The words of Satan:
Luke 4:6-7
6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. (KJV)

The above passage confirms that Satan has been given the world..And here is Satan as Lucifer, the angel of light...

2 Cor 11:13-14
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (KJV)

Hence, YahShua warned specifically that Satan WOULD exhibit "signs and wonders to decieve" IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, even the very elect. (Matt 24 and Mk 13). One thing we know about this statement (and which makes it impossible to be decieved), is that the first jesus is not our Jesus. Other than that fact, in Rev 13 one of the miracles is "bringing down fire from heaven". In 2 Cor 11, Paul says Satan comes disguised as an 'angel of light'. There are surely many more "miracles" Satan can show. Lets play "what if."

Since Satan is coming as the substitute messiah, we should be reasonably confident he will fulfill that role (as messiah). I feel we can be fairly well assured he will model his "miracles" after the ones YaShua recorded in the gospels. Thus,

1) He will be a savior for all who will come to him. This means that, A)) there must be some event or occurance going on which flesh people will need to be protected or saved FROM, and B)), he must have the ability to physically perform the act of "saving" (the flesh).

Jesus multiplied bread, changed water into wine, healed the sick, forgave sinners, taught against false teachers, cast out the moneychangers, materialized his body thru doors and walls, caused Peter to be transported from Jerusalem to Gaza in an instant, and raised the dead.

Satan must be able to make it appear he can do all these, as a minimum.

Re raising the dead-- Of course satan cannot GIVE life, but he can sure hold back death. Read and think about Heb 2:14. Jesus came to destroy him who has the POWER OF DEATH, the devil. What is this "power of death"? Is it not the ability to claim or not to claim the (flesh) death state? Hence, just as he did with Job, Satan has the power to withhold death. (see Job 2:7 and 3:7). Job, as you know, is the story of God's elect. If you want to get a pretty good idea of what the elect will go thru in the hands of slewfoot, read this book carefully. Think about the fourth “friend” who appeared. See http://home.earthlink.net/~bobseller1/id63.html for details

In any case, withholding death for some person who has a terminal disease will give the appearance of healing, will it not? This thought makes a lot more sense if you follow the beliefs of the churchies who "just know" jesus will do away with death. After all, if jesus is here, no one will die--he gives eternal life, right?

If you have a hard time with people disappearing, as you say, you will surely crash when Satan saves the dying.

If these thoughts give you pause, take eternal comfort in the Word of our YaShua.

"Not a hair of your head will perish". Regards the members of your family which believe in the rapture, recall also YaShua said "you will be betrayed by all men, including your own family".