IN Isa. 11:10-16 the Lord speaks of the recovery of his remnant people, and this recovery is to be "like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt." The meaning of the word "remnant," as everyone knows, is residue, remains, remainder, that which is left. Thus the remnant of the people of God is the residue, or that which remains of God's people in whatever period of their history reference is made to them. In the chapter that we are now considering, we read:—
"And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek; and his rest shall be glorious." Verse 10.
This, taken in connection with the first four verses of the chapter, make it clear that reference is made to Christ. "In that day," or the time intervening between his first and second coming, "the Lord shall set his hand the second time to recover the remnant of his people."
After enduring a long period of bondage and severe oppression in Egypt, the Lord "set his hand" to recover his people, and, accordingly, "led them [out of Egypt] by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name." Isa. 63:12. So God will manifest his glorious power in the recovery of the remnant, "for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call." Joel 2:32.
The gathering, or recovery, of God's people here referred to is the conversion and uniting of his people to Christ. Then "they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion." Isa. 52:7, 8. Zeph. 2:1-3 shows that the gathering and the call thereto is made just before "the decree bring forth." This decree is found in Rev. 22:11, and is as follows:—
"He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still."
And that this is just before the second coming of Christ is seen from the verse which follows the above quotation: "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be." The decree also marks the close of the day of probation, which will be followed by "the fierce anger of the Lord." Zeph. 2:2. Then Christ will come. But while all this is near, the Lord says: "Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together." "Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgments; seek righteousness, seek meekness." Zeph. 2:1, 3.
I will quote one more text to show that the gathering is not a literal gathering into one place upon the earth, but a uniting in Christ. "That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ." Eph. 1:10.
When God undertakes to accomplish a work, he will do it, for he is abundantly able. And to know that this is preeminently so in this case, the reader is referred to Isa. 52:10: "The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God." This is "when the Lord shall bring again Zion." Verse 8. And his people need not fear, though there be enemies before and behind; "for ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight; for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rearward," or "gather you up," margin. Verse 12.
I now call attention to Isa. 11:16: "And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people; which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt." In order that we may know what this highway is, let us examine a few texts:—
"And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; for He shall be with them; the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein." Isa. 35:8, margin.
First, what is the way?—Jesus says, "I am the way." And, second, what is the highway?—"The highway of the upright is to depart from evil." Prov. 16:17. Evil being sin, and sin being "the transgression of the law" (1 John 3:4), to depart from evil is to depart from the transgression of the law. Therefore, the highway of the upright is to depart from the transgression of the law of God, or, in other words, the highway is the law of God, and to walk in the highway is to walk in obedience to the law.
The Lord made man upright (Eccl. 7:29), and it was God's "purpose" that he should remain "holy and without blame before Him" (Eph. 1:4; 3:11). Had man continued to walk in the highway (which is holy, just, and good, Rom. 7:12) where God placed him, this purpose would have been accomplished without Christ's coming to this earth and dying for man; but man fell from this exalted plane, "for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). God's ways are as far above man's ways as the heavens are above the earth. Isa. 55:8, 9. Man, therefore, of himself can no more reach the highway than he can fly to the heavens. Is he therefore without hope? He would have been had not Christ spanned the gulf which sin had made. This was revealed to Jacob in his flight from his father's house.
Wearied with his journey, the wanderer lay down upon the ground, with a stone for his pillow. As he slept, he beheld a ladder, bright and shining, whose base rested upon the earth, while the top reached to heaven. Upon this ladder angels of God were ascending and descending. . . . In this vision the plan of redemption was presented to Jacob, not fully, but in such parts as were essential to him at that time. The mystic ladder revealed to him in his dream was the same to which Christ referred in his conversation with Nathaniel.—Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 183, 184.261Said Christ, "Ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." John 1:51. So now we have Christ, the "ladder," or "the way," by which we get back to God and his ways, therefore to the highway. Then all who get back to the highway by this way can walk therein, "for He shall be with them." Isa. 35:8, margin.
I now ask the attention of the reader to Isa. 62:10, 11: "Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people. Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him." This is evidently the work of preparing a people to "stand in the battle in the day of the Lord." Eze. 13:5. And a part of this work is to "cast up the highway; gather out the stones," go "up into the breaches" and make up the hedge. The highway has been trampled underfoot, and it should now be exalted; the dust of tradition has been gathering upon it, and it should be blown away by the breath of God, which is his word. The stones of objections, such as the law being a yoke of bondage, and numerous others, must be gathered out, by letting the people see that "this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous" (1 John 5:3), and many other similar texts, which are abundantly able to remove every stumbling-stone from the path of one who is earnestly seeking for truth.
