The Great Deceiver (part 1)

Today we start out by focusing on the Holy Bible—specifically the book of Revelation—concentrating on chapter 12:7-9; 12.

The Bible says "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Therefore rejoice, [ye] heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."

My young people I want you to focus on a few important words in the previous scriptures. The word of God said that “...there was war in heaven”. Think to yourself: how could there be war in Heaven? Isn’t heaven supposed to be a perfect place?

Hold that thought in mind. “Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.” The dragon was cast out of Heaven, with his angels. But wait—what does that have to do with the great deceiver? Read a little further. Where was this devil and his angels cast out to? The devil, my brothers and sisters, was cast out into the earth, where you and I inhabit. Young people can you picture where I am going with this story?

My brothers and sister when will we wake up to what is really going on? The devil is wrath with you. Maybe you asked yourself this question over a million times: "why is the devil wrath with me? I didn’t do anything to him!" You are one hundred percent right. You didn’t. He lost the war so someone has to pay. Think of this while you ponder on this bizarre situation: your brother or sister was in a fight and they won, but the person that lost the fight, out of anger, will find someone that is related to the winner and fight them in order to get some type of satisfaction out of the loss.

Now you have to understand that we were made in God’s image (not the other belief that we came from apes). You and I are too good-looking to come from Apes. Now if you read in the book of Genesis 1:26 it says "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." I want you to focus on the italicized portion of this verse; it says we were made in God’s image and in his likeness. Do you now see why the devil is wrath with us?

Tune in next time for part 2 of the Great Deceiver to find out how is this wrath is being carried out on God’s image.

By Elder Maurice Mason