Signs of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 48. (12/8/1909)

Signs of the Times

Dec 8, 1909

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Dec 8, 1909

The Words of the Master

Every one therefore that heareth These words of Mine, And doeth them, Shall be likened unto a wise man, Who built his house upon the rock: And the rain descended, And the floods came, And the winds blew, And beat upon that house; And it fell not: For it was founded upon the rock.

Our Bible Band

Schedule for Week Ending December 18, 1909

Day	Date	Morning	Evening
Su.	Dec. 12	Hosea 9, 10, 11	Revelation 3
Mo.	Dec. 13	Hosea 12, 13, 14	Revelation 4
Tu.	Dec. 14	Joel 1, 2, 3	Revelation 5
We.	Dec. 15	Amos 1, 2, 3	Revelation 6
Th.	Dec. 16	Amos 4, 5, 6	Revelation 7
Fr.	Dec. 17	Amos 7, 8, 9	Revelation 8
Sa.	Dec. 18	Obadiah	Revelation 9

Suggestive Notes

Our morning lessons begin with Hosea 9 and close with Obadiah, covering the remainder of Hosea, all of Joel, Amos, and Obadiah.

Joel probably lived about 800 years before Christ. His prophecy is somewhat older than those of Amos and Hosea. There are some striking coincidences between his predictions and those of Amos. The prophecy of the last days, however, is local only in the illustrations he uses. Local conditions are typical of calamities which are to precede the great day of Jehovah, and the time of war and trouble which closes earth’s history. There are earnest entreaties in it to the people of God, calling them to fasting and prayer to avert calamity.

The meaning of the word “Amos” is probably “burdened.” So he was burdened for his people. He himself was a shepherd of Tekoa in Judea, and prophesied at Bethel in the reigns of Uzziah king of Judah and Jeroboam II king of Israel. The priests accused him of treason, and expelled him from the northern kingdom, to which many of his prophecies referred. He foretells the downfall of apostasy, and points forward from that to the last days, when there shall be a famine of the Word. The prophecy is full of striking illustrations from shepherd life.

“Obadiah” means “a servant of God.” He was a contemporary of Jeremiah, and his principal prophecy is against the Edomites, because of their exultation over the fall of Jerusalem about 580 B.C.

Our evening lessons begin with Revelation 3 and close with Revelation 9, covering the remainder of the prophecy of the seven churches, the seven seals, the great sealing work, and a portion of the prophecy on the seven trumpets. These we can not use space in this department to explain.

2987.—Who Is the Bride?

Who is the bride, the Lamb’s wife, mentioned in Rev. 21:9? H. P.

The context itself answers the question very clearly and decidedly. The angel said to John, “Come hither, and I will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” And the next verse states, “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.” What then is the bride, the Lamb’s wife? There can be but one answer, and that is, The heavenly Jerusalem. This is in harmony with other scriptures. See verse 2 of the same chapter: “And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Isa. 9:6 calls Christ the everlasting Father. Paul declares, in Gal. 4:26, “Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.” Christ the Father, Jerusalem the mother, and God’s people the children. Again, of the overcomer it is said, “I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God: and I will write upon him My new name.” He will bear the name of the Father, of whom every family in heaven and earth is named; he will bear the name of Christ his everlasting Father; he will bear the name of the mother, New Jerusalem. This may be made a little clearer by referring to Isa. 54:5: “For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of Hosts is His name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel. The God of the whole earth shall He be called.” And in Isaiah 62 the Lord refers to that same city, now uninhabited by her children: “Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.” “Hephzi-bah” means, “My delight is in her;” and “Beulah” means “married.” The figure is that of a king taking his kingdom. Christ will receive the whole earth as His kingdom. He the King, the earth the kingdom; but the capital city represents the earth, and that capital city of the new earth is the New Jerusalem represented as a bride receiving her husband.