There has been a breach made in God's law by the "man of sin" (Dan. 7:25); this must be repaired; the hedge must be made up. And this will be accomplished. Says the prophet: "If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words." Isa. 58:13. Inasmuch as we have reached the time when this should all be done, the Lord says to us, "Set thine heart toward the highway." Jer. 31:21.
Now to return to Isaiah 11, verse 16: "And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt." Moses was the leader of God's people when they came out of Egypt, and to-day Christ, of whom Moses was a type (Deut. 18:18), is leading the remnant out of the Egyptian darkness that is covering the earth (Isa. 60:2), into the antitypical land of Canaan.
"And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people, . . . like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt." In a short time after the Israelites crossed the Red Sea Moses calls their attention to the law of God; then in a few days they are brought to Sinai, where God spake it to them in awful grandeur and glory. Christ was there, to enable them (1 Cor. 10:1-4) to walk in the highway, and if they had so done, they would have soon reached the land to which they were journeying. When they were at Kadesh-barnea they were on the very borders of the land, but because they were rebellious and would not walk in the highway, they had to go back into the wilderness and wander thirty-eight years longer, until all of the male members of that vast company who left Egypt over twenty years of age, except Caleb and Joshua, the two faithful spies, had fallen by the way, and the others had learned obedience by the things which they suffered.
But how did God prove them, whether they would walk in his law, or no?—By calling their attention to the Sabbath. Their loyalty to God was to be tested upon the Sabbath commandment (Ex. 16:4), and when they broke that commandment, the Lord said, "How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?" Verse 28.
To-day there is a "highway for the remnant, . . . like as it was to Israel" then, and their loyalty to God is being tested upon the same commandment. So we see the people's attention being called to the Sabbath of the Lord all over the world as never before. The commandments and traditions of men are losing their hold upon the earnest seekers after truth, and the faithful everywhere are rapidly turning their feet into the way of God's commandments. They see that Sunday is a rival of the Sabbath of the Lord, and are therefore forsaking it; and for this very reason men are seeking human laws in its support in order to enforce its observance. But it will be seen that there are a few to-day, as there always has been in the past, who, when the laws of men come in conflict with the law of God, will obey the latter, no matter what the consequences may be.
But now where are we in the journey to Canaan?—Evidently, as all the signs show, in the Valley of Shittim, preparatory to entering the heavenly land. It has been abundantly demonstrated through these columns that "the coming of the Lord draweth nigh," that soon the faithful will behold the King in his beauty.
The signs of Christ's coming are spoken of; then his revelation, and the effect it will have upon the righteous; then follows this blessed promise, which we find, by reading Isa. 44:2, 3, to be the outpouring of the Spirit of God: "Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring." The reception of this is but the fulfillment of Joel 2:23: "Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, in the first" (see Revised Version); or, as rendered by Spurrel, "even as before." We will not only be glad and rejoice in the Lord, but will also be patient until we receive the latter rain, and will establish our hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. James 5:7, 8.
We will not attempt a description of the transcendent glory of the heavenly Canaan, but suffice it to say that:—
Though thousands have sung of its glories,
The half has never been told.
Yes, we will "speak of the glory of Thy kingdom, and talk of Thy power; to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom." Ps. 145:11, 12.
But hark! there is something more precious
Than all of these pleasures so rare,—
The hope of beholding my Saviour,
The promise of knowing him there
Who trod the rough pathway before us,
Those portals of bliss to unfold—
Who suffered and died to restore us.
His love can never be told.
Sinner, "you can join the army of Christ's followers if you will; you may share in its conflicts and triumphs. But if you choose not to do this, the self-denying army under the blood-stained banner of the cross will move on to certain victory, and leave you behind. If you choose to guide your own frail bark across life's stormy waters, you must answer for the presumption, and be held responsible for the result." "We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you; come thou with us, and we will do thee good; for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel." Num. 10:29.
A REVIEW OF SUNDAY LEGISLATION IN CENTURY NINETEEN. NO. 42.
By Percy T. Magan
BY PERCY T. MAGAN.
STILL bearing in mind the words of Leo XIII., the present incumbent of the pontifical throne, that “what Rome has done for other countries she will do for the United States,” and, with this, bearing in mind all that has been done for “other countries,” and especially for Spain,—keeping all this clearly before the mind,—the true and dreadful meaning of what she “will do for the United States” will be all the more apparent when viewed together with the following passages of Holy Writ.
In Rev. 13: 11, 12 the United States is introduced into the prophetic field of vision:—
“And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.”
