ally more closely with the world through refusal of the special truths for this time, rejecting the Lord's warnings in the first, second, and third angels' messages and accepting a lie including the false Sabbath and the immortality of the soul.1MR 301.3–302.1+3 Those who receive not the love of the truth perish with deceivableness of unrighteousness and are left to receive strong delusion and believe a lie because they believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness, when as the result of rejecting the threefold warning the church has fully reached the condition foretold by the second angel.GC88 390.2 Even so the great body of Christ's true followers are still in that communion because they have never seen those special truths, are dissatisfied with their present condition, long for clearer light, and look in vain for the image of Christ.GC88 390.1 As the difference widens it will finally result in separation, when those who love God supremely and receive the love of the truth can no longer remain in connection with those who receive it not, while the light of truth shines upon all whose hearts are open to receive it.GC88 390.1+1 In that crisis, right upon the world after centuries of satanic agencies taking the world captive through extravagance, selfishness and heresies, Satan and his angels come down with power and signs and lying wonders to deceive those who dwell on the earth, if possible even the very elect, leaving only two parties, those loyal to God and those under the banner of the prince of darkness, yet the influence of the truth will not be overpowered and the message of the fall of Babylon that lightens the world must still be given by those who have a knowledge of the truth without letting the far-reaching deception paralyze their energies.Ms 172, 1899, par. 26–27

It includes the apostasy against God's law in which people are led to reject the Sabbath commandment and honor a counterfeit, man-made institution instead, becoming idolaters in the controversy over worship.19MR 244.1–3 God's truth is plainly stated in Scripture but is hidden from those who are lost because they refuse its clear teaching and do not welcome and love the truth that could save them.19MR 244.1–3+1 Deception, lying signs and wonders, and efforts to replace God's Sabbath with Sunday are satanic means of turning people from that truth, and compelling people to keep Sunday as the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is identified with the mark of the beast and its image.Ms 12, 1893, par. 13–15

It was seen after 1844 in the sealing time among ministers who had rejected the truth and professed Adventists who had rejected present truth about the advent and the sealing, who are given over to strong delusion to believe a lie that they might be damned.EW 36.1–2+1 Satan works through these agents by power breathed upon them and through them to the people, producing falling prostrate and helpless while preaching, praying, or conversing, not by the power of the Holy Ghost but by the power of Satan, and using mesmerism to gain adherents.EW 36.1–2 The people rejoice in this influence thinking it is the Holy Ghost, and even those using it think it is the power of God given them to exercise, having made God like themselves and valued His power as nothing.EW 36.1–2 These deceptions take different forms, including spiritualism and counterfeit revival and reformation not from error to truth, dressed in a religious appearance to make multitudes think God is working though its power comes from another spirit, to unsettle people, distract them from present truth, and lead them to doubt the Holy Spirit's teaching and power.ExVEGW 25.4–5+2 These agents also affect the bodies of saints whom they cannot deceive and draw away from the truth by satanic influence, working to distract, deceive, and draw away God's people, while those not firmly planted on present truth tremble and slide and the covering of Almighty God cannot be drawn over them.EW 36.1–2

Spiritualism is a chief form of the unrighteous deception that overtakes those who perish because they do not love and receive the saving truth, and that truth includes what Scripture teaches about human nature and the state of the dead.GC 559.1+2 Those who prefer the freedom of sin and refuse that truth become vulnerable, and to them Satan comes clothed as an angel of light with spirits of darkness dressed in pure robes of heaven, making the broad road to hell look attractive, safe, happy and glorious through spiritualism and false teaching and vain philosophy.GC 559.1+1 He works through lying wonders and spiritual manifestations to make the world believe it does not matter how wicked they are or whether they believe God and the Bible, that heaven is still their home, putting the Bible that is to judge him and his followers back into the shade as uninspired, making Jesus to be no more than a common man with nothing miraculous about His birth, death and resurrection, and drawing attention to his own miracles and lying wonders as far exceeding the works of Christ.EW 226.1–2 Those taken in the snare are lulled into false security and do not find out the awful deception until the seven last plagues are poured out.EW 226.1–2 That lie is founded on the great original lie that the dead do not die and that people will not surely die, and its rejection of truth leaves them separated from Christ, the source of spiritual life and strength, like a body without a head laying aside Christ and trying to act by itself without strength and nourishment, in the very position where Satan can control them as he pleases.ST Nov 13, 1884+1