We would not have our correspondent understand from the above that bride, used as a figure, always represents the city of God. Sometimes the individual Christian is referred to as the bride, uniting with Christ through the ceremony of baptism, and sometimes the church is represented as a chaste virgin espoused to Christ; but the figure used in the 21st chapter of Revelation without question refers to the taking of the new earth kingdom by our Lord Jesus Christ, in which the great capital city of that kingdom is represented as the bride.

2988.—What Flesh Did Our Lord Take?

Did our Lord take sinful flesh, as our flesh, or did He take a flesh as Adam had before he fell? SUBSCRIBER.

This is not a difficult question to answer, because the Word is very clear and emphatic. First we read in Rom. 8:3 that God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh. We read in Gal. 4:4, “When the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.” We have no reason to suppose that Mary was not like other women, better through faith in God than many, doubtless, but still a mortal, fallible woman. We read again in Heb. 2:14, “Since then the children [not Adam] are sharers in flesh and blood, He also Himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death He might bring to naught him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Then in verses 17, 18: “Wherefore it behooved Him in all things to be made like unto His brethren, that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted.” His brethren were sinful children, those who needed to have their sins propitiated, those who needed a priest, those who needed mercy; Jesus was made in all things like unto them. And therefore, in the language of Hebrews 4, “We have not an High Priest that can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” He did not yield to the sin. He conquered sin in sinful flesh, and therefore is able to conquer it in our sinful flesh if we will but give Him place there.

But one more testimony “concerning His Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh.” Rom. 1:3, 4. Certainly the seed of David did have sinful flesh. Through a long line of ancestry this was demonstrated repeatedly, that they were prone to sin. This gives tremendous point and force to Heb. 10:5: “Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a body didst Thou prepare for Me.” When the Son of God “gave Himself” to be a Saviour for mankind, He took upon Himself all the infirmities, all the sins, of mankind, and the infinite God prepared for Him a body in which all the temptations which come to mankind would appeal, so that He was tempted in all things. Not one single soul ever met a temptation upon this earth, but that that temptation was met by Jesus of Nazareth in that body prepared for that purpose. But in it all He conquered, in order that He might help every one who was tempted in any way.

2989.—Mustard-Seed

Must we believe that mustard-seed is really the smallest of seed in the world and the largest of trees, or was it the smallest in the days of our Lord? SUBSCRIBER.

The better way to understand it is given by Mark 4:31 in the American Revised Version: “It is like a grain of mustard-seed, which, when it is sown upon the earth, though it be less than all the seeds that are upon the earth, yet when it is sown, groweth up, and becometh greater than all the herbs, and putteth out great branches; so that the birds of the heaven can lodge under the shadow thereof.” Not but that there are seeds smaller, but it is among the very smallest seeds. The species of mustard which grew there may have had smaller seeds than that which we have here. They would naturally be considered among the smallest seeds that men sowed. Mustard is among the greatest of herbs. It may seem like a California story, yet we have seen mustard grow in the spring-time in California, within the space of between two and three months, fourteen feet high, with quite large branches. The stalk was about two inches in diameter at the root. Birds of the air can very easily lodge on its branches.

2990.—The Coming of Christ

Please explain Titus 2:13. Does it mean that the Father will be coming with the Son in the clouds of heaven? Does any of our Lord’s parables teach that They both will be coming? SUBSCRIBER.

No. The better way to understand that is in the light of Matt. 16:27: “For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels.” Therefore when Jesus comes in the glory of the Father with all His holy angels, He will manifest to the world the glory of God the Father. The American Revised Version of Titus 2:13 reads, “Looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Christ will be the bearer of that glory.

Our Bible Band

By Editor

1. Did you read what we had to say last week about our reading course for 1910? Then let us say it again.

2. Our Bible reading course covers the entire Bible in chronological order as far as consistent.

3. This plan gives a better, clearer idea of God in history and His providential working among His people. It better connects the prophets with their times.

4. Schedules of daily readings will be furnished as heretofore.

5. In addition to the schedule we propose to send to every Bible Band reader for 1910 a silk book-mark 2¼ x 9 inches. On one side will be printed the books of the Bible with their probable date and human authorship, and on the other side facts and dates of importance to every Bible student and teacher.

