Its Mission to the World by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 10, 1912

Its Mission to the World

By F. M. W.

Spiritualism

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1.

SPIRITUALISM stands before the world to-day as one of the most remarkable religious movements of the last century. Attended by many remarkable phenomena, it has spread from its humble beginning in 1848 till now it numbers its believers by the millions. All classes are represented in its following. Men of letters and of science, lawyers, physicians, and even ministers of the gospel, are believers in its doctrines and its manifestations.

Its Mission to the World

What is its rank and classification among the religious movements of the present day? May we believe its teachings and accept its representations? The foundation-stone of this great system is belief in the immortality of the soul. Its mission, as stated in its literature and expressed by its leading exponents, is to convince the world that the dead are conscious, and that they have power to communicate with the living. Does this belief have a basis in the Scriptures of truth? Does Spiritualism bear the divine credentials? It requires only a casual examination of the Bible to demonstrate that the fundamental claim of this great system is wholly without foundation or authority.

The Nature of Man

In this life man possesses a mortal, dying nature. Note the following positive declarations of Scripture:—

1. Man is called mortal. Job 4:17.

2. God only has immortality. 1 Tim. 6:15, 16.

3. Immortality is brought to light through the gospel, and consequently will be bestowed only on those who accept the gospel. 2 Tim. 1:10.

4. Immortality, instead of being possessed by man at the present time, is set before him as a thing to be sought after. Rom. 2:7.

5. Immortality is not bestowed upon any class of men in this life or at death, but is to be given to the righteous at the end of the world. 1 Cor. 15:51-55.

The Dead Unconscious

When man dies, instead of going to heaven or to hell, or to some intermediate state, he passes into a condition of unconscious sleep, with the grave as his house. Says the patriarch Job: “But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?” “So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!” Job 14:10, 12, 13.

The Scriptures plainly declare that the dead are in an unconscious state till the day of resurrection.

1. During this period they neither love, nor hate, nor envy. Eccl. 9:5, 6.

2. They have no knowledge of anything that takes place on this earth. Job 14:20, 21.

3. They are incapable of exercising any thought whatsoever. Ps. 146:3, 4.

4. There will come a time in God’s providence, in the day of resurrection, when the dead, both righteous and wicked, shall be awakened out of their sleep. John 5:28, 29; 2 Thess. 4:16-18.

In the light of these statements of Scripture, it is clearly evident that the claim of Spiritualism, that the dead have power to communicate with the living, has no foundation in the Word of God. This, at the outset, stamps this great movement as at variance with the standard of truth.

But if the dead are unconscious, and thus unable to communicate with the living, on what basis shall we account for the supernatural phenomena attending the manifestations of this spiritualistic movement?

The Spirit of Evil

Throughout the history of the human family, and as clearly revealed in the Sacred Record, two principles—good and evil—have been at work. Both have wrought by supernatural power. One has been the representation of God in the world, the divine spirit of truth. The other has been the spirit which has wrought in the children of disobedience. One inspired the Word, and works always in harmony with its teachings. The other denies the Word, and counterworks the plans and purposes of God.

From the comparison of the great fundamental doctrine of Spiritualism with the Scriptures, it is not difficult to determine its classification. It is the modern manifestation of the great principle of evil which for long ages has sought to enthrall the minds of men. And it has ever borne a message purporting to come from the dead, and thus sought to establish the doctrine that the dead are not dead, and that the wages of sin is not death.

The First Recorded Falsehood

In the beginning of its work in the world, the same as at the present time, Spiritualism heralded as its mission to men the proclamation of the doctrine that death only ushers man into a higher state of existence. When God announced to our first parents in the garden of Eden that if they transgressed, they should “surely die,” the serpent declared, “Ye shall not surely die, . . . ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” From this first recorded falsehood, Spiritualism has grown. Through all the centuries since the fall, we can trace its winding path in the religions of the pagan world.

Ancient Spiritualism

Under the guise of necromancy, which Webster defines as “pretended communication with the dead,” sorcery, witchcraft, magic, consulting with familiar spirits, and the like, it was represented among the heathen nations of the ancient world, and had a standing even in the courts of kings. See Dan. 2:2. It led to ancestor-worship, hero-worship

and to the deification of the dead. Later, when the Christian church had lost its purity and become corrupted with the principles and practises of heathenism, it was incorporated into the Christian faith.

Against this great evil system the prophets of God in every age have sounded earnest warning. The practise of these mystic arts was declared to be an abomination, and was prohibited among the children of Israel. The practise of witchcraft was punishable with death. See Deut. 18:10, 11; Ex. 22:18.

A Subject of Prophecy

Modern Spiritualism, moreover, is a subject of prophecy. God foresaw that in the last days its influence would become so potent for evil that special warning would be needed. In his first letter to Timothy the apostle Paul writes: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” 1 Tim. 4:1. In the thirteenth chapter of Revelation Spiritualism is represented as a miracle-working power of the last days, which by its wonders would deceive those that dwell on the earth, leading them to unite in opposing God and fighting his truth. See verses 13, 14.

The Spirits of Devils

In Rev. 16:13, 14, this same agency is again represented. In this scripture it is plainly declared to be the working of the spirits of devils, who go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, performing miracles to deceive and ensnare their votaries.

The movement of modern Spiritualism answers fully to this prophetic delineation. It is fast doing the work which the prophecy declared it would accomplish.

Appeals to Human Emotion

And by what more effective means could Spiritualism accomplish its work than through the appeal it makes to the fears and the fancies, the affections and the afflictions, of the human family? Every home has lost some loved one. Satan and the hosts of fallen angels under his command are well acquainted with the characteristics of the departed. They are able to personate the form and features. They can speak in the same tone of voice. Knowing every incident in the life of the dead, they can speak of the secrets which existed between the departed and his friends. By these means they present evidence which appeals to every natural sense. It was in this manner that Satan deceived Saul, the king of Israel, in representing himself to be Samuel the prophet. 1 Sam. 28:6-14.

Honest People Deceived

In the same manner he is ensnaring thousands at the present time. Many of these are excellent people who unwittingly have been led into this great error. These need to have pointed out to them the dangers and the deceptive delusions into which they have fallen. They will gladly welcome enlightenment.

The Great Test

Against this appeal which satanic representation makes to man’s natural senses and sympathies, stands the word of divine revelation: “There shall not be found among you any one . . . that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord.” Deut. 18:10-12. “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything.” Eccl. 9:5. “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” Ps. 146:3, 4. “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23. There is life beyond the grave only through Christ. We stand to-day face to face with the same test which confronted our first parents in the garden of Eden. Shall we believe the word of God or the representation of the great deceiver?

Found Wanting

“And 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.

By this supreme test, Spiritualism is found wanting. It stands revealed in its true character as unscriptural and anti-christian, as the work of the great deceiver and adversary of souls rather than the work of any agency that is interested in the welfare of man either in this world or in the world to come.

F. M. W.