That the United States did come up “out of the earth,” no one acquainted with her history can deny. She alone, of all the great powers, has grown to greatness without strife, war, or bloodshed. Says Elliot:—
The United States exhibits to the world the first instance of a nation unattacked by external force, unconvulsed by domestic insurrections, assembling voluntarily, deliberating fully, and deciding calmly concerning that system of government under which they and their posterity should live.
The whole structure of the United States governmental genius is permeated with the idea of representation. Says Fiske:—
For this reason, though, like all nation making, it was in its early stages attended with war and conquest, it nevertheless does not require war and conquest in order to be put into operation. . . . Now of the English or Teutonic method [which is preëminently the American method of nation making] I say, war is not an essential part; for where representative government is once established, it is possible for a great nation to be formed by the peaceful coalescence of neighboring States, or by their union into a federal body. An instance of the former was the coalescence of England and Scotland, effected early in the eighteenth century after ages of mutual hostility; for instances of the latter we have Switzerland and the United States. Now federalism, though its rise and establishment may be incidentally accompanied by warfare, is never-less in spirit pacific.
Now the march of the United States from small beginnings to stupendous territorial proportions has been preeminently “in spirit pacific.” Nor has this been mere accident. The genius of the whole governmental fabric,262
as it was framed by the fathers,—“a government of the people, by the people, and for the people,” was “in spirit pacific.” For any federal government “republican in form and substance” must be built upon the free will and desire of all the States in that federation, and therefore “war is not an essential part.”
It is therefore clear that the United States has been “coming up out of the earth,” and not out of the “sea” of international strife, as have all other great nations before her. And it consequently follows from this that she, and she alone, can be the power referred to in Rev. 13: 11, 12.
This point being settled, note verse 12 again:—
“And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast [the papal power, see verses 3 and 5] before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.”
That is that the United States causes the earth to bow down to the principles and practices of Papal Rome. The government of the United States by statute fines and penalties, causes the people of the United States to do this; and by her influence the United States causes all other people to follow in the same train. Still further:—
“And he [the United States] had power to give life unto the image of the [papal] beast, that the image of the [papal] beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the [papal] beast should be killed.” Rev. 13: 15.
This is Rome all over. She always did believe in “image” worship. She has defended that idolatrous doctrine for centuries; but, oh, what could be characteristic of her, or more gratifying to the “MOTHER OF HARLOTS,” than to have all the people of the United States worship an “image” of herself? When this is being carried out to the full she will be at the zenith of her glory. SELF-EXALTATION has ever been her chiefest sin; but how will she not rejoice when “the earth and them which dwell therein” are made to worship herself, or that which is a living “image” of her!
And so great is her power to be that all who do not worship her “image” in the United States are to be “KILLED.” Very good, let her decree it if she will; the God of heaven is able to deliver all them that trust in him out of the jaws of this great behemoth. Let her decree death to those who will not bow down to her if she will, through the United States Government, and let them take the consequences of it.
In the past the Church of Rome has decreed death upon the subjects of all realms of Europe who would not bow the knee to her mandates. And Pope Leo XIII., who stands as the head of that church now, says that “what the church has done for other countries, she will do for the United States.” True enough; we believe it, for the Bible says so too. THE ANTI-AMERICAN, PAGO-PAPAL, APOSTATE-PROTESTANT combination, already existing in the United States, will decree death upon all who will not obey its mandates and keep Sunday, its distinguishing mark. This is all so, just as Leo XIII. has hinted. More than that, we can say now that every soul on earth will bow down to the Sunday mandate of this anti-American, pago-papal, apostate-Protestant combination, save that little insignificant flock of God who “keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus,” who, notwithstanding the decrees of man and nations, will continue to keep the
seventh day of the week, the Sabbath of the Lord.
And because they will not and do not observe Sunday, and will not bow to the decree to keep Sunday holy, the whole apostate church and governments will be infuriated at them, and will pass a decree to put all this accursed sect to death. They will arm people to kill the people of the Lord, but they will not be able to kill them; for the God of heaven will cause their swords to fall powerless as straws by their sides. Then, when the sons of the wicked have attempted to do the worst and have been frustrated, there will be fulfilled the words of Isaiah, “Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net.” Isa. 51: 20. These powers will attempt to do this because their ideas of “self-exaltation” have not been fully realized. They will consider themselves insulted as did Haman the Agagite.
This religio-political combination will decree that no man may “buy or sell save he who has the mark,” i. e., who keeps Sunday. This is already being done by means of the Sunday boycott in cities large and small.
I have drawn all these thoughts from Revelation 13, and this last one from verse 17. This apostate power will control trade in the United States to the extent that it will forbid men to buy or sell, save those who worship the papal beast and his image.
