In the beginning, when God’s creation was finished, His words were very clear when He said:

“Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:16, 17). [Emphasis added.]

The “old serpent” (Revelation 12:9) contradicted God’s word, telling Eve a lie:

“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4, 5). [Emphasis supplied.]

Whenever a falsehood or a lie is urged upon the minds of the people, they are not always 100% wrong. Truth and error are often so mixed together that only by the help of the Holy Spirit one may detect which part is truth and which part is a lie. The “serpent” was telling some truth when he said: “in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened.” In verse 7 it is confirmed that after Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, their eyes were opened. “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked.” When the “serpent” said: “ye shall be as gods” this part was a lie. But the words ye shall know “good and evil” was true, because before sin entered the world they knew no evil, only good; but after they disobeyed God they experienced and knew what evil was.

From the very beginning of the world Satan is deceiving people. His mouth utters falsehood and lies. Jesus said to the Jews who were seeking to kill Him, that they were children of the devil, for he was a liar from the very beginning, and he is the father of liars.

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44).

Satan uses many ways to spread his lies using human instrumentalities. We will consider a few examples hereunder.

After the split of the twelve tribes of Israel, king Jeroboam who ruled over the ten tribes, set up a false system of worship. He built an altar to the false gods. A prophet from Judah was sent by God to prophesy that on that very altar the false priests will be sacrificed. “And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the Lord hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out” (1 Kings 13:3). The king was furious when heard this prediction and extended his hand to catch the prophet—but his hand dried up and could not bring it back to himself. The king then pleaded for the true prophet to ask God’s mercy and heal him. So, the prophet did pray, and his hand was restored to the right position.

As a recognition of this act of healing his hand, the king invited the prophet to enter his home and have something to eat, and be refreshed. But the prophet declined, saying:

“If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: for so was it charged me by the word of the Lord, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest. So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel” (1 Kings 13:8–10).

But the devil was not happy. He had used someone to destroy the true prophet of God, and sadly, he had succeeded. The continuation of the experience is found in 1 Kings 13:11–19.

It is dreadful to think that a man who claimed to be God’s prophet would stoop to uttering a lie, but we read in 1 Kings 13:18 that that is exactly what happened, causing the ruin of God’s messenger. This was Satan’s act to destroy the Lord’s true servant. Jesus warned His disciples to beware of the wolves that come as sheep, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15).

What happened to the true prophet of God, because he believed a lie of the other prophet, and disobeyed the clear instruction he had received directly from the Lord? We read in 1 Kings 13:20–24 that a lion slew him. How and why?

“Because the prophet allowed himself to take a course contrary to the path of duty, God permitted him to be destroyed. . . .

“And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcass was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcass. And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcass cast in the way, . . . and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt. And . . . he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the Lord.”1

It is extremely dangerous to turn away from the clear and explicit command of the Lord! Once we have a clear understanding of the will of God, if a prophet who may claim to be God’s servant suggests that we turn away from the word of the Lord, we should not listen to him. We should be aware that many false teachers and prophets may appear with lying words to deceive, if possible, the very elect of God.

Ahab, king of Israel, invited Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, to join him in a battle against the Syrians. Four hundred false prophets predicted success for them, but one of God’s true prophets, Micaiah, prophesied their defeat. (See 1 Kings 22:17–23.)

“Although Jehoshaphat in a moment of weakness had rashly promised to join the king of Israel in his war against the Syrians, yet his better judgment led him to seek to learn the will of God concerning the undertaking. ‘Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord today,’ he suggested to Ahab. In response, Ahab called together four hundred of the false prophets of Samaria, and asked of them, ‘Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?’ And they answered, ‘Go up; for God will deliver it into the king’s hand.’ Verses 4, 5.

“Unsatisfied, Jehoshaphat sought to learn for a certainty the will of God. ‘Is there not here a prophet of the Lord,’ he asked, ‘that we might inquire of him?’ Verse 6. ‘There is yet one man, Micaiah to son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord,’ Ahab answered; ‘but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.’ 1 Kings 22:8. Jehoshaphat was firm in his request that the man of God be called; and upon appearing before them and being adjured by Ahab to tell ‘nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord,’ Micaiah said: ‘I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.’ Verses 16, 17.

“The words of the prophet should have been enough to show the kings that their project was not favored by Heaven, but neither ruler felt inclined to heed the warning. . . .

“During the battle that followed, Ahab was shot by an arrow, and at eventide he died. ‘About the going down of the sun,’ ‘there went a proclamation throughout the host,’ ‘Every man to his city, and every man to his own country.’ Verse 36. Thus was fulfilled the word of the prophet.”2

Micaiah told them that which the Lord has revealed to him, that the false prophets would use lying words, and because he spoke the truth, he was confined to prison. (See 1 Kings 22:26–28.)

