Spiritualism.
The ministration of holy angels, as presented in the Scriptures, is a
truth most comforting and precious to every follower of Christ. But the
Bible teaching upon this point has been obscured and perverted by the
errors
of popular theology. The doctrine of natural immortality, first borrowed
from the pagan philosophy, and in the darkness of the great apostasy
incor****ated into the Christian faith, has supplanted the truth, so
plainly
taught in Scripture, that "the dead know not anything." Multitudes have
come
to believe that it is the spirits of the dead who are the "ministering
spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation."
And this notwithstanding the testimony of Scripture to the existence of
heavenly angels, and their connection with the history of man, before the
death of a human being. {GC88 551.1}
The doctrine of man's consciousness in death, especially the belief
that the spirits of the dead return to minister to the living, has
prepared
the way for modern Spiritualism. If the dead are admitted to the presence
of
God and holy angels, and privileged with knowledge far exceeding what they
before possessed, why should they not return to the earth to enlighten and
instruct the living? If, as taught by popular theologians, the spirits of
the dead are hovering about their friends on earth, why should they not be
permitted to communicate with them, to warn them against evil, or to
comfort
them in sorrow? How can those who believe in man's consciousness in death
reject what comes to them as divine light communicated by glorified
spirits?
552
Here is a channel regarded as sacred, through which Satan works for the
accomplishment of his purposes. The fallen angels who do his bidding
appear
as messengers from the spirit world. While professing to bring the living
into communication with the dead, the prince of evil exercises his
bewitching influence upon their minds. {GC88 551.2}
He has power to bring before men the appearance of their departed
friends. The counterfeit is perfect; the familiar look, the words, the
tone,
are reproduced with marvelous distinctness. Many are comforted with the
assurance that their loved ones are enjoying the bliss of Heaven; and
without suspicion of danger, they give ear to "seducing spirits, and
doctrines of devils." {GC88 552.1}
When they have been led to believe that the dead actually return to
communicate with them, Satan causes those to appear who went into the
grave
unprepared. They claim to be happy in Heaven, and even to occupy exalted
positions there; and thus the error is widely taught, that no difference
is
made between the righteous and the wicked. The pretended visitants from
the
world of spirits sometimes utter cautions and warnings which prove to be
correct. Then, as confidence is gained, they present doctrines that
directly
undermine faith in the Scriptures. With an appearance of deep interest in
the well-being of their friends on earth, they insinuate the most
dangerous
errors. The fact that they state some truths, and are able at times to
foretell future events, gives to their statements an appearance of
reliability; and their false teachings are accepted by the multitudes as
readily, and believed as implicitly, as if they were the most sacred
truths
of the Bible. The law of God is set aside, the Spirit of grace despised,
the
blood of the covenant counted an unholy thing. The spirits deny the
divinity
of Christ, and place even the Creator on a level with themselves. Thus
under
a new disguise the great rebel still carries forward his warfare against
God, begun in Heaven, and for nearly six thousand years continued upon the
earth.
553
{GC88 552.2}
Many endeavor to account for spiritual manifestations by attributing
them wholly to fraud and sleight of hand on the part of the medium. But
while it is true that the results of trickery have often been palmed off
as
genuine manifestations, there have been, also, marked exhibitions of
supernatural power. The mysterious rapping with which modern Spiritualism
began was not the result of human trickery or cunning, but was the direct
work of evil angels, who thus introduced one of the most successful of
soul-destroying delusions. Many will be ensnared through the belief that
Spiritualism is a merely human imposture; when brought face to face with
manifestations which they cannot but regard as supernatural, they will be
deceived, and will be led to accept them as the great power of God. {GC88
553.1}
These persons overlook the testimony of the Scriptures concerning the
wonders wrought by Satan and his agents. It was by Satanic aid that
Pharaoh's magicians were enabled to counterfeit the work of God. Paul
testifies that before the second advent of Christ there will be similar
manifestations of Satanic power. The coming of the Lord is to be preceded
by
"the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with
all deceivableness of unrighteousness." [2 THESS. 2:9, 10.] And the
apostle
John, describing the miracle-working power that will be manifested in the
last days, declares: "He doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come
down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that
dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to
do."
