p. 409 | An Ancient Prophecy about Spiritualism

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 16, 1868

An Ancient Prophecy about Spiritualism.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

In a writing which has come down to us from the early ages, I find the following passage: Speaking of the power of the Devil to work miracles, the writer says:—

“Those signs, therefore, which make for the benefit of men, and confer some good upon them, the wicked one cannot do, excepting only at the end of the world. For then it shall be permitted him to mix up with his signs some good ones, as the expelling of demons, or the healing of diseases; by this means going beyond his bounds, and being divided against himself, and fighting against himself, he shall be destroyed. And therefore the Lord has foretold that in the last times there shall be such temptations, that, if it were possible, the very elect should be deceived; that is to say, that by the marks, or ‘signs,’ being confused, even those must be disturbed who seem to be expert in discovering spirits and distinguishing miracles.”—Recognitions of Clement, Book III, Ch. 60, in Ante-Nicene Christian Library, Vol. III, p. 271.

This prophecy is certainly fulfilled before our eyes in the miracles of Spiritualism. They do heal the sick on some occasions, and do a few other good things, to blind the people, and lead them to ruin. But the end draws nigh. D. M. CANRIGHT.