SATAN 'S SNARES IN THESE LAST DAYS

The great controversy between Christ and Satan, that has been carried forward for nearly six
thousand years, is soon to close; and the wicked one redoubles his efforts to defeat the work
of Christ in man’s behalf and to fasten souls in his snares. To hold the people in darkness and
impenitence till the Saviour’s mediation is ended, and there is no longer a sacrifice for sin, is
the object which he seeks to accomplish.

By Evangelist Mervyn Mada

WHAT IS A SNARE

•It's a trap

CHARACTERISTICS OF SNARES

•They are designed to deceive the one to be trapped.

•They may appear good at first but the results are bad.

•Intelligence is used in crafting these snares.

•The real nature of the trap is not revealed at first but it will be revealed at last.

•The designer of the trap is seeking to devour but is doing so in a friendly manner.

•The designer of the trap uses special tactics and special methods to lure the one to be trapped.

•A special study or investigation may be undertaken to evaluate ways of luring the one to be trapped.

GOD 'S WARNING TO HIS CHILDREN LIVING IN THESE LAST DAYS

📖1 Peter 5:8
[8]Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking
whom he may devour:

📖2 Timothy 2:26

[26]And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at
his will.

📖Ephesians 6:11

[11]Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

📖2 Corinthians 2:11

[11]Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

📖2 Corinthians 11:14

[14]And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

📖Revelation 12:12

[12]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.

📖James 4:7

[7]Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

📖Ephesians 4:27

[27]Neither give place to the devil.

E.G WHITE WRITINGS ABOUT THE SNARES OF THE DEVIL IN THESE LAST DAYS.

The History to Be Repeated—Near the close of this earth’s history Satan will work with all his powers in
the same manner and with the same temptations wherewith he tempted ancient Israel just before their
entering the Land of Promise. He will lay snares for those who claim to keep the commandments of God,
and who are almost on the borders of the heavenly Canaan. He will use his powers to their utmost in
order to entrap souls and to take God’s professed people upon their weakest points. And men in
responsible positions, teaching the claims of God’s law, whose mouths are filled with arguments in
vindication of His law, against which Satan has made such a raid—over such he sets his hellish powers
and his agencies at work and overthrows them upon the weak points in their character, knowing that he
who offends on one point is guilty of all, thus obtaining complete mastery over the entire man. Adventist
Home 327.1.
With the same object he is in attendance when men assemble for the worship of God. Though hidden
from sight, he is working with all diligence to control the minds of the worshipers. Like a skillful general,
he lays his plans beforehand. As he sees the messenger of God searching the Scriptures, he takes note of
the subject to be presented to the people. Then he employs all his cunning and shrewdness to so control
circumstances that the message may not reach those whom he is deceiving on that very point. The one
who most needs the warning will be urged into some business transaction which requires his presence, or
will by some other means be prevented from hearing the words that might prove to him a savor of life
unto life.(Great Controversy 88.518.3)

I saw that Satan bade his angels lay their snares especially for those who were looking for Christ’s second
appearing, and keeping all the commandments of God. Satan told his angels that the churches were
asleep. He would increase his power and lying wonders, and he could hold them. “But,” he said, “the sect
of Sabbathkeepers we hate; they are continually working against us, and taking from us our subjects, to
keep the hated law of God. Go, make the possessors of lands and money drunk with cares. If you can
make them place their affections upon these things, we shall have them yet. They may profess what they
please, only make them care more for money than for the success of Christ’s kingdom or the spread of
the truths we hate. Present the world before them in the most attractive light, that they may love and
idolize it.(Christian Experience and 171.1

Diligent labor will keep us from many of the snares of Satan, who “finds some mischief still for idle hands
to do.” (Counsels on Health 417.2)

Another dangerous error, is the doctrine that denies the divinity of Christ, claiming that he had no
existence before his advent to this world. This theory is received with favor by a large class who profess
to believe the Bible; yet it directly contradicts the plainest statements of our Saviour concerning his
relationship with the Father, his divine character, and his pre-existence.(Great Controversy

While professed Christians are contending, Satan is laying his snares for the inexperienced feet of
children and youth. Those who have had a religious experience should seek to shield the young from his
devices. They should never forget that they themselves were once enchanted with the pleasures of sin.
(C.T 96.3)

The great controversy between Christ and Satan, that has been carried forward for nearly six thousand
years, is soon to close; and the wicked one redoubles his efforts to defeat the work of Christ in man’s
behalf and to fasten souls in his snares. To hold the people in darkness and impenitence till the Saviour’s
mediation is ended, and there is no longer a sacrifice for sin, is the object which he seeks to accomplish.
(Darkness before Dawn 5.1)

Unless we are rooted and grounded in the truth, we shall be swept away by Satan’s delusive snares. We
must cling to our Bibles. If Satan can make you believe that there are things in the Word of God that are
not inspired, he will then be prepared to ensnare your soul. We shall have no assurance, no certainty, at
the very time we need to know what is truth.—The Review and Herald, December 18, 1888.
Satan has prepared various snares to meet varied minds. (Evang 360.4)

We are living amid the perils of the last days, and we should guard every avenue by which Satan can
approach us with his temptations. A fatal delusion seizes those who have had great light and precious
opportunities, but who have not walked in the light nor improved the opportunities which God has given
them. Darkness comes upon them; and they fail to make Christ their strength, and fall an easy prey to
the snares of the deceiver. A mere assent to the truth will never save a soul from death. We must be
sanctified through the truth; every defect of character must be overcome, or it will overcome us and
become a controlling power for evil. (Gospel Workers 445.1)

