It, therefore, follows that one feature of the last days will be a form of godliness which carefully denies the power of God in salvation.

Again, Satan is “in the latter times” to be the promotor of a system of truth or doctrine:  “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” (I Tim. 4:1, 2).  These predicted Satanic systems are here carefully described.  Their offers will be so attractive and externally so religious that into them will be drawn some “who shall depart from the faith;” they being enticed by seducing spirits.  These attractive systems are not only from Satan, but are themselves “lies in hypocrisy,” being presented by those whose conscience has been seared with a hot iron.  No more illuminating terms could be used than these.  A lie covered by hypocrisy means, evidently, that they are still attempting to be counted among the faithful; and the conscience seared would indicate that they can distort the testimony of God and carelessly point other souls to the bottomless pit, without present remorse or regret.

The doctrine of devils is again referred to in Rev. 2:24 as “the deep things of Satan” and this is Satan’s counterfeit of “the deep things of God” which the Spirit reveals to them that love Him (I Cor. 2:10).

Thus there is predicted for the last days of this age, both a form of godliness which denies the power of salvation that is in Christ; and a system known as “the deep things of Satan” or “doctrines of devils,” which calls some adherents from the true faith and speaks lies in hypocrisy.  Can there be any doubt that these two Scriptures describe the same thing, since they also refer to the same time?  The lies of one can be but the covered denial of salvation in the other.

Again, Satan has his assembly or congregational meeting which is his counterfeit of the visible Church.  This assembly is referred to, both in Rev. 2:9 and 3:9, as the “synagogue of Satan;” an organized assembly being as important for the testimony in the deep things of Satan as it has been in the things of God.

In Matt. 13 the tares appear among the wheat and their appearance is said to be after the sowing of the wheat.  So, also, the “children of the Wicked one” appear and are often included and even organized within the forms of the visible Church.

The assembly of Satan, calling itself a part of the visible Church, is to have its ministers and teachers.  This is stated in II Cor.  II:13-15:  “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”