IS THERE DANGER? by Clarence Santee

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 10, 1904

IS THERE DANGER?

By Clarence Santee

Is there danger of those who are looking for Christ's coming being deceived by the manifestations of Spiritism? The fact that some are already losing their bearings—some who have seemed strong in the past—by seeing the miracles and outward display of power, makes it evident that there is great danger.

Satan presents his temptations in so many ways that no man will meet them in the way he expects to. There is no man who has explored the length and breadth of this Satanic agency. So no man is safe in resting his confidence upon his present knowledge. We meet many earnest Christians, our brethren and sisters, who seem greatly troubled over the lack of power and miracle-working among us. It is to this class I dedicate these lines especially. What is the sure foundation? God will work wonders among His people as a blessing of love and deliverance from present affliction. The prayer of faith has never ascended in vain. But God does not promise wonders or miracles as a test of truth. This is evident from the statement made by the Spirit of God in 2 Thess. 2:9. First we have the injunction in the third verse, "Let no man deceive you by any means." "Any means," covers all the means Satan can use. Then verse 9 says that Satan will work with "all power and signs and lying wonders." This word "all" applies to "signs" and "lying wonders" equally with "power." It can only be read, "with all power" and all "signs" and all "lying wonders." Then if Satan will work with "all power," will there be some grade of power that will especially point to the true God?—You can see there will be none. Power will not be a test of faith. This can certainly be seen from the fact that Satan will use "all power" in his deceptions.

"Signs" can not be pointed to as evidence of the truth. God has warned us that Satan will use all signs. Then if Satan uses the same signs, and all of them, that God uses as a means of blessing and comfort to them that

believe, can you not see that God's truth must decide the nature of the sign or miracle, and not that the sign or miracle must decide where the truth exists? So, then, outward power and miracle working can not be a sign. Then do not be deceived by this, which is one of the "any means" that will be used to cause the child of God to be lost.

Elijah's day will come back to God's children. Mal. 4:5. John came in "the spirit and power of Elijah." In him we have a second representation of those who will live when the last message is given.

What was the nature of their work?

When accused of troubling Israel, Elijah answered, "I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord." 1 Kings 18:17, 18. Obedience to the commandments of the Lord was the burden of Elijah's message.

When Elijah stood upon Mount Horeb after his journey of forty days (1 Kings 19:8) the Lord gave him a test as to his discernment of the true presence of God. "A great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks." Here was outward power; but we are told, "The Lord was not in the wind." So outward power was no test with Him. Then came an earthquake, but "the Lord was not in the earthquake." Then came a fire, which is so often used as a symbol of extreme earnestness and fervency, as well as a stupendous miracle; but "the Lord was not in the fire." Then there followed a still, small voice,—the very opposite of miraculous working, of outward power; but tho so still and small, it was the word of God. This caused Elijah at once to wrap his face in his mantle, and acknowledge the presence of the Lord.

Elijah had seen the multitudes gathered upon Mount Carmel, a strong resistless tide in favor of Baal worship, led by nearly a thousand of his ministers. He had seen them pray, with loud crying and tears, "O Baal, hear us." He had seen them leap upon the altar, cutting themselves until "the blood gushed out upon them," showing that in their zeal they were willing to take their place by the victim which had been cut in pieces and laid upon the altar. He had seen the armies of converts to the "new faith," while it seemed to himself that he was left alone a worshiper of the true God. But he closed his eyes and ears to all these, and repairing the old broken-down altar, he prayed the Lord to let the people know that he had "done all these things at Thy word." The "word of God" was his all, and it prevailed.

Said God, "I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord." Mal. 4:5. Closing their ears and eyes to all outward signs, there will be found, just before the Lord comes, those holding up the commandments of God, and letting all know that they have "done all these things at Thy word."

John the Baptist came "in the spirit and power of Elijah." Not something resembling it, but the same thing. What was the character of his work?—The people "were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins"—transgressions of the law. Matt. 3:6. "John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying 'unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." Acts 19:4. So the burden of John's message was "the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus."

