Modern Spiritualism by W. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 3, 1910

Modern Spiritualism

By W. A. S.

Editorial

Modern Spiritualism. — Following the coming of the judgment hour in heaven, in 1844, the advent movement was fully developed, and began to carry to the world the last threefold message of Revelation 14. But of the last-day opposition to the truth, Paul had said: “Now as Jannes and Jambres [the Egyptian magicians] withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth.” And as though definitely timed to meet the development of the final phase of the work of God, Satan very soon after 1844 began the manifestations of modern Spiritualism, his final deception.

Under the Search-Light.— Our early pioneers at once noted the development. They had the “sure word of prophecy,”—that “light that shineth in a dark place,”—and the testimony of the spirit of prophecy, to guide them. And when all the world scoffed at those first spiritualistic manifestations, beginning in 1848, the clear witness was borne that there was a deep and sinister meaning to these things. In the first article Mrs. E. G. White ever contributed to our papers (in the Present Truth, August, 1849) was this testimony:—

I saw that the mysterious knocking in New York and other places was the power of Satan; and that such things would be more and more common, clothed in a religious garb, to lull the deceived to more security; and to draw the minds of God’s people, if possible, to those things, and cause them to doubt the teachings and power of the Holy Ghost.

And in the ADVENT REVIEW Extra, for September, 1850, a writer—evidently Hiram Edson—called attention to the prophecy of the rise of a miracle-working agency in connection with the development of the two-horned beast of Revelation, and referring to the Rochester rappings, said:—

Through these agencies Satan will work “with all power” and signs and lying wonders.” . . . Here we see that Isa. 8 : 19 is being fulfilled [seeking unto wizards, and to the dead for knowledge], just at this point of time when the law of God is being sealed “among my disciples” under the third angel’s message.

Fulfilling to the End.— In those days little was in evidence. But true to the witness borne by the spirit of prophecy and the early pioneers, that delusion has increased more and more, until the newspapers and journals of the world are filled with its teachings, and society and the popular churches are leavened with it. And it has knocked for entrance at the door of our own church, professing to bring us a wider, clearer view of the message, and carried off some souls into mysticism and darkness as it was turned back by the sure defense of the “sure word.” W. A. S.