6. The price of schedule and book-mark is only ten cents. Counting time and material, this will not begin to cover expense; but we wish on our part to stimulate Bible reading. On account of postage expense let us ask our Bible Band members wherever practical to club together and so afford us an opportunity to send as many to one address as possible.

7. You may not be able to read the Bible through as carefully as you would like in a year; but you can get some great thought at every reading, and a better general view of the Bible than by placing all study on isolated passages.

8. You will wish to follow the explanatory notes in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES this year. They will be fuller and stronger than ever. Please act promptly.

Deceptions of Spiritism

By Felix Blachowski

By Felix Blachowski

Contrary to all the teachings of Spiritism and Demonism the soul's help lies in the Christ who suffered and died to save us from sin and death.

THE deceitful and malevolent nature of Spiritism is perceived and pointed out not only by the sincere Christians who come in contact with it, but also by many able scientific observers of these so-called “psychic phenomena.” The eminent writers who are in sympathy with Spiritism—such men as W. T. Stead, Dr. Savage, the great naturalist Wallace, Professor Lodge, and many others—rarely mention the evils of Spiritism; or if they do, it is nearly always with some scientific apology and explanation. They will tell us, for example, that the moral as well as the intellectual dilemmas encountered in the investigations of Spiritism, are due to some “tremendous inhibitions” that the spirits experience when they attempt to communicate with this world. But there are many eminent students of these latter-day miracles who openly, without apology, bring to light everything experienced by them in the “séances.” Sometimes it is necessary to point out the “fruits” of spiritual movements that sway the world, before some minds can see the real character of these forces. I will here quote some observations of honest writers on these matters; then, with these impartial statements of these eminent thinkers before us, we can contrast the fruits of Spiritism with the experiences of God’s prophets and His true children.

The True Nature of Spiritism

The noted writer B. O. Flower, altho very friendly to Spiritism, was forced to write the following statement: “It does not appear that MORAL RECTITUDE ON THE PART OF THE PSYCHIC [medium] is necessary for the manifestation of at least some of the phases of psychical phenomena.” This sentence occurs in an article which he wrote in defense of Spiritism. And that acknowledgment is virtually the admission that morality is immaterial in the spiritistic transactions.

Dr. J. K. Funk says:

“I have seen psychic cobwebs—if cobwebs they be—tangle the feet of even intellectual giants.” “It is true that deception, duplicity, fraud of every description surround and saturate Spiritualism. The ease with which a large proportion of the advocates of Spiritualism are duped, and the depravity of some of the so-called mediums and their hangers-on—a depravity so extreme as to take advantage of the holiest sentiments and the most sacred griefs that the human heart knows—are reason efficient if not sufficient for the contempt in which a very large proportion of the intelligent public hold Spiritualism. “An ordinary cheat, as a policy sharper or a three-card monte fraud, or other swindler in games of chance, is virtue itself in comparison with the medium who will take the advantage of the unreason of grief to coin into ready cash the yearnings of a mother’s heart for her loved one who has passed beyond the valley of the shadow, or of a wife for a husband, or of a husband for a wife, or of a child for its mother. And this kind of humbuggery is continent-wide, world-wide.” “My experience is that mediums often degenerate morally. I would not vouch for the future truthfulness of any medium.”

The Original Medium

Dr. Funk had some “sittings” with Mrs. Margaret Fox Kane, one of the celebrated Fox sisters with whom the phenomena of Spiritualism are said to have started in 1848. He says that this woman, altho addicted to strong drink, “still possessed her mediumistic powers;” and that “so low had this unfortunate woman sunk that for five dollars she would have denied her mother, sworn to anything. At that time her affidavit for or against anything should not be given the slightest weight.” And still, this pioneer of modern Spiritism, this degenerate, continued to have her spirit communications. Dr. Funk says that many of the earlier mediums degenerated in the same way.