Now read this quotation from Rev. 18: 1–20 carefully; it will be a good chapter for study when chapter 13 is finished:—
“And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power, and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies;
“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works; in the cup which she hath filled, fill to her double. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: the merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner of vessels of ivory, and all manner of vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and of iron, and marble, and of cinnamon, and odors, and of ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find no more at all. The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, and saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to naught. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and so many as trade by sea, stood afar off, and cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.”
All nations will drink of the “wine of the wrath of her fornication.” The fornication or fornications of the Papal Church, for the Scripture uses the word in both numbers, are “false doctrines.” With false doctrines she intoxicates nations, and when intoxicated, i. e., “drunk,” they are filled with “wrath” against the doctrines or the truth of God and those who obey it.
According to this chapter this great apostate power, by reason of its extravagance, will be the customer for all the luxuries and necessities herein mentioned. It will control all this great trade by reason of which the merchants of the earth are made rich. Then that trade will become stagnated, and ruined, as all trade ever has wherever Rome has been in the political ascendant. In this, also, what the Papacy has done for other countries it will do for the United States.
But in the process, just as the ruin of the United States and the world is completed by this great apostasy, the Lord will visit his wrath upon great Babylon. “In one hour” shall “thy judgments come,” “for strong is the Lord who judgeth her.”
Then according to verse 20, all heaven and the holy apostles and prophets will rejoice over her, and in the light of her fearful record, her awful ruin to the souls, bodies, and trade of men, that she is about to work in these last days, as a fitting finale to her iniquitous career, well they may rejoice.
This is the ruin which awaits the people of the United States and the trade and commerce of the United States. This is what Rome will do for the nation betrayed into her hands by its rulers, urged on by apostate Protestant divines.
No earthly power can save the nation from the impending destruction. But the power of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, can and will save every soul who will turn to the Almighty and heed the call, “Come out of her, my people.”
OUR WORDS.
By Carrie Knight
BY CARRIE KNIGHT.
“Be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” Rom. 12: 2.
Surely God has drawn a line of distinction between the children of God and the children of the world, in things we often hear designated as little things, as well as in greater things. It is in what is so often styled little things that our greatest danger lies, for it is “the little foxes that spoil the vines.” While the professed child of God would perhaps shudder and hold up his hands in horror at the suggestions of Satan to steal, lie, cheat, or swear, yet he commits sins which are just as truly condemned of Heaven. Among these may be counted by words, foolish talking, jesting, tattling, meddling in other men’s matters, and, as “a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump,” so one evil leads to another. As a result we lose our taste for Bible study, and, instead of the love we once had for the place of worship, where the people of God are assembled together, we find a careless disposition regarding the matter. Secret prayer is neglected, and if we praise God at all, it is as sounding brass and tinkling cymbals. And thus we drift away from God and help the adversary.263Our words are a sure index to the heart, “for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Matt. 12: 34. Oh, how often do we hear professed Christians indulging in this light, trashy talk! And how often do the same persons, when rebuked, style it a little thing! But, oh, how great it appears in view of the judgment! for God says: “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matt. 12: 36, 37.
Does God mean what he says? or will he excuse and allow us to indulge once in a while? If we are so strict, will not the world call us fanatics? But God says, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth.” Eph. 4: 29. “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.” 1 Peter 1: 15.
If we realized fully that we are in the judgment hour, standing on the verge of the eternal world, would we not be seeking with solemn hearts and earnest desire for an acceptance with God? The true Christian cannot walk hand in hand with the world, for God says he will have a peculiar people. Then if we would be a peculiar people, we must be different from the children of the world. Human effort cannot make us so, but, praise God, we can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth us. May the prayer of each heart be, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” Ps. 19: 14.
“And must I be to judgment brought,
And answer in that day
For every vain and idle thought,
And every word I say?
Yes, every secret of my heart
Shall shortly be made known,
And I receive my just deserts
For all that I have done.”
Visalia, Cal.
SPIRITUALISM: IS IT OF GOD OR OF SATAN?
By John M’Carthy
BY JOHN M’CARTHY.
SEEING the rapidity with which Spiritualism is spreading its poisonous doctrines in all directions, contaminating the minds of the unwily, and deceiving thousands who are blown about by every wind of doctrine, who are not stayed on the Solid Rock, a few words may be acceptable to the earnest seeker as to the origin of this delusion. First of all, Spiritualism is founded on that masterpiece of Satanic ingenuity—immortality. Take away this foundation from the doctrine, and we would hear no more about Spiritualism; so if the foundation be false, the superstructure builded thereon is false also.
