Matt. 7:21-27, John 11:40-44, 1 Pet. 3:18, 1 Sam. 28:3-25, Eph. 6:10-18.

 “And no wonder! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is not strange if his ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness. Their end will match their deeds” (2 Corinthians 11:14, 15, NRSV).

 Our contemporary world has become a melting pot of the supernatural and the mystical, helped on by Hollywood, which has no problem making movies with religious and mystical themes in a hodge-podge of error and deception. The old lie, “You surely will not die!” (Gen. 3:4, NASB) has also inspired some of the most-read books and most-watched movies of the last decades, and many popular videogames, as well. Undeniably, we are exposed to and tempted by the enchanted ground of Satan, which can appear in myriad forms and even, in some cases, can come hidden in the veneer of science.

 One of the most deceptive phenomena has been what has been called “near death” experiences (NDEs), where those who had “died” have come back to life with stories of an afterlife. Many people have seen these events as proof of an immortal soul!

 During this week we will consider some end-time deceptions, including mysticism, near-death experiences, reincarnation, necromancy and ancestor worship, and others. These are dangerous subjects that we should be aware of but without exposing ourselves to their influences.

 Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, December 10.