The French astronomer Flammarion, a very prominent investigator of Spiritism, gives many examples in his studies, of moral degeneration of the mediums. The following quotations will give us a little idea of how perplexing these things are even to worldly scientists:

“It is infinitely to be regretted that we can not trust the loyalty of the mediums. They almost all cheat. This is extremely discouraging to the investigator, and the constant perplexity of mind we feel during our investigations renders them altogether painful. When we have passed several days in these inexplicable researches and then turn to scientific work,—to an observation or to an astronomical calculation, for example, or to the examination of a problem in pure science,—we experience a sensation of freshness, calmness, relief, a serenity which gives us, by contrast, the most lively satisfaction. We feel that we are walking on solid ground, and that we have not got to distrust anybody. “I believe that there is only one way to assure ourselves of the reality of the phenomena, and that is to put the medium under conditions in which trickery is impossible. To catch her in the very act of deceit would be extremely easy. It would only be necessary to give her free rein. . . . Really, one must be endowed with most unweariable perseverance to enable him to devote to those studies hours which would be much better employed even in doing nothing at all. However, when one has the conviction that something real exists, he always returns, in spite of incessant trickery. “I have seen unpaid mediums, men and women of society, cheat without any scruple, from pure vanity, or for a purpose still less fit to be avowed,—for the mere pleasure of trapping some one. The séances of Spiritism have been made to serve useful and agreeable ends in fashionable society, and more than one marriage has originated there.” Many of the mediums “are imposters whose moral sense has become so blunted by the

habit of fraud that they seem to be incapable of appreciating the heinousness of their criminal abuse of the confidence of those who apply to them for instruction or for consolation.”

M. Flammarion observes also the “rivalries of mediums”—each one regards every other medium as an impostor, while there is only “one absolutely trustworthy,” and that is the one that is speaking.

Duplicity, Malevolence

Professor Schiaparelli, the noted Italian astronomer, in writing to Professor Flammarion on some of his experiences with Spiritism, used the following words:

“Nothing is more offensive than these games of hide-and-seek to which we are obliged to submit. All that kind of thing excites distrust. Having passed all my life in the study of nature, which is always sincere in its manifestation and logical in its processes, it is repugnant to me to turn my thoughts to the investigation of a class of truths which it seems as if a malevolent and disloyal power was hiding from us with an obstinacy, the motive of which we can not comprehend. [Italics mine.] In such researches it is not sufficient to employ the methods of natural philosophy, which are infallible, but very limited in their action. We must have a recourse to that other critical method, more subject to error, but more audacious and more powerful, of which police officers and examining magistrates make use when they are trying to bring out a truth in the midst of disagreeing witnesses, a part at least of whom have an interest of hiding the truth.”

Besides deception and immoralities at the séances, Professor Flammarion tells of experiences like the following:

“I was struck several times in the side, touched on the head, and my ear was smartly pinched. I declare that after several repetitions I had enough of this ear pinching; but during the whole séance, in spite of my protestations, somebody kept hitting me.”

Demoniacal

This kind of foolery at the séances is reported by many observers; and here is the description of the condition and behavior of the most celebrated medium, Eusapia Palladino, in some of her trances:

“Eusapia utters repeated cries, a kind of rattling in the throat. She writhes nervously, and, as if she were calling for help, cries, ‘The chain! the chain!’ Then, just as if she was defying some monster, she turns, with inflamed looks, toward an enormous divan, which thereupon marches up to us. She looks at it with a satanic smile. Finally she blows upon the divan, which goes immediately back to its place.”

“She begins to sigh deeply, then yawns and hiccoughs. A series of varied expressions pass over her face. Sometimes it takes on a demoniacal look, accompanied by a fitful laugh very much like that which Gounod gives to Mephistopheles [Satan] in the opera of Faust, and which almost always precedes an important phenomenon. Sometimes her face flushes, the eyes become brilliant and liquid, and are opened wide. The smile and the motions are the mark of erotic ecstasy. She says ‘My dear,’ leans her head upon the shoulder of her neighbor, and courts and caresses when she believes that he is sympathetic. It is at this point that phenomena are produced, the success of which causes her agreeable and even voluptuous thrills.”