From the experience narrated above we may learn that sometimes even one single person who is obedient to the Lord will be used to proclaim the truth, while hundreds or even thousands of false prophets and teachers will utter lying words.

It is not uncommon today to hear the false notion: “There is no need to obey the commandments of God; we will be saved, for our God is merciful.”

God has given us direct instruction through His word about our duties in these last days of the world’s history. The enemy of truth will put in the mouths of false teachers and false prophets lying words to contradict God’s message:

“They declare that we have only to believe on Jesus Christ, and that faith is all-sufficient: that the righteousness of Christ is to be the sinner’s credentials; that this imputed righteousness fulfills the law for us, and that we are under no obligation to obey the law of God. This class claim that Christ came to save sinners, and that He has saved them. ‘I am saved,’ they will repeat over and over again. But are they saved while transgressing the law of Jehovah?—No; for the garments of Christ’s righteousness are not a cloak for iniquity. Such teaching is a gross deception. . . . Virtually they teach, both by precept and example, that Christ, by His death, saves men in their transgressions.”3

In the history of the rise and development of the Advent Movement we find that only a few people accepted the doctrine of the ministration of Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary, while the majority had rejected this doctrine, and accepted a falsehood, believing that Jesus Christ was still with them. Let us read about that experience:

“I saw the Father rise from the throne, and in a flaming chariot go into the holy of holies within the veil, and sit down. Then Jesus rose up from the throne, and the most of those who were bowed down arose with Him. I did not see one ray of light pass from Jesus to the careless multitude after He arose, and they were left in perfect darkness. Those who arose when Jesus did, kept their eyes fixed on Him as He left the throne and led them out a little way. Then He raised His right arm, and we heard His lovely voice saying, ‘Wait here; I am going to My Father to receive the kingdom; keep your garments spotless, and in a little while I will return from the wedding and receive you to Myself.’ Then a cloudy chariot, with wheels like flaming fire, surrounded by angels, came to where Jesus was. He stepped into the chariot and was borne to the holiest, where the Father sat. There I beheld Jesus, a great High Priest, standing before the Father. On the hem of His garment was a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate. Those who rose up with Jesus would send up their faith to Him in the holiest, and pray, ‘My Father, give us Thy Spirit.’ Then Jesus would breathe upon them the Holy Ghost. In that breath was light, power, and much love, joy, and peace.

“I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before the throne; they did not know that Jesus had left it. Satan appeared to be by the throne, trying to carry on the work of God. I saw them look up to the throne, and pray, ‘Father, give us Thy Spirit.’ Satan would then breathe upon them an unholy influence; in it there was light and much power, but no sweet love, joy, and peace. Satan’s object was to keep them deceived and to draw back and deceive God’s children.”4

Satan imparted his spirit with those who rejected the truth about the heavenly sanctuary. They believed in error and delusion. Error and falsehood may contain some light and some power, but they lack God’s love, and there is no joy and peace in the lives of the rejecters of truth. Those who received the unholy influence thought that they had received a portion of the Holy Spirit, but it was Satan’s unholy spirit. We read about their experience, how the enemy used them:

“I saw that Satan was working through agents in a number of ways. He was at work through ministers who have rejected the truth and are given over to strong delusions to believe a lie that they might be damned. While they were preaching or praying, some would fall prostrate and helpless, not by the power of the Holy Ghost, but by the power of Satan breathed upon these agents, and through them to the people. While preaching, praying, or conversing, some professed Adventists who had rejected present truth used mesmerism to gain adherents, and the people would rejoice in this influence, for they thought it was the Holy Ghost. Some even that used it were so far in the darkness and deception of the devil that they thought it was the power of God, given them to exercise. They had made God altogether such a one as themselves and had valued His power as a thing of nought.”5

The apostle Paul predicted that those who do not receive the love of the truth to be saved will accept and believe in strong delusion. God will not prevent them from listening to, and believing the voice of liars:

“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:9–12).

A very common occurrence is the appearance of messengers whom God has not sent. They come in the name of the Lord, and they give false explanation of prophecies, and try to turn away the faithful from the present truth. The Lord warned us through the prophet to watch those who are telling lies:

“Then the Lord said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart” (Jeremiah 14:14).