[REV. 13:13, 14.] No mere impostures are here foretold. Men are deceived
by
the miracles which Satan's agents have power to do, not which they pretend
to do. {GC88 553.2}
The prince of darkness, who has so long bent the powers of his
master-mind to the work of deception, skillfully adapts his temptations to
men of all cl***** and conditions. To persons of culture and refinement he
presents Spiritualism in
554
its more refined and intellectual aspects, and thus succeeds in drawing
many
into his snare. The wisdom which Spiritualism imparts is that described by
the apostle James, which "descendeth not from above, but is earthly,
sensual, devilish." [JAS. 3:15.] This, however, the great deceiver
conceals,
when concealment will best suit his purpose. He who could appear clothed
with the brightness of the heavenly seraphs before Christ in the
wilderness
of temptation, comes to men in the most attractive manner, as an angel of
light. He appeals to the reason by the presentation of elevating themes,
he
delights the fancy with enrapturing scenes, and he enlists the affections
by
his eloquent ****trayals of love and charity. He excites the imagination to
lofty flights, leading men to take so great pride in their own wisdom that
in their hearts they despise the Eternal One. That mighty being who could
take the world's Redeemer to an exceedingly high mountain, and bring
before
him all the kingdoms of the earth and the glory of them, will present his
temptations to men in a manner to pervert the senses of all who are not
****elded by divine power. {GC88 553.3}
Satan beguiles men now as he beguiled Eve in Eden, by flattery, by
kindling a desire to obtain forbidden knowledge, by exciting ambition for
self-exaltation. It was cheri****ng these evils that caused his fall, and
through them he aims to compass the ruin of men. "Ye shall be as gods," he
declares, "knowing good and evil." [GEN. 3:5.] Spiritualism teaches "that
man is the creature of progression; that it is his destiny from his birth
to
progress, even to eternity, toward the Godhead," And again: "Each mind
will
judge itself and not another." "The judgment will be right, because it is
the judgment of self. . . . The throne is within you." Said a
Spiritualistic
teacher, as the "spiritual consciousness" awoke within him, "My
fellow-men,
all were unfallen demigods." And another declares, "Any just and perfect
being is Christ.
555
{GC88 554.1}
Thus, in place of the righteousness and perfection of the infinite
God,
the true object of adoration; in place of the perfect righteousness of his
law, the true standard of human attainment, Satan has substituted the
sinful, erring nature of man himself, as the only object of adoration, the
only rule of judgment, or standard of character. This is progress, not
upward, but downward. {GC88 555.1}
It is a law both of the intellectual and the spiritual nature, that
by
beholding, we become changed. The mind gradually adapts itself to the
subjects upon which it is allowed to dwell. It becomes assimilated to that
which it is accustomed to love and reverence. Man will never rise higher
than his standard of purity or goodness or truth. If self is his loftiest
ideal, he will never attain to anything more exalted. Rather, he will
constantly sink lower and lower. The grace of God alone has power to exalt
man. Left to himself, his course must inevitably be downward. {GC88 555.2}
To the self-indulgent, the pleasure-loving, the sensual, Spiritualism
presents itself under a less subtle disguise than to the more refined and
intellectual; in its grosser forms they find that which is in harmony with
their inclinations. Satan studies every indication of the frailty of human
nature, he marks the sins which each individual is inclined to commit, and
then he takes care that op****tunities shall not be wanting to gratify the
tendency to evil. He tempts men to excess in that which is in itself
lawful,
causing them, through intemperance, to weaken physical, mental, and moral
power. He has destroyed and is destroying thousands through the indulgence
of the passions, thus brutalizing the entire nature of man. And to
complete
his work, he declares, through the spirits, that "true knowledge places
man
above all law;" that "whatsoever is, is right;" that "God doth not
condemn;"
and that "all sins which are committed are innocent." When the people are
thus led to believe that desire is the highest law, that liberty is
license,
and that man is accountable only to himself, who can wonder that
corruption
556
and depravity teem on every hand? Multitudes eagerly accept teachings that
leave them at liberty to obey the promptings of the carnal heart. The
reins
of self-control are laid upon the neck of lust, the powers of mind and
soul
are made subject to the animal propensities, and Satan exultingly sweeps
into his net thousands who profess to be followers of Christ. {GC88 555.3}
But none need be deceived by the lying claims of Spiritualism. God
has
given the world sufficient light to enable them to discover the snare. As
already shown, the theory which forms the very foundation of Spiritualism
is
at war with the plainest statements of Scripture. The Bible declares that
the dead know not anything, that their thoughts have perished; they have
no
part in anything that is done under the sun; they know nothing of the joys
or sorrows of those who were dearest to them on earth. {GC88 556.1}
Furthermore, God has expressly forbidden all pretended communication
with departed spirits. In the days of the Hebrews there was a class of
people who claimed, as do the Spiritualists of today, to hold
communication
with the dead. But the "familiar spirits," as these visitants from other
worlds were called, are declared by the Bible to be the "spirits of
devils."
