"Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons" (1 Timothy 4:1).
There is another development in Satan's working in the last days, separate from paganism, and separate from the papacy. Spiritualism. Yes, and this will exalt self.
But will spiritualism always work in the name of Satan? No. The nearer we come to the second coming of the Saviour the more fully spiritualism will be professing Christ.
Who is it that comes before the Saviour comes? False christs. And at last Satan himself comes--as Satan? No. As Christ. He is received as Christ.
The people of God must be so well acquainted with the Saviour that no profession of the name of Christ will be received or accepted where it is not the actual, genuine thing. But when false Christianity is presenting itself to the world, when every kind of a false christ appears, then how alone can a person be safe? How shall one know that these are false? Only by Him who is the true; only by having His "mind" itself.
We have seen the manifestation of the natural mind--the carnal mind--in two of its ways: paganism and the papacy. At last we will have before us the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. And then there will be no shadow of an excuse for anyone of us after that in taking any position but that which is openly and itself alone the mind of Jesus Christ, and the righteousness of God according to His idea of righteousness.
When we see before us the direct expression of the false way in all three of its forms, then we will know that well enough to let it alone. Would we not rather let the devil go that we see, and accept the Lord that we cannot see as we would like to? I would rather take the Lord with my eyes shut, than the devil with my eyes open." [1]
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