Through modern Spiritualism deceived mortals worship evil angels believing them to be the spirits of their dead friends, with real power exercised to deceive and control.SG4 244.1 He who could take up the Son of God, made a little lower than the angels, and place Him upon a pinnacle of the temple and upon an exceeding high mountain to show Him the kingdoms of the world, can exercise his power upon the human family who are far inferior in strength and wisdom to the Son of God even in human nature.SG4 244.1 In this degenerate age he holds control over mortals who depart from the right and venture upon his ground, and exercises his power upon them in an alarming manner, holding captive even the curious who tamper without real faith until only the power of God can deliver them.SG4 244.1 The deception includes miracle-working power with signs and lying wonders, culminating in Satan coming in glory claiming to be Christ, and safety is not found in miracle-working power but in standing on the elevated platform of eternal truth, abiding in Christ, planting the feet on the Bible as the foundation of faith, and substantiating faith by every word from the mouth of God and relying on the power of God.19MR 54.1–2 Those who have not stood firmly for the truth because they did not receive its love will be deceived when the sick are healed and other marvels are wrought, will unite with the unbelieving who love and make a lie, and will perish as an easy prey to the wiles of the devil in perilous times right upon us, while only those who take their stand firmly on the word of God will be prepared and not be deceived.5MR 352.1

If the truth is not accepted in the love of it, a person may be among those who see the miracles wrought by Satan in these last days and believe them, for many strange things will appear as wonderful miracles and should be regarded as deceptions manufactured by the father of lies.Lt 136, 1906, par. 17 With all deceivableness of unrighteousness means Satan in person personating Christ, clothing himself with garments of royalty, appearing as Christ coming the second time, proclaiming himself Christ as a beautiful, majestic being clothed with majesty, with soft voice and pleasant words, with glory unsurpassed by anything mortal eyes had yet beheld, being believed to be Christ, so that his deceived, deluded followers, the Christian world who had pleasure in unrighteousness which is transgression of the law, set up a shout of victory that Christ has come the second time and has lifted up His hands just as when He was upon the earth and blessed them.Ms 16, 1884, par. 1–2 Those who have received the love of the truth are shielded by Scripture from the powerful delusion surrounding that counterfeit appearance and are enabled to recognize the deception.4SP 443.1 The coming deceptions also include a false science that seeks to make God and Christ of no account and is supported by great miracles, and salvation is found by taking refuge in Jesus Christ.Lt 48, 1907, par. 21–23+1

After his failure to tempt Christ in the wilderness and after the price of man's redemption has been paid, Satan seeks to tear away the foundation of the Christian's hope and turn minds so they are not benefited or saved by the great sacrifice offered.MYP 58.3+1 His deceivableness leads fallen man to believe he can do very well without an atonement, that he need not depend upon a crucified and risen Saviour, and that man's own merits and inherent power in himself to accomplish great and good works will entitle him to God's favor, so that they cease to rely upon God, give Him not the glory due His Majesty, and presumptuously exalt themselves to sure ruin.MYP 58.3+2 Joined to this, he destroys confidence in the Bible, because the Bible is the detector that places a mark upon Satan himself, and once it is destroyed Satan is safe and his arts and devices are received as from heaven and he receives the worship that suits his satanic majesty.MYP 58.3+2 He fastens the delusion that there is no personal devil so that those who believe it make no effort to resist and war against him, leaves blind mortals with the maxim that whatever is is right and no rule to measure their course, and leads many to believe prayer to God is useless and but a form, diverting the mind from meditation and prayer so the soul does not lean for help upon the mighty One and obtain strength to resist attack, and when prayer is neglected his lying wonders are more readily received.SG4 240.2+2

He sets his deceitful temptations before men, coming at times in the form of a lovely young person or a beautiful shadow, working cures so that deceived mortals worship him as a benefactor of the race, and thousands converse with this demon-god and receive instructions from him and act according to his teachings.SG4 242.1+1 He works with deceptive unrighteousness and signs and lying wonders through human sciences to lead people into infidelity, and these powers will work with such deception near the close of probation.ST Jan 11, 1905 He comes unperceived through the sciences of phrenology, psychology, and mesmerism, good in their place but seized as his most powerful agents to deceive and destroy souls, to gain access to minds and influence them as he pleases, poisoning the minds of thousands and leading them to infidelity, while those devoted to these sciences laud their great and good works and so cherish and glorify Satan himself.SG4 237.1–2+1 This entering in through the sciences belongs to the still-unfinished controversy between Christ and Satan, and will eventually root out of the minds of thousands true faith in Christ as the Messiah, the Son of God, leaving the world thought to be much benefited by phrenology and animal magnetism never so corrupt, for Satan uses these very things to destroy virtue and lay the foundation of Spiritualism.SG4 237.1–2+1 Neglecting prayer makes people more ready to accept these lies as heavenly, to worship evil spirits and follow their instructions.RH Feb 18, 1862

