Here is a remarkable revelation of the possible extent of the Satanic counterfeit:  “False apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ” and “ministers of righteousness;” yet these are shown to be only agents of the great deceiver, Satan, who is himself transformed into an angel of light.  It is evident that the method of this deception is to imitate the real ministers of Christ.  Certainly these false apostles cannot so appear unless they gather into their message every available “form of godliness” and cover their lies with the most subtle hypocrisy.  Evil will not appear on the outside of these systems; but they will be announced as “another gospel” or as a larger understanding of the previously accepted truth, and will be all the more attractive and delusive since they are heralded by those who claim to be ministers of Christ, who reflect the beauty of an “angel of light,” and whose lives are undoubtedly free from great temptation.  It should be noted, however, that these false ministers do not necessarily know the mission they have.  Being unregenerate persons of the Satanic system, and, so, blinded to the real Gospel, they are sincere; preaching and teaching the best things their energizing power, the angel of light, is pleased to reveal unto them.  Their gospel is one of human reason, and appeals to human resources.  There can be no appreciation of Divine revelation in them, for they have not come to really know God or His Son, Jesus Christ.  As all this is true, how perilous is the attitude of many who follow attractive ministers and religious guides only because they claim to be such, and are sincere, and who are not awake to the one final test of doctrine by which alone the whole covered system of Satanic lies can be distinguished from the truth of God.  In this connection John writes the following warning:  “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed” (II Jno. 10).

There yet remains one mighty element in the program of Satan’s counterfeits in addition to his outward forms, deep doctrines, church and ministers,—­that is, the Man of Sin, the blasphemous counterfeit of the blessed Christ; who is yet to appear; who will be the very incarnation of Satan; and “whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish” (II Thes. 2:9, 10).  As the whole purpose of God in the ages has its consummation in the yet future coming of Christ, so Satan, in imitation of the program of God, has appointed a coming one (II Thes. 2:9), who will be his greatest manifestation, and upon whom he will bestow his greatest wisdom, power and attractiveness.  The study of this mighty and imposing character can only be suggested in the following pages.