If it be asked, How could Satan be interested in doing a good work? we answer, the Adversary thus assumes the garment of an angel of light and mercy, not to lead to the Light of the World—not to lead to the cross of Christ—not to lead to the Bible—but to lead away from these, to another hope of salvation, and to another teacher, to deceive, if it were possible, the very elect. And be it remembered that our Lord's words indicate that when matters come to this condition, where Satan will cast out Satan and heal disease, it is a marked evidence that his throne is tottering to its fall—that, so to speak, this is the last extremity of the Adversary's efforts to deceive
In Satan we have a foe testful of our hearts. In conflict with him, we, alone and unassisted would, because of his great cunning, be as pygmies in the hands of a giant. So cunning is he that he can make good appear evil and evil appear good; and for his own selfish purposes he causes his servants to appear as servants of righteousness, so that he might, if possible, deceive the very elect. Hence we should be ever vigilant against his and his servants' machinations, which are always deceitful.
REPRINTS
Gen. 3:1-5, 13-15; John 8:44; 2 Cor. 11:3, 4, 13; 2 Thes. 2:9; Rev. 12:9; 20:1-3, 7-9; Acts 20:29-31; Rom. 16:17; Gal. 1:8; Phil. 3:18, 19; 2 Tim. 3:1-9; 2 Pet. 2; 1 John 4:1-6; 2 John 1:7-10; Jude 1:4-19; Rev. 2:2, 13-15, 20-24.
