Here is a section from the book “The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan” (otherwise known as the “Great Controversy,”) which speaks in detail of the appearance of Satan impersonating Christ, as revealed prophetically to Ellen White ( Who was Ellen White? ; Ellen White named by Smithsonian among the 100 most significant Americans of all time , EGW Link 2 );

“As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Saviour’s advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. Revelation 1:13-15. The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air: “Christ has come! Christ has come!” The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His disciples when He was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Saviour uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion. Like the Samaritans who were deceived by Simon Magus, the multitudes, from the least to the greatest, give heed to these sorceries, saying: This is “the great power of God.” Acts 8:10.

“But the people of God will not be misled. The teachings of this false Christ are not in accordance with the Scriptures. His blessing is pronounced upon the worshipers of the beast and his image, the very class upon whom the Bible declares that God’s unmingled wrath shall be poured out.

“And, furthermore, Satan is not permitted to counterfeit the manner of Christ’s advent. The Saviour has warned His people against deception upon this point, and has clearly foretold the manner of His second coming. “There shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.... Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth; behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:24-27, 31; 25:31; Revelation 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17. This coming there is no possibility of counterfeiting. It will be universally known—witnessed by the whole world.

“Only those who have been diligent students of the Scriptures and who have received the love of the truth will be shielded from the powerful delusion that takes the world captive. By the Bible testimony these will detect the deceiver in his disguise. To all the testing time will come. By the sifting of temptation the genuine Christian will be revealed. Are the people of God now so firmly established upon His word that they would not yield to the evidence of their senses? Would they, in such a crisis, cling to the Bible and the Bible only? Satan will, if possible, prevent them from obtaining a preparation to stand in that day. He will so arrange affairs as to hedge up their way, entangle them with earthly treasures, cause them to carry a heavy, wearisome burden, that their hearts may be overcharged with the cares of this life and the day of trial may come upon them as a thief.” {Great Controversy, by Ellen White, p. 624.2 - 625.3}

Copied this from another forum that I will not name here:

This leads me to think that it will happen just before probation closes, however, I am still in research mode.

What do you all think of this online article?

https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1987/08/satans-consummate-deception

Here's the link to another interesting one:

https://sites.google.com/site/message42day/when-does-satan-personate-christ

What difference does it make whether we settle this question?

Personally I believe it is dangerous to be dogmatic in insisting that this greatest deception won't be sprung on the world until after probation is closed.

What difference does it make whether we settle this question?

Personally I believe it is dangerous to be dogmatic in insisting that this greatest deception won't be sprung on the world until after probation is closed.

Why?
Because it pacifies -- it puts a "don't worry" feel to it, as the seal of God will already be upon the saved once probation is closed, and scripture says once probation is closed, "the righteous will be righteous still, and the wicked will be wicked still" -- it won't change anyone.

Now that doesn't mean it won't happen after probation is closed. It's quite likely to happen then. Satan could very well torture the persecuted saints with the illusion that Christ has come.

But it could also happen before probation's close, and it could deceive many who thought they would never be deceived.

The main thing is to KNOW
1. What the true second coming will be like!

There are so many belief systems expecting a Christ of some kind to appear on earth that the full measure of HUMAN REASONING PRESSURE to believe in a false Christ will be heavy duty pressure.

Are we solidly based on our understanding what the second coming of Christ will be like? If we know that from scripture, no matter in what form, or time satan pretends to be the coming Savior, we will recognize him as the imposter.

2. Realize that satan is not some mythical creature with horns, a tail and a pitch fork as he is often illustrated in pictures. But that he is a fallen angel, along with other fallen angels who have the ability to appear as angels of light and present seemingly very "good" things. "Satan himself is converted, after the modern order of things. He will appear in the character of an angel of light. Through the agency of spiritualism, miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and many undeniable wonders will be performed. And as the spirits will profess faith in the Bible, and manifest respect for the institutions of the church, their work will be accepted as a manifestation of divine power…"



Believing that Satan personates Jesus before probation closes is not at all a "strange" idea. He is already doing it! Most realize that he, or one of his fallen angels, is personating Mary all over the world in increasing frequency. But it's not just Mary, he appears as "Jesus" as well.