This is the medium that convinced so many of the European savants of the reality of Spiritism. Undoubtedly the last quoted scientist does not believe in the personality of Satan; and yet the best that he can do in describing the behavior of the most celebrated spiritistic medium in some of her trances is to use the traditional terminology that mankind knows for the description of the worse phases of fallen character, namely, “satanic,” “demoniacal.” Elder Uriah Smith, in his book on Spiritism, devotes a chapter to the “Dangers of Mediumship.” It is simply appalling to read to what depths of moral, mental, and physical degradation the mediums fall, when given up to this satanic control.

We are told by scientists that altho the medium may be ever so honest at first, yet when she is under the control of these spirit personalities her honesty vanishes, and there is no certainty of truth in anything she says. From this we can see that those spirits behind the scenes are of such a character that “deceivableness of unrighteousness” is simply an attribute of their nature—they can’t help deceiving. Impartial survey of the history of Spiritism shows this conclusively.

The Class Attracted by Spiritism

We are also told by the students of these phenomena that the people who attend those séances are not persons who are seeking “that they may grow in love to God and man, in humility, in holiness.” But many, very many “Spiritualists seem to care for communion with the spirits only that they may more surely keep physically well, and earn their bread and butter and clothing easier, and at best, be assured that after they ‘shuffle off this mortal coil’ they will continue to be.” “Again and again in these séance circles we hear inquiries like the following: ‘Have I opened my mine on the right side of that hill?’ ‘Will I strike oil where I am now boring?’ ‘Can I win the hand I am seeking?’ ‘Is the horse whose name I have written on this slip of paper the winning one?’ ‘I have lost my pocket-book. Can you tell me where it is?’—ad nauseam.”

Spirits Temporarily Insane

Some scientists try to explain the deceptions of Spiritism on the theory that the conditions of communication between the two worlds are such that they bring about a temporary insanity in the spirits that wish to communicate. Hence we have such intellectual and moral confusion in the séances. The Spiritist’s explanations, however, for all these evils, are that the spirit world is just such a world of mixed characters as we find here; and when deception and immorality are manifested, they come from evil spirits.

Counterfeits of God

It would not be true to say that evil is all that there is in Spiritism. No; Satan is not a fool. He must have some sugar coating on the pill, and it is the flashes of the good and the true and the beautiful that keep the scientists so riveted to this great delusion.

In the marvelous light of God’s Word, and of the uniform experiences of the prophets and the children of God, we can clearly see the utter badness of Spiritism. There is no gradation of character in the spiritual world, but an absolutely fixed boundary between the good and the bad spirits. Natural immortality of man is a lie. Even the worldly scientists are beginning to suspect that the spirits purporting to be the souls of the dead are not the souls of the dead.

How Unlike God’s Work

But when we survey the history of God’s work among the children of men; when we behold its holy, exalted, and beneficent character, its wondrous influence on the human heart; when we remember that nowhere can we detect the least shadow of wrong in all the experiences of God’s messengers in their spiritual revelations; when we remember how absolutely insulating is sin to the divine currents as exemplified by the experiences of all the holy prophets of the Lord—then we can see the hopeless unrighteousness of Spiritism.

“And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8:19, 20.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they be of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1.

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.” Matt. 7:15, 16.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.” Gal. 5:22.

Modern Spiritualism

1. What being of malefic, evil influence is working against God's truth and children?

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary THE DEVIL, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8.

2. Who is associated with him in his fall and work?

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called THE DEVIL, AND SATAN, which DECEIVETH the WHOLE WORLD: he was cast out into the earth, and HIS ANGELS were cast out with him.” Rev. 12:9.

“THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS.” Matt. 25:41.

