Is Spiritualism Christ’s Coming?
A GREAT movement which has swept over the earth with marvelous rapidity during the last half century is what is called “Modern Spiritualism.” One of its prominent beginnings was with the Fox sisters in Hydesville, near Rochester, Western New York, in 1848. There were, however, manifestations before that of table levitations, responsive rappings, etc. But these had been confined to private circles, and never came before the public as did the “Rochester knockings,” the term used to designate the Fox sisters’ manifestations. Since then the movement has been laughed at, ridiculed, counterfeited. Yet more and more has it been connecting with it the interest and influence of men prominent in political, educational, scientific, and religious circles. Great claims are made for the future of the movement, and men declare that by it the immortality of the soul is demonstrated, and in various ways is it put in the place of Christ. In fact, some of its devotees look upon it as fulfilling the promise of Christ’s second coming, of opening up to mankind a great world of light and glory, and demonstrating the reality and blessing of the life beyond. That the testimony of Spiritism is not true concerning the dead is easily proved by the Bible, which declares: “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. “His sons come to honor, and he knoweth
it not;
And they are brought low, but he per-
ceiveth it not of them.” Job 14:21. More than this, God has expressly forbidden the seeking of information from such source: “And when they shall say unto you, Seek
unto them that have familiar spirits . . .
should not a people seek unto their God? on
behalf of the living should they seek unto
the dead? To the law and to the testimony!
if they speak not according to this word,
surely there is no morning for them.” Isa.
8:19, 20. Again: we are told by our Lord that in the last days men will declare that His coming is after the very manner of Spiritistic manifestations: “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo,
here is the Christ, or, Here; believe it not. For
there shall arise false christs. . . . If
therefore they shall say unto you, . . .
Behold, He is in the inner [secret] chambers;
believe it not.” Matt. 24:23-26. How will Christ come? The very heavens will be ablaze with His glory; “as the lightning cometh forth from the east, and is seen even unto the west; so shall be the coming of the Son of Man.” Matt. 24:27. In no secret chamber, in no medium’s cabinet, under no human limitations will Christ come the second time. In all the transcendent, immortal glory of eternal righteousness will He come, “and every eye shall see Him.”