[COMPARE NUM. 25:1-3; PS. 106:28; 1 COR. 10:20; REV. 16:14.] The work of
dealing with familiar spirits was pronounced an abomination to the Lord,
and
was solemnly forbidden under penalty of death. [LEV. 19:31; 20:27.] The
very
name of witchcraft is now held in contempt. The claim that men can hold
intercourse with evil spirits is regarded as a fable of the Dark Ages. But
Spiritualism, which numbers its converts by hundreds of thousands, yea, by
millions, which has made its way into scientific circles, which has
invaded
churches, and has found favor in legislative bodies, and even in the
courts
of kings--this mammoth deception is but a revival, in a new disguise, of
the
witchcraft condemned and prohibited of old.
557
{GC88 556.2}
If there were no other evidence of the real character of
Spiritualism,
it should be enough for the Christian that the spirits make no difference
between righteousness and sin, between the noblest and purest of the
apostles of Christ and the most corrupt of the servants of Satan. By
representing the basest of men as in Heaven, and highly exalted there,
Satan
says to the world: "No matter how wicked you are; no matter whether you
believe or disbelieve God and the Bible. Live as you please; Heaven is
your
home." The Spiritualist teachers virtually declare, "Every one that doeth
evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or,
Where
is the God of judgment?" [MAL. 2:17.] Saith the Word of God, "Woe unto
them
that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light
for darkness." [ISA. 5:20.] {GC88 557.1}
The apostles, as personated by these lying spirits, are made to
contradict what they wrote at the dictation of the Holy Spirit when on
earth. They deny the divine origin of the Bible, and thus tear away the
foundation of the Christian's hope, and put out the light that reveals the
way to Heaven. Satan is making the world believe that the Bible is a mere
fiction, or at least a book suited to the infancy of the race, but now to
be
lightly regarded, or cast aside as obsolete. And to take the place of the
Word of God he holds out spiritual manifestations. Here is a channel
wholly
under his control; by this means he can make the world believe what he
will.
The Book that is to judge him and his followers he puts in the shade, just
where he wants it; the Saviour of the world he makes to be no more than a
common man. And as the Roman guard that watched the tomb of Jesus spread
the
lying re****t which the priests and elders put into their mouths to
disprove
his resurrection, so do the believers in spiritual manifestations try to
make it appear that there is nothing miraculous in the cir***stances of
our
Saviour's life. After thus seeking
558
to put Jesus in the background, they call attention to their own miracles,
declaring that these far exceed the works of Christ. {GC88 557.2}
It is true that Spiritualism is now changing its form, and, veiling
some of its more objectionable features, is assuming a Christian guise.
But
its utterances from the platform and the press have been before the public
for nearly forty years, and in these its real character stands revealed.
These teachings cannot be denied or hidden. {GC88 558.1}
Even in its present form, so far from being more worthy of toleration
than formerly, it is really a more dangerous, because a more subtle
deception. While it formerly denounced Christ and the Bible, it now
professes to accept both. But the Bible is interpreted in a manner that is
pleasing to the unrenewed heart, while its solemn and vital truths are
made
of no effect. Love is dwelt upon as the chief attribute of God, but it is
degraded to a weak sentimentalism making little distinction between good
and
evil. God's justice, his denunciations of sin, the requirements of his
holy
law, are all kept out of sight. The people are taught to regard the
decalogue as a dead letter. Pleasing, bewitching fables captivate the
senses, and lead men to reject the Bible as the foundation of their faith.
Christ is as verily denied as before; but Satan has so blinded the eyes of
the people that the deception is not discerned. {GC88 558.2}
There are few who have any just conception of the deceptive power of
Spiritualism and the danger of coming under its influence. Many tamper
with
it, merely to gratify their curiosity. They have no real faith in it, and
would be filled with horror at the thought of yielding themselves to the
spirits' control. But they venture upon the forbidden ground, and the
mighty
destroyer exercises his power upon them against their will. Let them once
be
induced to submit their minds to his direction, and he holds them captive.
It is impossible, in their own strength, to break away from the
bewitching,
alluring spell. Nothing but the power of
559
God, granted in answer to the earnest prayer of faith, can deliver these
ensnared souls. {GC88 558.3}
All who indulge sinful traits of character, or willfully cherish a
known sin, are inviting the temptations of Satan. They separate themselves
from God and from the watchcare of his angels; as the evil one presents
his
deceptions, they are without defense, and fall an easy prey. Those who
thus
place themselves in his power, little realize where their course will end.
Having achieved their overthrow, the tempter will employ them as his
agents
to lure others to ruin. {GC88 559.1}
Says the prophet Isaiah: "When they shall say unto you, Seek unto
them
that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter:
should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To
the
law and to the testimony. If they speak not according to this word, it is
because there is no light in them." [ISA. 8:19, 20.] If men had been
willing
to receive the truth so plainly stated in the Scriptures, concerning the
nature of man and the state of the dead, they would see in the claims and
manifestations of Spiritualism the working of Satan with power and signs
and
lying wonders. But rather than yield the liberty so agreeable to the
carnal
heart, and renounce the sins which they love, multitudes close their eyes
to
the light, and walk straight on, regardless of warnings, while Satan
weaves
his snares about them, and they become his prey. "Because they received
not
the love of the truth, that they might be saved," therefore "God shall
send
them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie." [2 THESS. 2:10,
11.]
