FORESIGHT AND PERSEVERANCE OF THE DEVIL.
By R. F. C.
Thus we see that Satan, by incessant and persevering efforts, has turned the current of the popular theology of the present day in opposition to the word of God, and thus prepared the way for his last grand and mighty enterprise, to deceive, if it were possible, the very elect. He knows that the prophecies concerning the time of the end are being fulfilled; that the signs of the coming of Christ have appeared, and that the Advent messages have been announced to the world. He has but a short time to work, and he is improving it. He knows that God is about to pour out his Spirit upon his people, and that signs and wonders will be done in the name of Jesus; and he is preparing the people by false miracles to reject the true; and to attribute the work of God to the agency of the spirits. Thus the true manifestations of the Spirit of God will be generally rejected. Our only shield is the word of God. The Lord has caused the Bible to be published in the world, so that all may have it and be prepared for this time, if they will; so we are left without excuse. As the Devil has always opposed the word of God, declaring it false, so the great controversy will be terminated on this very question. In fact, the great question before the people is, the Bible or no Bible. Sectarian controversies will narrow down and terminate in this one great question, the mass of religionists rejecting the Bible. It has long been tending to this. Men have been unwilling to give up the errors of their sectarian creeds for the most clear and explicit declarations of the Word. Take the Sabbath question for an example. While the Bible says, the seventh day, the creed and popular practice say, the first day, is the Sabbath; and Protestants who profess to take the Bible, and the Bible alone, for their guide, still have followed tradition instead of truth. But being pressed on this point for Bible testimony and finding none, they next say, the Sabbath is abolished—there is no Sabbath. Again, when shown that the Sabbath is found in the midst of the holy, just and good law of God, and it is seen that they cannot reject it and hold that law, the next step is to say that the law is abolished—the ten commandments are dead. There is but one step more, and that is, from no law to no Bible. And the great mass of professors of religion will take that step, rather than give up their errors and embrace the unpopular truths of the Bible. They will have it that they are immortal. They will choose the Devil's lie, and reject the truth of God's word. I said they will take this step; they are already taking it. They are departing from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits. The churches are being flooded with spirit manifestations. I find church members that will deny this. They say the churches have nothing to do with Spiritualism; and before we finish our conversation, they will disclose the fact that they themselves are in the habit of attending circles, of taking part in them, and are, at least, semi-believers. The churches, so-called, are the bulwark of Spiritualism. If they did not hold the prime article of the Devil's creed, but little could be effected by it. But Satan's first great lie, that deceived our mother Eve, and caused our first parents to disobey the word of God, is now leading men to reject the Bible with all its beaming light, and fitting them for destruction. If men will follow the teachings of the Bible, it will root out their errors and unite them together in the truth. The blame of sectarian discord does not rest on that blessed book, though many charge it there. The teaching of the Bible is not yea and nay. The Scriptures are able to make the man of God perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. And now, dear reader, will you have this Bible? Will you receive the engrafted word which is able to save your souls? Will you keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus?—will you obey the third and last special message, which God is now sending forth to warn men of the approaching wrath? Which will you have, the Bible or Spiritualism? Your choice will soon be made; which will you have? You may be prepared for glory, honor and immortality at the coming of Christ and the resurrection of the saints; or you may fancy yourself immortal now, reject the word of truth, and find, too late to rectify the error, that you have been led by the Devil—have believed a lie—and are prepared to drink the unmixed cup of the wrath of God. I repeat it, will you have the Bible? O, dear brethren, do we realize the awfully solemn crisis which is upon us? Are we doing what we can to save our fellow-men from the day of wrath? Are we praying to God for the outpouring of his Spirit—for the refreshing from his presence, to qualify us for the great work? We see that Satan works with power and signs and lying wonders. Shall we not pray, and labor, and strive, that we may be in a position that God can work through us, to save men from the strong delusions of Satan. O, for a perfect consecration to the will and work of God! O, for a thorough sanctification through the truth! that we may have a just sense of the importance of the Third Angel's Message, and of the responsibility resting upon those that know the truth. May the Lord help us to prepare for the work, send us the refreshing, that we may save some from the awful delusions that seem ready to engulf our race in one common destruction.
R. F. C.