NOTE.—This being, called by Ezekiel “the king of Tyre,” because of his control of Tyre, was the highest of all created beings, one of the bright cherubim of God (Eze. 28:12, 14), and was called before his fall “Lucifer,” the “Day-star” (Isa. 14:12-14). When he fell, he took with him a third part of the angels. Rev. 12:4; 2 Peter 2:4. These angels or messengers and minions of Satan are called “demons,” rendered “devils” throughout the Gospels, but better “demons.” Only one being, Satan, is rightly called the devil. Wherever the word is in the plural, it is “demons.” Satan sends these messengers out into all the world. Rev. 16:14. He has his throne, his synagogs where the worship of the false gods is taught, or the worship of the true God perverted. Rev. 3:9. In short, the devil has systematic, organized work in this world, with no vacations.

3. What did God tell man the consequence of his sin would be?

“In the day that thou eatest thereof, THOU SHALT SURELY DIE.” Gen. 2:17.

4. How did Satan deceive man?

“Ye shall NOT surely die: . . . ye shall BE AS GODS.” Gen. 3:4, 5.

5. What does the Lord say of the dead, in His Word?

“The dead KNOW NOT ANYTHING.” Eccl. 9:5.

6. But does not this refer to physical life alone?

“His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day HIS THOUGHTS PERISH.” Ps. 146:4.

“His sons come to honor, and he KNOWETH IT NOT; and they are brought low, but he PERCEIVETH IT NOT of them.” Job 14:21. See Eccl. 9:6.

NOTE.—It is clearly evident from these scriptures that the dead do not communicate with the living upon this earth. They know naught of what is taking place. The sleep of death is absolutely unconscious.

7. What service does the Lord require?

“Thou shalt WORSHIP THE LORD THY GOD, and HIM ONLY shalt thou SERVE.” Matt. 4:10.

8. What worship does the adversary of souls teach?

“All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and WORSHIP ME.” Matt. 4:9.

“Let us go AFTER OTHER GODS, . . . and let us SERVE THEM.” Deut. 13:2.

9. What special classes of persons have always received honor?

The parents, the aged and the great, and the dead.

NOTE.—Satan has ever used this regard, reverence, and love, to deceive the race. He has made them believe that the loved and honored were not really dead, but were exalted into demigods and gods. Thence came ancestor- and hero-worship; thence also the fallible human characters and dispositions attributed to the false gods.

10. How did the Moabites lead Israel astray?

“And they called the people unto the SACRIFICES OF THEIR GODS: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.” Num. 25:2.

11. In whose behalf were these sacrifices offered?

“They joined themselves also unto Baal-peor, and ate the SACRIFICES OF THE DEAD.” Ps. 106:28.

12. How is this elsewhere spoken of?

“The things which the Gentiles sacrifice, THEY SACRIFICE TO DEVILS, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.” 1 Cor. 10:20. See also Deut. 32:17; Ps. 106:37; Lev. 17:7.

13. What special prohibition did God lay upon His people concerning these things?

“There shall not be found among you . . . an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a WITCH, or a charmer, or a CONSULTER WITH FAMILIAR SPIRITS, or a WIZARD, or a NECROMANCER. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord.” Deut. 18:10-12. See also Lev. 19:31.

NOTE.—Necromancy was “the art of foretelling the future by means of pretended communication with the dead.” See Standard Dictionary. A wizard or witch is a person who has communication with spirits. “Familiar spirits” are those spirits of the dead supposed to be at the call of the necromancers or witches. See “Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia.”

14. Because of the subversion of the entire nation by such teaching, and the consequent loss of many souls, what did God say should be done with witches under the theocracy?

“Thou shalt NOT suffer a WITCH TO LIVE.” Ex. 22:18.

15. What noted example is given of consulting familiar spirits?

King Saul consulting the witch of Endor. 1 Sam. 28:7-20. Read the account.

16. What was Saul’s condition?

“The Lord answered him NOT, neither by DREAMS, nor by URIM, nor by PROPHETS.” Verse 6.

17. To whom, then, when forsaken of God, did Saul seek?

“Seek me a WOMAN that hath a FAMILIAR SPIRIT, that I MAY GO to her, and INQUIRE OF HER.” Verse 7.

