INVITING DECEPTION

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 25, 1901

INVITING DECEPTION.

It would seem bad enough for people to be deceived, to be led to believe that which is not so, or to follow a path which leads only to loss and ruin. Are not such people entitled to our commiseration? But what shall we say of one who invites the deception, one who unites with the rank and file of the American people, who, as Barnum used to say, “like to be humbugged”? or one who, according to a common expression, “tempts the devil to tempt him”? Such a one certainly has no one to blame but himself for his deception.

But a great deception is before the world, and many seem to be preparing for, and even inviting, it. In reading the New Testament, one cannot fail to be impressed with the fact that in connection with the first advent of Christ, there was wonderful activity among unclean spirits. By their outcries in the presence of Christ, they showed their expectancy and their anxiety. They said, “What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?” Matt. 8: 29.

Now we are nearing another advent of Christ, the last one. So, now, too, there is unwonted activity in the spirit world. The workings of modern Spiritualism are a repetition of the scenes of spirit-possession as they were seen in Christ’s day. As a sample of their claims as well as of their blasphemous utterances, we refer to the following fact: Speaking of the “Key to the Supernatural,” one who made an address at the General Conference of Spiritualists, in London, England, a short time ago, said: “That key is in the hands of the Spiritualist, who sees clearly enough that the man Jesus was a supreme medium, who lived so near to the spirit world and to the spirit forces, that our ‘supernatural’ was his ‘natural,’ as to some others it has been since, and may be again, and whose so-called ‘resurrection’ was only his supreme ability to present himself in a temporarily materialized form to his disciples. All this is to the Spiritualist perfectly plain, and what he offers is a perfect key.”

According to this speaker, there have been “since Christ’s day some supreme mediums; and there may be such again.” This, to our view, is a key to the deception that is coming. We have been forewarned that before Christ actually appears the second time, an impersonator will appear. Who is this, and how will he appear? He belongs to that class called “false Christs and false prophets,” who will appear and “show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matt. 24: 24. Who would naturally be more interested, active, and efficient in this work than the great arch-deceiver himself? It is he whom Paul associates with the same work, in 2 Thess. 2: 10–12, when Christ is about to be revealed, and of whom John says that he comes down at last upon the “inhabiters of the earth,” in a great burst of deceptive wrath, “because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Rev. 12: 12.

The book called “The Great Controversy between Christ and Satan” describes the scenes of the closing time of trouble, and the dangers and deceptions to which the saints will then be exposed. In the light of what we have read from the Scriptures, we are not, therefore, surprised to find in the “Great Controversy” these words:— “As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The Church has long professed to look to the Saviour’s advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men, as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air, ‘Christ has come! Christ has come!’ The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands, and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His disciples when he was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the gracious heavenly truths which the Saviour uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in the assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering, delusion. Like the Samaritans who were deceived by Simon Magus, the multitudes, from the least to the greatest, give heed to these sorceries, saying, This is* the ‘great power of God.’ Acts 8: 10.

Such is the deception that is coming upon the world, when Satan closes up his wonder-working power in the earth, which, if it were possible, would deceive the very elect. The climax of this work is to be the appearance of Satan, impersonating Christ, and claiming to be himself Christ. Now when men are expecting some manifestation of this kind, under the impression that it is to be something of an entirely different nature from what it is, will not the way be completely prepared for the deception? and by fixing their mind upon it, and expecting it, will they not be inviting it? Would they not be ready to believe whatever might be presented? And this is just the position the world is in to-day.

Remarking on that key to the supernatural spoken of above, which Spiritualists claim to have in their hands, a writer remarks: “There is no doubt but Spiritualists are looking for some one to come who will lift the veil and reveal the whole matter.” That one will be Satan, claiming to be Christ; and what he will reveal will be the great deception which will involve them in their ruin. Take warning.