the great controversy-第102章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


declare：　〃Everyone　that　doeth　evil　is　good　in　the　sight　of　the　Lord；　and　He
delighteth　in　them；　or；　Where　is　the　God　of　judgment？〃　Malachi　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。〃　Isaiah　5：20。

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
our　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　report　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　circumstances　of　our　Saviour's　life。
After　thus　seeking　to　put　Jesus　in　the　background；　they　call　attention　to
their　own　miracles；　declaring　that　these　far　exceed　the　works　of　Christ。

It　is　true　that　spiritualism　is　now　changing　its　form　and；　veiling　some　of
its　more　objectionable　features；　is　assuming

558

a　Christian　guise。　But　its　utterances　from　the　platform　and　the　press　have
been　before　the　public　for　many　years；　and　in　these　its　real　character
stands　revealed。　These　teachings　cannot　be　denied　or　hidden。

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。

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　God；　granted　in　answer　to　the
earnest　prayer　of　faith；　can　deliver　these　ensnared　souls。

All　who　indulge　sinful　traits　of　character；　or　willfully　cherish　a　known
sin；　are　inviting　the　temptations　of　Satan。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　559

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。

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。〃　Isaiah　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　Thessalonians　2：10；
11。

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　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。

560


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。

Just　before　us　is　〃the　hour　of　temptation；　which　shall　come　upon　all　the
world；　to　try　them　that　dwell　upon　the　earth。〃　Revelation　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〃　（verse　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。

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　falsehood　have　we　hid
ourselves。〃　Isaiah　28：15。　In　the　class　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

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　561

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
steadthe　delusive　pretensions　of　spiritualism。

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。

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。〃　Genesis　3：4；　5。
Little　by　little　he　has　prepared　the　way　for　his　masterpiece　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

562

unto　the　kings　of　the　earth　and　of　the　whole　world；　to　gather　them　to　the
battle　of　that　great　day　of　God　Almighty。〃　Revelation　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。

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。〃　Isaiah　28：17；　18。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（563）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　35

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Liberty　of　Conscience　Threatened


Romanism　is　now　regarded　by　Protestants　with　far　greater　favor　than　in
former　years。　In　those　countries　where　Catholicism　is　not　in　the　ascendancy；
and　the　papists　are　taking　a　conciliatory　course　in　order　to　gain　influence；
there　is　an　increasing　indifference　concerning　the　doctrines　that　separate
the　reformed　chur