by
seducing spirits. These attractive systems are not only from Satan, but
are themselves "lies in hypocrisy," being presented by those whose
conscience has been seared with a hot iron. No more illuminating terms
could be used than these. A lie covered by hypocrisy means, evidently,
that they are still attempting to be counted among the faithful; and the
conscience seared would indicate that they can distort the testimony of
God and carelessly point other souls to the bottomless pit, without
present remorse or regret.

The doctrine of devils is again referred to in Rev. 2:24 as "the deep
things of Satan" and this is Satan's counterfeit of "the deep things of
God" which the Spirit reveals to them that love Him (I Cor. 2:10).

Thus there is predicted for the last days of this age, both a form of
godliness which denies the power of salvation that is in Christ; and a
system known as "the deep things of Satan" or "doctrines of devils,"
which calls some adherents from the true faith and speaks lies in
hypocrisy. Can there be any doubt that these two Scriptures describe the
same thing, since they also refer to the same time? The lies of one can
be but the covered denial of salvation in the other.

Again, Satan has his assembly or congregational meeting which is his
counterfeit of the visible Church. This assembly is referred to, both
in Rev. 2:9 and 3:9, as the "synagogue of Satan;" an organized assembly
being as important for the testimony in the deep things of Satan as it
has been in the things of God.

In Matt. 13 the tares appear _among_ the wheat and their appearance is
said to be after the sowing of the wheat. So, also, the "children of the
Wicked one" appear and are often included and even organized within the
forms of the visible Church.

The assembly of Satan, calling itself a part of the visible Church, is
to have its ministers and teachers. This is stated in II Cor. II:13-15:
"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves
into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is
transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if
his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness;
whose end shall be according to their works." 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