"Can ye not Discern the Signs of the Times?"
By E. R. Seaman
In keeping pace with the fulfillment of prophecy and signs of the times, it may not be inappropriate to notice some of the spiritual manifestations which are now being realized in the churches of our land, as illustrative of the predictions of 2 Thess. ii, xi; Rev. xviii, 4. The Spiritual Telegraph for Feb. 11th, has a communication from Mr. J. W. Killgore, of Como, Tenn., concerning a protracted meeting held by the Baptist denomination of that place, at which a young lady was rendered speechless, with her muscles cramped and rigid, and her eyes partly closed and set in their sockets. After continuing in this state some half an hour, she returned to her former condition, with feelings of most perfect happiness. The next night she experienced the same, but when she returned to her natural state her motion and her appearance were totally different from what they had been the evening previous. She was not happy now as before, much cramped, appeared to labor hard to express her feelings, but mournful gutturals were all that she could utter. The writer further says that he has no doubt but that she was under the influence of spirits, and accounts for the change the second time, by its being the operation of an inferior spirit. He says, also, that such demonstrations are by no means uncommon at revival meetings. He closes by expressing wonder that his orthodox friends yet doubt in relation to these spiritual manifestations. While these false reformations are in progress through the land, we may expect to hear of and perhaps witness similar delusions of satan; for we are evidently in the chronology of the time spoken of by Malachi (Chap. iii, 15,) when even they that tempt God are delivered. But their children (converts) are short-lived, as we find by comparing this text with Hos. v, 7; for they shall beget strange children. For after the excitement is past, "one month" shall devour them with their portions. Many no doubt, are honestly deceived by these false guides, and may perhaps be eventually saved under the loud cry of the third angel. Satan's work is to undermine the foundation of the Christian's hope, and deceive if it were possible the very elect. Hence he will work with all power and signs and lying wonders. One reason why they are called lying wonders is because the legitimate38agents of them are not what they represent themselves to be, viz., the spirits of departed friends and relatives. They come with a lie in their mouth. The spirit of man is not immortal, as many vainly suppose; but the words spirit and breath of man are synonymous, as we find in Job xvii, 1. My breath is corrupt, in the margin, spirit. Also in Chap. xxvii, 3. The spirit of God is in my nostrils, margin, breath. The common atmosphere we receive from God inflates the lungs, and gives heat and life to the system. Therefore we can more plainly understand what the Psalmist means when he declares that man's breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Also, Job xiv, 12, speaking of death the common portion of man, says: "So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep." No consciousness then to the dead in any sense of the word until a certain period; viz., "until the heavens be no more." Peter informs us that it is at the Second Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will then with a shout, the voice of the archangel and the trump of God call forth the sleeping saints. But the rest of the dead live not again until a thousand years after. We need not therefore, look for any one that has died to come back and move tables &c., until the Lord comes at least, then we believe their time will be occupied in a higher and holier work of ascribing honor and praise to him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever. The word of God ought to silence every Spiritualist in the land, and would, if they were not given over to believe a lie, that they all might be damned that believe not the truth; which truth specially relates to the much slighted and despised doctrine of the glorious appearing of the Son of man. In view of these mighty wonders which are threatening to drown the world with their delusions, a voice is beginning to be heard, which is to sound louder and louder, saying "Come out of her [Babylon] my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues; for she is becoming the hold of every foul spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird."
E. R. SEAMAN.
Rochester, Feb. 12th, 1854.