“Those men who are not called of God are generally the very ones that are the most confident that they are so called and that their labors are very important. They go into the field and do not generally exert a good influence; yet in some places they have a measure of success, and this leads them and others to think that they are surely called of God. . . . Even if wicked men talk the truth, some may receive it; but it does not bring those who talked it into any more favor with God. Wicked men are wicked men still, and according to the deception they practiced upon those who were beloved of God, and according to the confusion brought into the church, so will be their punishment; their sins will not remain covered, but will be exposed in the day of God’s fierce anger.”6

The deciding point by which we may know whether the messengers and their words are of the Lord or of Satan, is the obedience to the commandments of God, especially to the fourth commandment:

“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20).

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law” (James 2:10, 11).

Yes, the keeping of the seventh-day Sabbath is the sign which distinguishes God’s people from the fallen churches. In the near future, the keeping of the Sabbath will be the great final test to all the world. When the loud cry of the third angel will be given by the power of the latter rain, neither the false shepherds nor the disobedient people will have any excuse, because they will receive sufficient light to make their decision intelligently, either to keep God’s seventh-day Sabbath, or the spurious day of rest, which is Sunday, the first day of the week.

“But not one is made to suffer the wrath of God until the truth has been brought home to his mind and conscience, and has been rejected. There are many who have never had an opportunity to hear the special truths for this time. The obligation of the fourth commandment has never been set before them in its true light. He who reads every heart and tries every motive will leave none who desire a knowledge of the truth, to be deceived as to the issues of the controversy. The decree is not to be urged upon the people blindly. Everyone is to have sufficient light to make his decision intelligently.

“The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty, for it is the point of truth especially controverted. When the final test shall be brought to bear upon men, then the line of distinction will be drawn between those who serve God and those who serve Him not. While the observance of the false sabbath in compliance with the law of the state, contrary to the fourth commandment, will be an avowal of allegiance to a power that is in opposition to God, the keeping of the true Sabbath, in obedience to God’s law, is an evidence of loyalty to the Creator. While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers, receive the mark of the beast, the other choosing the token of allegiance to divine authority, receive the seal of God.”7

The prophecy of Revelation 13:11 soon will be fulfilled. The second beast soon will utter his voice like a dragon. We read thus:

“The lamblike horns and dragon voice of the symbol point to a striking contradiction between the professions and the practice of the nation thus represented. The ‘speaking’ of the nation is the action of its legislative and judicial authorities. By such action it will give the lie to those liberal and peaceful principles which it has put forth as the foundation of its policy. The prediction that it will speak ‘as a dragon,’ and exercise ‘all the power of the first beast,’ plainly foretells a development of the spirit of intolerance and persecution that was manifested by the nations represented by the dragon and the leopardlike beast. And the statement that the beast with two horns ‘causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast,’ indicates that the authority of this nation is to be exercised in enforcing some observance which shall be an act of homage to the papacy.”8

“Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome. The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.”9

“Brethren and sisters, would that I might say something to awaken you to the importance of this time, the significance of the events that are now taking place. I point you to the aggressive movements now being made for the restriction of religious liberty. God’s sanctified memorial has been torn down, and in its place a false sabbath, bearing no sanctity, stands before the world. And while the powers of darkness are stirring up the elements from beneath, the Lord God of heaven is sending power from above to meet the emergency by arousing His living agencies to exalt the law of heaven. Now, just now, is our time to work in foreign countries. As America, the land of religious liberty, shall unite with the papacy in forcing the conscience and compelling men to honor the false sabbath, the people of every country on the globe will be led to follow her example. Our people are not half awake to do all in their power, with the facilities within their reach, to extend the message of warning.”10

In the article preceding this one (“The Mouth of the Dragon and of the Beast” starting on page 4), we considered the two of the three unclean spirits of Revelation 16:13, 14. The third, the “false prophet,” is apostate Protestantism which is soon to assume its distinct role in prophecy:

“The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.”11

The prophecies mentioned above will be fulfilled very soon. The “lamblike beast” (Revelation 13:11) will open his mouth and will speak like a dragon.

“By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation [the United States] will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near.”12

True Protestantism historically has claimed the Bible to be its sole source of faith and doctrine. Yet it will abandon the scriptural Ten Commandments, and the enemy of souls will exalt in the apostasy. In the crowning act to deceive those whose nominal Protestantism has become a mere form, Satan impersonating Christ “claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. . . .

“But the people of God will not be misled. The teachings of this false christ are not in accordance with the Scriptures. His blessing is pronounced upon the worshipers of the beast and his image—the very class upon whom the Bible declares that God’s unmingled wrath shall be poured out.”13

“The light of the Word carefully studied, the voice of conscience, the strivings of the Spirit, produce in the heart genuine love for Christ, who gave Himself a whole sacrifice to redeem the whole person, body, soul, and spirit. And love is manifested in obedience. The line of demarcation will be plain and distinct between those who love God and keep His commandments, and those who love Him not and disregard His precepts.”14