"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron." 1 Tim. iv, 1, 2.
St. Paul had shown the Thessalonians that the great apostasy should intervene between them and the Second Advent, and shows Timothy more particularly wherein it would consist, and the means employed for its spread in the world.
That this text has had a partial fulfillment nearly all are agreed. But I think it is still in the process of fulfillment; and that it, also, synchronizes with 2 Thess. ii, 9, and relates more especially to the present time.
As there were false prophets or teachers that caused the children of Israel, anciently, to become idolaters, so we may likewise understand that by imperceptible degrees the damnable heresy of worshiping devils (or demons) as their lords or mediators, would, as it now has so universally, obtain credence. And this apostasy is so general that it is to affect every person that is not sealed with the seal of the living God. For all shall worship the beast whose names are not written in the book of life, of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. To depart from God, is to apostatize or revolt by worshiping other gods, and other mediators, than the one living and true God, and the one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. The nature of this apostasy is such that it naturally implies the falling away of great numbers, as the text indicates, when rightly understood. The word, some does not denote, a few, in the original Greek or Hebrew, as in English, but signifies a multitude, in numerous instances. So says Bishop Newton in his discourse on the prophecies.—p. 364. One instance where the word occurs may be sufficient as an illustration, although others might be given. St. Paul, in speaking of the infidelity and rejection of the Jews, [1 Cor. x, 8.] says, "Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed,
and fell in one day three and twenty thousand."—Here the word some is made equivalent to many thousands.
The true import of the word, demon, is also necessary, to help us in arriving at the truth. We find, by reference to ancient history, that in the days of the Platonic School the words, devil and demon, are synonymous terms; so that when the Apostle says doctrines of devils, it is the same as saying doctrines concerning demons, or mediators. Anciently there were understood to be two kinds: one the souls of men deified or canonized after death, the other, was the higher order—souls separate from bodies, and that had never inhabited them at all. These were called mediators or middle powers, (or as now would be more familiarly called, mediums.) Says Plato, "God is not approached by man, but all the commerce and intercourse between God and men is by the mediation of demons, (or the souls of the dead.)"—Newton's Dissertation, p. 366.
We see plainly in what the apostasy of the last days is to consist—a giving heed to seducing spirits or doctrines concerning demons, devils or mediators.—Says St. Paul to the Thessalonians: "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thess. ii, 11, 12. The world and church are so ensnared with the false philosophy of heathen theology that they are blindly rushing into the great malestrom of deception. They are ignorantly perpetuating the first lie that ever defiled the earth after it came from the hand of its Creator; viz., "thou shalt not surely die, but become as gods."—The common theory, now every where entertained, is that the body is only the prison-house of the soul or man proper, which at death enters its reward in the presence of God, where there is fullness of joy; that the soul is naturally immortal, consequently indestructible, and is to live for ever. But the testimony of the Scriptures was always against this delusive theory; for we are plainly informed that God only hath immortality; that it is brought to light through the gospel, to be obtained conditionally, by patient continuance in well-doing, or as the Saviour says, "If ye would enter into life keep the commandments." "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." "Sin is the transgression of the law." To die, signifies to perish, to cease to exist, to be destroyed; as we read in Ps. xxxvii, 20: "But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs; they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away." Also, verse 10. "For yet a little while and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be." His identity is lost for ever. Call it what name you please. Other portions of scripture show that there is no consciousness after death: "For the living know that they shall die: but the dead (know more than all the living? not so; but the dead) know not any thing."—Eccl. ix, 5. Well says one, I know the dead body knows nothing, but it is the soul! Stop a moment! read verse 6th, then we shall get all the light the Prophet has given. "Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished." So your soul, if alive, has lost some important qualities of mind. But again, the Psalmist, speaking of the state of man after death, [Ps. cxlvi, 4.] says, "His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his tho'ts perish." I should like to know in what his knowledge or happiness could consist, after losing his mind, with all its qualities.
But perhaps N. Hubbel, a late writer in the Christian Advocate and Journal, could solve this mystery, as he classes those that believe the Scripture on this subject, with Universalists, Infidels and Spirit Rappers. But he has ignorantly or wickedly mis-stated our true position; and his article, no doubt, is a fair sample of the feelings of Protestants in general. He and others should know that this doctrine is as old as Creation, and is the revealed truth of God."
As it regards the Rapping Spirits, we have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but believe them to be the spirits of devils working mir135acles, which are gathering the whole world to the last mighty and final conflict. We believe the law and the testimony. If they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them. So we can say in reference to every man-made theory that was ever presented. The great detector will decide for the truth. The law presents the knowledge of sin. The wages of sin is death. Sin is the transgression of the law. The Spirit cries, Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die. Choose ye this day whom ye will serve. If the Lord be God, serve him; if Baal, then serve him. The testimony of Jesus Christ presents but one mediator between God and man, while Spiritualism has its legions of mediums, gods many, and lords many. Thus we cannot fail to see that the great Apostasy has undermined the plan of God for the redemption of a guilty race, making the death of his Son of no effect, and making void his holy law. We see, also, that the doctrines that prevailed so long in the heathen world, in all respects the same thing, only different in name, are to be revived in these last days, and will deceive, if it were possible, the very elect. Let us therefore take heed lest there be in any of us an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.