HEALING NOT A SIGN

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 11, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 37.

HEALING NOT A SIGN.

LET it be understood once for all that the mere healing of the sick is no sign or evidence that the one or ones who heal are doing God's work or presenting God's truth.

If healing the sick is evidence of a divine mission, then the healing mediums of “Spiritualism,” hypnotic healers, magnetic healers, “Christian Science” physicians, Mr. Dowie of Chicago, and others, have good claims to present, and evidences to prove their claim. Even now men are saying of more or less of these as was said of one of old, “This man is the great power of God.” Acts 8:10.

We would not for a moment intimate that there is not divine healing; there is; there has been since sickness came through the curse of sin. In regular ways, in wonderful, marvelous ways, has God healed the sick; and He has given to His church His gift of healing power, if by faith and holy living they will use it to His glory. But the manifestation of healing power or wonder-working is not the evidence that God is with the worker.

The apostle Paul declares that in the last days, just before Christ's coming, Satan will work “with ‘all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all ‘deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish.’” 2 Thess. 2:9, 10. Now all power, and signs, and lying wonders must include that of healing after which the whole great sick world is seeking, the most of whom do not question as to the character of the means. Again we read that last-day wonders are wrought by the spirits of demons “working miracles.” Rev. 16:13, 14. And Jesus tells us that many will come to Him in that day, saying, “Lord, Lord, ‘did we not prophesy by Thy name, and by Thy ‘name cast out devils, and by thy name do many ‘mighty works? And then will I profess unto them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, ye that work ‘iniquity.’” Matt. 7:22, 23.

These passages show clearly two things, (1) that there will be many last-day signs and miracles wrought, among them healing, which are not of God; and (2) that the true and only test is obedience to God's holy law. Those who are guilty of “iniquity,” lawlessness, law-breaking, will not be known of Him. Healing of the body is important; healing of the soul, bringing the character in harmony with God, is infinitely more important. One may follow a “healer” to eternal death.