An Age of Delusions by William Ambrose Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 7, 1910

An Age of Delusions

By William Ambrose Spicer

WHILE the keen and critical intellectualism of the time scorns the simplicity of faith, it feeds upon superstition. Under the full light of the twentieth century, the world that repudiates Bible truth is at the same time ready to follow hard after the delusions of bygone ages of darkest heathenism.

Only the other day, the police authorities of New York commented on the many thousands of dollars being paid every year in that city, by intelligent people, to astrologers, necromancers, and other dealers in magical arts.

The Theosophic Messenger for March (Chicago) has a report of the annual Theosophical convention in Benares, India, last December, attended by representatives from Europe, America, Australia, and all parts of India and the East. Mrs. Besant, the president, unveiled a portrait of a former member, Damodar, who is said to have disappeared mysteriously many years ago. The report says:—

His disappearance put the society in a very awkward position, but it was alleged by the members that he had gone to the snowy peaks of the Himalayas to work under the masters who are said to be behind the movement, and to fit himself for the work in the society. There is a strong rumor here that he will return in a few months to take up the work in the society, and in the same body.

One may say that this is all in perfect harmony with local conditions,—in Benares, the seat of hoary Hinduism. But this is only one of the crude phases of modern mysticism. It has its intellectual and humanitarian side, and its philosophy of the higher life. This same Mrs. Besant—a woman of highest culture—lectured through America last summer. She announced the purpose of her campaign:—

My message is very simple. “Prepare for the coming Christ.” We stand at the cradle of a new subrace, and each race or subrace has its own Messiah. Hermes is followed by Zoroaster; Zoroaster by Orpheus; Orpheus by Buddha; Buddha by Christ. We now await with confidence a manifestation of the Supreme Teacher of the world, who was last manifested in Palestine. Everywhere in the West, not less than in the East, the heart of man is throbbing with the glad expectation of the new avatar.

It is a suggestive declaration; for we know that before Christ appears in the clouds of heaven, Satan himself is to come, with all power and signs and lying wonders, as the great humanitarian and benefactor of men. The gospel of his coming is to precede him. And this we have in the revival of mysticism and disguised and open Spiritualism that is sweeping over the world.

The leaven of the New Thought idea is but the old leaven of heathen philosophy, modified and intensified to meet the times. In an essay on Indian thought, Jean Delaire wrote some time ago in the London National Review (September, 1908):—

Thus India has apparently still a mission to fulfil, for her thought is slowly beginning to mold the thought of Europe and of America; our keenest minds are to-day studying her philosophy; our “New Theology” is founded upon the old, old Vedanta.

Truly, new and old are commingling. In an age of the highest scientific attainment, we are to see the fullest development of soul-destroying delusions. Because men receive not “the love of the truth,” they are to fall under the “strong delusion.” 2 Thess. 2:8-11. This time of the master working of Satan, so long foretold, is upon us.

And these warnings of the Word of God for such a time are not merely for us to pass on to others. With the true form and doctrine of truth in the third angel’s message, we must preserve in the soul also “the love of the truth” in order to be kept safely under the shadow of the Almighty. The one who drew angels into his snare from before the throne of God, is come down in great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time, and will war in a special way against the remnant church “which keep

the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

He will never truly label his delusions, and is set, if possible, to deceive the very elect. In recent years some of the phases of this spiritualistic philosophy, with variations, have been urged among us as a call to higher ground in the advent message; and the stand against it brought on a crisis in our work. Thank God, the great body of our people stood true to the definite message and to the Word of God, refusing to be led off from the pathway of the advent people that runs from the days of 1844 straight onward to the gates of the city of God.

But the deadly germs of the evil thing are all abroad. Christendom, according to the prophecy, is being “replenished from the East.” Isa. 2:6. If our eyes could see spiritual wickedness, we would see Satan spreading his fine-spun web of old and new deceptions over all the earth—“the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations.” Isa. 25:7.

This is the covering that the Lord promises to destroy by the brightness of his coming. “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us.” Verse 9. As the darkness deepens, the light of the blessed hope shines brighter and brighter. The end of all things is close at hand. W. A. S.