SPIRITUALISM | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 15, 1899

SPIRITUALISM.

What It Claims to Be; The Bible Definition of It; Is It a Subject of Prophecy?

What It Claims to Be.

SPIRITUALISM claims to reveal the unknown by means of communication with the spirits of the dead. Says Mr. Hudson Tuttle: "During the comparatively brief period that systematic communication with the spirit world has been made possible, millions have been convinced that they have received messages from their departed friends." Every chamber of the "unknown" into which the Spiritualist seeks to enter, is invariably by the doorway of communion with the "spirits of the dead." This fact is uncontroverted, and to state it is all that is necessary.

The Bible Definition.

Mankind quite generally has been led to believe that an immortal spirit leaves the body at death to enter the invisible world, and in that realm knows not only what is to be known, but is also fully aware of what is transpiring on earth. But it has not been proven that man is in possession of such a spirit. Nevertheless, since it has been so generally taught and believed that there is consciousness in death, is it any marvel that such a class of persons as the Spiritualists should arise, and seek to communicate with the dead?

But the Bible plainly says that "the dead know not anything." Eccl. 9:5. Also please read carefully the following texts: Ps. 146:2-4; Ps. 6:4, 5; Job 14:10-12; John 5:28, 29; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 15:51-54. From the reading of the foregoing texts, it is very evident that man quietly sleeps in the grave, wholly oblivious to what is transpiring anywhere, till the time comes for the voice of the Son of God to arouse him from his slumber of death. And the idea that it is possible to converse with the dead is most assuredly a mistake.

Then has the medium's claim of spirit communication no foundation? and is it all simply some tricks of human devising? By no means! But the Bible makes it plain that these spirits that answer the call of the medium are not the spirits of the dead, and the same Book also throws some rays of light on what they really are.

The comforting truth is presented in the Word of God that heavenly angels are sent to minister to the heirs of salvation. Read the following texts upon the subject: Heb. 1:7, 14; 2 Kings 6:16, 17; 19:35; Ps. 34:7; Dan. 6:22; Ps. 91:11; Matt. 18:10; Acts 12:7-11. Many other texts will doubtless come to the mind of the reader, but no more need be added to show that God has a multitude of good angels working with Him for the salvation of mankind.

We also learn that there were angels who sinned (2 Peter 2:4), and that kept not their first estate (Jude 6). The chief of these fallen angels is Satan, and Christ represents him as having a kingdom (Matt. 12:26); he is called the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2). Satan is a pure Hebrew word transferred to the English language, and is defined as "an adversary," "an enemy," "an accuser." Hence the kingdom over which he presides is devoted to evil.

The Master speaks of the devil as a murderer and liar from the beginning. John 8:44. The work of this whole kingdom of evil spirits over which Satan presides is devoted to deception. Rev. 16:14. In 2 Thess. 2:8-12 we are told that Satan is to work with all power and lying wonders in his final great deceptions.

We conclude, then, that the facts are clearly established:—

(a) That there are good angels who visit us to assist us in leading lives of purity and holiness.

(b) That there are angels who sinned and are now devoted to evil.

(c) And as the one visits us for purposes of good, so the other is constantly seeking to deceive the children of men, and lead them into evil.

(d) The spirit that comes to the medium represents itself as being a dead friend, but it has been shown by the Bible that the dead are unconscious, and consequently unable to respond to the call of the medium. The conclusion is therefore unavoidable that the spirit controlling the medium is a fallen angel working to deceive.

A Subject of Prophecy.

The development and spreading of Spiritualism during the last half century is phenomenal. What does it indicate? For an answer read Matt. 24:24; 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Thess. 2:8-12. By reading the context from which these scriptures are taken, it is clearly to be seen that the second coming of Christ and the "latter times" is the theme under consideration. And the texts just cited show conclusively that the deceptions of Satan in wonder-working power are one of the signs to show us when the Saviour's coming is near.

It was formerly considered that only the ignorant and superstitious could be led away into Spiritualism. But nowadays the Spiritualists publish among their adherents long lists of the crowned heads and nobility of the Old World, as well as the names of men and women in every quarter of the earth noted for their learning and prominent positions. Read Rev. 16:13, 14, and see how clearly it is being fulfilled in the facts just stated. As has been shown, the devils or fallen angels are devoted to the work of deception, and their skill in this direction becomes so great that it is found to be one of the marked signs of the coming of Christ and the end of time. But in their deceptions they do not appear as evil angels, but would fain make us believe that they are "angels of light." See 2 Cor. 11:14.

Rev. 16:13, 14, already referred to, says that these spirits of devils go to the kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battle of the great day of God Almighty. The expression, "the kings of the earth," shows very plainly that the men at the very head of society and affairs will be among the enticed.

We now have before our minds, in a few Scripture texts, the predictions. What do we see about us? Our papers contain daily announcements of Spiritualistic meetings that are being largely attended by the leading men of the world, as well as those in humbler positions. And not only are we met with these meetings, but our leading papers and magazines are continually discussing the so-called "spirit phenomena." The articles may not always purport to be discussing Spiritualism, but will treat of hypnotism, psychology, mesmerism, telepathy, Christian Science, etc., etc. These words, however, should be as fully identified with Spiritualism as the word "Spiritualism" itself.

It must be clearly evident to the seeker for truth that the scriptures cited in the foregoing pages show that the second coming of Christ is to be immediately preceded by the mighty working of the fallen angels. All their arts of cunning deception will be used to lead men to eternal ruin. But God in His Word has put us on our guard so that we need not be deceived.

Reader, let us carefully study the Word of God so that we may know what these things mean, and thus be prepared to escape the deception. Jesus is coming again soon, and if we give ourselves to Him now, and let Him teach us by His Word, He will prepare us to meet every deception, and to stand with Him at last. Amid the difficulties and wonder-working deceptions of this time, Jesus, the loving Redeemer, is a tower of refuge and strength. Let us accept Him now, that we may be ready at His coming to enter into His eternal joys. T.