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is made light of, and represented by some childish illustration, or as
some animal, it suits him well. He is thought so inferior that the minds
of men are wholly unprepared for his wisely laid plans, and he almost
always succeeds well. If his power and subtlety were understood,
many would be prepared to successfully resist him.
All should understand that Satan was once an exalted angel. His
rebellion shut him out of heaven, but did not destroy his powers and
make him a beast. Since his fall he has turned his mighty strength
against the government of heaven. He has been growing more artful,
and has learned the most successful manner in which to come to the
children of men with his temptations.
Satan has originated fables with which to deceive. He commenced
in heaven to war against the foundation of God’s government, and
since his fall he has carried on his rebellion against the law of God,
and has brought the mass of professed Christians to trample under
their feet the fourth commandment, which brings to view the living
God. He has torn down the original Sabbath of the Decalogue, and
substituted in its place one of the laboring days of the week.
The great original lie which he told to Eve in Eden, “Ye shall not
surely die,” was the first sermon ever preached on the immortality of
the soul. That sermon was crowned with success, and terrible results
followed. He has brought minds to receive that sermon as truth, and
ministers preach it, sing it, and pray it.
No literal devil, and probation after the coming of Christ, are fast
becoming popular fables. The Scriptures plainly declare that every
person’s destiny is forever fixed at the coming of the Lord.
Revelation
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22:11, 12
: “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, behold, I
come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according
as his work shall be.”
Satan has taken advantage of these popular fables to hide himself.
He comes to poor, deceived mortals through modern spiritualism,
which places no bounds to the carnally minded, and, if carried out,
separates families, creates jealousy and hatred, and gives liberty to the
most degrading propensities. The world knows but little as yet of the
corrupting influence of spiritualism. The curtain was lifted, and much
of its dreadful work was revealed to me. I was shown some who have