He had a message of preparation for the coming Saviour. He did not depend on outward manifestations. It was witnessed of him, "John did no miracle; but all things that John spake of this Man were true." John 10:41. Thus the spirit and power that went with the teaching of Elijah and John was that which was alone in the truth. "All things that John spake . . . were true." Yet, with "no miracle" he was "more than a prophet." Luke 7:26.

When the same power is again seen, will it be the opposite of what was seen then?—Certainly not. It will be the same. The "Word" is more potent than all outward manifestations. After speaking of what he had seen with his eyes, and heard with his ears, Peter says, "We have also a more sure word of prophecy." Can it be more sure than the seeing of our eyes, or the hearing of our ears? How often these have deceived us. No two see a thing exactly alike. We have heard men argue over the things they had heard as to which had heard aright. But the "sure word of prophecy" was given by "holy men of God who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Peter 1:21.

This word never changes. It contains the power, the signs, the wonders, that can not be counterfeited by Satan and his agents. That power in all its fulness, the signs, the wonders, are seen in the turning of an outbreaking sinner to complete, restful obedience to the commandments of God. That is the miracle of all miracles. Satan can not accomplish one so wonderful. His devotees will show all degrees of humility, consecration, zeal, and all these things at times, but the heart is not changed. No man can see the heart, and the outward evidence is not sure. So we see the utter worthlessness of looking to some earthly object for the expression of the truths of God. They are found alone in the "Word." It is sure.

Christ testified, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, tho one rose from the dead." Luke 16:31. Seeing will never change the heart. It is changed by faith. Christ dwells there by faith.

But to-day, as in Elijah's day, there is a tendency to seek after that which allures the outward senses. If one should seemingly raise a person from the dead, people would rush from every part to see that wonderful healer.

Yet a belief in the Word of God is thought of little value by the same persons. The Word of God alone will attest the value or the delusion of all miracles. A Christian should not go to see or hear the wonder-workers of the present day. The Saviour, seeing the tendency in the human heart to seek after the marvelous, has given a safe rule for those who will hear His word. "If they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert, go not forth, behold, He is in the secret chambers, believe it not." Matt. 24:26. Then He makes it more general, and says, "If any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, He is there, believe it not." Mark 13:21.

What will be the evidence that will be given to convince you that Christ is "here," or "there"?—It will be miracles.

Well, shall we not go and test them?

Christ says, "Go not forth."

"I am certain that I, who 'know present truth,' am secure."

"Go not forth."

"I do not believe we can have an influence with these people unless we go and hear them."

Still He says, "Go not forth."

My brother, my sister, do you suppose the Saviour knows your strength, your ability to stand firm, as well as you do yourself? When some person shall say that He is here or there, Christ says that you are to "believe him not." If you are not to "believe him," it is because it is not true. If it is not true, then the work is a deception. Christ is not there. The sad part is, the very elect themselves will be in danger from the fact that the demonstrations will be with so much earnestness, devotion, and seeming self-surrender that this class will feel that it is akin to blasphemy to decide that Christ is not leading.

How, then, can we be safe? First, when you are invited to go to hear or see them, "go not." The Lord commands it, and in obedience you are safe. I have known souls to fall into the snare, become confused, and give up the truth by going. I have never known this class of temptations to drag down a single soul who never went near them.

If Christ is not there,—and He says He is not,—why do you want to go? Second, if you ever hear in mind that the only reason you are in this world to associate with any one, is to carry to them God's saving truth, you will have no inclination to follow after these last-day wonders. One has well said: "If God has any new light to communicate, He will let His chosen and beloved understand it, without their going to have their minds enlightened by hearing those who are in darkness and error." "I saw that neither young nor old should attend their meetings. . . . The influence of such gatherings is not good. . . . The angels cease their watchful care over us, and we are left to the buffetings of the enemy." Early Writings, Supplement, pp. 37, 38.

This agrees with the injunction of Christ, "Go not forth." If they say Christ is there, "believe it not." The angels also "believe it not." This is the reason that they leave us to pursue our course unattended if we persist in going forth. Angels are not safe where Christ is not. Then how about you and me? Let the days of Elijah and John come back in your heart and mine, and in this way we will assist in fulfilling one of the last signs that will herald the coming of the Saviour.

Fernando, Cal.