18. How did God regard this act of Saul’s?

“So SAUL DIED for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the Word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for ASKING COUNSEL OF ONE THAT HAD A FAMILIAR SPIRIT, TO INQUIRE OF IT.” 1 Chron. 10:13.

NOTE.—The reader will observe: (1) That the woman was of a class forbidden a place in the kingdom. (2) She had a “familiar spirit,” a pretended spirit of the dead. (3) Saul called for Samuel; it was the business of the woman to pretend to produce him immediately. (4) This familiar spirit told the woman it was Saul the king. (5) Saul asked what SHE saw, and she replied that it was an old man who came up, with a mantle. (6) Then Saul “perceived,” or understood, from the woman’s description, that it was Samuel. (7) This pretended Samuel speaks as tho he were Samuel, and reproves Saul, and tells him that he will be killed on the morrow—a very doubtful thing. It was probably the day after. Now, was this Samuel?—No, thrice no; for (1) Neither man nor woman has the power of the resurrection. (2) It was not a resurrection, for the woman dwelt in Endor, while Samuel was buried at Ramah, miles away. (3) It was not Samuel’s soul, according to the popular view, for this old man “came up,” while the souls are supposed to come down; and further, why should immortal souls be clothed with mantles? and, if with God, why “old”? (4) The first thing this spirit did was to warn the woman by telling who Saul was. (5) It is not to be believed that God would send a message to Saul through forbidden agencies, when He had refused to answer him through regular channels. (6) Neither would the Lord have punished Saul for consulting a witch if He had thus communicated with Saul. (7) “The dead know not anything.” The fact is, this story of old is like many stories of spiritual seances, set in ancient mosaics.

The cave at Endor. Its entrance is shown between two rocks overshadowed by a fig-tree. The cave is a natural one, and has within it a never failing spring of water, whence the name "En Dor," the "fountain of Dor." Here Saul consulted with the ancient medium who dealt with a familiar spirit, her "control." See Bible Reading.

19. Who were constantly met by our Lord at His first advent?

“THOSE WHICH WERE POSSESSED WITH DEVILS.” Matt. 4:24, and elsewhere.

20. As we near His second coming, what are we told to expect?

“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.” 1 Tim. 4:1.

21. How will Satan work through these evil angels?

“With all POWER and SIGNS and LYING WONDERS, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” 2 Thess. 2:9, 10.

22. How will the nations be affected by these malevolent agencies?

“They are the SPIRITS OF DEVILS, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to GATHER THEM TO THE BATTLE of that great day of God Almighty.” Rev. 16:14.

NOTE.—Sherman well said, “War is hell.” We may not wonder at this when we learn that it is the spirits of demons which stir it up.

23. What instruction does God give for those who are urged to seek to spirits for information?

“And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have FAMILIAR SPIRITS and unto the wizards, that chirp and that mutter: should not a people SEEK UNTO THEIR GOD? ON BEHALF OF THE LIVING SHOULD THEY SEEK UNTO THE DEAD?” Isa. 8:19, A.R.V.

24. What is the great test by which we are to judge all teaching?

“To the LAW AND TO THE TESTIMONY! if they speak not according to this word, surely there is no morning for them [“no light in them,” Common Version].” Isa. 8:20.

NOTE.—Satan works in many forms to deceive, and wisely has he planned. He comes as “an angel of light.” He comes in the guise of our loved dead. He laid the immortal-soul-theory track in the very beginning; and now, in these days, the mighty train-loads of persons of various sorts and cults, of many countries, numbering rulers, nobles, judges, politicians, bankers, scientists among their many millions, are rushing with accelerating speed down grade to destruction. Every cult which is essentially based on the immortal-soul theory will sooner or later be found among the ranks of Spiritists. We may ridicule and laugh at its claims. We may know there is deception, sham, and counterfeit; but there is also reality. God’s angels will care for all those who are willing to follow His Word.

Continue reading: A Masterpiece of Deception