[Isaiah 8:19, 20.] If men had been willing to receive the truth so plainly stated in the Scriptures,
concerning the nature of man and the state of the dead, they would see in the claims and manifestations
of Spiritualism the working of Satan with power and signs and lying wonders. But rather than yield the
liberty so agreeable to the carnal heart, and renounce the sins which they love, multitudes close their
eyes to the light, and walk straight on, regardless of warnings, while Satan weaves his snares about
them, and they become his prey. “Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be
saved,” therefore “God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.” Great
Controversy 88 559.2

If your thoughts, your plans, your purposes, are all directed toward the accumulation of the things of
earth, your anxiety, your study, your interests, will all be centered upon the world. The heavenly
attractions will lose their beauty. The glories of the eternal world will cease to have the force of reality to
you. Your heart will be with your treasure, and every faculty of your mind will be so concentrated on the
work you have chosen that you will not heed the warnings and entreaties of the Word and Spirit of God.
You will have no time to devote to the study of the Scriptures and to earnest prayer that you may escape
the snares of Satan.TMK 222.3

Satan is at work among God’s people, even as he worked among the angels in the heavenly courts, and
many are being ensnared.(UL 356.1)

Financial speculations are Satan’s snares, laid to catch souls. In all business transactions the only
safeguard for a man is the love and fear of God. (Upward Lord 21.2)

When there is no special effort made to resist his power, when indifference prevails in the church and the
world, Satan is not concerned; for he is in no danger of losing those whom he is leading captive at his
will. But when the attention is called to eternal things, and souls are inquiring, “What must I do to be
saved?” he is on the ground, seeking to match his power against the power of Christ, and to counteract
the influence of the Holy Spirit. (GC 88 518.2
With the same object he is in attendance when men assemble for the worship of God. Though hidden
from sight, he is working with all diligence to control the minds of the worshipers. Like a skillful general,
he lays his plans beforehand. As he sees the messenger of God searching the Scriptures, he takes note of
the subject to be presented to the people. Then he employs all his cunning and shrewdness to so control
circumstances that the message may not reach those whom he is deceiving on that very point. The one
who most needs the warning will be urged into some business transaction which requires his presence, or
will by some other means be prevented from hearing the words that might prove to him a savor of life
unto life. GC 88 519.2)

In order to sustain erroneous doctrines or unchristian practices, some will seize upon passages of
Scripture separated from the context, perhaps quoting half of a single verse as proving their point, when
the remaining portion would show the meaning to be quite the opposite. With the cunning of the
serpent, they entrench themselves behind disconnected utterances construed to suit their carnal desires.
Thus do many willfully pervert the Word of God. Others, who have an active imagination, seize upon the
figures and symbols of Holy Writ, interpret to suit their fancy, with little regard to the testimony of
Scripture as its own interpreter, and then they present their vagaries as the teachings of the Bible.Great
Controversy 88 520.4

Whenever the study of the Scriptures is entered upon without a prayerful, humble, teachable spirit, the
plainest and simplest as well as the most difficult passages will be wrested from their true meaning. The
papal leaders select such portions of Scripture as best serve their purpose, interpret to suit themselves,
and then present these to the people, while they deny them the privilege of studying the Bible, and
understanding its sacred truths for themselves. The whole Bible should be given to the people just as it
reads. It would be better for them not to have Bible instruction at all than to have the teaching of the
Scriptures thus grossly misrepresented. (Great Controversy 88 520.4)

Among the most successful agencies of the great deceiver are the delusive teachings and lying wonders
of Spiritualism. Disguised as an angel of light, he spreads his nets where least suspected. If men would
but study the Book of God with earnest prayer that they might understand it, they would not be left in
darkness to receive false doctrines. But as they reject the truth, they fall a prey to deception. (Great
Controversy 88 524.1)

Satan stands at the head of the great army of doubters, and he works to the utmost of his power to
beguile souls into his ranks. It is becoming fashionable to doubt. There is a large class by whom the word
of God is looked upon with distrust for the same reason as was its Author—because it reproves and
condemns sin. Those who are unwilling to obey its requirements endeavor to overthrow its authority.
They read the Bible, or listen to its teachings as presented from the sacred desk, merely to find fault with
the Scriptures or with the sermon. Not a few become infidels in order to justify or excuse themselves in
neglect of duty. Others adopt skeptical principles from pride and indolence. Too ease-loving to
distinguish themselves by accomplishing anything worthy of honor, which requires effort and self-denial,
they aim to secure a reputation for superior wisdom by criticizing the Bible. There is much which the
finite mind, unenlightened by divine wisdom, is powerless to comprehend; and thus they find occasion to
criticize.(GC 526.1)
GOD 'S MESSAGE TO HIS CHILDREN LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS

📖Revelation 2:10

[10]Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into
prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I
will give thee a crown of life.

📖James 4:7

[7]Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

📖Ephesians 6:11

[11]Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

📖Ephesians 4:27

[27]Neither give place to the devil.

📖2 Timothy 2:1

[1]Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

📖1 Corinthians 16:13

[13]Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

📖1 Peter 4:7

[7]But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

📖1 Thessalonians 5:17-22

[17]Pray without ceasing.

[18]In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

[19]Quench not the Spirit.

[20]Despise not prophesyings.

[21]Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

[22]Abstain from all appearance of evil.

📖Philippians 4:6
[6]Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known unto God.

No man is safe for a day or an hour without prayer. Especially should we entreat the Lord for
wisdom to understand His word. Here are revealed the wiles of the tempter and the means by which
he may be successfully resisted. Satan is an expert in quoting Scripture, placing his own interpretation
upon passages, by which he hopes to cause us to stumble. We should study the Bible with humility of
heart, never losing sight of our dependence upon God. While we must constantly guard against the
devices of Satan, we should pray in faith continually: “Lead us not into temptation.”

May God Bless You.