{GC88 559.2}
Those who oppose the teachings of Spiritualism are assailing, not men
alone, but Satan and his angels. They have entered upon a contest against
principalities and powers and wicked spirits in high places. Satan will
not
yield one inch of ground except as he is driven back by the power of
heavenly messengers. The people of God should be able
560
to meet him, as did our Saviour, with the words, "It is written." Satan
can
quote Scripture now as in the days of Christ, and he will pervert its
teachings to sustain his delusions. Those who would stand in this time of
peril must understand for themselves the testimony of the Scriptures.
{GC88
559.3}
Many will be confronted by the spirits of devils personating beloved
relatives or friends, and declaring the most dangerous heresies. These
visitants will appeal to our tenderest sympathies, and will work miracles
to
sustain their pretensions. We must be prepared to withstand them with the
Bible truth that the dead know not anything, and that they who thus appear
are the spirits of devils. {GC88 560.1}
Just before us is the "hour of temptation, which shall come upon all
the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." [REV. 3:10.] All whose
faith is not firmly established upon the Word of God will be deceived and
overcome. Satan "works with all deceivableness of unrighteousness" to gain
control of the children of men; and his deceptions will continually
increase. But he can gain his object only as men voluntarily yield to his
temptations. Those who are earnestly seeking a knowledge of the truth, and
are striving to purify their souls through obedience, thus doing what they
can to prepare for the conflict, will find, in the God of truth, a sure
defense. "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep
thee," [REV. 3:10.] is the Saviour's promise. He would sooner send every
angel out of Heaven to protect his people, than leave one soul that trusts
in him to be overcome by Satan. {GC88 560.2}
The prophet Isaiah brings to view the fearful deception which will
come
upon the wicked, causing them to count themselves secure from the
judgments
of God: "We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at
agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not
come unto us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under the falsehood
have
we hid ourselves." [ISA. 28:15.] In the class
561
here described are included those who in their stubborn impenitence
comfort
themselves with the assurance that there is to be no punishment for the
sinner; that all mankind, it matters not how corrupt, are to be exalted to
Heaven, to become as the angels of God. But still more emphatically are
those making a covenant with death and an agreement with hell, who
renounce
the truths which Heaven has provided as a defense for the righteous in the
day of trouble, and accept the refuge of lies offered by Satan in its
stead,-- the delusive pretensions of Spiritualism. {GC88 560.3}
Marvelous beyond expression is the blindness of the people of this
generation. Thousands reject the Word of God as unworthy of belief, and
with
eager confidence receive the deceptions of Satan. Skeptics and scoffers
denounce the bigotry of those who contend for the faith of prophets and
apostles, and they divert themselves by holding up to ridicule the solemn
declarations of the Scriptures concerning Christ and the plan of
salvation,
and the retribution to be visited upon the rejecters of the truth. They
affect great pity for minds so narrow, weak, and superstitious as to
acknowledge the claims of God, and obey the requirements of his law. They
manifest as much assurance as if, indeed, they had made a covenant with
death and an agreement with hell,--as if they had erected an impassable,
impenetrable barrier between themselves and the vengeance of God. Nothing
can arouse their fears. So fully have they yielded to the tempter, so
closely are they united with him, and so thoroughly imbued with his
spirit,
that they have no power and no inclination to break away from his snare.
{GC88 561.1}
Satan has long been preparing for his final effort to deceive the
world. The foundation of his work was laid by the assurance given to Eve
in
Eden, "Ye shall not surely die." "In the day ye eat thereof, then your
eyes
shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." [GEN.
3:4,
5.] Little by little he has prepared the way for his master-piece
562
of deception in the development of Spiritualism. He has not yet reached
the
full accomplishment of his designs; but it will be reached in the last
remnant of time. Says the prophet: "I saw three unclean spirits like
frogs;
.. . . 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." [REV. 16:13, 14.] Except those who are
kept by the power of God, through faith in his Word, the whole world will
be
swept into the ranks of this delusion. The people are fast being lulled to
a
fatal security, to be awakened only by the outpouring of the wrath of God.
{GC88 561.2}
Saith the Lord God: "Judgment also will I lay to the line, and
righteousness to the plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of
lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place. And your covenant
with
death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand;
when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden
down by it." [ISA. 28:17, 18.] {GC88 562.1}
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