He works against every religious awakening, and will do so in these last days as never before because he sees his time is short.Lt 34, 1889, par. 9–10 When he cannot keep souls bound in the ice of indifference, he intrudes himself when the Spirit of the Lord comes among His people, mingling errors and incorrect views with the work of God and pushing individuals to extremes, into the fire of fanaticism and into false positions, doing greater harm than if there had been no religious awakening.Lt 34, 1889, par. 9–10 He has come down with great power to work with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they yield to his plans, and no one is above this temptation and no one is safe in his own wisdom, so dependence must be in God alone by leaning hard on Jesus Christ, not letting Christian example and instruction be turned into wrong channels, not spoiling good work by mistakes, and not lifting one pin or removing one landmark of truth that the Lord has given to His people.11MR 305.3–4 The warning applies to turning away from the path God has set and from definite Bible truths and established truths of faith through false theories and delusions that may even deceive God's people, and to people binding themselves together in secret societies as part of the last scenes of the world's final crisis when Satan comes as Christ.8T 162.1–2+2 He is actively using unrighteous deception to lead people away from faith and into the path he directs.Ms 31, 1906, par. 1

Those who perish do so because they do not love and receive the truth that would have saved them, and strong temptation and false teaching can turn even interested minds away, yet continued effort to bring them truth through reading matter may still do them good.1MR 150.1–3+1 Satan's powerful deception works with deceptive evil among those who perish because they refuse that love of the truth, which makes watchfulness necessary for God's professed people lest they be led into false doctrines.RH Apr 2, 1908+2 Loving and obeying the truth is the essential protection against strong delusions, for rejecting truth leaves a person vulnerable to deception.DTCP 2.5–3.1+1 Those loyal to God's law in the last days need not be deceived, for by studying Scripture they can remain firm on the foundation of truth, and the Lord will help them withstand the enemy.ST May 27, 1889+2 Seeking truth and obeying it prepares a person to withstand Satan's temptations, since unrighteous deception seeks control but God is a sure defense to those who trust in Him.GC88 560.2+1 Loving and diligently studying Scripture shields from Satan's powerful end-time delusion, enabling discernment of the deceiver by the Bible's testimony rather than by the senses, and this prayerful faith in Christ's righteousness and blood exposes the false Christ.1MR 150.1–3+1

Satan's deception of the perishing operates through apparent signs and wonders and through teachings that draw minds from faith in Christ, as a deliberate means of influencing minds and undermining true faith.RH Feb 18, 1862+1 Because this working with deceitful unrighteousness and lying wonders is a present danger, Christians must beware of joining themselves to unbelievers and must refuse union that would entangle them with error.RH Feb 18, 1862+1 As the time hastens on, Satan as the great oppressor knows his time is short before he loses his hold and his power is taken from him, so he works with deceptive wickedness while superstition and error trample truth, justice, and equity and every power antagonistic to truth strengthens.RH May 29, 1900+1 Those who stand in defense of the truth then will know by experience what it means to share in Christ's sufferings, and each is called to unfurl the banner of truth with real missionary work, using all tact and wisdom with faith that lays hold on omnipotent power and cannot be repulsed or baffled, leaving results with God.RH May 29, 1900+1 He uses every artifice to enlist the young as his agents by sowing doubts about Scripture, and when doubt takes root in one it spreads skepticism to many.RH Feb 18, 1862+1 Those who reject God's warning and turn from truth are left open to be taken in the enemy's delusions, and when trials thicken and the storm of persecution breaks, those who had great light and precious privileges but did not improve them show they did not build on the solid rock.ST Jan 3, 1878+1 Though ready for a time to take up weapons of warfare, they will yield in real peril and under one pretext or another go out from among God's people, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils and departing from the faith, in contrast to the true sheep who hear the true Shepherd's voice, return from straying, draw together with united front without strife for supremacy, and cleave to Christ as personal Saviour.RH May 29, 1900+1

The warning applies to the present time and calls for earnest effort, for Satan's signs, lying wonders, and unrighteous deception lead the perishing astray through rejecting Christ as the Son of God and abandoning the faith.RH Apr 15, 1875+1 His work belongs to the darkest period of earth's history just before Christ comes, when the world is as in the days of Noah and of Lot, putting forth all deceptive power of unrighteousness through rapidly increasing darkness, errors, heresies, and delusions that lead the world captive and spread into the professed churches of Christ.PK 717.1+1 That working grows into a great apostasy dark as midnight, which is to God's people a night of trial and weeping and persecution for the truth, out of which God's light will shine.PK 717.1 People perish under this deceptive, unrighteous influence through pleasing falsehoods and false explanations of calamities, including fallen angels appearing as deceased persons, to which those who reject God's law are left open.RH Apr 15, 1875+1 The same deceivableness of unrighteousness meets the youth on every side in temptations regarding indulgence of appetite that would turn their feet into paths of temptation leading to ruin.CH 597.2–3+1 Teaching them healthful living strengthens them to resist those temptations, and strengthening and helping youth with tact and skill how to cook and the science of healthful living opposes this deception and is missionary work for the Master.CH 597.2–3+1