Let us here ask, Who was the originator of the theory of unconditional immortality,—“Thou shalt not surely die”? Who said these words?—The old serpent. See Gen. 3:4. What has God said?—“In the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die.” Gen. 2:17. Who, then, are we to believe—God or Satan? Satan says, “Thou shalt not surely die,” thus implying immortality, while God declares the contrary, proving that Satan’s words are a falsehood, and thus showing that we are followers of him whose doctrines we accept. What does Christ say of Satan?—“He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him; . . . for he is a liar, and the father of it.” John 8:44. Having thus far shown the author of this vile teaching, and made our readers acquainted with the first Spiritualist medium and his characteristics, we now proceed to further investigate this all-important subject, and bring to view the Scripture testimony in reference to this Satanic concoction.
What was an abomination unto God in ancient times?—“There shall not be found among you anyone that is . . . 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. What was the consequence of despising God’s command upon this point?—“A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit . . . shall surely be put to death.” Lev. 20:27. Webster’s definition of “familiar spirit” is “a demon, or evil spirit, supposed to attend at a call.” A Spiritualist medium is one who has a familiar spirit, or demon, or who is possessed by an evil spirit. We can easily understand that such would be an abomination to the Lord; hence the severe punishment which was formerly imposed on such as had familiar spirits. God’s commandment in this respect was extensively executed when “Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.” 1 Sam. 28:3. How did they pretend to communicate with the dead?—“I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit,” or demon. 1 Sam. 28:8. How did God view Saul’s transgression in this direction?—“So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, . . . for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it.” 1 Chron. 10:13.
And just as the demon appeared to Saul in the guise of Samuel, so will Satan appear, to deceive the nations, as a holy being; “for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” 2 Cor. 11:14. He thus comes under the guise of religion that he may the more easily beguile the unwary in their hour of unwatchfulness.
How may we know definitely that Spiritualism is a fraud and deceit of Satan? It is to be expected that if we can produce Scripture proof that man is mortal, and that when he dies he remains in an unconscious state until the resurrection, the honest and candid reader will accept such divine testimony, and act upon it accordingly. Therefore “to the law and to the testimony.” Who alone is immortal?—“The King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality.” 1 Tim. 6:15, 16. Then God is the only inherently immortal Being in existence. Who else shall put on immortality at the coming of Christ?—“The dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.” 1 Thess. 4:16, 17. “The dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this . . . mortal must put on immortality.” 1 Cor. 15:52, 53. To whom was Paul speaking?—To Christians, not to worldlings. Hence we see that we are all mortal, and not immortal, but the righteous have the blessed hope of putting on immortality at the second advent of Jesus. But why is there need of putting on, or receiving, such if we already have immortality? Why should we seek after immortality if we are already immortal? Rom. 2:7. “A mortal,” according to Webster, means “one destined to destruction, to death;” and death brings corruption. This does away with the theory that the spirits of the dead float about the air, watching over and caring for their friends, as Spiritualists assume.
The following texts are very plain: “The dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred and their envy, is now perished.” Eccl. 9:5, 6. “The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.” Ps. 115:17. “For in death there is no remembrance of Thee.” Ps. 6:5. “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” Ps. 146:3, 4.
But if the dead know nothing, how can we account for the wonders of Spiritualism?—“I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils [demons], working miracles.” Rev. 16:13, 14. Who prophesied that the ancient Spiritualism would revive in the last times?—“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 [demons].” 1 Tim. 4:1. Jesus says: “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; inasmuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matt. 24:24. Satan will work with great power through Spiritualism in these last times. “Whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” 2 Thess. 2:9, 10.
But what shall be the end of this deception?—“And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.” Rev. 19:20.
Let us, in view of God’s warnings, be on the alert, lest, finding us asleep or unwary, we be caught by Satan in his diabolical net, which has trapped millions and led them along the way which terminates in death. “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? To the law and to the testimony! if they speak not according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.” Isa. 8:19, 20, Revised Version.
How may we guard against Satan’s wiles?—“Be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness.” Eph. 6:10–12, Revised Version.
The Alphabet of a Mother’s Love
By G. R. Robbins
MANY a man has never even begun to learn the alphabet of a mother’s love until he was taken sick, or lost his property, or was forsaken by his friends, or was in some sort of trouble; then, beholding the constancy of his mother’s affection for him, he began to pick out the letters, and for the first time in his life to spell the word love.—Rev. G. R. Robbins.
Truth Versus Glittering Delusion
"BETTER follow the sternness of a truth than the glittering delusion of a lie. Men often follow lies because they shine."