The Lying Wonders of the Last Days.
By J. H. Cook
“For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Rev. 16 : 14. That there is an agency at work at the present time which claims to work miracles, is patent to all. But that they do possess that power is usually denied. But this text, with many others which might be quoted, plainly points out a miracle-working power that shall go forth to the kings of the earth and the whole world. From Adam down to the present time, the Spirit of God and the spirit of the devil have been in the world. The Spirit of God has had for its office, to lead men to the truth, and assist them in the work of developing heavenly characters. That of Satan has brought all his available forces to battle against the truth of God, and has ever waged a relentless warfare against God's chosen people. Both powers have, as circumstances seemed to demand it, wrought miracles. What, says one, the devil work miracles! Yes; we have a case at hand. The magicians who withstood Moses wrought miracles. Ex. 7 : 11. In Job 1 : 16, Satan is represented as having called fire down from heaven and burned up the sheep and servants and consumed them. In verse 19, he brings to his aid the winds of the wilderness. Surely this is a miracle-working power. But God also works miracles through the agency of good angels. Acts 12 : 7–10, 23; 1 Chron. 21 : 14, 15. But Satan is a fallen angel, and was cast out of Heaven with others, who joined with him in rebellion against the just and wise government of Heaven. 2 Pet. 2 : 4; Jude 6. Notwithstanding his fall, he is an angel still, and retains to a great degree all the powers of mind and body which belong to that high order of created intelligences. Angels of God render themselves visible or invisible at will. It is also said of Satan that he is transformed into an angel of light. 2 Cor. 11 : 14. Then he possesses a transforming power also. But we have before shown that Satan and his angels were cast out of Heaven. Hence they were originally a part of the heavenly family, Eph. 3 : 14, 15, and possess, except so far as weakened by the fall, all the faculties of mind and body that belong to the angels of God. That angels can impress, and by various means communicate with men, is a fact so universally admitted that we assume it to be true without an argument in its favor:69 The foregoing statements we think satisfactorily explain the various developments of Spiritualism. The angel of God appeared to Daniel, and presented to him in symbols four great beasts which, to Daniel, had all the appearance of real beasts, and yet they were not in fact real beasts, but symbols. To John, other symbols of beasts were presented, varying in some particulars, and with some additions not presented to Daniel, all having the appearance of life and activity. On the other side, Satan presents to Christ the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them in a moment of time. Probably this presentation was a landscape view, and had all the appearance of reality. And when he appeared to Eve, he came in the form of a beautiful serpent. Now if angels possess the power of presenting any image or symbol they desire at will, and giving it all the appearance of reality, so that it is indelibly impressed on the retina of the eye, is there any reason why the same symbols presented before the camera of the artist would not produce the same effect as the living subject, and that the object so presented would be re-produced on the camera! We think there is not. If the foregoing conclusions are correct, the only mystery connected with Spiritualists’ taking the likenesses of the dead would be that of angels’ possessing the power to present at will any image they desire. Certainly if they presented the images and views to which we referred, they could vary them at will, to an almost endless variety. And being acquainted with the dead of all past ages, they would know just what kind of an image to present to produce a picture bearing the features of the person called for, so as effectually to deceive the individual calling for the likeness of a dead friend, thus making persons believe that their friends were really present, when, in fact, the agency behind the curtain was only a fallen angel. Then we can say emphatically that they are the spirits of devils working miracles to deceive the nations of the earth. If the foregoing illustrations are correct, we are furnished with an explanation of all spiritual phenomena. If Satan could call fire from heaven, and the winds from the wilderness, who can say that he does not possess power to heal the sick, and perform many other wonders for the purpose of deceiving the people? Miracles are borne on the very front of the profession made by Spiritualists. Hence not only are their claims in harmony with the powers possessed by angels, but in harmony with the prophetic declarations on the same subject. And there is no excuse for individuals being led away by its influence, if they will investigate the Word of God. But the doctrine of Spiritualism abounds with pleasing fables, and the belief in the doctrine of the conscious state of the dead has paved the way for this great deception, and almost all are falling into line, and are being rushed through with impetuous speed. They are too busy to stop and think, too busy to investigate their Bibles, and, as the result, will be held in deception till their day is past and probation is ended.