The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 447

The European Union in Prophecy
be prepared to withstand them with the Bible truth that the dead know not anything
and that they who thus appear are the spirits of devils. Just before us is "the hour of
temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the
earth." Revelation 3:10.
All whose faith is not firmly established upon the word of God will be deceived
and overcome. Satan "works with all deceivableness of unrighteousness" to gain
control of the children of men, and his deceptions will continually increase. But he can
gain his object only as men voluntarily yield to his temptations. Those who are
earnestly seeking a knowledge of the truth and are striving to purify their souls
through obedience, thus doing what they can to prepare for the conflict, will find, in
the God of truth, a sure defense. "Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I
also will keep thee" (verse 10), is the Saviour's promise. He would sooner send every
angel out of heaven to protect His people than leave one soul that trusts in Him to be
overcome by Satan.
The prophet Isaiah brings to view the fearful deception which will come upon
the wicked, causing them to count themselves secure from the judgments of God: "We
have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the
overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made
lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves." Isaiah 28:15. In the class
here described are included those who in their stubborn impenitence comfort
themselves with the assurance that there is to be no punishment for the sinner; that
all mankind, it matters not how corrupt, are to be exalted to heaven, to become as the
angels of God. But still more emphatically are those making a covenant with death
and an agreement with hell, who renounce the truths which Heaven has provided as
a defense for the righteous in the day of trouble, and accept the refuge of lies offered
by Satan in its stead--the delusive pretensions of spiritualism.
Marvellous beyond expression is the blindness of the people of this generation.
Thousands reject the word of God as unworthy of belief and with eager confidence
receive the deceptions of Satan. Skeptics and scoffers denounce the bigotry of those
who contend for the faith of prophets and apostles, and they divert themselves by
holding up to ridicule the solemn declarations of the Scriptures concerning Christ and
the plan of salvation, and the retribution to be visited upon the rejecters of the truth.
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