1. It is a common belief that all miracles are of God, but unfortunately that is exactly what Satan wants Mankind to believe.

   But why do you ask, would Satan do apparently good miracles?

   In 2 Thessalonians 2: we are warned not to be deceived by the man of sin who exalts himself as God by his powers and signs and lying wonders, his miracle working!

   Matthew 24:24 states "For there shall arise false Christ’s, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

   And in Revelation 13:11-14, we read again of how the working of miracles will be done to convert mankind to a false religious system, "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon (false religious system). And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and them, which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live."

   Satan wants Mankind to believe that this man of sin and his religious system are Gods system. The point of these miracles is to lead as many astray as possible, to gather them together to fight against Gods true system of worship, Revelation 16:13-14 "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." and of course, to keep them from eternal life, Rev 19:20-21 "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant was slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh."

   This will not be the first time in history that men have been given the power to do wonders by Satan, in Exodus 7: we can read of Pharaoh’s wise men and sorcerers being able to do the same miracles as Moses and Aaron in turning a rod into a snake and water into blood.

   So then how do we tell which miracles are of God?

   1. Does the miracle glorify God? Or, does it glorify a man or some system?
      
   2. What is the source?
      
      Matthew 7:15-23 "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire wherefore by their fruits you shall know them. Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity
      
      Mark 9:38-40 "And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he follows not us: and we forbid him, because he follows not us. But Jesus said forbid him not: for there is no man, which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part."
      
   3. It builds up the Body (Believers)
      
      1Co 12:6 "And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these work that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ."
      
      1Co 12:28 "And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues."
      It is important as this age draws to an end that we are not caught up in the deceptive miracles around us, for they will increase in hopes of deceiving the very elect, stand back and examine them closely.
   
   See also Power, Signs, and Lying Wonders

   
   

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